Ask Foghorn: Is .22lr The Best for Self Defense?

The Truth About Guns ^ | 4 June, 2012 | Nick Leghorn

[Jack Hydrazine]

Thanks for that info!

[papertyger]

Too bad about the cost of ammo.

20-25 bucks for a box of fifty to steep for ya?

[archy]

That 30-shot Keltec .22mag is high on my “want to try” list. Not sure if I’d buy one, thought. But I’d sure love to spend a few hours picking the brain of its genius inventor, whose shop is in FL between us.

But why hasn't he built what I really want, which is one in .22 long rifle?

[Travis McGee]

I’m not sure if the magazine dynamics would be the same, scaled down to .22LR. What is the rim D compared to the overall length of the two? Would a 30 round .22LR magazine work well at all? I’ve had sketchy success with various aftermarket 30 round mags for my 10-22.

Or maybe Mr. Kellegren just has a basic threshold of his own in mind for a “defensive round,” and was not interested in going lighter? (.22 mag ballistics come very close to the much hyped wunderkaliber FN 5.7X28.)

In any event, I’d love to spend an hour or ten in the company of George Kellgren, who I consider a firearms inventing genius with few peers, in the realm of Browning. Even his “misses” are all refreshingly blank sheet of paper. If he wrote a book, I’d buy it. If I met him, I’d have a million questions.

[LibWhacker]

Oh, has it come down in price? That review I posted said it was $30/box. But yes, when ammo starts running more than about four bits per round, I usually switch out of full-auto. ;-)

[papertyger]

(.22 mag ballistics come very close to the much hyped wunderkaliber FN 5.7X28.)

True enough, but not out of a pistol. 5.7x28mm out of a FiveSeven pistol are similar to .22 mag out of a rifle...which was why the round was developed in the first place.

I'm with archy. I'd like one in .22lr. .22 mag out of a pistol is just an expensive waste of powder.

[archy]

In any event, I’d love to spend an hour or ten in the company of George Kellgren, who I consider a firearms inventing genius with few peers, in the realm of Browning. Even his “misses” are all refreshingly blank sheet of paper. If he wrote a book, I’d buy it. If I met him, I’d have a million questions.

Concur. His *shrink* rework of the k'pist M45b into the KG 9 [KellGren] was neat and tidy, and was among the designs considered during the JSSAP program during the search for a 9mm smg- the USAF favoured a 9mm CAR-15, the Navy SPECWAR types liked the H&K MP5 and the Army guys wanted the .45 Ingram MAC 10, [compatability with the M1911A1 pistols still then in use by tank crews being a major consideration- the M9 Beretta didn't see adoption until 1985]

But I had the good fortune to meet John Garand [one HELL of a checkers player!] as well as Max Atchisson and Gordon Ingram. They were all geniuses to varying degrees, but maybe more to the point, mechanical problemsolvers.

So far as meeting any designer, of any time? I'd love to spend that hour or ten with John M. Browning, but it'd be a close tossup with Aimo Lahti, the Finnish designer and engineer who passed away in 1970.

[Travis McGee]

I’ll meet you and them all at the Accu-Shot booth at the Great SHOT Show In The Sky. They will all be there. I hope.

[archy]

If it comes to survival, you can easily carry a couple thousand rounds of .22LR plus some clothing and food.

Preferably scoped, or with an IR laser aiming module and with NODs.

If comes down to urban warfare the .22LR might be the best round you could have!

Especially after dark. And especially if you've got a suppressor on it. Which is the reason I'd like to have the KelTec .22 magnum autopistol in .22 LR.