I'll hasten to state that this is only out of curiosity. It has to do with figuring out if a Jack Reacher book is accurate.

In the book, somebody is pointing an automatic at his head. Being the ace military fellow that he is, he recognizes that it shoots .22 LRs. Then there is a discussion declaring that this is very effective ammunition for this purpose.

In real life, I go back to the time that President Reagen was shot. I heard 'experts' at the time state
- the .22 caliber ammunition did relatively little damage
- larger calibers would have been more deadly, but probably not as many rounds could have been fired.

I don't recall if the ammo in that incident was, in fact, LR.

Point of all of this rambling --is the .22 LR particularly lethal when fired from a handgun at relatively close range? ( I realize that there are always vital spots, but I mean in a general sense).

Comments from any of the weapons knowledgeable folks greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

hj

 

.22lr is a high velocity round and penetrates VERY deeply into tissue, expands and fragments causing great internal injury, and is small and difficult to retrieve by surgeons.

Along with being the most common caliber available, these factors make it by statistics the most lethal caliber by the numbers in the US.

 

The advantages of the 22 is that is more likely "bounce"around inside the body rather than exit take skull for example it would have the force to enter just not exit. It can be very lethal but it doesn't have the knock down stopping power to stun an attacker

 

.22lr in the forehead drops a dairy cow like a sack of wet cement. We had cows butchered on the farm, and the butcher used a single shot .22 right up close. He used in on himself years later after being diagnosed with cancer.

Like every caliber, they are killers, but not always stoppers. A couple in the gut might not slow someone down fast enough to prevent them from returning fire or otherwise causing you a problem.

Reagan was hit by a bullet that ricocheted off the limo door. It went into his lung. Brady was hit in the head and had permanent brain damage. A police officer was hit in the neck, resulting in some permanent injury. A Secret Service agent was hit in the gut and fully recovered.

Reagan assassination attempt - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The bullets used were "Devastator" round with a small explosive charge in them.

As for the speed of shooting, any double action revolver can be fired as fast as the .22 in question. IF all the bullets did exactly what they did that day but were a larger caliber, you probably would have had 3 or 4 dead men there, including Regan.

As for the effectiveness in an execution, two close range .22s to the head and you are usually done right then and there. 90% they say, with 2/3s DOA:

Cranial GunShot Wounds | UCLA Neurosurgery

There are cases of people surviving multiple gunshots to the head. You have a better chance of winning the lotto.

 

Thanks for all of the detailed info! Reps around, but only virtual for 85e ( you've helped me too often ) .

hj

 

The thing I like about the .22 is they are so cheap. I have shot 1000's of rounds with my Browning and feel much more comfortable with it in my hand than my other pistols that I can't afford to shoot haha.

 

One issue with .22 is the ammo isn't sealed like most if not all centerfire ammo. Thus, it can be spoiled by oil or moisture. Not good if it's all you have for defense. But yet another reason to run through a brick or two now and then. Gotta keep fresh ammo, and use the other before the "expiration date".

Also, tube mag'd .22 rifles get a pass on the magazine limits. Even the recently passed NY overreach exempts tube mag .22s.

 

back when i was on the farm the 22LR loaded in a rugar 10-22 was the preferred varmint rifle. it was just as good dispatching muskrats for the fur sales in winter as it was for groundhogs and deer eating the corn and soybeans.

1 22LR between the eyes on a deer and they dropped like a sack of potatos.
and with the head shot there was no need to wory about spoiling any of the meat with organ cross contamination.

 

Ever fire a short barreled .22lr auto like a Walther P-22 in low light conditions with CCI Stingers?
With the large muzzle flash and LOUD report, you would swear someone was firing a much larger caliber weapon.......and I would NOT want to be on the receiving end of those 36gr hollow points moving at 1,700fps...........No, Thanks!

 

These are great insights and I agree there is no better rimfire choice for the price. A .22lr is also available in Hollow, Polymer and Sub-sonic for suppresed weapons, oh it is a wonderfull and deadly round and not just for kids, I'm not sure who Jack Reacher is though. But the guy who says you 1700 fps from a p22, should REALLY REALLY, check the Nallistics on that weapon with that barrel, in fact you would have to a WMR to get close to that. Remember a 22lr expels ALL its energy ina 16 inch barrel, any longer and you are slowing it down (fact). One of the most accurate and well built 22lr's ever made is the Oregon Chipmunk (fact) I once downed a helpless doe with a 45 grain solid from a Chipmunk, granted it was only about 55 yard, but right behind the ear. So yes the 22lr is a very underestimated round that has prove itself over the past 100 plus years, so buy several, they are inexpensive and LOADS OF FUN!!! And for concealed carry I recomend the Ruger mark 2, by no meens a new Walther if that is all you have, after they were sold quality suffered. You can research all the recall notices. Apoligize for the long post but facts are important and so is research. And yes they slaughter cattle nicely, in some cases with solids they penetrate further than a 9mmm. "Semper Fi 2/3"

 

An AR-5 with a clip loaded with .22lr is fun to shoot - a bit noisy, but fun. I also like the way the thing breaks down and stores inside the stock...

 

He's just the main character in a series of books by Lee Child. I like them, but I like a lot of books. He's supposedly an ex army MP major who got out after 13 years, and now is wandering around the country stumbling across various odd types of trouble.

hj