.22 Ammo for Maximum Damage

[Band]

OK, so you've got an intruder busting into the house and the only firearms you have available are two .22 pistols.  One is loaded with 36 grain hollow points and the other with 40 grain standard rounds.  Which do you reach for and why?

Please don't turn this into a thread about .22 being insufficient for self defense.  I think most of us can agree on that.

[WoodlandShooter]

i'd prolly just throw the gun at him..


(unloaded of course)

[CP]

I’d grab the closest one or both if they were within reach.

But on the ammo question here’s the opinion of one expert:

Choose any Federal, Remington, Winchester or CCI copper-plated 37 grain (or lighter) high velocity hollowpoint round. I recommend CCI "Stinger" 32 grain or Remington "Yellow Jacket" 33 grain hollowpoints, as they have been very reliable in my Beretta 21A and Walther TPH pistols and have the highest stopping power ratings.

Ref - http://www.chuckhawks.com/ammo_by_anonymous.htm

[DOUBLELUNG]

If I can't have both - I have two hands - I'll pick the one with the hollowpoints.  I have shot over 100 big game animals at close range with CCI stingers (mostly road-injured mule deer and pronghorn).  They are surprisingly lethal with a shot to the heart-lung area.  On the flip side, hunting I've shot lots of forest grouse and cottontails with standard velocity lead solids, often the will go several feet before expiring with minimal tissue damage.

[Bofire]

since you do not say, I am assuming anyone in that position probably has 'normal' ammo. I would go with the solids, they penetrate.
 I killed deer, a lot of cows and steers,pigs, sheep, etc. and the solids work better. I actually had a hollow point not penetrate a pig skull at all.
 I think even if I had "stingers" I would still lean to the soild, you are already WAY underpowered, go with penetration.
Carl

[hrd2fnd]

Interesting thread, what about plain 22lr?

[jay.sharkbait]

I'd grab the Knife.....

[hrd2fnd]

I know this may sound silly, but the spousal unit is more comfortable with the plinker so I'm thinking just throw as much lead at what ever it maybe creeping where they shouldn't be. Seeing as she doesn't have the hand strength to pull the slide on the 9mm we will be having her try a wheel gun of various caliber to see how that may work.

[h2ofowlr]

After shooting a lot of critters with .22's, I would say the CCI stingers do the most damage.  A great .22 round.

[Band]

I see those CCI Stingers do have impressive muzzle velocity.  Sound like a good round for the scenario I put out there.  So now we just need to argue whether hollow points are better than "solids".  Let the debate on that point continue.

[h2ofowlr]

I see those CCI Stingers do have impressive muzzle velocity.  Sound like a good round for the scenario I put out there.  So now we just need to argue whether hollow points are better than "solids".  Let the debate on that point continue.

With as soft as .22 lead is in most cases and given size, I haven't seen a lot of difference between the two.  I think with the velocity of the stinger and hollow point, it mushrooms them really good and you get great penetration with them.  We used to go south of Bigs Junction, Bend area and SE Oregon and burn barrels out killing critters.  I been down to Texas and seen what they can do on wild pigs as well.  If the first shot doesn't kill the pig, the quick follow up of shots does wonders to them.

As a self defense round, it's all about shot placement with a .22.  It will definitely get the job done.  I did bump it up and went with a S&W .22 mag as a personal carry for weight.  I have a Keltec PMR 30 on order as my next gun.  30 rounds of .22 mag make for a mean personal carry.

[b23]

"I have a Keltec PMR 30 on order as my next gun.  30 rounds of .22 mag make for a mean personal carry."

And you'll be amazed at not only how accurate they are but how fast you can do a 30rnd mag dump with a PMR30.  I'm not sure my PMR30 would be my first choice for personal protection but I could think of a lost worse things to grab.

To the OP, assuming the 36gr. HP are quite a bit faster than the 40 grainers, I think I'd have to reach for the 36 hp's first.

[Killmore]

I have shot many a Holstein cows with a 22  between the eyes and I can tell you that the stingers or hollow points do not penetrate like a solid.

[magnanimous_j]

I have shot many a Holstein cows with a 22  between the eyes and I can tell you that the stingers or hollow points do not penetrate like a solid.

That’s what I was going to say.

I think farmers use 22lr to slaughter animals all the time. I’d find out what they use and get that.

[huntingfool7]

I’d grab the closest one or both if they were within reach.

But on the ammo question here’s the opinion of one expert:

Choose any Federal, Remington, Winchester or CCI copper-plated 37 grain (or lighter) high velocity hollowpoint round. I recommend CCI "Stinger" 32 grain or Remington "Yellow Jacket" 33 grain hollowpoints, as they have been very reliable in my Beretta 21A and Walther TPH pistols and have the highest stopping power ratings.

Ref - http://www.chuckhawks.com/ammo_by_anonymous.htm

CCI Stingers #1 Remington Yellow Jackets a close #2.  Lead round noses do very little damage.  Shooting soft tissue is not remotely the same as cracking pig/cow skulls.