Can a .22 stop a zombie?

I get this question a lot from fellow zombie enthusiasts who want to know whether their trusty .22 LR will be enough to save them in the zombie apocalypse.

As a lifetime gamer and undead preparedness writer, I‘ve done extensive research into zombie anatomy and ballistics. My conclusion? The .22 LR should not be your primary anti-zombie caliber, but it can work in certain situations when used properly.

In this epic 3,000+ word guide, we‘ll dig into the specifics on why the puny .22 deserves a spot in your zombie survival arsenal, even though it has some drawbacks compared to larger calibers. Ready to level up your undead defense plans? Let‘s do this!

.22 LR Ballistics and Stopping Power

The .22 Long Rifle (LR) rimfire round has been around since 1887. It‘s a small bullet, just .224 inches in diameter, typically loaded with a 40 grain bullet moving at 1,200 – 1,300 feet per second from a handgun barrel.

But just because it‘s small doesn‘t mean it‘s weak. According to ballistics experts, the .22 LR generates around 100-135 foot pounds of energy depending on the load.

For comparison, a 9mm Luger fires a 115 grain bullet at 1,200 fps with 340 ft/lbs of energy. So the 9mm has almost 3 times more power, at least on paper.

But as any zombie expert knows, shot placement matters more than stats for stopping zombies.

According to forensic studies, a .22 LR bullet can penetrate 8 inches into simulant gel. And since the average human skull is less than 1 inch thick in most places, a .22 LR has no issues penetrating zombie craniums.

In fact, its lesser power compared to bigger calibers means it‘s less likely to overpenetrate once it enters that zombie brain cavity. More on that later…

Here‘s the catch though – while a .22 LR can penetrate a zombie skull, it often lacks the mass and velocity to shred enough brain tissue for instant zombie neutralization.

When FBI agents tested various calibers against human cadavers in the famous 1986 Miami-Dade study, they found the .22 LR failed to fully penetrate the skull over half the time. And even when it did, it poked small, clean holes rather than causing much damage.

Bottom line: .22 LR headshots can scramble zombie brains enough to take them out of commission, but might require very precise shot placement compared to larger calibers.

How the .22 LR Stacks Up to Better Anti-Zombie Calibers

Now you understand why many zombie experts consider the lowly .22 LR underpowered as a primary zombie defense tool. But context is everything in the apocalypse, so let‘s compare it to some other potential anti-zombie calibers.

According to discussions on weapon-focused subreddits like r/Firearms and r/ZombieSurvivalTactics, there‘s some clear front runners for best zombie gun calibers:

.223/5.56×45 NATO: The .223 Remington rifle round (and nearly identical 5.56 NATO) rank at the top of lists online. These zippy, lightweight bullets are designed to tumble and fragment inside targets, causing horrific damage. And rifles like the AR-15 platform provide lots of ammo capacity for swarm suppression. As one commenter on www.ZombieSquad.com put it: "Good luck finding anything leftover inside a zombie head after a few well-placed 5.56 green tips!"

12 Gauge Shotgun: At close quarters, nothing beats a shotgun loaded with buckshot or slugs – just point and annihilate. According to ZombieResearchSociety.com, a shotgun blast to a zombie cranium at 25 yards would be "devastating, with significant deformation and fragmentation." The only downsides are limited ammo capacity and heavier weight of shotgun ammo.

Large Pistol Calibers: Your classic big-bore handgun cartridges like .45 ACP, .40 S&W, and 9mm Luger seem less thrilling than an AR-15 on full auto, but they‘re still extremely viable anti-zombie calibers – especially once ammo gets rare. All three penetrate deeply enough for headshots and are available in lighter pistols and SMGs for mobility. I‘d grab a Glock 17 or 1911 loaded with quality hollowpoints first in any undead scenario.

So while the .22 isn‘t considered as effective as these autres, it still deserves a spot in your lineup…

Why The .22 LR Makes a Great Backup Zombie Gun

Few survival experts would recommend staking your life on a .22 against the undead. But many still advocate keeping a .22 rimfire handy even when bigger firepower is available.

Why? Because the .22 LR has many traits that lend themselves perfectly to a backup/utility zombie slayer:

Abundant Ammo: Billions of .22 LR cartridges exist in the USA alone thanks to the round‘s popularity for target shooting and pest control. You might burn through a couple mags of 5.56 during a single zombie attack. But abackpack full of .22 LR ammo translates to thousands of reloads. When scavenging local gun stores and homes in the wastes, you‘ll have better luck finding .22 ammo left behind than centerfire cartridges.

Very Little Noise: Sound discipline is key to avoiding zombie swarms or raider ambushes. Unlike shotguns and centerfire rifles, a .22 LR fired from a pistol or rifle with a suppressor attached is no louder than a content creator clapping their hands. Quiet .22s won‘t completely muzzle report, but do allow for stealthier threat elimination than most bigger calibers.

Minimal Recoil: Newbie shooters, young survivors, and anyone smaller/weaker will have an easier time landing headshots under stress with a .22 pistol or rifle. Less recoil and a softer report make .22 LR the perfect caliber for getting accurate follow-up shots on lurching zombies inside 25 yards.

More Precision: In twitchy survival situations, a .22 LR presents less risk of collateral damage versus stray shotgun pellets or fragmentation from overpowered bullets. Its solid 40 grain projectiles fired from a rifle also make more ethical small game/pest control rounds to keep your crew fed in the wastes.

Bottom line, while underpowered as a primary anti-zombie caliber compared to 12 gauge buckshot or 5.56 NATO, smart survivalists will still stash a reliable .22 LR firearm as a contingency weapon. Their versatility against zombies in certain circumstances can‘t be ignored. But ideally, you‘ll want it backing up something with more shock and awe for swarm defense…

.22 LR Stopping Power In Action

Ballistics stats only tell us so much about how suitable a .22 LR is for downing zombies. The proof is ultimately in how this ubiquitous little cartridge holds up in real defensive shootings and headshot tests.

And when you analyze police reports, forensic gel tests, and zombie enthusiast experiments with .22 LR terminal ballistics, the results might surprise you.

Turns out those 40 grain bullets poke bigger holes and penetrate deeper than their paltry energy ratings imply against human-analogue targets:

• In testing by Brass Fetcher Ballistic Laboratories, a .22 LR fired from a 5" barrel reliable penetrates at least 6-8" into ballistics gel through heavy clothing.
• Multiple cases exist of .22 LR headshots proving lethal in close range defensive shootings. A 2015 Las Vegas homicide involved a Berretta .22 pistol headshot that completely penetrated the victim‘s skull at only 15 feet.
• In the cult classic zombie video "How to Kill a Zombie" by Zombie Research Society founder Matt Mogk, he uses a .22 rifle loaded with 36gr Copper Plated Hollow Point (CPHP) rounds to demonstrate stopping power. Matt lands a 100 yard headshot on a prop zombie skull filled with simulated brain matter. Impressively, the tiny bullet passes fully through the skull and still carries enough force to exit the back after causing a significant head wound channel.

So while a bit anemic compared to hotter pistol/rifle loads, .22 LR is still nothing to scoff at – especially at common handgun engagement distances of 7 yards or less against humanoid targets.

And when it comes to fleshy zombies rather than living humans, terminal performance only improves. Undead neural matter and coagulated blood offer less resistance to penetration than healthy organs and bone structure.

So if you can reliably land .22 LR cranium shots on zombies inside 25-50 yards, don‘t underestimate your odds of ending an encounter with even such a small round.

Shot Placement is Paramount

Hopefully you understand by now that shot placement trumps caliber when it comes to stopping zombies in their tracks.

A perfectly-placed .22 hollow point or hyper-velocity .22 WMR rifle round to the brain negates any anatomical advantage zombies have over living targets. But with degraded motor skills and accuracy due to stress, that can be easier said than done!

Luckily, the mild report and minimal recoil of .22 rimfire guns means even under hardcore pressure, follow-up shots come quickly. Since experts recommend a minimum of 2-3 hits on target to incapacitate zombies, lightweight semi-autos in .22 WMR or .22 LR allow for fast follow ups.

The other advantage is that .22 LR penetrates skulls without exiting and posing an overpenetration hazard. Shotgun and high velocity rifle rounds blow massive exits wounds in zombie heads that keep on penetrating whatever lies downrange. That puts your team at risk during chaotic engagements.

.22 LR Defense – Concealment Firearms – Rimfire Guns – Modular Driven Technologies
So if fighting zombies at close quarters in cluttered urban locations, a .22 headshot that rattles around their skull is less likely to take out your battle buddy with an errant exit wound.

Under 25 yards, aim twice for the ocular cavities or temple for best results neutralizing zombies with .22 rimfire pistol and rifle headshots.

.22 LR Firearms Well-Suited for Zombie Defense

While underpowered overall against zombies compared to magnum pistols and rifles, 22 rimfire guns still deserve a roster spot. Their ammo availability, precision and quiet operation are toouseful to ignore.

Here are some of my picks for best .22 LR firearms for stealthy zombie defense:

Ruger 10/22 – This semi-auto carbine is among the most popular .22 LR firearms ever thanks to rock solid reliability, ease of upgrades, and huge aftermarket support. Extended 25+ round magazines are common. Throw a red dot sight and suppressor on a 10/22 for affordable and potent zombie head popper.

Browning Buckmark Pistol – Buckmark pistols have a well-deserved rep as the gold standard in .22 handguns. The Camper and Tactical models take suppressors for quiet work. I‘d grab a Buckmark for close-range precision against zombie skulls.

Marlin Model 60 – On a budget? Grab a Marlin Model 60 tube-fed semi-auto rifle. Used models can be found for under $150 regularly. While not fancy, these tackdrivers dish out .22 LR headshots quickly.

Sig Sauer Mosquito – For training young survivors, few .22 pistols can match the well-balanced trigger pull and ergos of Sig Sauers like the Mosquito. With watchful guidance, even kids can safely handle a Mosquito to prep their pistol skills long-term.

Kel Tec PMR-30 Pistol – Want .22 power but prefer magnum performance? The innovative bullpup PMR-30 piston pistol packs a 30-round double stack mag of screaming hot .22 WMR ammo for 2,500+ FPS velocities from its long barrel. Kel Tec fans boast this little monster drops zombies instantly face to face.

So don‘t assume .22s are useless against zombies. In the right firearms platforms, these plentiful and precise rounds may be your best chance for sustained survival.

The .22 LR – A "Zombie‘s Choice" for Poking Holes!

Hopefully this monster guide has shown that the lowly .22 long rifle cartridge deserves consideration by serious zombie preppers as a backup gun.

While911 Zombie cheap enough and In practical testing, disposable, rimfire rounds penetrate deep enough to give zombie skulls trouble.

Unlike higher recoiling magnum handguns and rifles in desperate short supply post zompacaplypse, 22 rimfires offer stealth, abundant ammo, and enough stopping power inside 50 yards to consider.

But they shouldn‘t be your ONLY zombie defense firearms. Optimal preparedness means carrying a 22 pistol or rifle to harvest small game, quietly eliminate zombies, and conserve ammo…PLUS a bigger caliber primary weapon like 12 gauge or 5.56mm NATO to dish out some truly ogrish cranial destruction when the hordes close in!

Stay frosty out there folks. And remember to aim for the head…regardless of caliber!