SpearHunked we don’t have to choose between the meat target and jello, I think it is worthwhile to see the results of both. If a particular load does well in both tests, it is probably a real world winner.
Back when I was married, my wife, due to a lasting injury in her shooting arm (automobile crash) was limited to .22s and .25s mostly for self-defense carry. Add in her tiny hands with the total lack of recoil tolerance and we did a LOT of evaluation of different loads for her .22s. Reliability was #1 of course, followed by accuracy and "performance." The latter was of course simulated and much data taken from other folks' research. But we could test the first two categories and shot every brand and type we could get our hands on. CCI Mini-mags (solids) were far and away THE most reliable rounds we tried in her guns. I'm not talking misfires, we only had misfires from bulk packs and mostly just Remington Golden Bullets (those were awful but we used them for clearance drills). I don't remember a single ammo related FTF with any premium ammo. Her .22 pistols (Walther P22, Beretta Bobcat, Walther PPK) really preferred the CCI mini-mags over even Elly ammo. Of course, it seems individual .22s vary a lot in their preferences. Back in the early days of my LEO career, most guys in my area carried .22s as BUGs. They actually preferred them (cost being a big factor, but also a lot of hearsay commentary ... and most of the folks we found DRT were hit in the head or heart/aorta with .22s or .25s). Stingers were the big thing then but I remember chambering a round of .22 Stinger and getting an unexpected "Bang!" Come to find the rim was over-sized. It wasn't so obvious that I noticed it when loading but sure enough, the recovered brass was pressed in all the way around the rim where the whole breachfast crushed the rim when the slide went home. That was probably the only screwed up round of Stinger on the market but it was enough for me to look elsewhere (specifically at mini-mags). For my .22 mag mini-revolver (these were also insanely popular back in the day and mine went literally everywhere with me), I settled on the Maxi-Mag +V. I've tried several others including the ones designed for SD and while I liked them all, Maxi-Mag +V is what I stocked up on so until that supply dwindles, that's what I'll tote. Thanks for this video. I bet you helped a lot of people. It's not widely admitted, but .22s are still a big choice for self-defense. I know folks who deliberately choose it because they only want "enough" bullet (whatever the heck that means).
@@nbip2845 - Thank you! I totally forgot to mention the Aquila SSS rounds. We liked those too, when we could find them. Main problem was making sure they stabilized well as they need, IIRC, a faster twist. Though, I mostly remember this being an issue with rifles and only one or two handguns we tried showing any tendency to key-hole. Of course, at the really short range of most SD shootings, I doubt it would matter much. Ex-wife carried them quite a bit but they got hard to find for a while locally (then there were the dark days of ALL .22 rimfire being hard to find) and Mini-mags ruled the day from then on. I don't remember us ever having a FTF with the SSS rounds, either.
I know this is an older comment but I just watched this. I too am a fan of the Naa mini revolver in 22mag. I joke that it's my ENT gun ( Ear, Nose and Throat) because of the small caliber. Currently mine is loaded with the gold dots and after seeing this and other tests I'm pretty comfortable with that but I wouldn't be opposed to a solid bullet either when I need more. L.G. posted a video about the mini revolvers saying it's one of the worst choices for a carry gun and I can see the logic behind his argument. Still, I like mine as a backup or on the rare occasion I go for a run I can clip the one with the folding grip onto my pants and not worry about it.
@@chrisjones6002 - Exactly. I'm in the middle of hurricane Sara cleanup right now. When out and about I have more "serious" pieces, but on days like today when most of what I needed to do was in the back yard, I have my NAA .22 mag in my gym shorts pocket so I can stay a little bit cooler. I've used mine when in semi-non-permissive environments, too. Places where it's not illegal to carry it BUT the locals might have a different view and I wanted to avoid discussions. Now a little .380 can usually fill that,but for a gym short gun or a Nobody Will See This gun, it's hard to beat. And with just a little practice, one can put rounds where they count for a surprising distance. Mine's the older model with the front blade sight that pretty much isn't regulated at all. A friend totes either the Pug or Black Widow (I don't remember which) that has useable sights.
I'm a geezer with computer stuff. I saw you can sort your spreadsheets by barrel length. Thanks for that! Before I was like, "Oh that's a good round. No that's out of a 4 inch barrel." You can sort by muzzle velocity, too. Welcome to the future!
@@markmuch1295 it's a little heavy. May as well go with .357 in a steel frame revolver. An ultralight handgun (LCRx) is where. 327 would shine, and the extra inch of barrel would add some oomph over their current snubby offering.
My 3" LCRx 22 mag is perfectly awful. 15# trigger pull...I know another for sale that a man bought for his wife, she cannot pull the trigger. I am very disappointed and won't be buying another Ruger anything as a result. Factory basically told me to pound sand. Lawyer designed gun.
Your full coverage on the website is always my go to for new loads. Thanks for all the time and effort you put into supporting your business that all of us benefit from.
Not that it wasn’t fun for y’all, but everyone here really appreciate you putting in the work to get these numbers. Keep up the good work and I’ll be sure my next batch of ammo is from you.
I remember when the .22 "hyper-velocity" rounds (CCI Stinger, etc.) first came out, the gun magazines explained that the extra velocity came from using slower burning powder. Pistol length barrels don't gain much, if any, velocity by using these loads. They actually blow un-burned powder out of the muzzle.
I remember firing a Stinger out of an ancient Burgo 106S (piece of garbage"budget" .22LR snubnose revolver from West Germany). The report was abnormal in both the quality and overall amount of noise and it shot a crazy amount of unburned powder and residue out of the side of the cylinder onto my hand. I still like CCI, probably my go-to for .22LR ammunition, but yeah Stingers are overly appreciated in this niche IMO. They're a great varmint/pest control round out of rifles, nothing more.
@@SaftonYT that’s narrow to a silly degree - plenty of tests showing that if you give the Stinger even a little bit of barrel (like an LCP 22 pocket pistol) it will expand where other .22LRs will not. And out of a 4” K-frame revolver they are accurate, flat shooting, and mushroom beautifully. Nor do they have some weird “sound” or spray powder. Just a sharper than average .22 crack (and a report from striking plates that tells you yes, this bullet is moving fast.) You’d need to try a round in something other than an obvious garbage gun before making pronouncements.
@@FMDad-dm5qo Yes, Stingers often show some expansion where other .22s do not. You know what they notably *don't* do when they *do* expand? Penetrate consistently to the 12" standard. Give me a solid with greater chances of reaching vital structures than a .22 which will exhibit some token expansion any day.
I'm actually glad people are publishing data like this! While I and pretty much anybody else would recommend a more substantial caliber, in reality there are any number of reasons why one would be running less than optimal gear. What matters instead is that you understand the limitations of whatever it is you have to work with and adapt around that. Like if all you got is grandpa's old .22 Mag revolver that you inherited? Then become an expert in grandpa's old .22 Mag revolver.
The only correct answer for .22 is rule #1, have a gun...and that rule will work for about 98-99% of problems...for the other percentage, sometimes a 12 gauge slug might not be enough...
i carry a NAA 22 mag. for summer carry. When it is 105 degrees on a nice Texas summer day a tiny pocket revolver is about the only option for practical concealment. I got a heat rash trying to pocket carry a 380 and i sweated through the holster trying to IWB carry the 380. So a 22mag with a folding handle became an attractive option.
I carry a .22 WMR North American Arms Pug when I don't have room for my Kimber K6S, like when I'm wearing nice jeans and a fitted shirt for going out or something like that (I wear clothes that fit me well, and I'm pretty small at 5'9"-150lbs, sometimes I just can't conceal a 'real' handgun), so this is just another test I'm happy to have come across.
this is by far the most extensive video demonstrating .22lr/mag Lots of work must've taken a long time and for all your efforts I applaud you and appreciate everything you've done. thank you.
I daily carry a P22. I dont feel underpowered and its nice to have a gun in the truck that my girlfriend can shoot well, not to mention i can mag dump in a 3 inch area at ten yards. Accuracy is important especially when seconds count
Perry Caulkins accuracy not only counts it’s almost the only thing that counts. Pistols simply suck at killing people mostly because they are simply too weak and it’s too difficult to accurately hit vitals with one. I’m no huge advocate for carrying an extra magazine or two but with a .22 I would. Unfortunately the P22 mags are kinda soft and squishy and that means they need to be in a pouch not a pocket.
JKay11235 i shoot most guns well. I can shoot a full mag within 3” at ten yards in about 3 seconds. I couldnt dream of doing that with a 9mm and neither could you
Thank you. That was the data I was looking for. I keep Velocitors in the LCR but not in the semi autos because of reliability issues. CCI Minimag 40 grain in the semi autos. My wife can no longer handle the recoil from a 9mm in a handgun. I have been considering 22 magnum.
My goto pocket carry EDC for anytime, anywhere, everywhere, is a Ruger LCRx 22mag. revolver loaded with 6shots of the Speer Gold Dot 40gr HP (made for short barrels). Works good in my revolver. Have never had a misfire/dud. Carry in DeSantis Nemises pocket holster. Even if I'm carrying one of my 9mm pistols I still tend to carry the little revolver as well, along with a "speed" strip of 10 extra rounds.
Thank you, you're one of the few people who have done a fairly in depth testing of .22 LR gel tests for handguns. There were a couple loads you didn't test that you may want to in the future: The 60 grain Aguila Sniper SubSonic (SSS) and Winchester Hyper Speed. The weight of the Aguila bullet should help with penetration and improve cycling due to the use of the .22 Short case while the Winchester Hyper Speed is basically their version of CCI Velocitor, but it comes in 100 round boxes and is sometimes half the price of Velocitor.
Great review. I'd love to see the test results using longer barrels (e.g., Ruger Charger and Ruger 10/22). Also, please add Federal Punch ammo to the mix. Keep the great videos coming!
One I’ve seen that I don’t see here (at least in the LR) is federal punch ammo, and that one claims over 1000 fps out of a 2 inch barrel. Might be more effective than the ones tested.
Thank you for the video. Taking the current ammo situation into consideration, and based on this info, along with the findings presented by Paul Harrell: My 22lr ammo of choice in my handguns (4.625" to 5.5" barrel lengths) is CCI Velocitor. In my rifles just about any hollowpoint, but CCI Stinger or Winchester Super X are preferred.
WOW! Great ballistic charts- very informative! I was surprised to see how well the .32 long stacked up against the .32 HR mag- not much difference at all. My wife and I both have snubbie model 30 Smith's shooting 100 gr FMJ.
Excellent, factual presentation, Chris; THANK YOU and Lucky Gunner. I won’t abandon the more traditional, centerfire, defensive handgun calibers, but the .22lr or .22mag carried obviously is infinitely better than the .357mag or the 9x19mm left in the nightstand.
@Tim Turner: Speak for yourself, Tim; I can guarantee they wont apply in my abode 😏😏. Althiugh a .22 LR or WMR may beat a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.
Interesting results. CCI Mini-Mags have been my goto for less than super cheap 22LR in semi-autos because it has enough power for the blowback action to work reliably and generally also has good ignition reliability. Too bad it doesn't seem to be so good for self defense. I generally use 22LR for plinking / target practice / training, so it's not a huge issue for me. But it is nice to see data like this.
Wish you guys would test some of the segmented.22LR rounds available, they are exceptionally good at dumping the kinetic energy within 8-9", in several directions. Curious about use as a SD round
Thanks for some good information. I'm not sure that I could ever feel good enough about either caliber as a self-defense firearm to want to carry that kind of firearm. To me, .22LR is a great caliber for pistols with barrels in the four to nine inch range and for rifles. I guess one of those pistols could be worthwhile for some self-defense, but I see them as guns for plinking and some hunting. Although I've never had or fired a .22 WMR, the idea stuck in my head is that this caliber is made for small game hunting rifles. If I could afford a firearm in that caliber and were going to add another caliber to what I keep, I'd get a rifle. I still think that the information you've provided is great. Many people are either forced to use one of these calibers for self-defense or just decide that one of these calibers is what they want for self-defense. Giving them good information is a great thing to do.
Amazing that you went to these lengths. I hace smith and Wesson 351c that is awesome pocket pistol. My first shot would be to the pelvis and work up from there with remaining 6 shots if need be. I can’t imagine how painful it would be to get shot in pelvis with this. It would take all will to fight away as opposed to a torso shot that passed by organs. Speer sounds great but hard to find.
wife likes tearing up the groin and head area on a paper target🥴. not the greatest self defense round but its better than a pointy stick any day. an the important thing is she's comfortable with it
@@leokelly359for one more round I’ve actually moved to the 43c 22lr. 22mag much more power but federal punch is great. I’m able to dump 8 shots in the face of a torso target at 15yrs one handed in 5 seconds with a pocket holster draw. I just love it. Check out the demonstrated concepts channel. He convinced me to go with 22lr. No appendix carry but there a great grip with a clip by Hamre Forge. Love It.
Excellent review. I’m a big 22 mag fan and have both the sw snubbie, the pmr, and the pug. This review is very helpful and I’ve bought 22 mag from you.
I know this video's a few years old, but if you haven't already, I'd like you to check out the Federal Punch .22LR ammo that came out somewhat recently. They're apparently optimized for snubnose/short-barrel pistols, and apparently have impressive penetration.
My NAA mini revolver, carried as a backup or second backup is loaded with the Hornady rounds. They seem to go bang every time and shoot at least as well as I can. Right handed I shoot left of target. Left handed I shoot right of target. At 3-5 feet it is still in a circle smaller than a heart or brain. If they don't expand, then they are just flat nosed fmj, which some people use anyway.
I carry an lcr like the one in this video, (22mag) as a backup or pocket gun, and I like to use both the gold dot and the critical defense. I don't care what anyone says, I wouldn't want to get hit by one of these magnums, and it only takes one to the head. Something even a 22lr could accomplish easily with its light recoil and accuracy.
While it didn't perform the best in the snub, CCI Standard Velocity was the most consistent. For a pocket pistol, I wouldn't rule it out because it's one of the most consistent and accurate .22 LR ammo I've shot, not too mention cheap. Plus, it will also be one of the quietest and lowest recoiling options. I've never had much luck with CCI Stinger. It's about the least accurate .22 ammo I've fired, be it in a handgun or rifle. The only potential positive for it is the nickel case helps with extraction and feeding, but other than that, it's a waste of money in any gun as Velocitor is the same price, but is way better performing. I've also seen good things about Winchester 222/333/555 bulk .22. I have some guns that love it and some that don't, but I have seen videos that the guns that love it, shoot it really well. Only problem is that ammo is becoming harder to find.
Fantastic video as always. Years ago, shooting the bull .410 tested several rounds out of the NAA. CCI mini-mag 36 grain hollow points were the way to go in his tests. And Chris if you're reading this I know you're not a fan of the NAAs (which is fair) but it is was I carry in my NAA Bugout when I decide to use it.
Since .22s aren’t going to expand at such low speeds anyway, I would have used rn mini mags. You’ll get more penetration and consistency, not to mention they’ll feed better in some autoloaders.
It's like wadcutters or lead ball vs hollow points in 38s--if HPs aren't going to expand reliably and penetrate, I'd rather poke consistent holes that I know will at least be deep enough to hit what counts
@@tangero3462 I carry .32 caliber revolvers often and sometimes that's loaded with .32 S&W Long. The Wadcutters are some of the most consistent loads for the caliber and do quite well.
I think is safe to say that Lucky Gunner mos def has some of the best designed User Interface and data layout in the industry. Thanks for all your hard work LuckyGunner y'all !
I’ve been following the Pocket Pistol series like religion. My eyes have been opened. I probably don’t need a new gun. I need better ammunition. I happily placed my order with Lucky Gunner.
Your testing videos and charts are the best. There are other very good channels but not quite as thorough as yours. You are the fastest shipper of ammunition, period.
"Better the .22 in your pocket, then the .45 ACP, at home in the drawer, when you have an URGENT NEED", Massad Ayoob. Good Stuff fellas. Continued Success! :)
Great video! I have seen many recommendations for the CCI 36gr mini-mags as well. Shootingthebull410 Found those to be the best performer out of the NAA revolver, I’d be interested to see how they do out of a standard snubby.
Exactly. I plan on gel testing the Velocitor, Punch, and 36gr mini-mags here soon into a Clear Ballistics FBI gel block. 4-5 rounds each, and the winner in consistent penetration will be my carry in LCR 22. 👉
I like the Hornady critical defense 22 mag for my revolver. It felt like it gets a less recoil and less flash and sound then standard rounds. I had issues with high velocity rounds expanding the brass so much it caused jams for the action. The critical defense never had that issue.
You left out the part where "the 22 will go in and bounce around.". Or "It will go in their head and come out their thumb." lmao. I grew up hearing that and more about the 22. I do believe The 22 is a good defense round and probably the best option for many individuals, for various reasons. But those old sayings just won't die!
Shadow Wolf .. “It will go in their head and come out their thumb” is one I’ve never heard before. I love it! People in the great state of Georgia claim that more deer have been taken with .22 rifles than any other caliber. Pretty much the same idea behind only being able to afford a single shot firearm...you HAVE to make that one shot count! Thanks for posting your comment.
@@jamesharber7820 People here in the great state of Indiana say the same thing about the 22 and deer. I had a good friend in high school that sure lived by that theory. Funny story- I was at that friends house one night, ignoring him and doing some heavy makin out with his cousin. He got bored of being the 3rd wheel and decides to go "deer spotin" He interrupted me and ask if I had any 22 bullets in my car. Seems he was out. I momentarily took my attention off his cute cousin and said "No, but I got one in my pocket." I had been shooting earlier in the day and for some reason remembered I had put one round in my pocket that I had picked up when I dropped it while reloading. Anyway, I quickly gave it to him so he would go away and leave me to my business. He grabs the one 22 I gave him and took off out the house. Less than an hour he cones back, all excited. He had done dropped a monster buck with that single old bullet I had dropped earlier in the day and had given him. Only bullet he had. Now, I'm not supporting his idea or style of "spotin"". But it does prove the old saying you spoke of and made me remember that ole story from my teenage years.
@@jamesharber7820 That is really cool! I've been all over the states and spent 2 weeks in Canada fishing and camping when I was 12. Had a great time! But I've pretty much lived here, in south western Indiana my whole life. I 've always lived close to Evansville, but never right in it. I've lived on the Ohio river a couple to times. Right across from Kentucky. I've always enjoyed going to other places but this area is my home. Which part of Indiana are you from? Oh, I wanted to say something else about using the 22 for defense. My wife, all 100 lbs of her, likes shooting and using my ole 22 HR 9 shot revolver for home defense. She used a Taurus snubby 38 for several years. And she can shoot! But as she has gotten a little older, she just likes the 22 better. Less recoil and noise. Both my parents, almost 80, use 22 revolvers I gave them years ago for home defense and carry(mainly car carry. They don't body carry very often . They just like the 22. And mom will still practice with hers, because it just shoots best for her. Dad has a Ruger Single Six and mom an HR nine shot double action. Dad mainly uses his to dispatch pest and varmits around the farm. But he does back it up with12 gauge shot guns and 22 rifles. Dad never has had anything but a 22 handgun as far as handguns go. And believe me, he ain't going to buy any ammo except 22 for a handgun. He shakes his head when he sees how much center fire ammo cost. And a side note- Dad insist on carrying his revolvers with an empty chamber under the hammer. Just like they did years ago when you had to on alot of guns. I can't convince him it is safe to carry modern revolvers fully loaded. Lol. But anyway, here is 3 cases I personally know of where the 22 is the best choice for defense for them. I have no problem with using a 22 myself for a carry or house gun. I've actually got several 22's loaded around the house at this time. And I'll close by saying there is a BIG difference between 22LR and Magnum. The Magnum wins hands down between the 2 on "stopping power ". But the cost of the ammo does keep some people (like my dad) from using it. And some will practice less with the magnum because of cost, recoil and noise.
I greatly appreciate all of Lucky Gunners dedication and effort to bring us this in depth information. This has helped me in decision making on ammo selection.
I been researching 22lr for past couple months because I'm trying to get my wife and my nieces into shooting and was looking for best 22 ammo. It won't be a carry gun for now (m&p 15 22) but knowing what's the best 22 ammo out there helps nonetheless. You guys are scientists for sure. NASA watch out.
We only have 2 boxes of velocitors, and we like a good 100 round test for our lcp...so far, the 36gr mini-mags have run best, with 40gr mini-mags, blazers, and thunderbolts (just crazy enough to be true), nearly as good...i agree the velocitors look like the best option, but until we can find enough for several tests we will sit on those 2 boxes...also owning a NAA.22lr and while it will shoot anything, the velocitors also the prime candidate for it...someday a backordered taurus 942 in .22wmr will arrive, and we have the hornady waiting for it...none of these guns are our 1st, or even 2nd options, but we think the more options the better...heck, our heritage with the magnum cylinder still better than nothing...I am starting to sound like one of those folks that have 1 or 2 loaded guns in every room of the house (💣💣💣!)...
I love seeing how 22lr ammo wildly bounces around inside the gel causing extra damage. Too bad it doesn't have enough stopping power. - Manny Mansfield (probably)
If you get hit with 3 or 4 22LRs in vital areas it will stop an attack or let you escape the danger. Thought about 22WMR snub nose but I have many other 22LR firearms so common practice ammo.
@@Norm475 Yeah, could be mine needs something that hot. I bought it used and I don't know if it's been broken in yet. My 1998-made Taurus PT22 runs perfectly with MiniMags, as well as Federal AutoMatch (these are all I've tried so far.)
I've ALWAYS had 💯 confidence in a .22 EDC pistol loaded with a premium round. Maybe because I grew up firing thousands of rounds through everything made in that chambering, but I've not missed a aimed shot in over 20 years either..js
CCI Mini-mag hollow points are all I use for serious use in .22LR, be that pistol or rifle. Makes quick work of small game. Is it the best? I don't know. They've always worked and with thousands of rounds behind me I've not had any ammo related failures. So that's what I use.
I really want the Taurus 942 22lr revolver & the Sccy red dot 9mm...but the only gun I have now is the Walther p22...If you polish the ridge on the hammer and feed ramp/chamber edge there's no problems with hollow points getting caught up...without polishing aguila cprn 40gr OR CCI cprn work great....
Why wouldn't you guys test the CCI Segmenting HP+V for LR and MAG? They're my first choice by a long shot.. There's nothing gimmicky about them.. High velocity and they do serious damage, especially when you Phillips Mod them...And I would've liked to see how the CCI TNT Maxi-Mag +HV... They have a advertised velocity of 2,200 fps and one thing I'm certain of is they expand quickly and they literally explode squirrel's, smaller bird's, and other small critters but they also drop bigger game like boar, big birds, and cyotees. I've even seen them put down a deer w/1shot from about 25 yards.. I wouldn't suggest it be your go to for deer hunting but man I was shocked when he pulled that off.
I purchased a Ruger Lcr in 22 mag with the intention of getting my wife into shooting and eventually concealed carry. I find myself carrying myself quite a bit especially if I’m just running a a quick errand or am working in the yard it carry’s easily in a pocket holster. I’ve tried several different ammo brands and types but have settled on the Maxi mags The inconsistent expansion of hollow points from the short barrel makes using them pointless
Ken Hawk Stingers are amazing but they dump their energy very quickly. That’s not a bad thing particularly. During a civilian shoot you shouldn’t be taking quartering shots so 10” penetration will do the trick 90% of the time. However my Sig Sauer Mosquito, (really a GSG in disguise with a nice name on it) got buggered up shooting such powerful .22LR’s. I’d check it out before feeding a steady diet of Stingers into any auto loading pistol.
My wife and I are both in our late 60s with arthritis and have decided we can only handle a 22LR pistol. I'm torn between the Ruger LCR and the new Ruger LCP II. The revolver has advantages in that you can easily keep shooting even with a misfire but the sub compact pistol looks pretty easy with the light rack and it's really concealable. I'd love to see you do a comparison of these Rugers. Thanks.
You hit the nail on the head...we own the LCP II, and ours is extremely finicky about ammo, to the point the missus doesn't trust it 100%...We just bought a Mark IV Lite this past week, and it ran 130 mini-mags flawlessly, the missus was pleased, but it needs to keep repeating that opening performance to sell her (notes: it did cost a little more than I wanted to spend, it is amazingly easy to field strip, and we really need one of those Adco Thumb Jr. for loading the magazines)...we have a taurus 942 .22wmr on backorder, the advantage being a revolver, although having never touched the gun, I'd wager the double action trigger is probably a little heavy...I would think the LCR has a heavy trigger, as .22 does need a firm strike...other than the concealment issue, the Mark IV Lite might fit the bill...
7:25. Humbly not trying to be a dick. I deal a lot with numbers and comparitive size as percentage growth. From my knowledge: going from .22 to .33 is 50% expansion. 100% expansion would mean doubling the diameter. 150% expansion would be 2.5 times the original diameter. Not trying to be picky. Great video! Thanks for all the data and the presentation!
Where have you been? We have missed your videos! You do an outstanding job in your videos and especially so in each of your ballistic testing videos. I can only imagine the hours and hours you dedicate comparing a vast number of particular ammunition. Let’s hope your professional dedication to your industry continues to pay you back, financially, in ammo sales.
before watching .. I would go with CCI Velocitor & Rem Viper solids .. for carry , all other >> Rats , mice , CCI shot shells , Golden bullets . Mostly out of a 5.5" ruger or 10/22 Great job !!! Thanks !!
@@DickTickles I still have some of the original velocitor , I have found it to be VERY Accurate !! I did get some of the new stuff also . I will try some , I have had good luck with Win ammo .
@@danoneill2846 I haven't shot it enough personally and have tended to favor Veloctor because it's more well known and there's been more tests of it, but for a handgun the Hyper Speed would likely perform equally, just be cheaper.
Just came across this video and decided to check the Hornady FTX and Speer Gold Dot websites for more info on their ammo. Unhappy to report the two best rounds in your test are no longer listed on either manufacturers websites. Sept 29, 2020
It would be interesting to see a Speer TNT 22wmr in ballistic gelatin. It is a gold dot style projectile that is basically designed to disintegrate at rifle velocity.
The cci stinger 22 lr with the 4 inch barrel doesn't have the depth of the others probably because it has the best expansion from the photos. From the testing I've done the best wound cavity was left by the CCI and aguila with a FN 502
I turn to Lucky Gunner because of your Testing. It does come down to this with .22LR and .22WMR, if you must carry a .22 pistol, long or short, should you be forced to defend yourself, you'd best be prepared to fire multiple shots into your attacker. This is a truth for most handguns, regardless of caliber. The unvarnished truth is that there are Very few handgun cartridges will do a one shot stop, unless your marksman enough or lucky enough to hit and destroy the heart/aorta or sever the brain stem/spinal cord. Any other vital organs your attacker may still live through long enough to hurt/kill you or their victim. We carry handguns because they are small/unobtrusive and very portable, but they are largely a step down the ladder, for achieving a cartridges projectile's full potential. You're handgun cartridge is just as important as the handgun you pick, and Lucky Gunner proves this point with every test video they put out. Kudos to LG for educating and keeping us informed.
Guys dont get too worried over the penetration depths. The "minimum" requirement is kind of worst case scenario of shooting someone from the side...Even with that being the case the lungs are only a few inches in and the heart is half of the minimum. Even the worst performing rounds in these tests are plenty reasonable for the average citizen.
@@LuckyGunner True...Theres no bones in the gel. Humans are also not 1 solid mass either though..Its kind of a give and take between the two..Nothing is gonna be 100%...Say other than a 50 cal lol
@Bo Zo I'm not saying .22 caliber is the best round ever made..The lack of recoil, ease of use, not blowing your eardrums out, cost of rounds just makes alot of sense for most people's personal protections needs for a handgun. That's just my opinion and from my experiences of seeing what it takes to stop a human...Don't get too caught up in the caliber ego. Make em count matters much more then how big of a hole especially when picking a handgun round.
This channel does some of the best tests for ammo that I've ever seen.
Paul Harrell
Kevin R paul Harrell is amazing but the meat target really isn’t terribly scientific.
Kevin R hahahahaa
SpearHunked we don’t have to choose between the meat target and jello, I think it is worthwhile to see the results of both.
If a particular load does well in both tests, it is probably a real world winner.
Kevin R exactly. Probably add in clay and wet newspapers as well for an even more rounded out test.
No other retailer is doing anything like this. Thanks so much for this testing.
I gotta say that's an extremely impressive data organziation and presentation
No doubt, very well done!
Guy’s on a whole other level 👍
I appreciate honest,no favoritism info...
I would love to see a short addendum to this video for the Federal Punch .22 LR.
I've literally been trying to research this for the past few weeks and found almost nothing.
Thanks for your timely vid!
James R Squyres
Timely...?
Or you are being monitored
( for your own convenience ) ...
Chris, thanks for all the work you do on these loads and share here. I learn a lot each time you post something like this.
Back when I was married, my wife, due to a lasting injury in her shooting arm (automobile crash) was limited to .22s and .25s mostly for self-defense carry. Add in her tiny hands with the total lack of recoil tolerance and we did a LOT of evaluation of different loads for her .22s. Reliability was #1 of course, followed by accuracy and "performance." The latter was of course simulated and much data taken from other folks' research. But we could test the first two categories and shot every brand and type we could get our hands on.
CCI Mini-mags (solids) were far and away THE most reliable rounds we tried in her guns. I'm not talking misfires, we only had misfires from bulk packs and mostly just Remington Golden Bullets (those were awful but we used them for clearance drills). I don't remember a single ammo related FTF with any premium ammo. Her .22 pistols (Walther P22, Beretta Bobcat, Walther PPK) really preferred the CCI mini-mags over even Elly ammo. Of course, it seems individual .22s vary a lot in their preferences.
Back in the early days of my LEO career, most guys in my area carried .22s as BUGs. They actually preferred them (cost being a big factor, but also a lot of hearsay commentary ... and most of the folks we found DRT were hit in the head or heart/aorta with .22s or .25s). Stingers were the big thing then but I remember chambering a round of .22 Stinger and getting an unexpected "Bang!" Come to find the rim was over-sized. It wasn't so obvious that I noticed it when loading but sure enough, the recovered brass was pressed in all the way around the rim where the whole breachfast crushed the rim when the slide went home. That was probably the only screwed up round of Stinger on the market but it was enough for me to look elsewhere (specifically at mini-mags).
For my .22 mag mini-revolver (these were also insanely popular back in the day and mine went literally everywhere with me), I settled on the Maxi-Mag +V. I've tried several others including the ones designed for SD and while I liked them all, Maxi-Mag +V is what I stocked up on so until that supply dwindles, that's what I'll tote.
Thanks for this video. I bet you helped a lot of people. It's not widely admitted, but .22s are still a big choice for self-defense. I know folks who deliberately choose it because they only want "enough" bullet (whatever the heck that means).
Cool intelligent comment.
Thank you sir.
👍
I'm surprised people don't talk more about the Aguila Sniper Subsonic SSS 22.
@@nbip2845 - Thank you!
I totally forgot to mention the Aquila SSS rounds. We liked those too, when we could find them. Main problem was making sure they stabilized well as they need, IIRC, a faster twist. Though, I mostly remember this being an issue with rifles and only one or two handguns we tried showing any tendency to key-hole. Of course, at the really short range of most SD shootings, I doubt it would matter much. Ex-wife carried them quite a bit but they got hard to find for a while locally (then there were the dark days of ALL .22 rimfire being hard to find) and Mini-mags ruled the day from then on. I don't remember us ever having a FTF with the SSS rounds, either.
@@CeltKnight You're welcome.
Thanks for your answer and sharing your experience.
I know this is an older comment but I just watched this. I too am a fan of the Naa mini revolver in 22mag. I joke that it's my ENT gun ( Ear, Nose and Throat) because of the small caliber. Currently mine is loaded with the gold dots and after seeing this and other tests I'm pretty comfortable with that but I wouldn't be opposed to a solid bullet either when I need more. L.G. posted a video about the mini revolvers saying it's one of the worst choices for a carry gun and I can see the logic behind his argument. Still, I like mine as a backup or on the rare occasion I go for a run I can clip the one with the folding grip onto my pants and not worry about it.
@@chrisjones6002 - Exactly. I'm in the middle of hurricane Sara cleanup right now. When out and about I have more "serious" pieces, but on days like today when most of what I needed to do was in the back yard, I have my NAA .22 mag in my gym shorts pocket so I can stay a little bit cooler. I've used mine when in semi-non-permissive environments, too. Places where it's not illegal to carry it BUT the locals might have a different view and I wanted to avoid discussions. Now a little .380 can usually fill that,but for a gym short gun or a Nobody Will See This gun, it's hard to beat. And with just a little practice, one can put rounds where they count for a surprising distance. Mine's the older model with the front blade sight that pretty much isn't regulated at all. A friend totes either the Pug or Black Widow (I don't remember which) that has useable sights.
I'm a geezer with computer stuff. I saw you can sort your spreadsheets by barrel length. Thanks for that! Before I was like, "Oh that's a good round. No that's out of a 4 inch barrel." You can sort by muzzle velocity, too. Welcome to the future!
They need to make a 3" LCR in .327
Yes
I've been patiently awaiting this. I'm sure it's not high on their list of priorities but I hope they get around to it eventually.
Ruger makes a 3" SP101 in .327 and it's fantastic.
@@markmuch1295 it's a little heavy. May as well go with .357 in a steel frame revolver. An ultralight handgun (LCRx) is where. 327 would shine, and the extra inch of barrel would add some oomph over their current snubby offering.
My 3" LCRx 22 mag is perfectly awful. 15# trigger pull...I know another for sale that a man bought for his wife, she cannot pull the trigger. I am very disappointed and won't be buying another Ruger anything as a result. Factory basically told me to pound sand. Lawyer designed gun.
Your full coverage on the website is always my go to for new loads. Thanks for all the time and effort you put into supporting your business that all of us benefit from.
Not that it wasn’t fun for y’all, but everyone here really appreciate you putting in the work to get these numbers. Keep up the good work and I’ll be sure my next batch of ammo is from you.
I remember when the .22 "hyper-velocity" rounds (CCI Stinger, etc.) first came out, the gun magazines explained that the extra velocity came from using slower burning powder. Pistol length barrels don't gain much, if any, velocity by using these loads. They actually blow un-burned powder out of the muzzle.
I remember firing a Stinger out of an ancient Burgo 106S (piece of garbage"budget" .22LR snubnose revolver from West Germany). The report was abnormal in both the quality and overall amount of noise and it shot a crazy amount of unburned powder and residue out of the side of the cylinder onto my hand.
I still like CCI, probably my go-to for .22LR ammunition, but yeah Stingers are overly appreciated in this niche IMO. They're a great varmint/pest control round out of rifles, nothing more.
@@SaftonYT that’s narrow to a silly degree - plenty of tests showing that if you give the Stinger even a little bit of barrel (like an LCP 22 pocket pistol) it will expand where other .22LRs will not. And out of a 4” K-frame revolver they are accurate, flat shooting, and mushroom beautifully. Nor do they have some weird “sound” or spray powder. Just a sharper than average .22 crack (and a report from striking plates that tells you yes, this bullet is moving fast.)
You’d need to try a round in something other than an obvious garbage gun before making pronouncements.
@@FMDad-dm5qo Yes, Stingers often show some expansion where other .22s do not. You know what they notably *don't* do when they *do* expand? Penetrate consistently to the 12" standard.
Give me a solid with greater chances of reaching vital structures than a .22 which will exhibit some token expansion any day.
I'm actually glad people are publishing data like this! While I and pretty much anybody else would recommend a more substantial caliber, in reality there are any number of reasons why one would be running less than optimal gear. What matters instead is that you understand the limitations of whatever it is you have to work with and adapt around that. Like if all you got is grandpa's old .22 Mag revolver that you inherited? Then become an expert in grandpa's old .22 Mag revolver.
The only correct answer for .22 is rule #1, have a gun...and that rule will work for about 98-99% of problems...for the other percentage, sometimes a 12 gauge slug might not be enough...
i carry a NAA 22 mag. for summer carry. When it is 105 degrees on a nice Texas summer day a tiny pocket revolver is about the only option for practical concealment. I got a heat rash trying to pocket carry a 380 and i sweated through the holster trying to IWB carry the 380. So a 22mag with a folding handle became an attractive option.
I carry a .22 WMR North American Arms Pug when I don't have room for my Kimber K6S, like when I'm wearing nice jeans and a fitted shirt for going out or something like that (I wear clothes that fit me well, and I'm pretty small at 5'9"-150lbs, sometimes I just can't conceal a 'real' handgun), so this is just another test I'm happy to have come across.
this is by far the most extensive video demonstrating .22lr/mag
Lots of work must've taken a long time and for all your efforts I applaud you and appreciate everything you've done.
thank you.
I'm dropping a like before I even watch because this is the damn content I'm looking for!!
I daily carry a P22. I dont feel underpowered and its nice to have a gun in the truck that my girlfriend can shoot well, not to mention i can mag dump in a 3 inch area at ten yards. Accuracy is important especially when seconds count
Perry Caulkins accuracy not only counts it’s almost the only thing that counts. Pistols simply suck at killing people mostly because they are simply too weak and it’s too difficult to accurately hit vitals with one. I’m no huge advocate for carrying an extra magazine or two but with a .22 I would. Unfortunately the P22 mags are kinda soft and squishy and that means they need to be in a pouch not a pocket.
JKay11235 i shoot most guns well. I can shoot a full mag within 3” at ten yards in about 3 seconds. I couldnt dream of doing that with a 9mm and neither could you
Shoot first, hit first, even with a .22lr, can win...not guaranteed, but a decent chance...
Thank you. That was the data I was looking for. I keep Velocitors in the LCR but not in the semi autos because of reliability issues. CCI Minimag 40 grain in the semi autos. My wife can no longer handle the recoil from a 9mm in a handgun. I have been considering 22 magnum.
Your channel is one of the few that can make me watch a video I care nothing about all the way through lol. Great channel!
A fine list of rounds I don't want to be shot with.
My goto pocket carry EDC for anytime, anywhere, everywhere, is a Ruger LCRx 22mag. revolver loaded with 6shots of the Speer Gold Dot 40gr HP (made for short barrels). Works good in my revolver. Have never had a misfire/dud. Carry in DeSantis Nemises pocket holster.
Even if I'm carrying one of my 9mm pistols I still tend to carry the little revolver as well, along with a "speed" strip of 10 extra rounds.
Thank you, you're one of the few people who have done a fairly in depth testing of .22 LR gel tests for handguns. There were a couple loads you didn't test that you may want to in the future: The 60 grain Aguila Sniper SubSonic (SSS) and Winchester Hyper Speed.
The weight of the Aguila bullet should help with penetration and improve cycling due to the use of the .22 Short case while the Winchester Hyper Speed is basically their version of CCI Velocitor, but it comes in 100 round boxes and is sometimes half the price of Velocitor.
Great review. I'd love to see the test results using longer barrels (e.g., Ruger Charger and Ruger 10/22). Also, please add Federal Punch ammo to the mix. Keep the great videos coming!
One I’ve seen that I don’t see here (at least in the LR) is federal punch ammo, and that one claims over 1000 fps out of a 2 inch barrel. Might be more effective than the ones tested.
I'd be interested in seeing a federal punch test in 22lr 4" barrel
I feel vindicated! I've used the "Velocitor" rounds for all my pistols/revolvers for years. Thanx, for your consistent coverage of the mouse guns.
Thank you for the video. Taking the current ammo situation into consideration, and based on this info, along with the findings presented by Paul Harrell: My 22lr ammo of choice in my handguns (4.625" to 5.5" barrel lengths) is CCI Velocitor. In my rifles just about any hollowpoint, but CCI Stinger or Winchester Super X are preferred.
I love the way you compiled the data. I have always appreciated the way you are concise and to the point without the fluff .
WOW! Great ballistic charts- very informative! I was surprised to see how well the .32 long stacked up against the .32 HR mag- not much difference at all. My wife and I both have snubbie model 30 Smith's shooting 100 gr FMJ.
Excellent, factual presentation, Chris; THANK YOU and Lucky Gunner. I won’t abandon the more traditional, centerfire, defensive handgun calibers, but the .22lr or .22mag carried obviously is infinitely better than the .357mag or the 9x19mm left in the nightstand.
Until they are in your house and those come into play :)
@Tim Turner: Speak for yourself, Tim; I can guarantee they wont apply in my abode 😏😏. Althiugh a .22 LR or WMR may beat a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.
Interesting results. CCI Mini-Mags have been my goto for less than super cheap 22LR in semi-autos because it has enough power for the blowback action to work reliably and generally also has good ignition reliability. Too bad it doesn't seem to be so good for self defense. I generally use 22LR for plinking / target practice / training, so it's not a huge issue for me. But it is nice to see data like this.
Love that you guys pay attention to different barrel lengths. Amazing information.
Wish you guys would test some of the segmented.22LR rounds available, they are exceptionally good at dumping the kinetic energy within 8-9", in several directions. Curious about use as a SD round
You missed Remington Yellow Jackets, which seem to expand quite well, even from a short barrel.
Thanks for some good information.
I'm not sure that I could ever feel good enough about either caliber as a self-defense firearm to want to carry that kind of firearm. To me, .22LR is a great caliber for pistols with barrels in the four to nine inch range and for rifles. I guess one of those pistols could be worthwhile for some self-defense, but I see them as guns for plinking and some hunting. Although I've never had or fired a .22 WMR, the idea stuck in my head is that this caliber is made for small game hunting rifles. If I could afford a firearm in that caliber and were going to add another caliber to what I keep, I'd get a rifle.
I still think that the information you've provided is great. Many people are either forced to use one of these calibers for self-defense or just decide that one of these calibers is what they want for self-defense. Giving them good information is a great thing to do.
Amazing that you went to these lengths. I hace smith and Wesson 351c that is awesome pocket pistol. My first shot would be to the pelvis and work up from there with remaining 6 shots if need be. I can’t imagine how painful it would be to get shot in pelvis with this. It would take all will to fight away as opposed to a torso shot that passed by organs. Speer sounds great but hard to find.
wife likes tearing up the groin and head area on a paper target🥴. not the greatest self defense round but its better than a pointy stick any day. an the important thing is she's comfortable with it
@@leokelly359for one more round I’ve actually moved to the 43c 22lr. 22mag much more power but federal punch is great. I’m able to dump 8 shots in the face of a torso target at 15yrs one handed in 5 seconds with a pocket holster draw. I just love it.
Check out the demonstrated concepts channel. He convinced me to go with 22lr. No appendix carry but there a great grip with a clip by Hamre Forge. Love
It.
Excellent review. I’m a big 22 mag fan and have both the sw snubbie, the pmr, and the pug. This review is very helpful and I’ve bought 22 mag from you.
Awesome work and awesome science. Most channels just talk but you actually do the work. Great job and good on you. Thank you for sharing.
Excellent work Chris!!! I have an LCR in 22 mag & now i know its capabilities and limitations. I'll be ordering a case of 9mm subsonic next week.
I know this video's a few years old, but if you haven't already, I'd like you to check out the Federal Punch .22LR ammo that came out somewhat recently. They're apparently optimized for snubnose/short-barrel pistols, and apparently have impressive penetration.
After researching .22WMR I was concerned about reliability and eventually opted for 327 Federal
My NAA mini revolver, carried as a backup or second backup is loaded with the Hornady rounds. They seem to go bang every time and shoot at least as well as I can. Right handed I shoot left of target. Left handed I shoot right of target. At 3-5 feet it is still in a circle smaller than a heart or brain. If they don't expand, then they are just flat nosed fmj, which some people use anyway.
I carry an lcr like the one in this video, (22mag) as a backup or pocket gun, and I like to use both the gold dot and the critical defense. I don't care what anyone says, I wouldn't want to get hit by one of these magnums, and it only takes one to the head. Something even a 22lr could accomplish easily with its light recoil and accuracy.
Get a better grip for the NAA and you can learn to shoot it better. A mini mag/black-widow grip or the folding grip will help a lot. Hope this helps.
While it didn't perform the best in the snub, CCI Standard Velocity was the most consistent. For a pocket pistol, I wouldn't rule it out because it's one of the most consistent and accurate .22 LR ammo I've shot, not too mention cheap. Plus, it will also be one of the quietest and lowest recoiling options.
I've never had much luck with CCI Stinger. It's about the least accurate .22 ammo I've fired, be it in a handgun or rifle. The only potential positive for it is the nickel case helps with extraction and feeding, but other than that, it's a waste of money in any gun as Velocitor is the same price, but is way better performing.
I've also seen good things about Winchester 222/333/555 bulk .22. I have some guns that love it and some that don't, but I have seen videos that the guns that love it, shoot it really well. Only problem is that ammo is becoming harder to find.
Fantastic video as always.
Years ago, shooting the bull .410 tested several rounds out of the NAA. CCI mini-mag 36 grain hollow points were the way to go in his tests. And Chris if you're reading this I know you're not a fan of the NAAs (which is fair) but it is was I carry in my NAA Bugout when I decide to use it.
I love my PMR-30 and this video makes me love it even more.
Since .22s aren’t going to expand at such low speeds anyway, I would have used rn mini mags. You’ll get more penetration and consistency, not to mention they’ll feed better in some autoloaders.
Ok boomer
Eat yo tide pods .
@@nathanmotoyama7211 How is that "boomery"? That's just a simple fact... Even when you find loads that do expand it's very minimal or non existent.
It's like wadcutters or lead ball vs hollow points in 38s--if HPs aren't going to expand reliably and penetrate, I'd rather poke consistent holes that I know will at least be deep enough to hit what counts
@@tangero3462 I carry .32 caliber revolvers often and sometimes that's loaded with .32 S&W Long. The Wadcutters are some of the most consistent loads for the caliber and do quite well.
Great work. Congrats. This can be your nich, add high speed footage to make it more interesting. Otherwise is excellent.
I think is safe to say that Lucky Gunner mos def has some of the best designed User Interface and data layout in the industry.
Thanks for all your hard work LuckyGunner y'all !
I’ve been following the Pocket Pistol series like religion. My eyes have been opened. I probably don’t need a new gun. I need better ammunition. I happily placed my order with Lucky Gunner.
There needs to be a standard for penetration potential of ammo from different barrel lengths to be displayed on ammo boxes.
Duuuude. You ALWAYS need a new gun. Even if you sell or trade it in a few months.
@@keithgraham9547 I can't argue. Even if I don't buy a new gun, I'm thinking about buying a new gun.
Your testing videos and charts are the best. There are other very good channels but not quite as thorough as yours. You are the fastest shipper of ammunition, period.
Keep up the great work. I love the test and data. You explain the testing method very clear. Thump up
"Better the .22 in your pocket, then the .45 ACP, at home in the drawer, when you have an URGENT NEED", Massad Ayoob. Good Stuff fellas. Continued Success! :)
Great video! I have seen many recommendations for the CCI 36gr mini-mags as well. Shootingthebull410 Found those to be the best performer out of the NAA revolver, I’d be interested to see how they do out of a standard snubby.
Exactly. I plan on gel testing the Velocitor, Punch, and 36gr mini-mags here soon into a Clear Ballistics FBI gel block. 4-5 rounds each, and the winner in consistent penetration will be my carry in LCR 22. 👉
I like the Hornady critical defense 22 mag for my revolver. It felt like it gets a less recoil and less flash and sound then standard rounds. I had issues with high velocity rounds expanding the brass so much it caused jams for the action. The critical defense never had that issue.
Yet another outstanding video from Lucky Gunner. The issue has been covered thoroughly...Mike drop!
Thanks for taking your time to do this research on this ammo and barrel lengths for these 22's, and for sharing it with us on YT!
You left out the part where "the 22 will go in and bounce around.". Or "It will go in their head and come out their thumb." lmao. I grew up hearing that and more about the 22. I do believe The 22 is a good defense round and probably the best option for many individuals, for various reasons. But those old sayings just won't die!
Shadow Wolf .. “It will go in their head and come out their thumb” is one I’ve never heard before. I love it! People in the great state of Georgia claim that more deer have been taken with .22 rifles than any other caliber. Pretty much the same idea behind only being able to afford a single shot firearm...you HAVE to make that one shot count! Thanks for posting your comment.
@@jamesharber7820 People here in the great state of Indiana say the same thing about the 22 and deer. I had a good friend in high school that sure lived by that theory. Funny story- I was at that friends house one night, ignoring him and doing some heavy makin out with his cousin. He got bored of being the 3rd wheel and decides to go "deer spotin" He interrupted me and ask if I had any 22 bullets in my car. Seems he was out. I momentarily took my attention off his cute cousin and said "No, but I got one in my pocket." I had been shooting earlier in the day and for some reason remembered I had put one round in my pocket that I had picked up when I dropped it while reloading. Anyway, I quickly gave it to him so he would go away and leave me to my business. He grabs the one 22 I gave him and took off out the house. Less than an hour he cones back, all excited. He had done dropped a monster buck with that single old bullet I had dropped earlier in the day and had given him. Only bullet he had. Now, I'm not supporting his idea or style of "spotin"". But it does prove the old saying you spoke of and made me remember that ole story from my teenage years.
Shadow Wolf .Great story! I grew up and lived most of my adult life in the great Hoosier state of Indiana.
@@jamesharber7820 That is really cool! I've been all over the states and spent 2 weeks in Canada fishing and camping when I was 12. Had a great time! But I've pretty much lived here, in south western Indiana my whole life. I 've always lived close to Evansville, but never right in it. I've lived on the Ohio river a couple to times. Right across from Kentucky. I've always enjoyed going to other places but this area is my home. Which part of Indiana are you from? Oh, I wanted to say something else about using the 22 for defense. My wife, all 100 lbs of her, likes shooting and using my ole 22 HR 9 shot revolver for home defense. She used a Taurus snubby 38 for several years. And she can shoot! But as she has gotten a little older, she just likes the 22 better. Less recoil and noise. Both my parents, almost 80, use 22 revolvers I gave them years ago for home defense and carry(mainly car carry. They don't body carry very often . They just like the 22. And mom will still practice with hers, because it just shoots best for her. Dad has a Ruger Single Six and mom an HR nine shot double action. Dad mainly uses his to dispatch pest and varmits around the farm. But he does back it up with12 gauge shot guns and 22 rifles. Dad never has had anything but a 22 handgun as far as handguns go. And believe me, he ain't going to buy any ammo except 22 for a handgun. He shakes his head when he sees how much center fire ammo cost. And a side note- Dad insist on carrying his revolvers with an empty chamber under the hammer. Just like they did years ago when you had to on alot of guns. I can't convince him it is safe to carry modern revolvers fully loaded. Lol. But anyway, here is 3 cases I personally know of where the 22 is the best choice for defense for them. I have no problem with using a 22 myself for a carry or house gun. I've actually got several 22's loaded around the house at this time. And I'll close by saying there is a BIG difference between 22LR and Magnum. The Magnum wins hands down between the 2 on "stopping power ". But the cost of the ammo does keep some people (like my dad) from using it. And some will practice less with the magnum because of cost, recoil and noise.
I greatly appreciate all of Lucky Gunners dedication and effort to bring us this in depth information. This has helped me in decision making on ammo selection.
I been researching 22lr for past couple months because I'm trying to get my wife and my nieces into shooting and was looking for best 22 ammo. It won't be a carry gun for now (m&p 15 22) but knowing what's the best 22 ammo out there helps nonetheless. You guys are scientists for sure. NASA watch out.
Nice work and great presentation. Thank you! There is indeed a lot to think about.
With the new release of the LCP .22, this is very relevant to my interests. Looks like Velociters are gonna be the move.
We only have 2 boxes of velocitors, and we like a good 100 round test for our lcp...so far, the 36gr mini-mags have run best, with 40gr mini-mags, blazers, and thunderbolts (just crazy enough to be true), nearly as good...i agree the velocitors look like the best option, but until we can find enough for several tests we will sit on those 2 boxes...also owning a NAA.22lr and while it will shoot anything, the velocitors also the prime candidate for it...someday a backordered taurus 942 in .22wmr will arrive, and we have the hornady waiting for it...none of these guns are our 1st, or even 2nd options, but we think the more options the better...heck, our heritage with the magnum cylinder still better than nothing...I am starting to sound like one of those folks that have 1 or 2 loaded guns in every room of the house (💣💣💣!)...
Thank you for this. This is an incredible amount of work and research. It’s extremely helpful.
One thing I really like about Chris is none of the tacticool bullshit. Channel full of gun nerdy stuff.
As always, great analysis, and well-reasoned discussion. Thanks for this.
Great data. You sure put a ton of work & resources into these tests.
Excellent video. Thank you for providing such a valuable resource. Keep it up!
I love seeing how 22lr ammo wildly bounces around inside the gel causing extra damage. Too bad it doesn't have enough stopping power.
- Manny Mansfield (probably)
If you get hit with 3 or 4 22LRs in vital areas it will stop an attack or let you escape the danger. Thought about 22WMR snub nose but I have many other 22LR firearms so common practice ammo.
If you ever add to this list, please consider including Aguila 60gr SSS
I have a Beretta Bobcat and the only shells I found that didn't jam was the CCI. Remingtons are the worst.
So far, MiniMags aren't working at all in mine. I'm not carrying it, though, but I certainly wouldn't mind it working.
@@Just1American1966 I haven't used the Mini Mags but I have shot the Stinger and Velocitor with no problems.
@@Norm475
Yeah, could be mine needs something that hot. I bought it used and I don't know if it's been broken in yet. My 1998-made Taurus PT22 runs perfectly with MiniMags, as well as Federal AutoMatch (these are all I've tried so far.)
I've ALWAYS had 💯 confidence in a .22 EDC pistol loaded with a premium round. Maybe because I grew up firing thousands of rounds through everything made in that chambering, but I've not missed a aimed shot in over 20 years either..js
CCI Mini-mag hollow points are all I use for serious use in .22LR, be that pistol or rifle. Makes quick work of small game.
Is it the best? I don't know. They've always worked and with thousands of rounds behind me I've not had any ammo related failures. So that's what I use.
I really want the Taurus 942 22lr revolver & the Sccy red dot 9mm...but the only gun I have now is the Walther p22...If you polish the ridge on the hammer and feed ramp/chamber edge there's no problems with hollow points getting caught up...without polishing aguila cprn 40gr OR CCI cprn work great....
Got ma tx22 loaded with 20 rounds of cci mini mag round nose. Haven't had a failure.
Been waiting for this.
Great job presenting the data. The Stinger's results were surprising
Why wouldn't you guys test the CCI Segmenting HP+V for LR and MAG? They're my first choice by a long shot.. There's nothing gimmicky about them.. High velocity and they do serious damage, especially when you Phillips Mod them...And I would've liked to see how the CCI TNT Maxi-Mag +HV... They have a advertised velocity of 2,200 fps and one thing I'm certain of is they expand quickly and they literally explode squirrel's, smaller bird's, and other small critters but they also drop bigger game like boar, big birds, and cyotees. I've even seen them put down a deer w/1shot from about 25 yards.. I wouldn't suggest it be your go to for deer hunting but man I was shocked when he pulled that off.
I purchased a Ruger Lcr in 22 mag with the intention of getting my wife into shooting and eventually concealed carry. I find myself carrying myself quite a bit especially if I’m just running a a quick errand or am working in the yard it carry’s easily in a pocket holster. I’ve tried several different ammo brands and types but have settled on the Maxi mags The inconsistent expansion of hollow points from the short barrel makes using them pointless
While Stingers may not have much penetration they are the most reliable in a semi auto so I will take reliability over penetration any day.
Ken Hawk Stingers are amazing but they dump their energy very quickly. That’s not a bad thing particularly. During a civilian shoot you shouldn’t be taking quartering shots so 10” penetration will do the trick 90% of the time. However my Sig Sauer Mosquito, (really a GSG in disguise with a nice name on it) got buggered up shooting such powerful .22LR’s. I’d check it out before feeding a steady diet of Stingers into any auto loading pistol.
My wife and I are both in our late 60s with arthritis and have decided we can only handle a 22LR pistol. I'm torn between the Ruger LCR and the new Ruger LCP II. The revolver has advantages in that you can easily keep shooting even with a misfire but the sub compact pistol looks pretty easy with the light rack and it's really concealable. I'd love to see you do a comparison of these Rugers. Thanks.
You hit the nail on the head...we own the LCP II, and ours is extremely finicky about ammo, to the point the missus doesn't trust it 100%...We just bought a Mark IV Lite this past week, and it ran 130 mini-mags flawlessly, the missus was pleased, but it needs to keep repeating that opening performance to sell her (notes: it did cost a little more than I wanted to spend, it is amazingly easy to field strip, and we really need one of those Adco Thumb Jr. for loading the magazines)...we have a taurus 942 .22wmr on backorder, the advantage being a revolver, although having never touched the gun, I'd wager the double action trigger is probably a little heavy...I would think the LCR has a heavy trigger, as .22 does need a firm strike...other than the concealment issue, the Mark IV Lite might fit the bill...
7:25. Humbly not trying to be a dick. I deal a lot with numbers and comparitive size as percentage growth. From my knowledge: going from .22 to .33 is 50% expansion. 100% expansion would mean doubling the diameter. 150% expansion would be 2.5 times the original diameter. Not trying to be picky. Great video! Thanks for all the data and the presentation!
Yes, .33 is a 50% increase which is also 150% of the original diameter.
Awesome stats page! Ty for the work you guys put in.
Excellent video, quality and research material.
Good work, as usual.
I don’t know why but I’ve had an increasing interest in putting a .22 mag in the carry rotation
Chris thank you for the excellent video that I've come to expect from Lucky Gunner. Also, I like that jacket 👍
Where have you been? We have missed your videos! You do an outstanding job in your videos and especially so in each of your ballistic testing videos. I can only imagine the hours and hours you dedicate comparing a vast number of particular ammunition. Let’s hope your professional dedication to your industry continues to pay you back, financially, in ammo sales.
4" and 40gr for the lr it seems then........... Wait, you forgot to try the new CCI STANGER :o)
before watching .. I would go with CCI Velocitor & Rem Viper solids .. for carry , all other >> Rats , mice , CCI shot shells , Golden bullets . Mostly out of a 5.5" ruger or 10/22 Great job !!! Thanks !!
Check out Winchester Hyper Speed, it's basically WInchester's version of Velocitor, but it's lower in price.
@@DickTickles I still have some of the original velocitor , I have found it to be VERY Accurate !! I did get some of the new stuff also . I will try some , I have had good luck with Win ammo .
@@danoneill2846 I haven't shot it enough personally and have tended to favor Veloctor because it's more well known and there's been more tests of it, but for a handgun the Hyper Speed would likely perform equally, just be cheaper.
Very interesting an informative video. Awesome job !!!!!!!!!
Just came across this video and decided to check the Hornady FTX and Speer Gold Dot websites for more info on their ammo. Unhappy to report the two best rounds in your test are no longer listed on either manufacturers websites. Sept 29, 2020
Wish I could super like this. Fantastic information. Thank you.
It would be interesting to see a Speer TNT 22wmr in ballistic gelatin. It is a gold dot style projectile that is basically designed to disintegrate at rifle velocity.
This is incredible job! Guys, you re the best!
Great analysis and top notch video production
Taurus has a new rimfire double action revolver that might be a good choice.
22 LR is a common shooting ammo in Swedish Shooting clubs.
The cci stinger 22 lr with the 4 inch barrel doesn't have the depth of the others probably because it has the best expansion from the photos. From the testing I've done the best wound cavity was left by the CCI and aguila with a FN 502
The continuum transfuctioner
I turn to Lucky Gunner because of your Testing.
It does come down to this with .22LR and .22WMR, if you must carry a .22 pistol, long or short, should you be forced to defend yourself, you'd best be prepared to fire multiple shots into your attacker.
This is a truth for most handguns, regardless of caliber. The unvarnished truth is that there are Very few handgun cartridges will do a one shot stop, unless your marksman enough or lucky enough to hit and destroy the heart/aorta or sever the brain stem/spinal cord. Any other vital organs your attacker may still live through long enough to hurt/kill you or their victim.
We carry handguns because they are small/unobtrusive and very portable, but they are largely a step down the ladder, for achieving a cartridges projectile's full potential.
You're handgun cartridge is just as important as the handgun you pick, and Lucky Gunner proves this point with every test video they put out.
Kudos to LG for educating and keeping us informed.
Fantastic video. Everything a person could hope for.
Guys dont get too worried over the penetration depths. The "minimum" requirement is kind of worst case scenario of shooting someone from the side...Even with that being the case the lungs are only a few inches in and the heart is half of the minimum. Even the worst performing rounds in these tests are plenty reasonable for the average citizen.
12 inches in gel is not equivalent to 12 inches in a person.
“Heart and lungs are only a few inches in” yeah right behind a ribcage
@@LuckyGunner True...Theres no bones in the gel. Humans are also not 1 solid mass either though..Its kind of a give and take between the two..Nothing is gonna be 100%...Say other than a 50 cal lol
@@andyrihn1 Ohh, is that what those hard things are when I press on my chest? Lol
@Bo Zo I'm not saying .22 caliber is the best round ever made..The lack of recoil, ease of use, not blowing your eardrums out, cost of rounds just makes alot of sense for most people's personal protections needs for a handgun. That's just my opinion and from my experiences of seeing what it takes to stop a human...Don't get too caught up in the caliber ego. Make em count matters much more then how big of a hole especially when picking a handgun round.
All videos must include Manny!!