NGC - gun shop experiences

[rboe]

Any pistol needs some serious practice to be able to use it as designed. Bigger the pistol, harder to shot well (in general, there are exceptions). Small guns with big holes are the worst. Little pocket pistols shooting 9mm or larger need practice (and you will avoid the practice at all costs unless you are paid to do it - they hurt!).

.22 will hurt your ears, especially short barreled pistols. Rifles to a much smaller extent. Falcon makes a .22 air pistol and it's so loud that when the guy came to shoot our matches I wore ear plugs.

.22's do not make ideal self defense guns (I'm not big into using guns for self defense anyway, I have no desire to shoot someone and will be mighty pissed if forced to) but the right gun may look mean enough to hold someone until a professional arrives. Rabid creatures need to be dispatched very quickly, a .22 will do - barely and in a pinch, you are much better off with a .357. Ears will take a beating - but hopefully in the case of a rabid animal you will have time to put on ear muffs. But a rifle or shotgun would be even better. I suck so bad at shotgun that I prefer a pistol. I have skills with a pistol, not with a shotgun.  ;D Well, used to anyway.  :P

Rodekyl, in Phoenix we have a real .22 shortage; mostly due to hoarders hitting the shops when the trucks arrive. It's a problem. And they do blame the goberment.

[56Pan]

I went into a local gun store to look at pistols. We are endemic with rabies where I live. My county already had its 4th confirmed case in 2015. Last year was a record. So I was thinking about a pistol. I live in the woods. Have a neighbor who had to have rabies shots. The dogs killed a rabid coon in front yard and the stupid person goes over to see if the dog was hurt. Jeeze the moment you touch the dog forget it. You're getting the shots.
Anyhow I think the guy spent some time with me and I am a total idiot when it come to firearms. He was nice enough but I am not so sure about what he was telling me.  So I was thinking as 22 pistol long rifle hollow point would be good enough to put down a coon or skunk. But the guy was really pushing a 45 on me and I didn't want a big gun. I told him I got bad ears and if I have shoot something I haven't got time to put plugs in but he made it sound like I couldn't take down a decent size coon without a 45 so I said forget it. i shoot a 45 my ears will never quit ringing. Heck I cannot even hammer a nail without ear protection. But later I came to believe he was telling me wrong about a 22. I think a semi 22 pistol would be sufficient even for home protection. Especially with hollow points long rifle. With a big clip you just keep on firing till the sucker stops or you miss on all rounds.

I figure he was trying to make more money off you.  Used to raise chickens, and one of the worst predators was raccoons.  A .22 long rifle hollow point will dispatch any raccoon.

[segesta]

OP here. I find it amusing that gummint-fearing types* would think that their pile of hoarded .22LR could be a match for the Faceless Socialist Bilderberger Jackbooted Thugs^TM when they bang on your door at 4 a.m.

*not that there's anything wrong with that.

[Joliet Jim]

 I've been treated well at both gander mountain in joliet and Midwest in Lyons. Rinks not so much. Mega in Plainfield was iffy.

[Dilliw]

I already had a 22/45 so I went with the Browning in the Bullseye model for something different.  The Buckmark is a better gun than me as a shooter and it has the nicest stock trigger I've ever felt in any gun.   I've had no issues with cheaper ammo but that seems to be one knock on them.  They are really nice choice for range duty.

[redrider90]

I figure he was trying to make more money off you.  Used to raise chickens, and one of the worst predators was raccoons.  A .22 long rifle hollow point will dispatch any raccoon.

Yep that is what I thought.

[rocker59]

I  I think a semi 22 pistol would be sufficient even for home protection. Especially with hollow points long rifle. With a big clip you just keep on firing till the sucker stops or you miss on all rounds.

Don't fool yourself.  .22 Long Rifle is a great old cartridge, but it's no "home defense" round.  And the .22 LR hollow points are really just an affectation.  The round doesn't have enough oomph to reliably expand the bullet.

For all around use, target practice, and varmints at close range, you can't beat .22 LR.

For home defense, your first option should be a shotgun.  Even a .410, if you're adverse to the kick of the 12- and 20-gauge guns.  If you must use a handgun for home defense, you should be looking at 9mm or .38 Special at the minimum.  A .38/.357 revolver is a great option that has a broad range of ammo available for several different uses.  If you're not going to be shooting a lot, get a stainless .38/.357 revolver.  Practice with .38 Special and plan on using .357 Magnum for defense situations.

Even with the .22 Long Rifle round, you might consider a revolver from Ruger instead of a semi-auto.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Rocker's right again.  ;D You are *not* going to knock down an aggressor with a 22, a .357 or maybe 44 special will do that. That said, there's something about the sound of chambering a round in a pump shotgun that will make a B&E specialist hit the road. (Well, it would for me at any rate)  ;D

[ponti_33609]

We have both a Beretta 9mm and a North America Arms 32. (Pocket).  She can shoot the 32 much more accurately than the 9mm which is larger and heavier.  Despite the stopping power she feels more protected with that because she is more accurate.  I would guess the same with folks that have a 22.  If they can quickly put a handful in their target it will stop better than missing with a 45.  I agree that shotguns are probably the best home defense and you do not need to aim.....as much   :) 

[Lannis]

OP here. I find it amusing that gummint-fearing types* would think that their pile of hoarded .22LR could be a match for the Faceless Socialist Bilderberger Jackbooted Thugs^TM when they bang on your door at 4 a.m.

*not that there's anything wrong with that.

.22LR isn't an ideal self-defense round, but it beats throwing a bedroom slipper at them ......

Lannis

[Perazzimx14]

.22LR isn't an ideal self-defense round, but it beats throwing a bedroom slipper at them ......

Lannis

Best home defense round is a 12 gauge with a load 1-1.8 ounce of 8's or 9's and a open choke. At 20 +/- feet it is very deadly but it will not carry through wall(s)s like slugs or pistol rounds so you lessen chance of hitting a family member in an adjacent room. Also even the biggest pistol round is around 1/2 in diameter so you have to be accurate in a tense situation. A load of bird shot at 20 feet has a pattern of a little biggest than a clenched fist or 20 time the size of a 9mm.

Agreed a .22 is better than a slipper but a drug or alcohol crazed intruder being shot with a .22 will have about the same effect as letting a bee sting him, unless you are lucky enough to score a good head or heart shot.

[Rough Edge racing]

.22LR isn't an ideal self-defense round, but it beats throwing a bedroom slipper at them ......

Lannis

 22 rifle can kill a coyote at 100 yards with a head shot. Several shots from a 22 pistol is lethal at close range...Robert Kennedy assassination.. Yes,a large bore handgun is more lethal, 12 gauge #4 buckshot is even more lethal at close range. .. Armies are for killing,and they use rifles...

[Dilliw]

I had a 500 with an 18.5" smooth bore on it but with the new house a handgun made more sense.  Now I use a 442 with the full size Hogue grips instead of the boot grips that came on it.  It's loaded with the non +P nyclads and there are two speedloaders strategically placed.  

[rboe]

Firing that beast in the home, likely at night, gonna do your ears and eyes in. Not good on the wall paper either.  :P

[Bill929]

Don't fool yourself.  .22 Long Rifle is a great old cartridge, but it's no "home defense" round.  And the .22 LR hollow points are really just an affectation.  The round doesn't have enough oomph to reliably expand the bullet.

For all around use, target practice, and varmints at close range, you can't beat .22 LR.

For home defense, your first option should be a shotgun.  Even a .410, if you're adverse to the kick of the 12- and 20-gauge guns.  If you must use a handgun for home defense, you should be looking at 9mm or .38 Special at the minimum.  A .38/.357 revolver is a great option that has a broad range of ammo available for several different uses.  If you're not going to be shooting a lot, get a stainless .38/.357 revolver.  Practice with .38 Special and plan on using .357 Magnum for defense situations.

Even with the .22 Long Rifle round, you might consider a revolver from Ruger instead of a semi-auto.

+1 - and a comment from my law enforcement friends - if you don't train regularly in tactical situations a revolver or a shotgun are the better choices in home defense since fine motor skills go out the window in life/death situations.  

[Lannis]

I had a 500 with an 18.5" smooth bore on it but with the new house a handgun made more sense.  Now I use a 442 with the full size Hogue grips instead of the boot grips that came on it.  It's loaded with the non +P nyclads and there are two speedloaders strategically placed.  

A Smith 442 with the boot grips (for her small hand) and a Crimson Trace laser is Fay's carry gun.    No speedloaders for the five-shooter, though; the fight's going to be over one way or the other after 5 shots .... !

Lannis