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1. So the take away on this test is combo pistols generally are impractical as switching barrels and magazines between the different cartridges will require re-zeroing the gun before use, which uses up ammo and means a trip to the range. As a range gun, that might not be such a bad issue, albeit a bit wasteful. For self defense, it won’t work well if you have to switch cartridges. For me, shooting different cartridges means shooting different guns as a whole. It isn’t that much more in cost to purchase a cartridge dedicated alternative to what I am already shooting compared to buying the single platform combo.

   Your evaluation of this combo affirms my previous conclusion and is valuable information. Thank you for taking the time to test it out and right up the report. I had considered previously getting a multi cartridge combo in Glock so I could shoot 9mm and 40 S&W from the same platform, but decided instead to simply buy two guns and avoid the confusion and frustration. When it comes to self defense, I am not a big fan of compromises.

   As for the 22 TCM, there are more proven cartridges in that caliber for pistols that have more industry support which will make an economic difference, if not also in performance. Unless someone comes up with a cartridge in that caliber that significantly improves on what’s already available, it seems too redundant to proof out another loading like this in the industry. Novelty chamberings aren’t for those who have to work within a tight budget.

   I bet night fire with that load would be spectacular. I would expect nothing less than a 3 foot diameter fireball at the muzzle. Kinda like shooting 357 mag full power loads in a snubby.

2. . 22 TCM impact – A reserve leo told me some time ago that the two calibers that leo’s are starting to worry about are the .17 cal and the .22 tcm when wearing body armour ( but I don’t know about the hp .22 tcm and the effect it would have ), just saying. In the earlier article pt 1 , had the author considered a bersa thunder plus .380 ? Also I have a springfield armory range officer compact 9mm ( my roc 9 ), it is a delight to carry and fun to shoot. Two things I don’t like about it , the recoil spring rod guide ( it’s a bitch to take apart to clean ) and it is only a single stack. Hmm, maybe I should look a little closer into the Armscor compact combo, hmmm

   1. Hi Alfie, Thanks for the question about the Bersa Thunder Plus .380. I looked at it, but the barrel was shorter than what I had in mind, and it is blowback rather than recoil operated.

   2. Here’s the conundrum with defeating body armor. No expanding pistol cartridge round is going to defeat body armor. To get the minor caliber rounds to penetrate, they need to be fmj or better. Minor caliber pistol velocity fmj have a poor chance of incapacitating an attacker after going through armor. Without getting to the 2,300 fps magic number needed to generate the big wound cavity rifle velocities do, confidence in the round as a self defense load is marginal at best.

      If you have to reliably engage someone wearing body armor, you will need rifle cartridges and fmj at least. Now the 22 TCM is an attractive carbine round and in a shouldered firearm could serve the purpose quite well, but not in a pistol.

3. Having watched a video of the .22 TCM being shot at night or early evening reminds me of the colt commander in a .38 super shooting .38 super plus + p loads, big fire ball out the front and just as spectacular as the .22 TCM

4. @ Novice
   Why on earth are you shooting 4 and 5, 10 shot groups? That’s not really an accuracy test as much as it is a full qualification course! Anything after 10-12 rounds is going to produce diminishing returns in accuracy testing, especially offhand, with a handgun. Try shooting just 2-3, 3 shoot groups, focusing intently on the fundamentals, then use all that left over ammo to work specifically on any deficiencies. Fundamentals such as grip, stance, breathing, sight alignment, sight picture can all be done without any, or very few actual rounds being fired. Trigger pull/squeeze can certainly be practiced (as you noted) without live rounds, and should be a daily or weekly habit. After practicing the above listed fundamentals correctly and repeatedly, use your live ammo to tie it all together with the focus on sight alignment, trigger squeeze and follow through/reset. I would much rather see you practice correctly (employing the fundamentals) with 25 live rounds, twice a week, than doing ‘accuracy testing’ with 50 live rounds and being down on yourself for not getting as great results as you expected (unrealistic expectations).
   Lastly, please forget the notion that a particular gun make/model, or caliber, will make you a better shooter. As you move toward focusing on the fundamentals of shooting, you will find that you will be able to pick up most any modern make/model of handgun, employ the fundamentals, and shoot it reasonably well. Then it just comes down to personal preference on things such as size, weight, mag capacity, etc.. I have been a Peace Officer Standards & Training (POST) certified firearms instructor in my home state for 23 years and can assure you that there is not now, nor will there ever be, a substitute for training and employing the 7 fundamentals of shooting….no new gun or ammo combo will accelerate your proficiency beyond your grasp and implementation of the fundamentals.
   I sincerely meant this to be encouraging and not negative criticism, I hope it comes across correctly.

   1. Hi Rul, Thank you for the helpful advice. I appreciate it.

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