WELL, FINALLY A PROUD GUN OWNER!!!! Any advice for classes, cleaning, maintenance?

Nobody is saying a 22 isn't lethal when shot placement is perfect. Unfortunately when in theses life or death situations we lose fine motor control and with all that adrenaline pumping through your body you absolutely cannot count on perfect placement.

22 is a great caliber to practice with up to a point but it's not a realistic and effective man stopper.

Telling someone just getting into firearms that the 22 is a good personal defense round is IMO irresponsible.

Know your ammo. You will probably want rounds that have some level of safety for your family and innocent persons downstream - such as hollow points which expand more readily. (Glazer safety rounds may be available. These won't go through walls as they spread out when they hit something. Bird shot can also be fired from a 22) Also, try out shorts, longs, long rifle and magnums (if they fit) to see if any particular type jams (you don't want a jam in an emergency). If you have kids, tell them that you will gladly show the gun to them anytime they want, but that they are not allowed to see it or touch it on their own. Letting them see it and touch it in your presence may satisfy a child's curiosity enough so that they don't try to get it on their own. Also, make sure it is either in a gun safe or has a lock so that child won't have easy access to it.

Congrats! I'm not going to piss on your back and tell you it's raining. As for the anti gun counties I'm sorry your government don' t trust you with your God given right to protect yourself. As for the anti gun people in this country, It's all about individual choice. But remember it's hard to change your choice when your looking down the barrel of somebody else's choice. Personally I would not have chose that caliber. As many have noted you have to be a hell of a shot to use a 22 in an effective manner. In most cases when you need the weapon most, it has been proven that due to the situation and possible environmental factors your aim and proficiency may be less than optimal. I'd use the 22 for practice and to get the feel of a firearm, but for actual protection you might consider "stepping it up a bit." It don't have to be a "hog leg" but it has to be comfortable for you. The laws you can learn form your local authorities. With that I say good luck and enjoy your right, and always remember, It's a hell of a thing to take another mans life; be damn sure if you have to, there's no shame in walking away.

reply to post by kinglizard


The 22 is about the most deadly gun ever, next to a 12 gauge shotgun. The round enters the torso and bounces around, eating up organs and blood vessels. It is so small that it can easily pass through many types of soft body armor. The National Institute of Justice classifies a level 2A vest as being able to stop such a round, but my experience is that a 22 magnum will likely go through that 2A - and 3A too - if the Aramid threads are large (3000 denier or so), or if the Aramid is not laminated. 12 sheets of 3000 denier will stop a 44 magnum blunt nose, but not a 22 magnum out of a rifle. You can see the thread marks on a round stopped by Aramid (like Kevlar), but that 22 turns into spaghetti and flings its way through.

reply to post by banishedfromthisarea


And, you must remember that the NATO 7.62 FMJ 140 grain (308), though it travels at about 2700 feet per second, it is designed to maim, not kill. It generally passes through the body with minimal expansion. That's because it takes more soldiers to deal with a wounded soldier than a dead one - allegedly shortening wars. So you can't always go by weapon type or round type.

reply to post by AllUrChips


For classes, I'd recommend your local shooting range. They will also have info on getting your Concealed Weapons permit. I'd really recommend it, just because there may be moments you'd rather conceal this, and this way, you'd do it legally.

Also, even with open carry, you still have to assume that authority types are going to keep a wary eye on you, and I'd really recommend scrutinizing your local gun laws.

I personally use a stun gun that looks like a cellphone for protection myself...just because it is non-lethal, easy to open carry, and will surprise the hell out of anybody trying anything. Downside is though, it's a close-contact weapon, and only really good for a few good jolts before being weak and needing a charge. If in a really bad area, I'll also carry an ASP (collapsable baton).

For home defense though, I'm happy with my shotgun.

reply to post by kinglizard


I have handled quite a few homicide cases where the murder weapon was a 22. I was the law clerk for federal district court judge Edward Price when the Roberti Roose assault weapons case was heard in California. That case was assigned to me. I got to read about 200 pounds of briefs from the NRA, FBI and amicus on weapons. 22's are deadly. You don't need perfect shot placement for a 22 to kill. The round ricochets in the torso, wiping out organs, veins and arteries.