TRICKING OUT THE BRN-22

What do you really need to survive? Sure, the basics of food, water, and shelter are constants, but Maslow’s hierarchy of needs goes a bit further. This article isn’t about self-actualization or esteem, but firmly lodged in the second category of “safety.”

In the ideal world, we all have M16s and the logistics surrounding those who carry them. Though 5.56mm ammunition is lighter than the precursor 7.62x51mm, it still all adds up. So what of the diminutive .22LR? Where does that round stand within Maslow’s oft-cited pyramid?

The Case for .22LR

While we’ve often heard the refrain about the baby .22LR killing more people than all other rounds combined (likely true if you dismiss the 7.62x54R), it’s not an immediate “man-stopper” round. There’s a huge difference between someone stopping right now due to a central nervous system (CNS) hit versus someone dying in a crackhouse three days later. Let’s just say you