But the double-action/single-action still holds its own in the field. The Best .22LR and .22 Magnum Ammo for Concealed Carry Lucky Gunner Ammo 519K subscribers 189K views 3 years ago Relying on a .22 for self-defense isn't something everyone is. There is also a triple-locking cylinder that aids positive alignment to give lasting and dependable operation. This cartridge has below average ballistic performance and failures to feed and fire are a lot more common than with centerfire ammo. Constructed of all stainless steel, the rugged double-action only (DAO) likely has the chops to be handed down to a son or daughter one day. Now my primary carry is a S&W 686Plus with bobbed hammer, moon clips, XS Big Dot sights, Hogue grips, trigger job and Mag-na-Ported. When not at his press or the range he can be found chasing mule deer around the Rocky Mountains. But Walthers 22s are not built in the same factory or to the same standard as their centerfire pistols and I would be reluctant to trust one for self-defense. Second, gun control is further enhanced thanks to the firm rubberized grips. We've shot this pocket-sized .22 Magnum revolver quite a bit and think that, based on weight and portability alone, it is extremely hard to beat. Many a .22 Magnum rifle is on the market, but there are precious few models of .22 Magnum pistol that's ideal for concealed carry. Later in the piece, there will be a section on the importance of practice, but first, lets get into those all-important reviews of the. Plus its murdered more bottles and cans than I can count. Ruger LCR The reason for varying your practice sessions relates to gaining vital experience. The .357 round can deliver lots of energy against the bullet size. Looking for a revolver for self-defense? Patents Pending. Among other disadvantages, carrying your gun loose makes it far harder to locate. To conceal carry, there are two distinct choices that then split into a variety of different options. It's not too heavy for medium game at closer range and retains energy downrange for long shots on elk, moose or black bears. Its the only frame-mounted safety Ive ever seen where you have to push up for fire and down for safe. Save my name & email in this browser for the next time I comment. To this end, the hefty 8-round revolver has an exceptional trigger youd swear rolled out of Smith & Wessons Performance Center. Their design means no safety levers, magazines, or decockers are present. . This ensures no metal is exposed in the back strap. Now pitch CCI's 40-grain .22 Magnum Gamepoint ammo from a 6.5-inch barreled Ruger Single-Six and the muzzle velocity is right around 1,480 fps. True enough, the 648 is a competitive gun, ramped up to ring steel and punching paper. Watch the video below for all the details, or just scroll on down and read the full transcript. I picked one up when they first came out a few years ago and Ive put thousands of rounds through it since with no problems to speak of. Ive carried revolver and semi-autos on and off duty since 1961 on a daily basis. When looking at revolvers, make a decision on the maximum price you are prepared to pay. Sig Sauer P365 Series. Ruger LCR .22 LR - The Best 22 Revolver Overall 2. The Rock Island M203 is vastly similar to the two revolvers mentioned above: it's a .38 Special, it has a two-inch barrel and it's a hammered double action. Coming in black, it has a double action/single action trigger. Revolvers. Say a rifle. OBC does present certain risks. Never matched Jerry Miclulek, but have came close. Some people have also asked me about other small .22 budget pistols that I wouldnt consider quite small enough to be pocket-sized like the Phoenix Arms HP22 and the Bersa Thunder 22. Today, the company lists nearly twenty models in .22 WMR with both single and double-action options. TheAmerican Shooting Journallikewise got some decent results using short-barrel pistols, including 1-inch and 1.8-inch (meaning a snubby revolver) barrel handguns. These include IWB (Inside-the-waistband), OWB (Outside-the-waistband), Belly Band, and Pocket. It stands to reason, therefore, that .22 Magnum - or more accurately, .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire - would too. This is thanks to the triple-locking cylinder that is locked into the frame at the front, rear, and bottom for a more positive alignment. So yes, you could carry a .22 Magnum for self-defense, and it's actually more viable than you might be tempted to think. From there, it will be on to in-depth reviews of 10 quality revolvers and a buying guide. An Airweight variant of the J-frame Centennial Model, the Model 351 C is suitable for concealed carry due to its lightweight construction a mere 11.5 oz. But enough people have asked me about these that Im going to devote a whole video reviewing this one, so be on the lookout for that. Further, whereas guns like the Ruger Standard had to visit a gunsmith to accept a suppressor, the P22 could be quickly made suppressor ready. On paper, .22 Magnum ballistics don't look impressivebut they aren't everything. If the heavy trigger is too much of a turn-off, and you dont mind a revolver thats a couple of ounces heavier, you might prefer the Ruger LCR 22. The sights are much worse. Ruger SR-22: I owned one for a while. With that in mind, lets get started with the three major benefits a revolver can give. For many gun carriers, the statement bigger is better still holds sway, but the reality here is that is not always the case. Per a conversation I had with Chris Laack, head of handgun ammunition development for Federal (they do a lot of tests and get a lot of feedback from federal and local law enforcement agencies) it's about a 3:2 ratio; a bullet that penetrates 12 inches in gel will penetrate about 8 inches in flesh. On top of that, its got a nice single-action style trigger and a really well-designed manual safety. As with all barrel lengths of this size in revolvers chambered in .357 Magnum, one thing should be noted. Respected gun makers continue to advance their firearms manufacturing process. Stay in the know. So, how effective are .22 Magnum pistols in the real world? This ensures the gun is firmly secured, and you know exactly where it is. Using a 50-yard zero, you can easily keep all nine shots on a paper plate at 100-yards with just a bit of holdover. I got a great pistol. Here are five worthy of bearing in mind. But, a suitable .22 Magnum hunting revolver thats a different story. Of interesting note on the gun's design is the cylinder, ejector-rod assembly and arm are removed as one piece to swap calibers. As for comfortable concealment and swift weapon draw, this is made easy. The .22 Magnum revolver generally is the best bet. The all-new Taurus 942 is an 8-shot revolver available in both 22LR and 22WMR that's ideal for concealed carry, recreational shooting and skills training. [2022]. Get Guns.com offers and news!! That is because, when fired, it helps users to tame the snappy magnum recoil. One of our favorites for the last few years and still holds its own. Expanding bullets please unless penetration is required - maybe mixing the FMJ and HP would work well ? The decision point on the Model 48 is barrel length, with 4- and 6-inch variants available. I is one gun that I would not sell or trade for anything. .22 Magnum revolvers have been around for nearly as long as the cartridge theyre chambered for and now, over 60 years since the round's introduction, their utility and popularity endure. I have a vault full of fine weapons because I appreciate fine craftsmanship, but when I carry I always revert to my Sig 365, S&W MOD 60 or S&W 638 and I always carry after 44 years of policing. Still going strong today, this revolver model has been very well-received by those looking for a reliable, easy-to-conceal revolver. As well as being very easy to conceal, the best revolvers for concealed carry can really shine in close-quarter engagements. Ruger presents their SP101 revolver, which offers larger caliber protection in an acceptably small frame. Wearing a gun is by far the most popular method. Carrying a concealed gun for personal protection is something many U.S. citizens quite rightly do. The double action trigger on this gun is quite heavy and very long. Your email address will not be published. Thanks to that and the low recoil, even if I mag dump one of these things as fast as my finger can run the trigger, I can usually still keep it reasonably on target. The King Cobra has an effective brass bead front sight to add to its overall classic looks. With this unprecedented surge, were also seeing a record number of new gun owners. And in terms of striking power, it certainly lives up to its name! Speer makes a Gold Dot Short Barrel load in .22 Magnum, with an advertised velocity of 1,050 fps and 98 ft-lbs of energy from the muzzle. Cant get excited about any of them. It has a 6-round capacity and is chambered in .357 Magnum, although it can accept 38 Special rounds. Maybe that special someone in your life would really love a giant case of ammo. To find a revolver that you can comfortably conceal, think about your body size and shape. That means its the same size as the 9mm P938 and should fit the same holsters. Smith & Wesson Model 63. . MSRP: Blued $589; Stainless $799; armscor.com. It is the only way you will get the best from your weapon. The sights are solid as well, with an adjustable rear and a ramp front. Indeed, some models do not have visible hammers. but in the .22 caliber. Lucky Gunner remarked that it was close to the same penetration as some .38 Special loads. It also prevents you from quickly getting into a desired shooting stance in the event of emergency use. Here I refer to the .22 Magnum Revolver. Charter Arms offers a healthy line of different caliber revolvers. The Model 48 (well talk more about it further down) was one of the first guns chambered for the cartridge in the late 1950s. Therefore, choose carefully. This snubnose revolver series includes all-steel and aluminum-frame models chambered in .22 LR and .22 Mag. On top of that, you will have no concerns about there being an extra round in the chamber. Beretta M9 22LR 9. The factory sights are decent and there are a couple of aftermarket options if you want to change them. Smith & Wesson M&P 22 Compact Lightweight in its design, the Smith & Wesson M&P 22 Compact is scaled to 87.5 percent of the regular M&P 22's size. Unlike the 950, it is a double action/single action pistol and, for my hands, at least, it is a much more ergonomic design, mostly because its a little bit larger. Smith & Wesson and Ruger also make .22 magnum versions of these revolvers. Even the most basic pistols have a set of procedures to learn. Unless you honestly have no other choice, do you really think its wise to push your luck even further by trusting your life to a .22 that was designed around being as cheap to produce as humanly possible? Here, I allude to the Pathfinder. Ive been playing with the 43 C a lot lately and I have to say: Im really having a lot of fun with this thing. This is mostly true. Smith & Wesson M&P22 Compact .22 LR 3. It is also essential to get into the habit of checking whether or not there is a round in the chamber (essential when unloading). Top 10 Concealed Carry Revolvers You Can Still Buy. For more info, check out our in-depth Ruger GP100 Revolver 357 Magnum Review. When doing so, always have a holster inside of the bag. But for a backup piece, the S&W is right on target. Any results from self-defense shootings, at least any that are meaningful (a few successful or unsuccessful instances aren't really meaningful) aren't known to us. He loves writing and sharing his extensive knowledge of firearms, especially AR rifles and tactical equipment. Revolvers can be highly effective, but they cannot perform to maximum capacity on their own! 7. But this really is not the case, the classic wheel gun design of a revolver has a lot going for it. I got to try one of those out for a few weeks and it was pretty cool. The trigger is not great. In other words, it has about half the power of the most popular caliber for self-defense. They will also do this with the same reliability. Most are cognizant of the allure of handgun hunting. For the old person who is no longer able to manipulate a semi-automatic, a .22 Magnum revolver would work well. Likewise, Speer offers a 40-grain Gold Dot JHP loading of the .22 Magnum for short-barreled handguns that has a rated muzzle velocity of 1,050 fps. Lets get started with a model from one of the most prominent gun manufacturers out there. Sig Sauer P365. While they seem somewhat archaic by todays standards, the style is quite ergonomic and very conducive to resting on a support. He is a gun owner and avid reloader from Colorado. 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