9mm vs .22LR

Am Shooting Journal ^ | 5/13/2019 | S Coffman

[w1n1]

Which is better for Self-Defense, Hunting or Plinking?
The 9mm and the 22LR are two popular ammunition out in the market. They are different in respect to cartridge sizes. Comparing the two in a head to head is easy when you’re only viewing the size of the caliber. The 9mm is bigger than the 22 round.
The .22 rounds have much less energy than 9mm rounds, the powder load is smaller. When fired has less acceleration and kinetic energy.
Which means the penetration and knock down power is not in the same class as the 9mm caliber. However, that doesn’t mean the .22 isn’t good for anything. Beginner shooters can start with the .22. With the less recoil, it helps newbies in learning all the basic marksmanship shooting. For the more seasoned shooter, the .22 does offer speed in shooting and accuracy. Now thats not to say that you can’t do the same with the 9mm.

Which is better is not a simple A or B answer. These two calibers are quite popular amongst avid shooters, some may be more of the die-hard but it seems that they prefer these calibers for self-defense, hunting and plinking. Let’s take a look at why these purposes serve one caliber and not the other.

Self-Defense
For personal defense stopping an attacker in their track with good shot placement to the vital area takes paramount. Which is why the 9mm takes the lead in this due to the bigger size and was specifically design for this purpose. (no brainer)
A quick word about "stopping the attacker" it means creating enough damage to cause significant blood loss and/or causing enough pain to make the attacker change their mind. So even if you’re packing a .22 J-Frame revolver and put 5 rounds into the attacker which compelled them to stop is also a good thing.
Penetration is another important factor, the ideal penetration needs to be at least 12 inches. (according to the FBI)
Most .22 LR does not reliably penetrate deep enough to strike something critical. 22LR was never designed to be a self-protection round and it serves poorly as one. However, in some self-defense circle they believe its more capable than a lot of people give it credit for. For example, with the advancement in loads, the CCI Velocitor 40-grain small game load has been known to perform relatively well out of handguns.

Hunting
In this department its sort of unfair to compare the two for hunting because the 9mm was never meant for hunting purpose.
22LR ammo is a better choice for hunting for this purpose. The .22 is the more ideal round in this environment due to practicality. Of course we’re not talking big game here, but small game. Another thing is most .22LR for hunting is from a rifle. Unless you’re able to find a Stevens Model 35 pistol from the past.
This single shot pistol in rimfire calibers and the more rare .410 shotgun shell including the .22LR were the favorite of sportsman and target shooters of yesteryear.
The downside to this pistol is that its a single shot. This gun was knowns as “bicycle guns” because they were light and handy and perfect for bringing along on your country bicycle trip for small game and plinking. (back in the day) Read the rest of .22 vs 9mm.

[mylife]

This should be fun.

[IamConservative]

Mobsters have used .22LR for hits. The bullet enters the skull and just bounces around without exiting.

Aside from that crudity, I would not recommend for self-defense, but .22LR is a good choice for small game.

[mylife]

[Michigan Bowhunter]

I carry a 45, 9 mm, a 22, and when I’m heading up North for the weekends I generally have an AR in the truck with me. I’m not paranoid but I am prepared with a gun at every door. I travel for work so you never know what situation you’re going to be in.

[Mr Ramsbotham]

Mobsters have used .22LR for hits.

The Zodiac Killer used .22LR for his first attack on a young couple parking in a lover's lane at night. He killed the teenage boy with a single shot to the head; he then ran down the fleeing girl and dropped her with four or five (can't remember which, offhand) shots to the back.

For his next kill he used a 9MM. Presumably he had learned something.

[BBQToadRibs]

Growing up my Dad and I put a dent in the local ground squirrel population with .22LR. Of course they breed like rabbits and were back in force the next year tearing up the yard again.

[super7man]

What about your bow?

[moovova]

Author forgot to mention...shooting a .22LR is just plain fun.

[MAexile]

In my opinion it’s not self defense unless the caliber number begins with a 4.

[Dubh_Ghlase]

IDF likes the Ruger 10/22. Accurate, quiet, inexpensive, and reliable. Not a bad combination.

Regardless, there should be at least a plinker (.22 rifle), higher caliber rifle (big game, self defense), shotgun, and handgun(s) chambered to the rifles you have in everyone's possession, with a supply of ammo for each. Do not forget the cleaning kits!!!

It just makes sense....

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

For self defense cost is no object, buy 50 and they’ll last you for life. for plinking, cost is everything. By 5000, every month.

[VTenigma]

A .22lr is how we dispatch livestock in these here parts.

[Rocko Jack]

The most important reason to not use a 22 for self defense is reliability.
Rimfire cartridges are less reliable

[Yo-Yo]

The .22LR is totally inadequate for self defense.

That being said, my wife, due to age and medical conditions, can easily rack the slide on her Ruger SR22, but cannot rack the slide on a Ruger LCP (.380,) Glock 42 (.380,) or Glock 26 (9mm.) Nor can she easily pull the DA trigger on a .38 S&W J Frame.

Therefore, I'd much rather she carry the SR22 than carry nothing at all.

[FXRP]

Both good rounds. When the Obama ammo shortage happened in 2009, it was the .22LR that all but disappeared for 6 years. That probably speaks to which is more popular.

[yarddog]

A Ruger 10/22 with a 25 round mag would be an efficient home defense setup.

Of course a pump or semi auto shotgun would be best.

I would not feel unarmed with a 9mm Sig or Glock with effective loads.

[Lurker]

I make it a point to fire at least 500 rounds of .22 a month from either a scoped 10/22 or a small 9 shot revolver I have. With the rifle I can put almost every shot inside of a half dollar at 75 yards.

I can put every shot from the pistol inside of a small paper plate at 7 yards in less than five seconds. I don’t use either for my EDC obviously, but if push came to shove I know I could stop Mr. Bad Guy with that little revolver.

The .22 in your hand will beat the 9mm you left at home every single time.

L

L

[Pollster1]

Aside from that crudity, I would not recommend for self-defense, but .22LR is a good choice for small game.

My father was a lifelong shooter. In his last few years, he switched from a .45 to a 9 mm and then a .22LR for self defense. The key is choosing the right tool for the individual and for the job, and sometimes that tool is the .22 - even for self defense.

[Brooklyn Attitude]

You may be interested in this easy to rack 380 semiauto.

https://www.smith-wesson.com/firearms/mp-380-shield-ez-0