Few firearms are as controversial as the .22 caliber pistol. Its detractors claim that the .22 is underpowered and obsolete. Its supporters assert that it possesses almost supernatural stopping power with proper shot placement. The truth, naturally, falls somewhere in the middle.

Regardless, the .22 remains one of the most popular cartridges in America. Its versatility, light recoil, and low price point make it an attractive option for many. But what exactly is the best use for a .22 pistol?

Let’s take a look at why so many shooters love the .22 caliber pistol — along with some of our favorite .22 caliber handguns on the market today.

The Excellence of the .22 LR Cartridge

The .22 caliber round (officially “22 Long Rifle”) is one of the oldest cartridges still in use today. It made its debut in 1887 and is still the oldest commercially-available self-contained metallic firearm cartridge.

At a mere 25.4mm long, it’s a tiny cartridge. The diameter at the rim (its thickest point) only measures 7.1mm across, generating a chamber pressure of 24,000 PSI. That’s even smaller than the 9mm, which has a length of 29.69, a diameter of 9.96mm, and a chamber pressure of 35,000 PSI. As a result, the .22 imparts the least amount of force of most modern cartridges, too — about a third that the 9mm can deliver.

The .22 is also one of the last popular rimfire rounds. Rimfire ammo has a primer compound that covers the entire inside of the cartridge base. The firing pin strikes the rim of the cartridge, igniting the primer to make it go boom. In contrast, most modern rifle and pistol cartridges use a centerfire design, where the primer sits in the bottom-center of the cartridge.

Popular .22 Pistol Brands

Originally designed as rifle cartridges (hence the “Long Rifle” moniker), .22 pistols are now widely popular. Here are some of the most common .22 pistols:

• Ruger Mark IV: If this baby looks familiar, it’s because Bill Ruger based it on the famous Japanese Nambu pistol of World War II fame. With a 5.5-inch barrel, the Ruger Mark IV is one of the most accurate .22 pistols on this list.
• Sig P322: One of Sig’s newest pistol offerings, is an interesting take on a striker-fired, polymer .22 pistol. The P322 has unparallelled modularity compared to any other .22 pistol out there. If you want to deck out a .22 pistol with accessories, this is your gun.
• Walther P22: The Walther P22 essentially invented the tactical .22 pistol. While it may look like a striker-fired gun with its polymer body, it actually features a double-action/single action trigger, along with a manual safety and a decocker.
• Colt: Colt makes a ton of different guns chambered in .22 LR. Looking for a revolver? Check out the King Cobra in .22 LR. Want a classic feel? Colt makes 1911s chambered in .22 LR as well.
• Keltec P17: For a reliable striker-fired .22 pistol on a budget, Keltec has you covered. The P17 is a no-frills polymer “tupperware gun” that can sling .22 bullets downrange just fine. As a bonus, they’re made in the USA!
• Taurus TX 22: This is another great choice for anyone who wants to get into the .22 pistol game without breaking the bank. However, the Taurus isn’t made in the USA (it’s Brazilian).
• Glock 44: Glocks have a reputation as some of the most reliable pistols in the world. More than any other gun, a Glock will certainly go “bang” when you pull the trigger. It’s no different with the Glock 44, which is the number the Austrian pistol giant gave its remarkable .22 caliber pistol.
• Beretta Bobcat: The Beretta Bobcat was basically a “carry gun” before the concept even existed. Beretta built the Bobcat in the 1980s so police officers could have an off-duty “pocket gun.” It packs a big punch in a tiny package, and is one of the most concealable guns on this list.

.22 Pistol vs. Rifle

.22 pistols have a ton of advantages for newer and veteran shooters alike. However, they aren’t the only type of firearm chambered in .22 LR. Rifles chambered in .22 LR are hugely popular, too. They have many of the same advantages as pistols — good for training, inexpensive to shoot, and great for plinking, self defense, and small game hunting. But rifles chambered in .22 LR have much longer barrels than pistols, for a higher muzzle velocity and longer effective range.

What Can You Do With a .22 Pistol?

You can use .22 caliber pistols for almost anything. Whether you need a cartridge for training, small game hunting, or just plinking at the range, the .22 is a great choice. Despite what many believe, the .22 can even be an effective self-defense round.

Training and Fundamentals

Perhaps the most practical use for .22 LR is training.

Practice makes perfect, and the cheaper the ammo, the more you can practice. Since .22 LR ammo is so cheap (between 5 and 7 cents a round at the time of this writing), it’s the perfect practice ammo.

.22 LR is particularly great for training shooting fundamentals. Because of its light recoil and quiet report (the sound it makes when it shoots), it’s easier to learn how to shoot with a .22 than other calibers — even small ones like 9mm. This applies to both pistol and rifle shooting, making it easier for anyone (especially newbies and kids) to practice fundamentals. The NRA even endorses .22 LR as a training round for new shooters.

Small Game Hunting

While it may not pack the same punch as big-time hunting cartridges like .30-06 and .308, the .22 is still good for hunting small game. Rabbits, foxes, squirrels, and other small local critters like woodchucks or prairie dogs all fear the .22 LR. A small cartridge is appropriate for these kinds of game, since larger calibers would obliterate them. Just don’t take your .22 pistol out bear hunting.

Looking to hunt small game? Consider the Smith & Wesson Model 617 and Walther P22.

Plinking and Target Shooting

As we mentioned, a great benefit of a .22 pistol is how cheap it is to feed. .22 LR ammo is plentiful, and only a few cents a round, so you can mag dump these pistols to your heart’s content. You can effectively plink with a .22 pistol out to 25 yards (50 if you’re good). Rifles firing .22 LR can reach out to 300 yards.

Self-Defense and Home Defense

Some say that a .22 pistol is inadequate for self-defense — but that’s a little unfair. The .22 LR cartridge has more than enough power to stop a human, even when fired from a pistol-length barrel.

Don’t get us wrong. A bigger, heavier projectile like a .45 ACP will definitely do more damage and leave a bigger hole in your attacker than a .22 LR. That’s simple physics — a 230 grain 45 ACP bullet imparts 250 foot-pounds of force on its target, while a .22 LR maxes out at less than half that.

However, with proper shot placement and quality hollow point projectiles (like you should be using for any self-defense scenario), .22 LR can be extremely effective against human targets.

Firearms lore says .22 bullets can be especially deadly if you land a head shot, since they have enough energy to pass straight into a human skull, but not enough to pass through the other side. Instead, the .22 bullet bounces around within the skull, significantly damaging the brain. Check out what a .22 bullet will do to a ballistic dummy.

Additional Benefits of the .22 Pistol

Here are some other factors that make .22 pistols so great!

• Suppressor-Friendly - Few firearms can truly get “Hollywood-quiet,” but the .22 comes damn close (especially with subsonic ammo). The pneumatic pop of a silencer in films isn’t usually the sound a suppressed handgun actually makes — unless it’s .22 LR. Since this cartridge already has such a quiet report, a .22 LR caliber pistol makes the perfect suppressor host. Remember that if you want to add a suppressor to your pistol, you need a threaded barrel.
• Concealment - Most pistols that use .22 LR are smaller as well. A .22 frame will disappear beneath clothing even more than a .380 will, so it’s a great choice for a carry gun if you live somewhere that allows concealed weapons. Bonus points if you deploy it from a tactical fanny pack.
• Choose the Right Ammo - You can’t just use any ammo and expect your .22 pistol to run smoothly. Even if you’re only plinking, make sure you use ammo from reputable manufacturers like Winchester and CCI. Also, use the right type of ammo for the situation: hollow points for home defense and FMJ for practice/target shooting.

FAQs

Here are some of the most common queries about this little cartridge.

Can a .22 Pistol Stop an Attacker?

As we mentioned earlier, a .22 pistol packs more than enough firepower to stop an attacker. However, shot placement matters a lot more with a .22 pistol than it does with a bigger caliber. If you need to neutralize an attacker, it’s easier to do so under pressure with 9mm hollow points.

But if you train regularly with a .22 pistol, you’ll land shots in the right places to incapacitate a target. Thanks to a .22 pistol’s low recoil, it’s easier to pump out more accurate shots than if you’re just blasting with a 9mm.

Is It Worth Having a .22 Pistol?

Here at ProArmory, we believe that just about every pistol is worth having — as long as you’re willing and able to train with it. That’s especially true of a .22 pistol, since it’s a “jack-of-all-trades” gun.

Is a .22 Pistol Better Than a 9mm?

In reality, no cartridge is simply “better” than any other — except .45 ACP, which has been divinely chosen.

Jokes aside, choosing the right ammo means looking at what you’re trying to achieve. The 9mm has become the “standard” handgun cartridge for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is that it packs more punch than a .22. But to learn the fundamentals of shooting, carry a concealed pistol with a low profile and high capacity, or just plink on a budget, you could do a lot worse than a .22 pistol.

Final Thoughts

For a pistol that can do it all (plinking, hunting, training, competition, and home defense) a .22 caliber may be the perfect choice. It usually helps get new shooters out to the range to regularly train fundamentals and still simulates enough recoil to be more realistic than dry fire. The quiet report and low recoil can make it easier to get used to that glorious feeling of a firearm in your hands.

Looking for the best ammo to feed your .22 caliber pistol? At ProArmory, we can connect you with high-quality bulk .22 LR caliber ammo at great prices. Whether you’re looking for hollow points for hunting/self-defense or FMJ rounds for plinking and training, we have the best deals on .22 LR ammo.

Do you have a stock .22 caliber pistol that you’re eager to upgrade? Pro Armory has the perfect accessories for your gun, too. 22 LR pistols (especially modular ones like the P322) are great candidates for red dots to maximize their already formidable capabilities. Browse our selection of ammo and tactical gear today.

Looking to start training for concealed carry or self-defense? Pro Armory offers online firearms training to help you become more proficient with your everyday carry gun. Sign up for our newsletter to be notified when online training officially launches.