22mag Revolver Small - Sun May 22 Do Snubnose revolvers make sense for self defense? These small wheellock pistols offer more power than .22 LR pistols. But is it enough to get the job done?
In a previous article we took a closer look at the use of .22 LR handguns for self defense. The conversation was inspired by the release of new circular fire models that look and act like central fire models. However, America's second most popular percussion rifle cartridge, the .22 WMR, also found its way into service as a low-recoil defensive option. Better known as the .22 Magnum, or simply the .22 Mag., this percussion cartridge is carried more often than some people might expect since it doesn't spend much time in the media spotlight. In fact, unlike the .22 LR, some ammunition manufacturers offer .22 Mag. loads designed specifically for short barrel handguns, including Hornady Critical Defense and Speer Gold hollow point loads.
22mag Revolver Small
More gun options than you think (but mostly snubbies) A little research reveals some interesting gun designs for this powerful percussion cartridge. The Kel-Tec PMR-30 is a semi-auto pistol that accepts a 30-round proprietary magazine. North American Arms manufactures an extensive line of tiny single-action mini revolvers that are carried as backup handguns or when the smallest possible gun fits the bill.
Taurus 942m Ultralite Revolver
22 Wmr. 3 In. Stainless 8 Rd
But the most common concealed pistols made for this round are short barrel double-action revolvers. This year, Taurus USA re-released the previously discontinued 8-shot Model 942. This series of snub-nosed revolvers includes all-steel and aluminum-framed models chambered in .22 LR and .22 Mag. But the Taurus isn't the only option available. Smith & Wesson's 351 PD Airlite J-Frame has been a steady seller for several years. Ruger offers the 6-shot polymer-framed LCR with a concealed hammer or the LCRx with an exposed hammer that can be manually cocked for single-action fire. Like the Taurus models, the Charter Arms Pathfinder series is available with steel or aluminum frames. Perhaps the most unusual .22 Mag revolver available today is the S333 Thunderstruck from Standard Manufacturing. This double-barreled pistol fires two rounds from its 8-round cylinder with each pull of the trigger.
Advantages of .22 Mag Handguns While some people don't mind the long, heavy double-action power of small revolvers, they do have some advantages, including simple design and ease of use. If you pull the trigger and the cartridge doesn't fire, you don't have to drill like you do with a semi-auto pistol to get the gun back into action. Just pull the trigger again to fire the next round into the cylinder. Over the years, I have worked with Smith & Wesson, Taurus and Ruger models and have found them all to be reliable and well made.
At first glance the .22 Mag. cartridge looks like an elongated version of the .22 LR., but it really isn't. It is a much newer cartridge that was introduced by Winchester in 1959 as an upgrade of the older .22 Winchester Rimfire (WRF) cartridge. The .22 Magnum has a longer case, thicker case walls, and a slightly larger bullet diameter. While .22 Mag. is less expensive than most centerfire pistol ammunition, costing significantly more than .22 LR. In most cases, the cost of .22 Mag. ammunition is somewhere between .22 LR and semi-automatic handgun cartridges.
One perk not to be overlooked is the fact that these short-nosed revolvers are built with the same frames, barrels, and grips as their respective .38 Spl. Models As a result, a wide variety of holsters are available and easy to find, such as the Galco Scout 3.0 holster shown here.
North American Arms Mini Revolver 22 Wmr (22 Mag) 1.13in Stainless Steel Revolver
The .22 Rimfire Cartridge That Delivers More Rounds Designed primarily as a small game hunting load for use in rifles, this cartridge generates much higher levels of pressure than the .22 long rifle. Cartridges covered by 40 gr. projectiles can launch them at over 2,000 fps. when fired from a long barrel a rifle. By shortening the barrel to about 2 inches in length, the bullet velocity is reduced between 1050 f.p.s. and 1260 f.p.s., depending on the ammunition used. While the recoil is slight, it can produce an unexpectedly loud sound along with a bright flash that seems out of proportion to the size of the cartridge.
How does the performance of .22 Mag. revolvers compare with other concealed carry options? Like other short barrel pistols, it produces solid defensive accuracy at ranges of 7-10 yards. The following list shows the muzzle energy ranges for the Ruger LCR and Taurus 942 along with test results for two .22 LR pistols. I've also included the short barrel centerfire pistol and revolver results for comparison:
.22 WMR: 1.87" Barrel = 113 to 126 ft-lbs. (Ruger LCR Revolver)
.22 WMR: 2.00" barrel = 98 to 116 ft-lbs. (Taurus 942 Revolver)
North American Arms Sidewinder .22lr/.22 Mag. Mini Revolver
.22 LR: 2.00" barrel = 67 to 75 ft-lbs. (Ruger LCP II Lite Frame Pistol)
.22 LR: 4.00" barrel = 79 to 113 ft-lbs. (Taurus TX22 pistol)
.380 ACP: 2.50" barrel = 163 to 174 ft-lbs. (Guardian NAA pistol)
9mm: 3.20" barrel = 277 to 300 ft-lbs. (Taurus G3C)
Shot 2022] Diamondback Sidekick 22lr / 22mag Convertible Revolver
.38 Spl: 2.00" barrel = 296 ft-lbs. (Ruger SP101)
Useful for self defense? Small double-action revolvers chambered in .22 Mag. are comfortable to carry, produce modest levels of recoil, similar to a .22 LR pistol, while being more powerful than the .22 LR. A 4" .22 LR barrel can be loaded to produce results at the lower end of .22 Mag pistol performance levels. But when loaded with 40-gram or heavier bullets, the .22 Mag. can satisfy more consistent with FBI standards for effective penetration depths in ice tests (see Richard Mann's test results here) In my experience, .22 Mag ammunition is generally more reliable than .22 LR ammunition with fewer bad primers and a more sophisticated bullet design.
That said, on .22 Mag. it's still a .22 caliber. percussion cartridge. Statically speaking, it is more likely to fail than a center shot. While its performance may creep into the .32 ACP pocket pistol ranges, it simply cannot compete with the performance of a .380 ACP pistol or muzzle-loading reduced recoil revolver in .38 Spl. loads
Farewell Thoughts Based on your results, this gun and ammo combo can get the job done. However, it's not an optimal choice. If your health and shooting skill level are such that you can work with handguns chambered in a more powerful centerfire cartridge, then upgrading to a larger cartridge is a good idea. If you are considering a defensive handgun chambered in .22 Mag. for self defense, then I would make the same recommendations as I did for .22 LR handguns. Keep the gun properly clean and lubricated. Thoroughly test the ammunition you want to carry. In this case, 40 gr ammunition. at 0.45 gr. bullet weights perform best with short barrels. And remember to practice to be mentally and physically ready to fire follow-up shots if necessary.
Micro Magnums: The Naa 22ms
SIG Sauer's new women's brand is more than just a pistol (although it's that too). Find out more about this collaboration with world champion in competitive shooting Lena Miculek.
Take some time to evaluate whether your self-defense plan could benefit from a change or upgrade to your concealed carry hardware.
A mother who hurried to a store returned to find a strange woman who had gotten into her car and was sitting with her three children.
Winchester has announced new ammunition such as Big Bore 44 and M1 Garand .30-06 specs, as well as line expansions to its USA Valor line.
Naa Magnum Mini, Revolver, .22 Magnum, Rimfire, 1.625\
If you're looking for the right weapon for the field or the woods at the right price, check out these new entries. The inventory is constantly changing. To ensure availability on arrival, purchase your item now and select the Curbside Collection option at checkout. We will collect the item for you and hold it awaiting your arrival.
The North American Arms .22 Magnum Mini Barrel Rimfire Revolver is about as small as you can get for a concealed carry pistol. This small single action .22 Magnum only has one barrel and holds 5 rounds of ammo. It comes with rosewood grips and has a matte stainless finish. As with any NAA mini-revolver, the hammer doesn't need to rest in an empty chamber. Using the original halfway notched cylinder, the hammer can rest safely and securely with no chance of accidental discharge.
Prices in local shops may vary from those indicated. Products shown as in stock are generally in stock, but inventory levels cannot be guaranteed. North 40 Outfitters operates strictly as a retailer, not a wholesaler. We reserve the right to refuse orders from others
Revolver x2, soul revolver, bakflip revolver, revolver magazine, 22mag, nna 22mag, savage 22mag, 22mag amo, kuhl revolver, naa 22mag, 22mag revolvers, simmons 22mag
0 Comments