So, you’ve ventured into the realm of concealed carry. The conversation is full of options and points around different calibers, but one that isn’t mentioned very often is .22lr. It’s not that it is some exotic round that is hard to come by or a new option and relatively unheard of. Quite the contrary, on both points.
Does that mean that .22lr isn’t a good option when it comes to concealed carry? Let’s take a dive into some of the deciding factors and find out.
WHAT MAKES A GOOD CHOICE FOR CONCEALED CARRY?
Before we get too far, we should do a quick recap of what would make a decent concealed carry option. Things that need to be taken into consideration for a proper concealed carry are the size of the weapon, the recoil or shooting experience for the gun, the ballistic profile for the round fired, personal limitations, and price points of the weapons and ammunition.
One each of these points, I’ll be laying out the pros with the cons for .22lr for concealed carry.
SIZE
For concealed carry, the smaller the gunn the easier it would be for more individuals to successfully conceal it. In that regard, the .22lr pistol would be fairly easy to conceal on almost any body size. A .22lr pistol not only boasts an overall light weight, but has an equally smaller overall length and width, making it easier to conceal on many body types.
The availability of different options for a .22lr pistol makes it an easy choice, as well as the versatility of carry positions (such as In the Waistband and Outside the Waistband) and holster choices.
The downside of carrying a .22lr? Also, the size.
Pistols chambered in .22lr can be harder for those individuals with larger hands or longer fingers to get a good grip on the pistol. While larger magazines can help relieve this issue to some degree, some individuals will find it difficult to get a comfortable hold on the pistol. Not only that, but there aren’t as many concealed carry orientated holsters available on the market to choose from.
OVERALL SHOOTING EXPERIENCE
Ask any shooter and they will tell you that shooting .22lr is ridiculously fun. This round is lightweight, easy to shoot, and the pistol will have little to no recoil. Along with the low felt recoil, the pistols will have very minimal muzzle rise making easier follow-up shots.
The .22lr is just plain fun to shoot and easier to have longer shooting sessions than that of a 9mm for sure.
There are a few drawbacks to shooting .22lr, however. Some folks see it as a fairly dirty round, leading to a somewhat dirty shooting experience. Indeed, it’s not as bad as shooting rifles, but as far as the pistol calibers go it can be one of the dirtiest (in my experience), especially with the cheaper options.
Additionally, the round has certain distance limitations and accuracy holdbacks. While it is accurate in shorter distances, some handguns can be fickle and require some trial and error in finding the most accurate round for the system and the shooter’s preferences. Not all ammunition is created equally, unfortunately, but that’s universal across all calibers.
BALLISTICS OF THE ROUND
This is the one area that the .22lr really doesn’t do too well when compared to other available concealed carry caliber options.
According to Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute (SAAMI) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards and tests, the .22lr ammunition has a comparable nominal velocity to that of a .380 or even a 9mm ammunition. But maximum pressures of the .22lr rounds are significantly lower when compared to other calibers, especially when compared to 9mm or .45 ACP. That also means that .22lr ammunition has less power behind it when fired than those rounds of larger calibers.
That point also brings up the conversation of a centerfire vs rimfire round. As commonly known, the .22lr bullet is a rimfire round while other calibers are centerfire, with the firing cap centered in the casing and not the rim like with .22lr. It is generally accepted, and proven through testing, that the centerfire calibers have higher velocities offering a higher terminal power of the bullet for a better advantage in self-defense scenarios.
The non-quantitative measurement of stopping power is discussed a lot when it comes to ballistics, with .22lr lacking in that category. Regardless, both calibers of pistols are not geared towards long distances. Since we’re talking about self-defense and close range here, given the choice between the two I’m going for a 9mm.
PERSONAL NEEDS
There definitely is a need for individuals to have a lighter-recoil concealed carry gunn, or one that can be easier manipulated than a slightly larger 9mm weapon.
The mechanisms necessary for function in a .22lr handgun are usually not as stiff as those in 9mm handguns, making it easier for those with weaker hands or grip deficits to operate them. Also, smaller framed folks may think they need to carry a .22lr as traditionally thought, but newer models of .380 and 9mm handguns are equally small, so that negates that argument to a certain degree.
PRICE CONSIDERATIONS
There is no question that owning, shooting, and maintaining a concealed carry gun chambered in .22lr is cheaper than a 9mm pistol. The smaller caliber pistol model’s ammunition is considerably less expensive than its 9mm counterparts. The .22lr ammunition comes in larger quantity boxes and at a lower price point, making it more accessible and easier to shoot on a regular basis.
Building on that point, .22lr handguns generally have a higher standard capacity than 9mm handguns. There are options for higher capacity magazines for the larger calibers, but .22lr still wins out with most having double-digit capacity magazines standard.
Where the 9mm pulls ahead is with the ability to reload 9mm ammunition. The casings of the 9mm ammunition are better suited for reloading than the .22lr round which cannot be reloaded. If that is the case for you, shooting 9mm might cost less than shooting .22lr.
FINAL THOUGHTS
All things considered, is it viable to use a .22lr as a concealed carry weapon? After going through the information above, I don’t think so. While it has a similar range to that of a 9mm, the .22lr lacks the power to negate the threat in a concealed carry setting.
Unless you have medical reasons as to why you cannot use a slightly larger 9mm or even .380 pistol, a .22lr really won’t cut it as a concealed carry pistol. When you’re in a situation where you’re drawing your concealed carry weapon, you want a round that will ensure your own safety and survival. For me, that’s not a .22lr.
