Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:02):
Welcome to Defensive SkillsAcademy Podcast, where we dive
into firearms, 2A informationsecurity and more.
I'm Joe, your host, and eachweek we'll cover new topics for
your information and leading toyour personal protection.
Today we're talking about PocketPistols, so stay tuned.
(00:22):
Don't forget, head on over topatreon.com or Spotify and
subscribe to Defensive SkillsAcademy podcast.
This episode is brought to youby Dynamic Tactic Firearms.
For quick transfers and friendlystaff, check out Dynamic Tactic
Firearms.
(00:42):
So today we're gonna be talkingabout Pocket Pistols.
Are Pocket Pistols a good ideafor self-defense?
For some people, yeah, for somepeople say no.
I sometimes do carry a pocketpistol.
Either a small compact, by sky,SCCY firearms.
(01:02):
I like their guns, fits in mypocket good.
Sometimes I carry a 380 Bursa.
Also good in my front pocketnow.
Most of the time I am carrying aGlock 19, but can't really fit
that in my pocket, but dependingon where I'm going, yes,
sometimes I will use a pocketpistol, either in a small,
(01:28):
compact, 9mm or 380.
They're tiny light and easy tostash just about anywhere.
A 22 LR Pocket pistol is a smartchoice for self-defense.
A lot of folks are drawn tothese little guns because of
(01:50):
their low recoil andconvenience, but when push comes
to shove, you need somethingthat is actually going to stop a
threat.
So let's break down the pros andcons so you know exactly what
you're trading off.
They're easy to carry, no doubt.
(02:13):
A little pocket 22.
You have a Derringer got acouple other makes out there,
but Pocket 20 twos are about theeasiest firearm to carry They
disappear in the front pocketand you'll barely notice the
weight.
For people who struggle withheavier guns, that's a big plus.
(02:35):
The downside is that thisconvenience comes with
compromises.
You are working with a smallergrip, shorter sight radius, and
often a gun that's not that funto shoot.
It does have low recoil, whichmakes it easy to stay on target,
(03:00):
especially for folks witharthritis or limited hand
strength.
Shooting a 22 LR is gentle,which helps with confidence and
accuracy during practice.
Remember, if you're gonna carryit, you have to practice with
it, but that light recoil alsomeans light energy.
(03:24):
You won't get as much stoppingpower out of it, and that
matters when you're depending onit to save your life or someone
else's life that you care about.
Even though a 22 bullet ifenters the body the right way,
it does ricochet.
(03:46):
A lot of people will disagreewith me, but we've seen it.
It's been proven numerous times.
But again, the stopping power,if you are, if you're shooting a
22 at someone coming at youwho's 300, 350 pounds, hey, it's
(04:06):
going to shock them, but itmight not put them down.
Okay, so you gotta be, you gottaremember that when you are
carrying a 22 as a pocketpistol, same thing.
If you're carrying a three 80 asa pocket pistol, a little bit
more punch to it.
But again, you still have toremember, you're looking to stop
(04:29):
the threat.
One of the biggest issues withthe 22 lr.
Is that it's a rim fire, notcent fire.
A three 80 is cent fire.
A 22 is rim fire.
What do I mean by rim fire?
You hit that round a 22 round.
(04:49):
Any place on the rim, there's agood chance it's going to fire.
Unlike a 380, 9 millimeter 45,you have a striker fight hits
the center of the.
The bullet and it explodes it.
(05:10):
The primer explodes, ignites thegunpowder.
The gunpowder ejects the bullet.
That means it's just more likelyto misfire especially with bulk
ammo.
Not something you want to dealwith in a crisis.
(05:32):
Even high quality 22 rounds canbe inconsistent in tiny pocket
pistols.
Let's get this straight though.
Here I have a Smith and Wesson mand p 22.
I've shot different 22 rounds inthere, and I've had misfires.
(05:54):
I've had ammo that.
It is not strong enough torecoil the slide back, so you
gotta manually do it.
Thank God it's only at therange.
This happens.
It's more of a training pistolfor my kids, but that's
something you gotta keep inmind.
The other 22, which I like isthe Glock 44, which is a 22
(06:18):
caliber firearm as well.
Never had a problem with thatone.
With a small underpowered round,like a 22 shop placement matters
a lot more than it would withsomething like a nine
millimeter, 40 caliber, or evena three 80.
(06:42):
You're counting on hittingsomething vital to stop the
threat.
That puts a lot more pressure onthe shooter when you have a high
stress moment.
Making precise shots with a tinypistol is a tall order.
It's hard.
Even if you train on a regularbasis with that firearm, it's
(07:05):
still hard to make a preciseshot.
Listen, I know people who.
Sit there and train constantlywith nine millimeters who have
trouble making precise shotswhen the time counts.
(07:25):
And don't forget, we're a 22.
You might need multiple shots tostop your attacker.
There are plenty of real worldstories of 22 stopping
attackers, but they usually willrequire several hits to get the
job done.
You're not gonna stop'em withone round, two rounds.
Maybe three will slow'em down,but you're talking in 4, 5, 6, 7
(07:47):
rounds where sometimes you mighthave to empty out your magazine
to stop that threat with a 22.
That's not ideal.
When time is short and a threatis moving, yes, modern 22 rounds
like CCI or Federal Punch offerbetter penetration.
(08:11):
But you're still talking about around that was never designed
for defense.
But if that's all you have, thenthat's all you have.
It's gonna have to work some 22Pac Pistols run.
Great.
Others are a jam machine.
Blow back designs.
Paired with cheap ammo can turninto a recipe for feeding
(08:34):
issues, stove pipes, or evenlight primer strikes.
Have that with my Smith andWesson m and p, which is a 22
caliber.
I've had light primer strikes,I've had feeding issues.
Never had a stove pipe with itthough.
Before trusting one, you'll needto put a lot of rounds through
(08:56):
it.
If it doesn't run flawlesslyafter you put at least 500 to a
thousand rounds through it, itshouldn't be part of your
personal defense plan.
I've put probably 1500 roundsthrough my Smith and Wesson m
and p 22, and it is not part ofmy personal defense plan.
(09:20):
I use it again, like I said,more to teach my teenager how to
shoot.
He likes it and he's pretty goodwith it, but it's not part of
our self-defense plan at all.
Let's be real though.
A 22 in your pocket is betterthan nothing at all.
(09:43):
If it's the only gun you'recomfortable carrying or the only
one you can shoot accurately.
It can still be a viable option,but it should be your last
resort, not your go-to everydaycarry gun.
There are better calibers andplatforms out there that still
(10:05):
offer low recoil in a compactsize, but whatever your everyday
carrier is.
You need to train with it.
You need to practice with it.
If you are carrying any firearmin your pocket, when you go to
the range, you better betraining the way you carry.
If it's in your front pocket,you better be keeping that
(10:26):
firearm in your front pocket andtraining with it.
You don't wanna all of a suddentrain with it not in your
pocket.
One day it's in your pocket, youneed it.
No train with the firearm, howyou carry it.
So if you're going to carry a 22for defense, you need to train
more, not less.
(10:47):
That means drawing fromconcealment, practicing
malfunctions, and shooting fastfollow ups.
The good news is ammo is cheap,so you can afford to train
often.
Just make sure your gun and ammocombo is reliable before you
count on it.
(11:09):
Again, you could get 500 roundsof 22 for around 30 bucks.
I believe.
I've seen'em for as cheap as 25,as expensive as 35, 40 bucks.
But it just like anything else,you get what you pay for.
(11:33):
And so that's our little talktoday about pocket pistols.
again, a 22.
If that's all you have forself-defense, hey, it's better
than nothing.
Okay.
Thank you for joining today'sdiscussion on Pocket Pistols.
Please note.
That the content shared here inthis podcast is intended for
(11:56):
informational purposes only, andshould not replace professional
advice or guidance from aqualified expert.
Always consult an appropriatecertified instructor for more
information and training.
Stay safe, stay informed, andthank you for listening.
Till next time.
Welcome to Defensive SkillsAcademy Podcast, where we dive
into firearms, 2A informationsecurity and more.
I'm Joe, your host, and eachweek we'll cover new topics for
your information and leading toyour personal protection.
Today we're talking about PocketPistols, so stay tuned.
(00:22):
Don't forget, head on over topatreon.com or Spotify and
subscribe to Defensive SkillsAcademy podcast.
This episode is brought to youby Dynamic Tactic Firearms.
For quick transfers and friendlystaff, check out Dynamic Tactic
Firearms.
(00:42):
So today we're gonna be talkingabout Pocket Pistols.
Are Pocket Pistols a good ideafor self-defense?
For some people, yeah, for somepeople say no.
I sometimes do carry a pocketpistol.
Either a small compact, by sky,SCCY firearms.
(01:02):
I like their guns, fits in mypocket good.
Sometimes I carry a 380 Bursa.
Also good in my front pocketnow.
Most of the time I am carrying aGlock 19, but can't really fit
that in my pocket, but dependingon where I'm going, yes,
sometimes I will use a pocketpistol, either in a small,
(01:28):
compact, 9mm or 380.
They're tiny light and easy tostash just about anywhere.
A 22 LR Pocket pistol is a smartchoice for self-defense.
A lot of folks are drawn tothese little guns because of
(01:50):
their low recoil andconvenience, but when push comes
to shove, you need somethingthat is actually going to stop a
threat.
So let's break down the pros andcons so you know exactly what
you're trading off.
They're easy to carry, no doubt.
(02:13):
A little pocket 22.
You have a Derringer got acouple other makes out there,
but Pocket 20 twos are about theeasiest firearm to carry They
disappear in the front pocketand you'll barely notice the
weight.
For people who struggle withheavier guns, that's a big plus.
(02:35):
The downside is that thisconvenience comes with
compromises.
You are working with a smallergrip, shorter sight radius, and
often a gun that's not that funto shoot.
It does have low recoil, whichmakes it easy to stay on target,
(03:00):
especially for folks witharthritis or limited hand
strength.
Shooting a 22 LR is gentle,which helps with confidence and
accuracy during practice.
Remember, if you're gonna carryit, you have to practice with
it, but that light recoil alsomeans light energy.
(03:24):
You won't get as much stoppingpower out of it, and that
matters when you're depending onit to save your life or someone
else's life that you care about.
Even though a 22 bullet ifenters the body the right way,
it does ricochet.
(03:46):
A lot of people will disagreewith me, but we've seen it.
It's been proven numerous times.
But again, the stopping power,if you are, if you're shooting a
22 at someone coming at youwho's 300, 350 pounds, hey, it's
(04:06):
going to shock them, but itmight not put them down.
Okay, so you gotta be, you gottaremember that when you are
carrying a 22 as a pocketpistol, same thing.
If you're carrying a three 80 asa pocket pistol, a little bit
more punch to it.
But again, you still have toremember, you're looking to stop
(04:29):
the threat.
One of the biggest issues withthe 22 lr.
Is that it's a rim fire, notcent fire.
A three 80 is cent fire.
A 22 is rim fire.
What do I mean by rim fire?
You hit that round a 22 round.
(04:49):
Any place on the rim, there's agood chance it's going to fire.
Unlike a 380, 9 millimeter 45,you have a striker fight hits
the center of the.
The bullet and it explodes it.
(05:10):
The primer explodes, ignites thegunpowder.
The gunpowder ejects the bullet.
That means it's just more likelyto misfire especially with bulk
ammo.
Not something you want to dealwith in a crisis.
(05:32):
Even high quality 22 rounds canbe inconsistent in tiny pocket
pistols.
Let's get this straight though.
Here I have a Smith and Wesson mand p 22.
I've shot different 22 rounds inthere, and I've had misfires.
(05:54):
I've had ammo that.
It is not strong enough torecoil the slide back, so you
gotta manually do it.
Thank God it's only at therange.
This happens.
It's more of a training pistolfor my kids, but that's
something you gotta keep inmind.
The other 22, which I like isthe Glock 44, which is a 22
(06:18):
caliber firearm as well.
Never had a problem with thatone.
With a small underpowered round,like a 22 shop placement matters
a lot more than it would withsomething like a nine
millimeter, 40 caliber, or evena three 80.
(06:42):
You're counting on hittingsomething vital to stop the
threat.
That puts a lot more pressure onthe shooter when you have a high
stress moment.
Making precise shots with a tinypistol is a tall order.
It's hard.
Even if you train on a regularbasis with that firearm, it's
(07:05):
still hard to make a preciseshot.
Listen, I know people who.
Sit there and train constantlywith nine millimeters who have
trouble making precise shotswhen the time counts.
(07:25):
And don't forget, we're a 22.
You might need multiple shots tostop your attacker.
There are plenty of real worldstories of 22 stopping
attackers, but they usually willrequire several hits to get the
job done.
You're not gonna stop'em withone round, two rounds.
Maybe three will slow'em down,but you're talking in 4, 5, 6, 7
(07:47):
rounds where sometimes you mighthave to empty out your magazine
to stop that threat with a 22.
That's not ideal.
When time is short and a threatis moving, yes, modern 22 rounds
like CCI or Federal Punch offerbetter penetration.
(08:11):
But you're still talking about around that was never designed
for defense.
But if that's all you have, thenthat's all you have.
It's gonna have to work some 22Pac Pistols run.
Great.
Others are a jam machine.
Blow back designs.
Paired with cheap ammo can turninto a recipe for feeding
(08:34):
issues, stove pipes, or evenlight primer strikes.
Have that with my Smith andWesson m and p, which is a 22
caliber.
I've had light primer strikes,I've had feeding issues.
Never had a stove pipe with itthough.
Before trusting one, you'll needto put a lot of rounds through
(08:56):
it.
If it doesn't run flawlesslyafter you put at least 500 to a
thousand rounds through it, itshouldn't be part of your
personal defense plan.
I've put probably 1500 roundsthrough my Smith and Wesson m
and p 22, and it is not part ofmy personal defense plan.
(09:20):
I use it again, like I said,more to teach my teenager how to
shoot.
He likes it and he's pretty goodwith it, but it's not part of
our self-defense plan at all.
Let's be real though.
A 22 in your pocket is betterthan nothing at all.
(09:43):
If it's the only gun you'recomfortable carrying or the only
one you can shoot accurately.
It can still be a viable option,but it should be your last
resort, not your go-to everydaycarry gun.
There are better calibers andplatforms out there that still
(10:05):
offer low recoil in a compactsize, but whatever your everyday
carrier is.
You need to train with it.
You need to practice with it.
If you are carrying any firearmin your pocket, when you go to
the range, you better betraining the way you carry.
If it's in your front pocket,you better be keeping that
(10:26):
firearm in your front pocket andtraining with it.
You don't wanna all of a suddentrain with it not in your
pocket.
One day it's in your pocket, youneed it.
No train with the firearm, howyou carry it.
So if you're going to carry a 22for defense, you need to train
more, not less.
(10:47):
That means drawing fromconcealment, practicing
malfunctions, and shooting fastfollow ups.
The good news is ammo is cheap,so you can afford to train
often.
Just make sure your gun and ammocombo is reliable before you
count on it.
(11:09):
Again, you could get 500 roundsof 22 for around 30 bucks.
I believe.
I've seen'em for as cheap as 25,as expensive as 35, 40 bucks.
But it just like anything else,you get what you pay for.
(11:33):
And so that's our little talktoday about pocket pistols.
again, a 22.
If that's all you have forself-defense, hey, it's better
than nothing.
Okay.
Thank you for joining today'sdiscussion on Pocket Pistols.
Please note.
That the content shared here inthis podcast is intended for
(11:56):
informational purposes only, andshould not replace professional
advice or guidance from aqualified expert.
Always consult an appropriatecertified instructor for more
information and training.
Stay safe, stay informed, andthank you for listening.
Till next time.
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