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7 Comments

1. So the only company that makes the ammo is Armscor? And the only pistols that accept the 22TCM cartridge are made by Armscor?

   No thanks. I will stick with common, readily available (and barter-able) calibers.

2. Probably good idea MP. However, I’m always a sucker for change. Most of the ”common” weapons and rounds we use were once an experiment. Quick story. A Man I met at a show, who did nothing but sell ammo, got his start manufacturing ammo for special military groups. One could say he was a expert in his field.
   Ammo Man was asked by my inquisitive friend what was his standard EDC choice. (We were at a gun show. Everybody was armed.) Ammo Man hefted his tee shirt to reveal two (2), yes TWO FN Five-seveNs. And after explaining why they were his first choice carry, my memory was indelibly scared.

3. I was invited to a wound ballistics seminar and was told to bring what your department issued and anything one personally carried.
   All sorts of materials were brought in to place in front of gel. Leather, windows, car doors, sheetrock, etc.
   The 5.7 was such an incredible disappointment. That little bullet disintegrated so fast.
   I wonder how the TCM holds up.

   Looking forward to part two!

4. From the ballistics I’ve seen, this is more a carbine round than a pistol round. Not that much better in a 5″ barrel than a 22 mag rimfire, and still well below the 2,300 fps threshold needed to generate an effective temp wound cavity. Another novelty 22 pistol round that really needs to be used in a much longer barrel to capitalize on it’s ballistics potential.

   If you are hunting grouse in the forest, this might be adequate for that in the right pistol, with appropriate hunting sights. While it’s true that Chesty Puller’s quote “Only Hits Count” applies to any combat/defensive situation, stopping power is also a factor to be considered. There’s a reason why Army officers upgraded to 45 cal 1911 when the 38 cal rounds; they were not effectively stopping the Moro Indians in the Philippines over a century ago (you said the TCM rounds only open up to .35 cal in media, right?). Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Today’s 9mm expanding ammo will generate the stopping power to end the fight sooner. A well place 22 lr round can do the same, but the odds of success diminish considerably.

   1. Hi Benjamin, It was originally designed as a pistol round, though, as you have observed, its potential may be better realized in a carbine. And 9mm will probably indeed be more effective at stopping a threat. As I mentioned in the article, “Anecdotal evidence from law enforcement and military use of the 5.7 x 28 mm and 4.6 x 30 mm cartridges seems to suggest that the fatter and slower non-bottlenecked cartridges are more effective at stopping threats, particularly if those threats are not wearing body armor.”

5. A too heavy gun in a caliber not available that can’t do what others can that’s more difficult in reloading.
   The article isn’t bad but the topic isn’t one that is of interest except to a very few. As far as “survival” I’m not seeing it.

6. M Parrot & Matt in OK,

   You both hit on a point that escapes many folks who are new to the preparedness mindset: commonality. Two is one, one is none is a mantra we all profess; keeping common calibers is another. JW,R has taught from the beginning to keep common battle-tested calibers for one’s tribe. This includes 5.56mm, .308/7.62mm, .30-06, 9mm, .45ACP, 12ga, .38Spcl & .357Mag, .44Mag, and even a few other calibers that have a long history, and thus a large stockpile in basements across our nation available to the person with the right barter. Even .22LR, .243WIN, .270WIN, and .30-30WIN are on the stockpile list because they are ubiquitous and prevalent (with respect to regional flavor choices). I do not currently own a .30-06 or .30-30, but I have a few hundred rounds of each stashed away for a rainy day, and the same with the others I listed. Esoteric one-off calibers and wildcats have a niche, but take up no space on my overstuffed (but never full enough) ammo shelves. I don’t even stock Commie Ammo (7.62×39) because I am obstinate and remember my oath. YMMV.

   That stated, I am still a gun junkie with a keen interest in what comes around from time to time. I will await the conclusion of this article and see what the author discusses. We all learn from each other’s successes and failures- I will learn something from The Novice either way.

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