22 LR vs 9mm: Should It Be a Debate?

My first “real” gun was a Ruger 10/22, which shoots 22 long rifle, while my first concealed carry pistol was a Smith & Wesson 9mm Shield.

My grandfather owns a varmint gun chambered in 22 Mag, which we often shot growing up.

To say I have a lot of experience with both calibers as a gun owner is an understatement.

I believe each caliber has its proper place, and both should be in your gun safe.

However, that doesn’t mean they should be used for the same reasons. Each round outshines the other in specific instances.

As we compare the .22 vs. 9mm, you’ll see why I believe everyone should own both for different scenarios, but if I were forced to choose just one, it’d be the 9mm because of its reloadability and higher knockdown power.

.22 vs. 9mm

The 22 and 9mm were created for different purposes, so these rounds are very dissimilar.

For instance, the 22 caliber is a rimfire cartridge, while the 9mm is a centerfire cartridge which makes reloading the 9mm possible, unlike 22 brass.

The bullets of a 9mm Luger are much larger than a 22, which means their trajectories and recoil will vary.

Let’s get into the meat and potatoes of the 22 vs. 9mm comparison.

Cartridge Specs

We will discuss a few different cartridges for the 22 caliber, the 22LR, 22WMR, and 22 Short, but we’ll focus on the two most common rounds, the 22 Long Rifle and the 22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire.

The 22 Long is the most common round and what most of us grew up shooting. The bullet diameter is 0.2255", and the base diameter is 0.226".

The case length makes up 0.613" of the overall 1" length of a 22LR. The max pressure (SAAMI) is 24,000 psi.

The beefed-up version of the 22 LR is the 22 WMR. The bullet diameter is slightly smaller at 0.224", and the base diameter is larger at 0.242".

If you have zero experience with these cartridges, you might think they’d be easy to mix up.

However, the 22 WMR has an overall length of 1.35" with the case length making up 1.055" of the overall length, so they’re easily distinguishable. The max pressure (SAAMI) is 23,206 psi.

The 22 Short, as you can guess, is shorter than the other cartridges. The overall length is only 0.695", and the bullet diameter is smaller at 0.222".

The 22 Short isn’t as common, so we will focus on the 22LR and 22WMR for the rest of the article.

The 9mm bullet diameter is 0.355", and the base diameter is 0.391". The case length of the 9mm makes up 0.754" of the 1.169" overall size of the round.

The max pressure (SAAMI) of the 9mm is 35,000 psi, over 10,000 pounds per square inch more than the 22LR.

Recoil

Felt recoil is determined by the weight of the gun and the bullet weight.

So no matter how you slice it, the 9mm will have more recoil because it needs a larger cartridge with more capacity to fire the larger bullet.

The 22 Short will have the least amount of recoil, but the 22 Long Rifle and 22 Mag hardly have any recoil.

This is why so many shooters are introduced to firearms using a 22 caliber. If you have a child or adult reluctant to shoot because they’re afraid of the recoil, then the 22 is the best way to help them see there’s nothing with which to be concerned.

With that said, the 9mm Luger is not a high-recoil caliber. The 4-8 ft-lbs of recoil is a great “next step up” for the new shooter because it’s still easy to get follow-up shots off in a semi-auto.

The experienced shooter will have no problem handling a 9mm pistol while target shooting.

If you’re solely focused on feeling less recoil, then it’s no contest the 22 caliber wins.

Trajectory

The bullet’s trajectory is the path that it takes to the target. The track is an arch because of gravity.

We prefer flat-shooting rounds because they require less adjusting as the distance to the target increases.

Neither caliber was designed for long-range shooting, so each one has a poor trajectory.

The 9mm drops over 12" at 100 yards; in comparison, we can zero in, meaning virtually no drop, a 22 WMR at 100 yards, but at 200 yds, the bullet drops 16.5". The 22 LR has a shorter range than the WMR; at 150 yds, it has 11 inches of drop.

The 9mm was designed for handguns, so a 100-yard shot is not recommended.

The 22 vs. 9mm trajectory contest is easily won by the 22, but it’s most often shot from a rifle, so we expected this outcome.

Accuracy

Accuracy depends on many factors, including the gun, optics, shooter, and quality of rounds.

Most shooters will find the .22 caliber to be more accurate than the 9mm because of the less recoil and flatter trajectory.

Stopping Power

Stopping power is an immeasurable term that most firearms enthusiasts use. When speaking of stopping power, we often mean the ability of the round to stop a threat immediately.

Bullet selection greatly factors into the debate, but a larger bullet will generally have more stopping power.

A hollow-point bullet will have more stopping power than a Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) of the same caliber.

The stopping power of the 22 Long Rifle doesn’t compare to the larger 9mm.

The 9mm easily wins the section.

Hunting

Growing up, I hunted rabbits and squirrels with a Ruger 10/22 22 LR. It could take out a coyote with a well-placed shot, but I would recommend stepping up to a 22 WMR for coyotes and groundhogs.

Attempting to take any game larger than a coyote with a 22 is illegal in most states.

I have never personally hunted with 9mm ammo, nor would I recommend it to anyone. Still, a 9mm Luger has the capabilities in close range to take down a deer if you’re in a desperate situation.

These calibers weren’t intended for big game hunting, but the 22 has a slight advantage for small game hunting situations.

Self-Defense and Home Defense

Most people will agree that the 9mm is the better-concealed carry and home-defense option because it has more stopping power and is just as easy to conceal.

The only advantage the 22 has on the 9mm is magazine capacity, but a Glock 19 9mm has a standard magazine capacity of 15+1 up to a 33+1, so there’s not much of an advantage here either.

I’m grabbing my 9mm self-defense round over my 22 LR or 22 WMR.

Ammo & Gun Cost & Availability

Because so many shooters enjoy both calibers, ammo and gun availability are exceptionally high compared with many other calibers.

Manufacturers like Glock and Ruger offer both calibers chambered in a pistol, while companies like Henry, Winchester, and Remington offer 22 LR and 22 WMR rifles.

The 9mm is found in a carbine; that’s a lot of fun to shoot.

Gun cost varies significantly from manufacturer to manufacturer and pistol vs. rifle, but both calibers offer guns at all price ranges.

The price of ammo is where the 22 LR separates itself from the competition. It’s often the cheapest ammo you can purchase. 22 WMR is usually 2-3 times the price of 22 LR because fewer manufacturers make it.

9mm is also typically two times the cost of 22 LR, but that’s expected since it requires a larger bullet, case, a primer, and more gunpowder.

Reloading

Reloading is the best way to control the controllable variables. It’s also an excellent way to save money on ammo.

Handloading 9mm rounds is very common, which makes finding all the essentials difficult in times of low product availability. This also means 9mm primers, bullets, and gunpowder will be some of the first back in stock.

While handloading 22 LR is not impossible, it’s much more hassle, and your options are minimal. Only a couple of companies offer reloading equipment for 22 LR.

Since they’re rimfire cartridges, they require a special powder that a typical shipping process can’t ship. Though it is much cheaper, reloaded 22 is less reliable than factory ammo.

If you enjoy reloading, 9mm ammo is the way to go since the equipment is much easier to obtain.

A Brief .22 History

The Stevens Arms Company began developing the 22 LR rimfire round from the case of the 22 Long and the 40-grain bullet of the 22 Extra long in the late 1800s.

In the last 130+ years, it has skyrocketed to the most popular round with few competitors because of its low recoil and inexpensive rounds.

The 22 LR has been chambered in almost every gun imaginable with a wide variety of bullet weights from 20-60gr with muzzle velocities ranging between 575 to 1,700 fps.

Bare lead, copper plated, full metal jacket, hollow point, and No. 12 snake shotshells all make up the varieties of bullets available in 22 LR.

Released by Winchester Repeating Arms in 1959, the 22 WMR is also known as the 22 Mag, .22 Magnum, 22 MRF, and .22 WMRF.

It was developed by elongating the anemic .22 WRF cartridge to fire a 40-grain bullet at 2,000 fps.

Today, most 22 WMR loads fire bullets weighing 30-50 grains around 1,900 FPS.

A Brief 9mm History

The 9x19mm Luger is, known as the 9x19mm, 9mm Parabellum, or simply the 9mm, was developed by the Austrian gunsmith Georg Luger in 1901.

The 9mm Parabellum is derived from the 7.65x21mm Parabellum, Luger’s previous design.

After World War I and World War II, 9mm became a popular cartridge amongst military and law enforcement in Europe. However, it didn’t become common in the US until the 1980s when the US Army adopted the Beretta M9 Service Pistol.

The 9mm Luger erupted in the United States in the ’80s and '90s when Glock introduced the Glock 17 and the Sig Sauer P226 hit the market. More recently, the Springfield XD and Smith & Wesson M&P have continued to spread the popularity of the 9x19mm to the concealed carry community.

Final Shots: 22 Caliber vs 9mm

As we can see when comparing the 22 vs 9mm, both calibers have their place in history and are very popular for different reasons. That’s why I believe both should have their place in your gun safe.

However, if you can’t convince your significant other about the benefits of owning both rounds, I would stick with the 9mm.

Its low recoil, higher stopping power, availability of reloading supplies, and versatility make it the better round.

You can’t go wrong with 22LR ammo for a day of plinking, and varmints don’t stand a chance at 100 yards with the 22 WMR and good shot placement.

Continue reading 22 LR vs 9mm: Should It Be a Debate? on Ammo.com for comparative ballistic data!

5 Likes

Joe biden says a 9mm will blow a lung clean out of a body.

10 Likes

Yep, and I believe he IS a biologist, unlike his SC justice nominee.

6 Likes

https://forum.full30.com/t/even-newer-and-not-so-improved-memes-20-and-two-two/20627/400?u=willieb

5 Likes

He would soil his pants, if somebody told him about .22TCM9r.

6 Likes

He does that anyway.

6 Likes

What ever you do, DO NOT tell Brandon that the feared and banned AR15 IS A 22 Caliber

4 Likes

There is a reason why 22lr and 22WMR is so popular .
There is a reason why 9mm is so popular… now what those reasons are vary by user.
For instance I dont like 9mm
Love 22lr and 22wmr.

5 Likes

I am starting to come around on the 9mm.

5 Likes

I wished I could but There are so many other calibers so much better yet everyone makes nine million choices in 9mm. Why ?
Not because “it will blow the lungs clean out of a guy.”
But mainly because it is a weak and cheap caliber with limited vullet weight options.

Sorry @Ridgewalker I cant do it .

6 Likes

I think I am truly addicted to recoil. :yep:

6 Likes

My reason for being willing to get a 9mm (still don’t have one) is split times. Just a fact. I am measurably faster with a 9 vs 40.

Back to 22LR vs 9mm. No debate. Both are handy, but sure shoot more 22LR over anything else.

6 Likes

Yeah , I think its safe to say that 22lr/wmr is America’s favorite caliber .

6 Likes

Maybe I missed something?

Should it be a debate? YES! One must look at all the factors in cartridge choice. It sorta ticks me off when folks think everyone is the same with the same capabilities. News flash… They aren’t!

Some older folks can’t handle a 9mm but can handle a .22, so are they screwed? Or is the .22 that they can handle better than nothing? I wouldn’t want to be hit by a .22.

I didn’t discuss it with the manufacturers that make SD .22 ammo but I’d be willing to bet that granny figured prominently in their decision to produce the SD .22 LR.

When the wife and I go for walks I can take pretty much anything along. Most of the time I choose a .22 and specifically a KelTec CP33 with a 50 round magazine. Why? because it’s very light and I don’t even know I’m carrying it. The most likely target would be a very sick mammal so that it doesn’t get close enough to bite either of us, and I can put lots of tiny bullets accurately into the target. Why should I carry something bigger? In the case of 2 legged varmints should they be so stupid, I think 50 tiny bullets can handle the situation. I know I wouldn’t want to get hit by any of them, or by the tiny bullets launched by a granny who can only handle a .22.

I just came from the range where I practiced for Steel Challenge and I was not born with shooting talent; I worked to develop it and anyone else can also. My handgun, the same CP33 mentioned previously was moving around hitting the targets at a very fast rate. A single target that I only need to track and not move to acquire would be much easier and it wouldn’t have a prayer. Any able bodied person with a will can do it. I’m nothing special, I’m just an old fart. Maybe granny who can’t handle a 9mm can’t but then she probably also wouldn’t be walking on rural roads either.

Some might say that rimfire isn’t reliable. I have had FTF with some .22s but I’ve put many thousands of Mini-Mags and Fed’ Auto Match downrange and I’ve never had any failures with either. I contacted CCI to ask what they’d use on my walks, giving them full information. Their answer? Mini-mags. They could have told me anything but told me that mini-mags would work as well as anything else they make. I suggest that they’d work as well at SD or HD employed by granny. Would it be my first choice in a HD gun? No. But I’m also not granny. I also don’t suggest taking a shot then looking for a reaction. Fire until the threat is done. That might take more than 10 rounds.

What’s my EDC ? Not a .22. What’s my HD gun? Not a .22. But again, I’m not granny, but that doesn’t mean I can’t put myself in grannys shoes.

Getting down off my soapbox now.

7 Likes

So yer saying the nine is a big kids 22…

7 Likes

lol :rofl:

6 Likes

I just bought a small 9 over the winter, I have not shot it much, but I can tell you it is a lot lighter than my beloved combat Commander and easier to hide. But neither of those is the reason I got it, I don’t reload and it is cheap to shoot, compared to the 45 acp, I have shot for 50 years or so. And come SHTF or even another ammo unavailability event, it is so common it will always be around someplace. I still prefer to carry and shoot my 1911, but at my age and with my back the way it is, the little wonder nine is easy on my back, and I don’t feel any more underguned than when I carry a 38 spl, in other words not at all. They will all do the job, in my opinion, maybe one better than the other, but in the end, it is the Indian and not the bow.

Just my .02, but I think we get a little too excited about an extra couple of fps, or 1/4 moa groups. It’s all nice on paper, it don’t really mean much in the real world. I have a Winchester 30-30 and a Colt clone 45 LC and they have been killing stuff, long before anyone ever heard the word magnum.

7 Likes

Why can’t we just have both? or maybe several of both. :rofl:

9 Likes

Liked the soapbox , I agree with the 22 "argument/debate"I say safely I have more 22 ammo than any other currently.

7 Likes

I had carried an officer model 45 a lot and its been replaced in favor of a micro 1911 in 9

6 Likes