Nobody has ever said that the .22 Long Rifle makes a man-stopper defensive cartridge. However people still carry it for self-defense purposes. Maybe people have disabilities that preclude a more traditional centerfire cartridge for defensive purposes. Others prefer the ultra-petite size and weight of some small pocket pistols. Or there may be budgetary or availability considerations in a person’s life.
No matter the reason, I know plenty of normal people who carry a .22 everyday. When I ask them about it, they remind me that a .22 in the pocket beats a .45 in the safe at home. Scoring hits with a .22 might not put a bad guy down, but they’ll give him reason to reconsider how badly he wants to dance. And they will reduce an attacker’s combat effectiveness.
Personally, for those who opt for a .22 for self-defense, I’ve always steered them toward the CCI Stinger cartridge. Before now.
CCI has a new round out called the CCI Uppercut.
The manufacturer says it’s engineered for reliability in short-barreled pistols. It fires a 32-grain projectile at about 950 fps from a short barrel. With an MSRP of $12.99 for 50 rounds, it’s not cheap, but it’s not stupid expensive either.
What impressed me in some videos I’ve watched is the consistent expansion of the bullets thanks to a new design. Even when fired through barriers like denim, they still expand every time. Every. Single. Time. Better than any .22 I’ve seen in 40-plus years of following this stuff. Here’s one of those:
Here’s CCI’s press release…
LEWISTON, Idaho – January 19, 2023 – CCI Ammunition has recently released Uppercut Defense 22 LR which is designed for short-barreled, self-defense handguns. The new offering is the company’s first product that falls in the personal protection ammo category.
“We recognized that there are a growing number of people that have chosen 22 LR for their defense pistol for various reasons,” said Jason Slinkard, CCI’s Rimfire Product Director. “We felt it was the right time to produce the best round for those consumers to use for protection.”
New CCI Uppercut answers the call for defensive 22 LR ammunition with power and performance traditional 22 LR loads have never been able to deliver. The difference lies in its exclusive 32-grain projectile. Unlike simple lead round-nose bullets or copper-plated hollow points typical of most rimfire ammunition, Uppercut’s jacketed hollow point bullet features nose skiving that initiates full and reliable expansion through semi-automatic handguns with 2.5- to 4-inch barrels, while retaining the weight needed to hit critical penetration depths. Plus, CCI ’s legendary priming ensures it will be ready when needed.
“What makes this product stand out is its plating thickness. Typically, our 22 LR bullets, such as our popular Mini-Mag line, have a thin flash plate that requires wax to keep the barrel from leading,” explained Slinkard. “The heavy copper plating on Uppercut measures six thousandths of an inch. This design feature is a key to its overall effectiveness as a self-defense bullet.”
CCI Uppercut Defense 22 LR, 32-grain Jacketed Hollow Point (Part No. 960CC) ammunition is packaged in 50-count boxes. MSRP is $12.99.
The bottom line: If you or someone you know carry a .22 Long Rifle for defensive purposes, you might look into the Uppercut. It certainly outperforms your average hollow-point .22.
I’m looking forward to getting a few boxes for myself, quite frankly.
