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.

[DesertRhino]

The bouncing can and does happen.

[DesertRhino]

World record bear in the 50s as taken by a 22lr. And no, 45 acp is not bear medicine.

[Colt1851Navy]

Get a hyper velocity round like CCI Velocitors or Aguila Hyper velocity(1500 ft/sec)Energy of the bullet is weight times velocity squared(not weight squared)so velocity is the source for energy and stopping power(not killing power either-lawyers use that term to get your money)

[jaydubya2]

Thanks. that’s helpful. I use the .22 mainly for plinking, but I’m would like to have a mag full of home defense rounds if needed.

[LittleBillyInfidel]

I inherited a Walther P98 9mm and shot it for the very first time, just yesterday! I was surprised at how powerful it was, but I’m a total noob (although well trained in safety). I think the other gun I inherited is a Ruger 22. Gonna be a fun summer!

[litehaus]

Whatever is nearby.

Woodja settle 4 a PMR30 ? 30rds..semi auto 22WINMAG ?

[advertising guy]

John Wick killed 3 men with a pencil

[infool7]

John Wick killed 3 men with a pencil

"a f-n pencil can you believe that?"

"Is John Wick the Boogie Man?"

"No, John Wick is the one you sent to kill the

f-n Boogie Man"

John Wick III opens Friday.

7

[READINABLUESTATE]

"John Wick III opens Friday." Ему понадобится новая машина.

[advertising guy]

On it

[infool7]

I am sure that,

can be arranged.

7

[real saxophonist]

To: w1n1
Damn, Jon, try to come up with something even more stupid for Monday.

7 posted on 5/10/2019, 7:33:55 AM by real saxophonist

I said this Friday. I guess he took the challenge...

[Paal Gulli]

Absolutely the worst ammunition I have ever used. Extreme spread was more than 10% of average muzzle velocity (confirmed with two different chronographs). Probably because the charge weight is so tiny, which magnifies the effect of even tinier variations in its weight.

It also burns so filthy I started having magazine jams before I got through half a box.

[1Old Pro]

Look into the S&W M&P Shield .380 EZ. Insanely easy to rack the slide.

Unlike the Shield in 9mm

[MileHi]

LOL! He succeeded.

[CommerceComet]

Energy of the bullet is weight times velocity squared(not weight squared)so velocity is the source for energy and stopping power(not killing power either-lawyers use that term to get your money)

The old kinetic energy versus momentum argument. A light, fast projectile will give you kinetic energy and stopping power but a heavy, slow projectile will give you momentum and killing power. In most cases, the difference won't matter but that is not to say that there isn't a difference.

[schurmann]

“...Energy of the bullet is weight times velocity squared(not weight squared)so velocity is the source for energy and stopping power(not killing power either...” [Colt1851Navy, post 43]

Wrong.

KE = (mv**2)/2

where

KE = kinetic energy
m = bullet mass
v = velocity

to obtain energy in foot-pounds, use this formula:

energy = (gr*v*v)/450380

where

gr = bullet weight in grains
v = velocity in ft/sec

450380 is a conversion factor to account for gravitational acceleration, and the 1/2 in the basic equation. Units are complex but it tracks properly.

Stopping power is not quantifiable. That’s why DoD doesn’t use it in measuring effectiveness. Same for “killing power.”

[Tijeras_Slim]

Here’s an esoteric one....

Bullet weight in grains times bullet diameter times muzzle velocity divided by 7000. This gives John “Pondoro” Taylor’s “Knock Out Value” as he called it.

I pretty much favor a saying by a friend of mine, “Shot placement is King, adequate penetration is Queen, and all else is angels dancing on the head of a pin.”

[dsc]

“In his last few years, he switched from a .45 to a 9 mm and then a .22LR for self defense.”

I feel better hearing that, because I have just completed that same progression myself.

I first stepped down to the 9, and I thought, “Popgun. Inadequate.”

So I thought, if a 9 is inadequate, might as well go with the lightest possible weapon: 22lr loaded with hollow points.

The best thing is I can fire it accurately with either hand.

[octex]

My AR-7 with a large mag can spit a lot of lead very quickly. Always within reach when I’m home.