Been a member for quite a while and enjoy my S&W semi-autos and L frame pistols. Did a search at the web site for a model 22A .22LR target pistol, but no matches.

Was wondering how the model 22A is? I know it is not in the same league as the model 41, but how does it compare to the Ruger Mark III?

I own one of each. I think the 22A is very easy to shoot well. It is much easier to take down when you do have to clean it. I like the sights better than the Ruger.

I got one a couple of weeks ago. I've put about 800 rnds of Fed bulk pak ammo thru it so far without a hiccup. It feels pretty good in hand, but I had to file off the sharp edges of the trigger guard, and the edges of the trigger. The trigger pull went from 60 oz to about 48 after about 400 shots. It has great sights. If it had a better,bigger,lighter trigger, and a few sharp edges rounded off, it might even be a decent match pistol. It is very easy to strip and clean. I got mine at Cabelas for $219. So far, it's the best $219 pistol I've bought.

I have one and it shoots great. I only shoot round nose does anyone shoot hollow points...do they jam?

They are excellent shooters. A lot of High Standard DNA, I'd judge. Not crazy about the paint-like finish, but at least it's easy to touch up when it chips.

Collector's Alert: I recently bought one of the Talo edition which is very sharp in appearance, and I understand that the big wholesalers are almost out of these already.

I picked up a 22A-1 new last November and generally enjoy it. However, it will be on its way back to the factory tomorrow to correct an ongoing problem. The first shot fired, last Thanksgiving, the empty shell extracted and ejected, but the slide apparently short-cycled, failed to feed the next round, and would not open more than about 1/4". After fussing with it for about 20 minutes, I finally got the slide to open and cycle normally. It worked normally during many shooting sessions and several hundred rounds after that. The last 5 to 10the times out, though, it has repeated that exact same jam every time, requiring lengthy sessions of slide tugging to clear, after which it will sometimes fire many rounds, or jam again in the next shot, or the next magazine. It almost always occurs on the first round in either of the two supplied mags. The last time out, I half-expected it to happen again ( it did), so I left it in its jammed condition (verified empty chamber and emptied mags) and called for a shipping tag when I got home. Other than the jamming problem, I do like the gun a lot. I trust S&W will fix whatever the problem may be. Oh yes, I took one pf my K-22s along, and was able to complete my intended mission of destroying various targets of opportunity (notably, separating some 1reason) 1/2" to 2" thick branches from some deadfalls).

Overall, I would rate the 22A as a good gun, with pretty good accuracy and nice balance. Take-down is a snap, very easy, as is reassembly, much easier than a Ruger MK II. As to accuracy between the two, it would not be fair for me to compare them, as my Ruger is one of the relatively rare 10" barrel target models, which is a true tack-driver, but the 22A is capable of some very respectable groups. I believe you will enjoy it. Do allow a little time to get used to the grip, it is a bit different.

I picked up a 22A target pistol, and have shoot matches for several months, good pistol except mine had a problem as the extractor groove was not close enough to chamber to extract live rounds, and constantly stove piped with regularity. I have sent it back to factory six weeks ago, haven"t heard a word. Federal champion and cci mini mag work the best. I hate the little white buffers though, if you shoot alot you"ll need to purchase quite a few. They only last a couple of matches. half the guys use 22A's, and the other half use Rugers, Rugers have the advantage of after market drop in parts, esspecially triggers. Rugers may have the slight advantage, but cost more.

My 22a is about the most fun I have had for $200! Are there better, more accurate .22s out there?, sure, but for a lot more money. It's not on a par with my model 41, but I get just as tight groups out of it as I do my Ruger and my Buckmark.

The only complaint I have is the sights, and a little day-glo paint on the front sight cured that.

I have 15k rnds through mine and I'm only on my second recoil buffer. I don't understand some of the guys I see reporting only getting 500 rnds out of them unless maybe they are shooting some of the hotter loads. I shoot a mix of CCI blazer and CCI standard velocity.

The only FTF/FTE's I ever have are when it starts getting dirty, particularly when some of that waxy bullet lube starts getting built up on the slide face around the extractor and the case rim recess. When at the range, if I stop every 300 rnds and dig the goo out of those areas with a toothpick I never have any problems.

I've also had no malfunctions with my 22a. It's extremely accurate, and a whole lot of people who own them say the same thing. I paid $199 for mine, but that was last year. I think the special sale price on them now is $219 at Cabelas as others have said. Regular discounted price is something like $279, so wait till they go on sale.

With my 22a, I feel no need to get another .22 (though I have one other .22 handgun.)

I've had one for about a year. I mounted a scope on it and just had it out yesterday shooting sillouettes at 50 yards with good results. I've had some issues with FTE with a full (10 rds) mags so I normally only load 8 rounds with not problems.

Well I picked up a new Talo edition 22A at my local GS today. Got it cleaned up (actually not a lot of packing grease to deal with) and hope to get to the range tomorrow. I plan on mounting a micro reflex red dot on it. We will see how it compares to my two Mark III Rugers.

I've added a detachable supressor to my S&W 22a and it is one of the quietest guns I've shot. I never realized how much noise the cycling of the action makes and the sound of the bullets striking the berm. These noises were completely covered my the muzzle blast but the suppressor takes the covering noise away.

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Bill

Put two hundred rounds (Federal Target) through my 22A today. Not one FTF or FTE. Need to work on my trigger pull. I like the feel of the thick wood grips. Only complaint is that the mag release is very difficult to push in. Perhaps that will loosen up as I fire more rounds through it.

see my new thread on model 22a.....I have one and considering getting refund and getting a beretta neos or ruger

I have a couple Ruger Standards, couple 7" 22A's and a Colt 22 Auto which is same gun as NEOS and for accuracy the 22A's and Colt are far more accurate, the Colt/NEOS is far easier to disassemble and accuracy are about the same with the Colt/NEOS maybe a tad better, all are uber reliable, changing the barrel lengths on the 22A and Colt are very easy. I have 4" & 6" barrels for the Colt and it's my favorite 22 plinker. I haven't shot the Rugers in several years because of PIA break down.

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Cranky Old Retired USN Guy

Yes the Ruger Marks can be a PIA when first disassembling, but then it gets a lot easier. Nice thing about the Rugers is you can dry fire, but not the S&W. Like the way the 22a feels in the hand. Easier to grip than the Rugers.

Actually you can dry fire both, it's just S&W doesn't like you to because it can cause FP stop damage or the stop will break firing pin. The M-61 and 422/2206/622 series were bad about breaking FP after too many hits of FP on the FP stop. I had to replace the stop in the old Ruger ('59 model) just from unloading dry fires to release spring tension for storage.

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Cranky Old Retired USN Guy

Bought one the first week they came out in the 90's, put about a 1000 rounds through it the first month. I did not like like it one bit so I sold it two months later, and got a Ruger MKII, and in the spring of 08 I finally had enough of it. Sold it off, for a brand new 686-6, from the showroom floor, and have been giddy as a school girl ever since

Different strokes for different folks. I don't like feel of S&W revolvers, and big time that in K/L frame guns. Love the Dan Wessons though.

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Cranky Old Retired USN Guy

Just curious what suppressor you used and where you got it? I'd like to put one on mine, but haven't been having much luck finding one for the 22a.

I have had a 22A-1 for some time, like 2 or more years and shot it for the first time yesterday. It would not extract a live round. The milled slot that the extractor enters when the bolt is closed would not pick up the rim of the 22. A little file work to remove material and it seems to work now by racking the slide by hand. Will shoot it soon.

Best 22 automatic next to M-41.

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Cranky Old Retired USN Guy

I haven't had any trouble with them, last season I shot several bricks of 333's through mine.

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Don

The exact same thing happened to me and I have heard of others having the same problem. It was strange how it jammed shut and I could not get it to budge. I have a habit of keeping a mental note on how many shots I shoot when target practicing so I determined that it was jammed shut with an empty shell in it. It went back to S&W in the jammed condition and it was returned promptly and it has performed great since then.
Even with that problem I can say I really like my 22a. It is very accurate and is easy and comfortable to shoot and is a good first semi-auto to hand to a beginning shooter. I happen to like the feel of the grip, very comfortable to me. It is pretty easy to break down and clean, easier than the Ruger MK-1, 2 or 3.
It seems to like fmj rounds better than lead bullets. The only other negative thing I can think of is if I load the magazine to the maximum 10 rounds there is a tendency for the second shot out of the pistol to stovepipe. If I load it to 9 rounds it feeds flawlessly, has anyone else encountered this and how did they fix it? I'm assuming I need to do something to the magazine to fix the problem.
It is certainly well worth the $199 I paid for it and I am glad I own it.

I didn't have any trouble with the release but I did have trouble with getting the mag back in, I have the 5.5 with the target grips, I bought a new set of grips from Alta Mont much better.

Altamont Company - Smith & Wesson

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Don

I've had 4 and never a problem, very accurate. Only thing I never liked was the trigger. If it had a trigger like a Browning or M-41 or even close I'd kept them all. But at least I have my 2206's, that is better then a 41 as I can put a can on those two beauty's.

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Cranky Old Retired USN Guy

I have a Talo edition and it has been flawless but I've only ever fired ammo with copper-plated bullets in it - CCI MiniMags and Federal GameShok and 333-round FreshFire packs. It feeds and shoots round-nose and hollow-points equally well.

Seating the magazines is easier if you push directly on the S&W logo on the magazine bottom - they click right in place then.

Ed

You are lucky in the USA here in Canada i bought one and i am still waiting for it, i ordered the 22A Canadien version which is just like the Talo, i paid for it $430.00
I hope not to be desapointed.