Hello,

I am buying a SW-22A for a second .22, I can't find an exploded view parts diagram for it, anyone know of one? Also, how accurate is it at 25 and 50 yards. I do know about the headspace problems and recall on some serial numbers; other than that are they reliable or good pistols?

Thanks for your help, the forum always comes through... 1magi

I bought a 22A about 3 weeks ago, and I am very pleased with it. I have put about 500 rounds through it (Win and Fed), and only had two failure-to-eject, and one FTF (which was a bad round). In a nutshell, highly reliable. Also very accurate (more than I am).
I would recommend it to anyone. There are several other threads in this forum that address the merits of the 22A and other 22LRs, like Ruger and Browning. Take a look at those, lots of good info there (which I relied on prior to my purchase). Good Luck.

See page 30

http://pdf.textfiles.com/manuals/FIR...&w_22a_22s.pdf

I bought one last week, new for $199. I fire about 300 hundred round through it, all old grungy, tarnished bulk pack Remington Tunderbolts and Federal HV hollow points. I had about 3 or 4 failures to fire with the Federals. Other than that, no feed or extraction problems. It was shooting high at 25 yards so had to adjust the sight accordingly.

Overall I'm very pleased. I just wish the sights had a white outline or white dots or something to make them easier to see. I might add that myself.

x2 - I wish I had gotten the Hiviz sight option

Thanks for your responses, I did find the manual at S+W sight but it doesn't show your an exploded parts view like used to be included.

1Magi

I bought my 22A right after reading a report on them in a magazine, so it must have been right after they came out. Although it's crude enough to have been made in the old Soviet Union it has proved utterly reliable, as long as it is relatively clean. It is also surprisingly accurate. One day while doing some bench rest shooting with a couple of 22 target rifles, I decided run some of that expensive target ammo through the 22A. Using a red dot and sand bags, I got some quite unexpected 1.5 inch 5-shot groups at 50 yards.

The S&W 22A is one very under rated pistol and on par for accuracy with the high end Brownings. Their only down side I have seen is a just average trigger, better then stock Ruger, but not as good as Buckmark. However if given trigger job they can give Buckmark target models and even the great M-41 a run for the money.

I have two, 5.5" & 7" model and the 7" is scary accurate, but the 5.5" is unfired. They are now waiting for two grandson to grow up and have, so they sit in the back of the safe. I have another real jewel that S&W made, 2206 that is extremely accurate with tensioned barrel and .2105 barrel diameter that is tighter then SAMMI standard at 2175 makes for a very accurate shooter.

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Cranky Old Retired USN Guy

I have had one for 10+ years or so. The extractor broke & slide cracked last year and was replaced on their dime including postage. My best day accuracy wise with it is 7 out of 10 shots on an 8" silhouette @ 100 yards offhand. I would get another if I needed another 22 auto.

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Front sight and squeeze

Early 22A with steel frames were problematic and early 22A-1 alloy frames had some also. Think a lot of early failures were do to using a lot of the new hot ammo in these guns that were designed for standard velocity ammo.

I have wondered in recent years how many older pistols that were not designed for the modern High Velocity ammo like Stingers, were ruined. If I shoot the hyper velocity stuff, it's in one of my Rugers with Wolff extra power springs or one of my newer Bolt Action rifles.

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Cranky Old Retired USN Guy

Greetings All:
I am new to the forum.
I have had a 22A1 for about 6 months. I have put about 200 rounds through the pistol so far and I am extreemly pleased. No problems and the pistol is way more accurate than I am. I have only used Winchester Super X ammo so far.
Here is a Pic.



djoseph

Here's the 22A's waiting for the grandsons.

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Cranky Old Retired USN Guy

nice grips, old navy.

I've had one for about 5 years. I bought a 7" barrel to go along with the 5.5" barrel. I've found it to be an excellent pistol for accuracy and reliability.

Thanks Greener.

Of the pair, I test fired the 5.5" model and it was very accurate with a 4x32 scope mounted, doing about 3/8" group at 25 yards.

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Cranky Old Retired USN Guy

Had my A-1 for a couple of months,approximately 2000 rounds of CCI Mini Mags through it with no problems yet.Millett Red dot sight works great..

Attached Images

Smith & Wesson 22A & Red Dot Sight.jpg (52.1 KB, 412 views)

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JR

If you don't mind my asking, Old Navy, where did you get those grips?
I don't see them in the Smith & Wesson store.
Are they something S&W offered in the past?
I don't really care for the composite wood ones they offer now.

These were only on Davidson's Exclusives a couple years ago, but they were made by Altamont Grips and are still available most likely. I bought my grips last year (IIRC) from them and they were about $65 delivered.

These are an African Rosewood, but can't remember the exact name. They beat S&W grips that's for sure.

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Cranky Old Retired USN Guy

You can find a exploded view at NUMIRICH gunparts, but use S&W price list, much cheaper.

Bought a very early alloy frame and liked it reasonably well. (It was my first 22 target pistol.) I then got the steel framed version thinking it might be more reliable.

The sight rail broke on the steel framed gun when I disassembled it. That was possibly my fault as I later read that S&W had a fix that changed the shape of the hook on the back of the rail to minimize the risk of breaking if the operator wasn't careful enough disassembling. I sent it back for the repair and the upgrade and was very particular after that to be careful when disassembling. I was very disappointed when the steel framed gun broke again. After the repair I immediately sold the steel framed pistol. I never felt really comfortable disassembling the alloy framed gun after that and eventually sold it too. Got a Ruger Mk2 then and was very satisfied. Recently found a used S&W M41 at a good price and snapped it up. It shoots very well but I can't do significantly better than than with the Ruger Mk2. I probably am not a good enough shooter to fully appreciate the M41.

Bought a MIB 7.5" for $125 a gun show. The guy had a 4" barrel he offered me for $75, but I had no use for it and passed.

I normally run red dots on my pistols, but these two are set back for grandsons and have no optic's and unfired.

Had a 22A that I traded off, a 5.5" model, that shot tighter groups then my two Ruger's, a 5.5" 22/45 all tricked out with about $350 invested and my bone stock long barrel Ruger Competition. Went back to S&W 22A after that.

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Cranky Old Retired USN Guy

I bought a 22A and the sites are terrible. Does anyone know where to get fiber optic sights?

IIRC Davidsons or Talo had a 22A done with fiber optic front sight so you might call S&W and ask them. But a friend has on that he painted the rear of front sight blade gold that works great for him and I tried his gun and it was a big difference. I have thought several times about doing that to my pair of 22A's, but decided not because of optic's are mounted.

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Cranky Old Retired USN Guy

You might prefer the 22S.

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What I like on the 22A is the Millett Red Dot, but you might try the new NcStar small Tactical Green Dot I have one on my Colt 22 and the green is cat's meow.

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Cranky Old Retired USN Guy

I am buying a SW-22A for a second .22, I can't find an exploded view parts diagram for it, anyone know of one? ; other than that are they reliable or good pistols?

Well...you can find an exploded view at Brownell.com under gun parts ...great info....My 22a after a great first 600 rounds started to spit at me ...took gun apart and the recoil pad ...made of plastic was flat ...I call S&W under warranty and they said I should have had some of these pad with the gun ...Well they didn't put any in the box...I bought it new...They said they were going to send me some ...But that was over 1 month ago...Bad service....I now am going to brownells to order 4-5 of them at $1.70 each...cheap enough...but seems to be a wear item....should be made of metal.....

Yes they are very good pistols for the price.

Make a metal buffer.....

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Cranky Old Retired USN Guy

I bought one over a month ago and it is a very accrute. I have the 7 inch barrel and it is a sweet gun. For a exploded diagram go to Numrich Gun Parts Corporation and they have one that you can download or print for free. The only ammo I had trouble with is some that could be around 15-20 years old. Mine had a few FTF and a couple of FTE, But I think that it was due to the ammo.

I bought a very used 22A with a 4-inch barrel for $160 (great price in CA). The original owner had never cleaned it or changed the buffer, the rail screws were screwed down with an air ratchet, and the breech end of the barrel was all chewed up in every way possible (feed ramp, ejector port, dry-fire damage). I took some 800 grit paper to the breech, discovered it was not heat-treated, so it sanded very nicely, made a buffer out of some 1/16th inch delrin, loctited the rail, and headed for the range.

The gun shoots like crazy. With CCI mini-mags it shoots flat to 100 yards. It shoots as good as my k22!! I assume that a lot of the astounding accuracy is due to the un-heat-treated barrel. I just ordered the 5.5 bull barrel with hi-viz sights ;^)

I hope everybody's joking about the metal buffer. I don't think that would be a very successful experiment. The gun is designed with a sacrificial buffer... It's different, but not bad.

The wife and I have put about 2000 rounds of CCI Minimags through our 5.5" barrel 22a and find it both accurate and reliable. Just watch out for the little flying spring when you put it back together after cleaning; it always takes me two or three tries to get it back in right.

Its strange but I am still firing my 22A with the original buffer plate. It is starting to look kinda chewed up like my dog got it but didn't. I have replaced the spring once already as it lost its tension after about 6000 rounds. I ordered 3 more from Brownells and have 2 spares at the moment but the same buffer plate in place and its still working great. Thats around 2000 rounds ago now. Have one spare left in the original box.

I am glad most are pleased with there 22a. I am also looking for a parts diagram but its because it flew apart during target practice with my wife..Thank god i was shooting at the time..btw there has only been 100 rounds or so fired threw it sence it was bought..The warranty states that it has to be the original owner to send it back and that was my step father who passed away in dec..I inherited it from him..I am opposed to weapons with plastic internal parts and this is a perfect example as to why..Gonna try and get a hold of s&w tomorrow and see..wish me luck!

gosh i dont know how i found this thread! i get mine on thursday!
been the longest 10 days of my life! im so excited. looks like i should need to get the 7 inch too. i made sure to get the great sites! its not a cheap swap out! gosh im soooooo happy with my choice! hits will be a fan gun for me!