...in most cases, a .22 would work well enough...
Uh, no it won't.
Notice the word "
most." A truly determined attacker, himself armed with an effective weapon, will not (short of a brain shot) be prevented from seriously harming or killing you if all you have is a .22 Long Rifle pocket gun. That said,
most criminal threats do not rise to the level of a truly determined attacker such as to disregard being shot with a .22 Long Rifle pocket gun. That statement, however, is not a recommendation on my part of a .22 Long Rifle pocket gun as a self-defense piece.
