I know, only 2nd post so still a plinkster. I have read 100's of articles, watched 100's of videos and reads lots of reviews on the topic of using a 22lr for self defense. There was a thread on here about 6 years ago and I read that one as well so I am going to give my take on the subject. I currently own a Springfield 40 xd, an M & P shield in 9mm and an SR 22 with the 4.5 in barrel. I have shot every one of my guns, probably 500 our of each of the 9mm and 40 and well over a 1000 rounds from my SR22. My 40 is a little too snappy for me and I like the 9mm but I love the SR22 the most. With all the rounds fired in 22 I have had only 2 ftf, one cci mini mag and one winchester bulk pack. I have read all the studies on shootings from the major guys doing studies on decades of shooting. One study showed the 22 averaging a stop 34% of the time and fail to stop 31% of the time, all the other calibers shot from handguns showed different results, some better then the 22 and some worse. Right now I can rapidly shoot 10 shots from my 22 at 20 ft and it a 5 inch group everytime. not excellent but getting better. Can't do that with either of my other guns and not a fast because of re acquiring the target after the recoil. I have seen all the test using the gel test and different ammo's from each of the guns. Most important that I have learned is shot placement, shot placement and shot placement is very important. At this time in my development I am more comfortable that I can put more bullets on target with my 22 then either of my other guns. My go to ammo will be the cci solid 40 gr hyper velocity. As I continue to shoot all my guns I may get better but for now I have more confidence in my SR22. One last issue I am concerned with is being in a shooting with one of the larger guns, how many of you have been in an actual shooting, without ear protection and fired off 4,5 or 6 rounds and what happen to your hearing. My dad was a detective for the LAPD and carried a 38 revolver as his service piece. He had a bad habit of setting his gun on a blanket in the back seat on his way to work. One day he picked up me and my friend walking to school and gave us a ride to school. shortly after pick us up there was a loud explosion in the car. My friend saw the gun in the back seat and picked it up thinking it was a toy gun and fired it. it went straight through the seat and out the windshield. Missed me by a couple inches, I was sitting in the front seat. My point is I lost the hearing in one of my ears for 2 days with a horrible ringing. In a shooting situation with a 9mm. a 40 or a 45, what is that going to sound like. I may upgrade as I gain more confidence in my shooting and train more with the 9mm but not sure I will ever get used to the 40. Anyone else around here us a 22lr for there EDC?