Posted: 1/18/2007 7:46:25 PM EDT
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I'd like some kind of small autoloading pistol in .22LR to carry as a backup. Who makes one that works with a minimum of care? Thanks, 230JHP |
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There is not really a compact .22 auto on the market that possesses even the slightest bit of reliability. You would need to go with an auto cartridge - such as a .25, .32, or maybe a .380 to get assured functionality and reliability. Kel-Tec makes the most cost-effective small auto currently - with their .32 (P32) or .380 (P3AT) running in the $230 range. North American Arms makes a number of 5-shot derringers in .22LR, .22 Short, and .22 Mag that are fairly reliable and very concealable - but they cost about as much as the Kel-Tecs and are not autos - which takes us away from the topic of the original post. |
If you must have a 22lr auto, I bought a used IVER JOHNSON T22, 7shot 22 at an auction for $125.00 a few months ago. It will not fail to feed or fire!!!! It has the look of the old WALTHER 22. The new WALTHER P22 is a bit bigger but is very reliable also. |
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Plus One on the Iver Johnson ! ! ! I had one up until a few years ago and that puppy was 110% with ANY ammo ! ! Like a turd, I sold it to finance another gun . . . stupid me . . . ..  I have a Taurus PT22 that is very reliable with Hi-Speed ammo if I only load seven rounds in the mag. My Walther P22 is now 100% reliable since I got the "new" stainless steel mags and loaded with Remington Hi-Speed or CCI Mini-Mag ammo. And . . . my favorite is my new Bersa Firestorm FS-22. Santa brought it to me this past Christmas. 110% reliable with Remington and CCI ammo. Maybe a little to big for your needs, but she is a GEM ! ! ! !  But . . . . my back-up to my back-up is my little 100% reliable Kelec P-32 . . . . .  |
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Beretta Model 21. I guarantee that if you put 7 .22LR rounds into a bad guy's throat it will slow him down. Model 21s are suprisingly accurate, and as far as relibility of the .22 LR round goes, I have fired tens of thousands of .22 LR rounds in my lifetime. Mostly cheap stuff, because when I was a kid that was all that I could afford, and I have had exactly ONE misfire. It was a Federal Lightning el cheapo out of a RG Model 66 revolver so it may have been the gun, not the round. If anyone makes fun of your .22, just remind them that the absolutely best "combat handgun" in the world is whatever you have in your hand when the SHTF. |
I have 2 21a's and have never had a problem with either in the course of a couple K rounds. One shoots perfectly to point of aim the other shoots a little off center. Out to 15 or 20 yds you would never know it though. |
I agree with your line of thinking, but... I carry a Kel-Tec P-32 in my back pocket (in a wallet holster) in case my XD-9 should fail (like that's gonna happen, but I like to be prepared anyway). A .22 is too marginal and entirely dependent on shot placement to be a serious backup unless all you can manage to carry is something the size of a North American Arms .22 revolver on a cord around your neck (I have two of them). Trying to penetrate layers of winter clothing or even leather with a .22 is "hopeful" at best. And sometimes rimfires have a way of not going off. With the likes of KelTec, Taurus, Kahr and others, there's no reason (to me) to carry a .22 caliber handgun for defensive purposes, even for backup. It's truly amazing what's available in .380 ACP or 9mm handguns that you can carry anywhere short of a nudist colony. My $ .02 |
I been to a nudist colony. Not knocking nudist colonies or the people that go there, but on many of the men and women there are plenty of "folds" and "cracks" that one may hide a small handgun. 
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