{"id":211606,"date":"2025-06-14T14:40:10","date_gmt":"2025-06-14T19:40:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/?p=211606"},"modified":"2025-10-08T06:17:50","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T11:17:50","slug":"22-lr-is-it-good-for-self-defense","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/22-lr-is-it-good-for-self-defense\/","title":{"rendered":"22 LR: Self-Defense Round or Not"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-estimated-reading-time yoast-reading-time__wrapper\"><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__icon\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-icon=\"clock\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" style=\"display:inline-block;vertical-align:-0.1em\" role=\"img\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M12 8v4l3 3m6-3a9 9 0 11-18 0 9 9 0 0118 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__spacer\" style=\"display:inline-block;width:1em\"><\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__descriptive-text\">Estimated reading time: <\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__reading-time\">0<\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__time-unit\"> minutes<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Caliber debates are nothing new in the gun world, and when it comes to self-defense, the back-and-forth can get heated. And while it isn\u2019t as common as the <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/search?keyword=380%20acp\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"22-lr-is-it-good-for-self-defense\" title=\"22 LR: Self-Defense Round or Not\">380 ACP<\/a> vs. 9mm fight, the use of 22 LR does come up rather often. Is 22 LR a viable option for self-defense? Does it ricochet all over? Could you kill a rampaging bear with it? We\u2019ve got your answers, and they just might surprise you.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/bond-arms-derringer-22-lr.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"bond arms stinger 22 lr\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/bond-arms-derringer-22-lr.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/bond-arms-derringer-22-lr-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/bond-arms-derringer-22-lr-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/bond-arms-derringer-22-lr-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/bond-arms-derringer-22-lr-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><h2>Table of contents<\/h2><ul><li><a href=\"#h-22-lr-explained\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"22-lr-is-it-good-for-self-defense\" title=\"22 LR: Self-Defense Round or Not\" data-level=\"2\">22 LR- Explained<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-self-defense-debate\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"22-lr-is-it-good-for-self-defense\" title=\"22 LR: Self-Defense Round or Not\" data-level=\"2\">Self-Defense Debate<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-caliber-choice-education\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"22-lr-is-it-good-for-self-defense\" title=\"22 LR: Self-Defense Round or Not\" data-level=\"3\">Caliber Choice Education<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-effective-with-proper-placement\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"22-lr-is-it-good-for-self-defense\" title=\"22 LR: Self-Defense Round or Not\" data-level=\"3\">Effective With Proper Placement<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-charging-grizzly-vs-22-lr\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"22-lr-is-it-good-for-self-defense\" title=\"22 LR: Self-Defense Round or Not\" data-level=\"2\">Charging Grizzly vs 22 LR<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-bullet-ricochet\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"22-lr-is-it-good-for-self-defense\" title=\"22 LR: Self-Defense Round or Not\" data-level=\"2\">Bullet Ricochet<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-22-lr-gun-concealed-carry\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"22-lr-is-it-good-for-self-defense\" title=\"22 LR: Self-Defense Round or Not\" data-level=\"2\">22 LR gun &#8211; Concealed Carry<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-bigger-is-better\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"22-lr-is-it-good-for-self-defense\" title=\"22 LR: Self-Defense Round or Not\" data-level=\"3\">Bigger IS Better<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-conclusion\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"22-lr-is-it-good-for-self-defense\" title=\"22 LR: Self-Defense Round or Not\" data-level=\"2\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/22-lr-ammo-boxes-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"stack of 22lr boxes\" class=\"wp-image-212914\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/22-lr-ammo-boxes-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/22-lr-ammo-boxes-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/22-lr-ammo-boxes-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/22-lr-ammo-boxes-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/22-lr-ammo-boxes.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">22 LR has been around for a long time, but is it a viable self-defense option? <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-22-lr-explained\">22 LR- Explained<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s a quick rundown on 22 LR. Some misconceptions about this cartridge exist because it\u2019s a .22-caliber, meaning it\u2019s technically the same caliber as rounds like 223 Remington. The bullet diameter of the <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/search?keyword=22%20lr\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"22-lr-is-it-good-for-self-defense\" title=\"22 LR: Self-Defense Round or Not\">22 LR<\/a> is 0.223-inches, and the diameter for the 223 Remington is 0.224-inches\u2014an incredibly minor difference. Because of that, there\u2019s sometimes confusion. The reality is that there\u2019s more to a cartridge than its bullet diameter or caliber. Factors like bullet weight, case size, and their related powder and bullet length come into play (there\u2019s more, but you get the idea).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>22 LR was officially launched in 1887 by the J. Stevens Arm &amp; Tool Company. It wasn\u2019t the first .22-caliber or the first cartridge to utilize a metal case, but it is the oldest one that is still in regular production. The cartridge was created mostly for shooting pests and varmints and was the next logical step after the short-lived 22 Extra Long. Thanks to its design, it caught on with target shooters, too. For almost 150 years, it&#8217;s been favored for many reasons, such as affordability, nonexistent recoil, and versatility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/22-caliber-ammo-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"22 caliber ammunition\" class=\"wp-image-212925\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/22-caliber-ammo-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/22-caliber-ammo-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/22-caliber-ammo-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/22-caliber-ammo-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/22-caliber-ammo.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">22 LR, 223 Remington, and 243 Winchester, the latter of which has a bullet diameter of .243-inches compared to .224-inches for 223 Rem and .223-inches for 22 LR. Seemingly minute differences matter. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-self-defense-debate\">Self-Defense Debate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The question of whether 22 LR is a good idea for self-defense use is one with more than one answer. Let\u2019s break it down one piece at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-caliber-choice-education\">Caliber Choice Education<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Choosing a caliber for carry is a personal choice, but it should always be an educated choice. That\u2019s harder to do when you\u2019re a new shooter or simply one who\u2019s only seen certain opinions in the gun world. Many shooters end up with a 22 LR for specific reasons. Some people choose it for their inability to handle any recoil whatsoever due to injury or arthritis. Others are just familiar with the cartridge from childhood. Still others like how cheap it is, and some believe it ricochets wildly within the target it penetrates (more on that later). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your only option for carry is one chambered in 22 LR, the answer here is that it\u2019s better to have a gun around for self-defense than no gun at all. Just because your only handgun is a 22 LR doesn\u2019t mean you should give up and not bother carrying at all, because it can work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-effective-with-proper-placement\">Effective With Proper Placement<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Ask any emergency room doctors and surgeons, and you\u2019ll discover that a lot of the DOA or unsavable gunshot wound patients they see were shot with 22 LR. While that doesn\u2019t make 22 LR the &#8220;Best Thing Ever&#8221;, it does confirm that it\u2019s a round that can stop a threat given the right circumstances. For any round to be effective, it needs to hit something vital. If your 22 LR impacts a vital organ or great vessel of the heart, it\u2019s going to stop the threat. It might not be as fast a halt to the violence as you\u2019d get with a larger caliber, but it can work quite well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The bottom line is that while 22 LR isn\u2019t ideal for self-defense, it is effective with proper placement. Using one as your dedicated <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/cool-carry-gun-should-you-customize-it\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"22-lr-is-it-good-for-self-defense\" title=\"22 LR: Self-Defense Round or Not\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"428\">carry gun<\/a> is more iffy than counting on something like a 9mm. However, that doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s a terrible idea that must be avoided at all costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/bella-twin-bear-grizzly-22-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"grizzly bear skull shot with 22lr\" class=\"wp-image-212918\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/bella-twin-bear-grizzly-22-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/bella-twin-bear-grizzly-22-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/bella-twin-bear-grizzly-22-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/bella-twin-bear-grizzly-22-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/bella-twin-bear-grizzly-22.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An older image of the skull from the grizzly shot by Bella Twin. (Photo\/Family of Bella Twin)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-charging-grizzly-vs-22-lr\">Charging Grizzly vs 22 LR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You can shoot a bear with a 22 LR. How well it\u2019s going to work is another story entirely, but it has been done successfully (granted, it was many years ago). In 1953, Bella Twin shot and killed a charging grizzly with her Cooey Ace #1 22 rimfire <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/firearms\/rifles\/single-shot\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"22-lr-is-it-good-for-self-defense\" title=\"22 LR: Self-Defense Round or Not\">single-shot rifle<\/a>. She\u2019d been out checking her trap lines, and while the story goes that her first shot dropped the bear, she did go ahead and keep shooting into its skull seven more times. The first shot had entered the brain through the orbital bone of the right eye. Could this be done again? It could, but I wouldn\u2019t bet my life on a 22 rimfire versus a bear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/22-lr-winchester-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"winchester 22 lr ammo\" class=\"wp-image-212919\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/22-lr-winchester-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/22-lr-winchester-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/22-lr-winchester-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/22-lr-winchester-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/22-lr-winchester.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">There are a lot of myths about 22 LR, the most popular being that it ricochets endlessly upon penetration. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-bullet-ricochet\">Bullet Ricochet <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Every once in a while, someone pops off with the idea that 22 LR is great because it ricochets internally, doing far more damage than a \u201cnormal\u201d bullet. In reality, that\u2019s not the case. Any bullet, including 22 LR, could bounce off the inside of the skull or off a rib, but it\u2019s not likely to be that impressive. Also, it doesn\u2019t bounce around like a ping-pong ball. The bullet dumps its energy into the initial wound cavity. Any resulting ricochet within the body is going to have minimal results. There\u2019s no scrambling or mincemeat involved. We need to stop spreading this myth as gospel. It could convince people who would otherwise carry a larger caliber to go for the 22 LR.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/22-lr-9mm-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"rounds of ammo\" class=\"wp-image-212920\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/22-lr-9mm-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/22-lr-9mm-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/22-lr-9mm-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/22-lr-9mm-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/22-lr-9mm.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The diameter difference between a 9mm round and a 22 LR is significant. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-22-lr-gun-concealed-carry\">22 LR gun &#8211; Concealed Carry<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are times it makes sense to carry a gun chambered in 22 LR. Sometimes it\u2019s about injuries, arthritis, or weakness in the hands. Other times, the only handgun the person has just happens to be chambered in 22 LR. Still others flat-out prefer 22 LR, which is something we\u2019ll address shortly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>READ MORE HERE: <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/bella-twin-the-little-woman-and-the-really-big-bear\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"22-lr-is-it-good-for-self-defense\" title=\"22 LR: Self-Defense Round or Not\">Dr. Dabbs \u2013 Bella Twin: The Tiny Little Woman and the Really Big Bear<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Carrying a 22 LR means you have a firearm available to protect yourself from an immediate threat. You\u2019re not unarmed, and you\u2019re not helpless. This is a point especially worth making for those who are elderly or infirm and carrying it. If at all possible, you should practice with it for good shot placement, but it\u2019s better to have it than to have nothing at all. For some gun owners, the 22 LR is the only real option, and that\u2019s okay. If it becomes possible in the future for you to get a gun in a larger caliber, then do so. However, it needs to be a manageable caliber for your skill and strength. Having a bigger gun you can\u2019t handle for rapid-fire or follow-up shots isn\u2019t a good idea. That brings us right back to 22 LR being good for some people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-bigger-is-better\">Bigger IS Better<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As for those who carry 22 LR because they subscribe to the belief that the bullets bounce wildly on impact, that\u2019s ridiculous. So is the idea that this admittedly diminutive cartridge is all they need when they\u2019re capable of carrying and firing something larger. If someone has the financial and physical ability to carry a gun larger than a 22 LR, they should. Why would you not want to have the upper hand in a gunfight when your life is on the line? Stack the odds of surviving in your favor by getting something larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-conclusion\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The gun moral of the story is that you can use the 22 LR for self-defense. The pervasive idea that it\u2019s a garbage round isn\u2019t accurate, but neither is the idea that it magically ricochets on impact. As usual, the truth is somewhere in the middle. 22 LR can be a capable defensive round with correct placement, and there are some shooters for whom it\u2019s best (or the only option at that time). After all, the first rule of a gunfight is to have a gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong><em>*** <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"22-lr-is-it-good-for-self-defense\" title=\"22 LR: Self-Defense Round or Not\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Buy and Sell on GunsAmerica!<\/a> ***<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The question of whether 22 LR is a good idea for self-defense used has more than one answer. Let\u2019s break it down one piece at a time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":89,"featured_media":212928,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_specdata_upc":"","_specdata_placement":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[234,340],"tags":[1865,299,127,102],"featured":[],"hunt365":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-211606","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-columns","8":"category-columns-ccw-edc","9":"tag-22lr-2","10":"tag-ammo-2","11":"tag-concealed-carry","12":"tag-feature-articles"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>22 LR: Viable Self-Defense Round<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Read bout the 22 LR round, the reasons why it could be a viable option for self-defense, and how it was used against a bear.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/22-lr-is-it-good-for-self-defense\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"22 LR: Self-Defense Round or Not\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The question of whether 22 LR is a good idea for self-defense used has more than one answer. 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