The .22LR For Self-Defense – Federal Punch Review

Have you guys noticed the slow acceptance of .22LR for self-defense? Ruger seems to be leading the charge with the Ruger LCR in .22LR and the Ruger LCP 2 in .22LR. Both guns are micro-sized, lightweight, and very easy to handle. These little rounds can reach the vital areas of a threat, but only with proper ammo selection. Federal has taken a good lead in designing a personal protection round in .22LR as part of the Federal Punch lineup. 

The Federal Punch lineup includes several rounds for several calibers, but the loading and line have gotten the most attention for its defensive-minded .22LR load. It’s been easy to find, and I picked a few boxes to see if the juice is worth the squeeze. This coincided with my purchase of an LCP 2 in .22LR, so it was great timing on my end. Let’s see if the Federal Punch is all that and a bag of chips for defensive purposes. 

The Problem with .22LR for Self Defense 

Handgun rounds are essentially hole pokers. They poke holes, and that can often be enough. You need a round that can poke a hole deep enough in a threat to reach the vitals. The most commonly accepted way to test if a round can penetrate deep enough is through the use of ballistic gel. The FBI standard states a round needs to reach a minimum depth of 12 inches in 10% ballistic gel to readily strike something vital in a human. 

The .22LR can do that with the right weapons and load. For example, when fired from a rifle, the longer barrel allows it to impart a greater velocity. This often makes it easier for the round to reach those vital organs. When it comes to small handguns, like the LCP 2 and LCR, the much shorter barrel doesn’t impart the same velocity. With this in mind, we need to find the proper load, which is what the Federal Punch proclaims itself to be. 

Another issue with the .22LR and any rimfire round is reliability. Rimfire rounds are less reliable than centerfire rounds. You really need a premium-grade rimfire round to maximize reliability. Rounds from companies like Federal and CCI tend to be on the premium side. Using bulk ammo for self-defense isn’t advisable, and premium loads like the Federal Punch do help with rimfire reliability. 

Enter the Federal Punch 

The Federal Punch load is designed for short-barreled guns. If someone chooses the .22LR for self-defense, they are likely using a pocket-sized pistol. The Federal Punch .22LR uses 29-grain projectiles that are moving at 1,080 feet per second. That speed is measured from a 2-inch barrel, not a 16-inch barrel. 

That’s fairly fast for a handgun, and when measured from a rifle, it reaches a blistering fast speed of 1,650 feet per second. The 29-grain projectile is light, but that does help with speed from short barrels. Another feature that helps with proper penetration is the hard-nosed design. It will not expand, so it doesn’t slow much, meaning it reaches deeper levels of penetration. 

The project is a lead bullet with a nickel-plated coating. The coating helps prevent deformation and also ensures reliable feeding in semi-auto designs. 

At the Range 

A Ruger LCP 2 was out testing the gun, and we shot at targets at 10 yards. At first shot, I noticed this round was slightly louder than most rimfire rounds, and there was some noticeable muzzle flash. However, there was not any increased or noticeable recoil. I fired several three-shot groups and noted consistent accuracy at ten and fifteen yards. I could keep every round in the black of a B8 at either range quite easily. 

I shot a few 10-10-10 drills that called for 10 rounds at 10 yards in 10 seconds on a B8 and kept it in the black. You get used to the flash quickly, and don’t let it distract you from fast and accurate shooting. 

Reliability was consistently excellent without a single failure to feed, fire, or eject in 150 rounds. The ammunition cycled with an issue in my LCP 2, which would be the typical weapon that would chamber the Federal Punch loads. 

Mouse Gun Carry 

The Federal Punch offers us a very capable and reliable self-defense rimfire round. It’s perfect for those choosing to use the .22LR in a defensive manner and provides reliable operation, adequate penetration, and excellent accuracy. The little .22LR might not always be optimum, so if you choose to carry, whether IWB or OWB, be prepared to choose the right gun and ammo combination. The Federal Punch can help you make at least one of those choices easy. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Travis Pike is a former Marine Machine gunner who served with 2nd Bn 2nd Marines for 5 years. He deployed in 2009 to Afghanistan and again in 2011 with the 22nd MEU(SOC) during a record-setting 11 months at sea. Travis has trained with the Romanian Army, the Spanish Marines, the Emirate Marines, and the Afghan National Army.

He serves as an NRA-certified pistol instructor and pursues a variety of firearms-based hobbies.

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