We’ve been talking about .22lr as a defensive round in our writer chat group lately. The Federal Punch 22lr round kept coming up. Turns out Jim did some gel testing on some 22lr self defense ammo options a couple years back, including Federal Punch – the penetration (snicker) and performance results supported that suggestion. So we figured we’d share. You’re welcome. Mad Duo

Preferred 22lr Self Defense Ammo: Federal Punch

It is cliché to address using a .22 rimfire handgun for personal defense or concealed carry. The stories have been over-told, and the myths rehashed. But we also live in the real world where we accept compromises to achieve an outcome.

On paper, the .22 LR is not particularly powerful, and some ammunition and gun combinations are more reliable than others. But cheap practice ammunition, nonexistent recoil, and the firearm’s small size make a compelling case for some. There is no shortage of people who carry the lowly .22 in spite of its drawbacks.

But if a .22 LR handgun is the choice, what ammunition do you pick? After years of rimfire ammo testing and hunting, I came around to the Federal Punch 29-grain flat point as the best 22 LR self-defense ammo to keep on hand. Here’s why.

Gel Test of Federal Punch 22LR

This is Federal Punch 22 LR

The Federal Punch load was one of the first .22 LR cartridges intentionally designed for personal protection. In all the years since the .22 has been on the market, .22 LR handguns have been loaded with rounds intended for best performance out of a rifle-length barrel. What comes out of the barrel is a slow-moving, round-nosed or hollow-point bullet that does little damage aside from tumbling, and may stop short of the good penetration needed to reach and disrupt vital organs.

Federal Punch is optimized for short-barreled handguns commonly used for concealed carry. It has an advertised velocity of 1,070 feet per second out of a two-inch barrel and uses a solid nickel-plated lead flat-point bullet. Federal does not bother with an exotic hollow point that either breaks up too soon or fails to expand, instead opting for a 29-grain non-expanding option that emphasizes penetration.

In all the years since the .22 has been on the market, .22 LR handguns have been loaded with rounds intended for best performance out of a rifle-length barrel.

To drive the point home, the .22 LR Federal Punch load has an unusual meplat, which prevents the bullet from sliding and tumbling in tissue like a round-nosed bullet.

In Testing: How the Punch Boxes the Other Options

I have tested several boxes of the Federal Punch in all manner of derringers, revolvers, and semi-auto pistols over the years, and the ammunition has been utterly reliable without any underpowered rounds or duds. That is not to say it cannot happen, but I have better luck with the Punch than even the famed CCI Mini Mag or CCI Stinger load across the same round count.

Velocity

From a performance perspective, the Punch has more in common with the Stinger than any other round. The Stinger uses a 32-grain lead hollow point and is meant as a varmint cartridge for rifles. However, its higher velocity, light bullet weight, and good reputation for reliability have led many to flock to it for personal defense. The Punch uses a similar weight bullet traveling at the same velocity out of a short barrel. Both have more blast and noise than standard 40-grain high-velocity rounds offered by most manufacturers.

Penetration

In boards, ballistic gelatin, and animals, the Federal Punch barely edges out Stinger thanks to its solid bullet design. The difference is more easily seen in 10% ordnance gelatin. After traversing a four-layer denim barrier, the Punch reliably penetrates to the 13 3/4-17 inch mark, leaving straight wounds with little outward damage. In this medium, the wounds caused by the Stinger are more impressive as those rounds tumble without fail. Yet its velocity premium allows it to regularly hit the 13-14 inch mark.

The Bottom Line

The more people flock to the .22 for personal protection, the more ammunition companies have been tailoring ammunition to suit that demand. Having tested most, if not all, of them (so far), I would rather stick to the old-school 40-grain lead round or the CCI Stinger. But the .22 LR Federal Punch round stands above them all in terms of performance and delivers penetration approaching the levels of .22 Magnum or even .380 ACP. It’s unquestionably an excellent choice of 22 LR self defense ammo.

If circumstances (or your preference) indicate a .22 for carry, give the Federal Punch load a try.