Welcome to the forum!

A 22 rimfire isn't really in my top 10 for optimal cartridges for SD/HD under NORMAL circumstances. It sounds as if your situation is more limited. At least for time being.

IF your wife has a true desire to practice with and potentially use the 10/22, it could be fairly effective. Certainly better than no firearm. The 10/22 is pretty easy to shoot accurately and has nearly no recoil. Find a high velocity round that can be vetted for reliability in the specific rifle you buy. Ruger also makes their own 25 round magazines called the BX-25. I'd try those before looking to the aftermarket.

If she can eventually graduate to a bigger caliber, so much the better. You'd still have a very fun, plinking rifle in the 10/22. Both my kid's first shots ever were from a 10/22. It's still fun.

 

Agreed!

OP- How old are the kids? I ask because most parents put limits on the kids instead of the kids finding their limits. If someone pounds "recoil will hurt you" into one's head long enough, a .22LR will hurt them.

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Why not? It's easy to shoot accurately and that barrel will give everything that the 22 can deliver. Rapid follow ups from a 10 or 25 round magazine can get the job done.

 

Better than nothing, but not adequate in my mind. Maybe add a bayonet to it. :cheers:

 

If it's all she can handle it can do the job. Get velocitors and have her practice rapid fire.

 

I have an old Ruger 10/22 sitting upright on my bedroom closet, unloaded. It has been superseded by my Mossberg 500A 12 ga shotgun and my Glock 17 pistol.

 

What about something like a 9mm AR platform? Could build a pistol length gun pretty darn light and use a brace. Better ammo for home defense is available and still minimal felt recoil.

 

I think a blowback 9mm has about the same recoil as a .223 gas/piston gun - which still isn't much - the 9mm will have much less muzzle blast though.

An MPX (piston) 9mm does have a bit less recoil than a .223 - somewhere between minimal (.223) and practically non-existent (.22).

 

Personally, I can’t imagine walking towards a pissed off woman spraying rounds.

 

Lvl III body armor helps.

 

Sounds good thanks, will have to look into some premium high velocity ammo. I think CCI makes some good ones

 

I like these and so does my 10/22. The Yellow Jackets are a good hollow point.

Sent from a mental institution

 

It's a lot better than a can opener. I find that even the ruger mags can be temperamental with my 10/22. If I had to use a .22, I'd choose something semiauto with a tube magazine, like a marlin model 60. Maybe you guys have had better luck, and mine isn't bad... but I would never trust it.

 

My R10/22 has worked well with factory 10-rd mags since 1988.

 

I'd recommend an AR15. Very light recoil and enough to stop anything that you need to.

 

I'd recommend an AR15...

Ridiculous.

 

1. The mere presence of a gun stops most contentious behavior but one must be ready, willing and able to use it.

2. Any gun is better than no gun

3. Nobody wants to get shot

4. Hits count

5. Shot placement is more important than caliber

So yeah, a 22 rifle is more formidable than a fist or nasty word.

 

New to the forum
I'd like to get a home defense gun that I, my wife or teenage kids, who are all safe with guns, at least under my supervision, can shoot.
my wife has had shoulder surgery recently so she can't handle much recoil, even with a handgun or one of my ar's and can't lift much at this point, my sons and daughter can handle recoil, but I want a gun for everyone.
I have a handgun for this purpose, but if im not home or if im clearing the house, I want something my wife can stay in the bedroom with the rifle.
If I were to load the 10/22 with some high velocity rounds with one of those aftermarket 25 round magazines would that be a good rifle for home defense or should I consider something else?

I think it's a good choice. I would never recommend a 22 rimfire PISTOL for any kind of defensive weapon but a 22 rimfire RIFLE is a completely different story especially in a reliable semi-auto like a 10/22 with a 25 round mag.

It's relatively quiet even with full power ammo, it's accurate and there is no recoil to speak of. Get a folding stock for close quarters and get a genuine Ruger FACTORY 25 round mag for it.

I would recommend either high velocity 40 grain CCI Velocitors (1435 FPS) or Aguila .22LR high velocity 40 Grain Interceptors High (1470 FPS) as your ammo of choice. Try a box of each in your rifle and see which is more accurate.

Break the gun in first with regular ammo then try the high velocity stuff and compare the tow for both accuracy and reliability. If there's no difference get the interceptors because they are available in bricks of 500 for a couple cents less a round.

https://www.turners.com/aguila/aguila-22lr-interceptor-high-v-456606

https://www.targetsportsusa.com/agu...ceptor-22-long-rifle-ammo-40-grain-plated-lead-round-nose-1b222320-p-54336.aspx

https://www.targetsportsusa.com/cci...e-ammo-40-grain-plated-lead-hollow-point-0047-p-886.aspx?keyword=cci velocitors

 

Good reply, Mr. BW. You make me want to resurrect my 10/22.

 

..I want something my wife can stay in the bedroom with the rifle.

A 22 will just piss em off and make em rape her harder...

Get her some training and stay out of her decision on what she can learn to shoot cause it appears your clueless too or she would have the training needed to shoot a sidearm that will actually do the job.
You don't see lady cops crying they want a 22 for duty cause they can't shoot a 9...

 

Nice way to cherry pick something I said and blow it out of the water. Did you even read my post? Maybe you should go back and read it before making inflammatory assumptions. But I'll say it again, she recently had shoulder surgery and we've been testing what guns she can and can't shoot, a and the recoil, of even my Glock 17, bothers her and she can’t hold it for very long before her arm basically gives out, so there's that. Her limit is a 22 in a handgun in terms of recoil.

 

I think its just fine. Are there choices that a general thought to be more optimal? Yes but if your wife can't use those or does not feel comfortable with other choices then why force them on her. the first thing is find something that is reliable i thing a 10/22 fits that then as other have said run a few types of ammo in it. Its cheap to shoot so dont skimp on some good testing and you wife can get a good idea how the rifle fires and most important gets comfortable with it.
I think 25 rounds of .22 coming at most people will get them to change their mind and allows quick accurate shooting. its a deadly round that I'm sure hurts like hell to be on the wrong in of. people some times forget on .22 can kill and has for a long time now hopefully she can get many at the bad guy.
I know people will say there are better calibers but if she shoots it well and understands that she should not shoot once but just let them have it then I would not want to get on her bad side.

 

Reliability would top my list of concerns by a wide margin. That said, quality ammo out of a 10/22 should be pretty reliable. While the 22LR is far from ideal, it’s not like it’s going to bounce off of people.

 

Welcome to the forum. Here's an eleven year old thread on just this subject. Lots of good reading. tom. :cowboy:

https://www.glocktalk.com/threads/rimfire-home-defense.620048/

 

As a young college student on his own for the first time, my SD Arsenal consisted of a Marlin Model 60 and a Ruger Standard Model 4”, both loaded with Minimag solids, both 100% reliable through 1000’s of rounds. I considered myself pretty well armed.
The classic ‘69 10/22 I own now has been reliable with the BX25 mag, and I believe I would choose the CCI Velocitor load now.

 

A hailstorm of 22 rounds coming at you will make anyone reconsider their course of action. Use what you are comfortable with.

 

I also suggest one of these lasers that replace the barrel band (if you have that kind of 10/22. Just one more advantage.

https://www.cdnnsports.com/10-22-ruger-factory-red-laser.html#.WiRs3kqnE2w

 

My prime concern would also be the rimfire ignition. In my opinion if .22 is the only recoil the shooter can tolerate then go for a revolver. At least if you get a click instead of a bang, you can just pull the trigger again.
Also, it's a much simpler manual of arms for people who won't shoot much.

You can get a Ruger GP 100 revolver which is a 10 shot:

http://www.ruger.com/products/gp100/specSheets/1757.html

 

Having a .22 is better that having no gun, certainly better that harsh language or a stick or rock. I have has a ruger 10/22 for over 25 years. Still have the original gun. Works like a champ. BUT, stay with Ruger magazines. Butler Creek used to be top notch, but they are not so good anymore. CCI Stingers is what I keep loader in 6 25 rounders for a rainy day. Put a Bushnell TRS25 on it and let everyone go to town. Red dots are fun, and economical now offering very fast target aquisition.

But the most important thing is practice. And that means for everyone. While the .22 is not ideal, it can easily kill. And with 25 rounds and if necessary another 25 after a reload, it will work.

 

.22 caliber is less than ideal, but if that's what you have at hand, use it. Several well placed rounds from a .22 rifle should take the fight out of most bad guys pretty quickly.
Be aware there may well be pass through shots.

 

A huge step up without increasing recoil much at all would be the .22 WMR.
.22 magnum semi auto rifles are a bit more expensive but I would certainly put them into the category of something I could grab to defend myself in comparison to .22 LR.

https://www.cheaperthandirt.com/category/firearms/rifles/semi-automatic/22-magnum.do

 

I don't know the .17 hmr vs 22lr but believe the .17 is more powerful and accurate. Also more expensive. Can anyone advise on this?