What's the deal with the .22 guns? I've been told they're mostly for practice and that you won't do much damage with one. (And that this is why they're seemingly in stock everywhere...)
That's somewhat true. They will do some damage, no question, if you hit the right spot like the chest and abdomen. In terms of pure stopping power however, .22 is not that great. At least a 9mm or .380 for that.
(If you're using subsonic rounds, like the ones I use most for my Wrangler, then yes, plinking and varmint hunting is all you can really do. I'd watch for copper jacket rounds rated to at least 40 grain/1200 FPS if you want okay stopping power, though there are hollow points you can buy for LR and magnum variants.)
That said, Ruger and many other companies like Beretta are making models of some of their guns chambered for .22, so even if they don't do much damage per bullet, you can load up a lot of rounds in one magazine compared to a 9mm or .380. And bricks are cheap, about 6 to 9 dollars for 50 or so.
What's the deal with the .22 guns? I've been told they're mostly for practice and that you won't do much damage with one. (And that this is why they're seemingly in stock everywhere...)
That's somewhat true. They will do some damage, no question, if you hit the right spot like the chest and abdomen. In terms of pure stopping power however, .22 is not that great. At least a 9mm or .380 for that.
(If you're using subsonic rounds, like the ones I use most for my Wrangler, then yes, plinking and varmint hunting is all you can really do. I'd watch for copper jacket rounds rated to at least 40 grain/1200 FPS if you want okay stopping power, though there are hollow points you can buy for LR and magnum variants.)
That said, Ruger and many other companies like Beretta are making models of some of their guns chambered for .22, so even if they don't do much damage per bullet, you can load up a lot of rounds in one magazine compared to a 9mm or .380. And bricks are cheap, about 6 to 9 dollars for 50 or so.