22 magnum semi auto for concealed carry????

[Fl0und3rz]

Check out the Beretta Bobcat (.22 LR and .25 ACP) and the Tomcat (.32 ACP).

I had the Tomcat and I liked it a lot, except for having to stock an additional caliber.  No malfunctions in over 100+ rounds.

The wife was a bit off put by the muzzle blast, but she is a very new shooter.  It is a bit snappy in recoil, but I imagine the Bobcat would be a bit less.  Otherwise, none are the best SD calibers, and I would personally avoid a rimfire, if I was looking to carry it for SD.

[bustedoldman]

Depending on your budget you can have almost any handgun hydra-ported, several of the manufacturers already offer ported handguns, also there are aftermarket ported barrels/slides if kickback/muzzle rise are a concern. I see no issues with a .22 mag, as stated prior some use .22LR and something is better than nothing!

[Bofire]

Glock 42 .380
Carl

[DOUBLELUNG]

I recommend trying a Sig P238.  Very concealable and far more comfortable in hand than the LCP.  I have both, I enjoy the convenience of the LCP and have enjoyed learning to shoot it - but if I was introducing someone to a compact .380 who isn't comfortable with snappy recoil, I'd definitely start them with the P238.

[coop2424]

I recommend trying a Sig P238.  Very concealable and far more comfortable in hand than the LCP.  I have both, I enjoy the convenience of the LCP and have enjoyed learning to shoot it - but if I was introducing someone to a compact .380 who isn't comfortable with snappy recoil, I'd definitely start them with the P238.

P238 is an outstanding pistol and my wife loves shooting the one we have.  I have noticed myself grabbing it more so when carrying than I ever thought I would.

[b23]

I'm a big fan of most things Sig, but I don't know that a single action would be the way to go.

[huntnphool]

Also, the FN 5-7 is a light weight, low-recoiling handgun.  It is also quite a bit more powerful than the 22 mag.

+1

[Scheindogg]

Glock 42 .380
Carl

     

When I was first starting to shoot and was a terrible shot I tried out a Glock 42. That thing has next to no recoil, conceals very easily and can shoot really nice. Like I was I was new and terrible and I could do 3 consecutive shots to the head on a silhouette at 7 yards.

[ghosthunter]

Well I will buck the norm and suggest she take a peak at Bond Arms.

Yes two shots but fully custom. She could change , caliber , barrel lengths, grips and carry. Options.

For most women two shots is enough.

Most women want

Light weight
Easy use
Real safe
Lots of options.

The Bonds are ready to rock with two shots on demand and very safe .
With rebounding hammer and cross bar safety.

You get anything but if she won’t carry it every day it’s not use for self defense.


https://www.bondarms.com

[Axle]

I would take and recommend the 22DubyaMR over just about any round. Especially for a woman.
The PMR30 is a great gun too. Hornady makes a 45 grain round for pistols and it's called "critical defense" which works well in pistols.
There's really no other round I would recommend for fun or general personal defense. Shot placement is the key. The PMR30 offers 30 options from one magazine for shot placement. Those are good odds. And it's fun to shoot.

[magnanimous_j]

Before I set the missus up with a concealed carry piece, I'd make sure she REALLY wants to actually carry one. I understand the sentiment of "its better than nothing," but its not true. There are lots of things that are worse than nothing. If she isn't comfortable with the gun, nervous about recoil or simply doesn't have the mentality to kill another human being, her being armed could much worse than nothing.

A lot of guys are recommending the PMR30. Don't get me wrong, its a neat gun and I certainly am not volunteering to take a .22mag to the breadbasket, but its a totally unsuitable gun in this case. One, its 8" long.  Second, Look at it!  Its the ugliest thing to come out of Florida since Carrot Top. No woman wants to lug that thing around

I recommend a Bersa Thunder .380. Its small enough to conceal and the controls are easy to reach for smaller hands. But its big enough to handle confidently and keep the recoil tame. I've taken a couple women shooting for the first time and that's the second gun I put them on (after whatever .22lr auto the range has for rent). They have all liked it. Plus its kind of sexy. One of my wife's friends occasionally asks when we can go shoot "the James Bond gun" again.  For defense, the Hornady Critical Defense 90gr turns the pistol into a totally viable CC option for anybody, let alone recoil-timid, smaller statured shooters.

Frankly, I just don't think that there is a .22mag option that's suitable for concealed carry. The barrel's not long enough and rimfire autos are not reliable enough.

[ribka]

I would never start a beginner shooter with a semi auto and this is my experience teaching firearms instruction over 25 years to 100’s of people. Always start with the most simple firearm be it a single shot bolt action or a revolver. Srtart with a a 22 to develop fundamentals and safety.Then Get a five shot s&w revolver 38 spl. Use +p rounds to carry if the individual is mentally able to carry a firearm and thoroughly understands the rights and responsibilities of firearms ownership in Washington.

380 is inadequate . A 22 mag out of a short pistol barrel is not much better than. 22 lr.  Have a lot of people been killed with a 22 lr? Sure but much better options.I have PMr and ok pistol but not top 10 choice for concealed carry.

Bersa firearms are cheap poorly made in Argentina and notoriously unreliable like a Taurus made in Brazil Stick with a S&W or Ruger (not bad)revolver.  After a few years and a lot of practice a semi auto if desired. i love my Glock but I still carry a 5 shot in urban settings and so do many very experienced LEO friends.

[Scheindogg]

I would never start a beginner shooter with a semi auto and this is my experience teaching firearms instruction over 25 years to 100’s of people. Always start with the most simple firearm be it a single shot bolt action or a revolver. Srtart with a a 22 to develop fundamentals and safety.Then Get a five shot s&w revolver 38 spl. Use +p rounds to carry if the individual is mentally able to carry a firearm and thoroughly understands the rights and responsibilities of firearms ownership in Washington.

380 is inadequate . A 22 mag out of a short pistol barrel is not much better than. 22 lr.  Have a lot of people been killed with a 22 lr? Sure but much better options.I have PMr and ok pistol but not top 10 choice for concealed carry.

Bersa firearms are cheap poorly made in Argentina and notoriously unreliable like a Taurus made in Brazil Stick with a S&W or Ruger (not bad)revolver.  After a few years and a lot of practice a semi auto if desired. i love my Glock but I still carry a 5 shot in urban settings and so do many very experienced LEO friends.

Im just curious what makes you think 380 is inadequate?

I know a lot of people are of the bigger is better theory and I get that to some extent (and I realize you didn’t say that) but if accuracy and comfort play a huge role (they do) couldn’t the 380 be perfectly sufficient?
No it doesn’t penetrate in the gel tests as amazingly as 9mm, 45 etc but if you look into it there are several great options for CC in 380.
And if someone could shoot a 380 say twice as accurate as a 9mm or other caliber would that not make all the necessary difference?

Say they were able to get 4 shots off in a 380 all in the heart area or the other option would be only enough time for 3 shots in the upper body in general?

I’m not sure if I’m over thinking this and I’m not trying to call you out on anything, just trying to see if my logic is sound.





-note- I have a 9mm m&p shield but am considering a Glock 42 380 because I love how accurate and easy to shoot it is

[b23]

It's really hard to beat the small revolvers like Ruger LCR or S&W 442 for a CCW.  They're lightweight and compact.  There's no slide to rack or hammer to cock.  No safety to fool with.  Most of them are double action only so they have a heavy enough trigger to not have to worry about an accidental discharge.  They're really about as foolproof as you can get, just point and shoot.

[BKMFR]

Wife and I each have PMR 30's -love the ugly little guns, as far as self defense would be totally adequate, close range-plenty of shots, but after trying and buying many different makes and models for concealed carry she settled on a Kimber Micro in .380. She's comfortable and confident with it. I think a hammerless Lady Smith might have been my first choice for her in .38, but she likes everything about the Kimber, and if anyone thinks the 380 wont work, well I wouldn't want to stand in front of a confident shooter pointing one at close range at me, noise alone would make me run!