Reliable .22 pocket autos. Astra Cub and Beretta 950 in .22 Short with the plated 29 grain solid bullet
German Made TPH
- Thread starter Retired W4
- Start date
Reliable .22 pocket autos. Astra Cub and Beretta 950 in .22 Short with the plated 29 grain solid bullet
Never had much luck with small .22 semi-autos.
Sticking with .25's and an occasional .32
A small gun for me, that I am comfortable with is a "j" frame
Sticking with .25's and an occasional .32
A small gun for me, that I am comfortable with is a "j" frame
Last edited:
Grayfox
US Veteran
My TPH is an Interarms gun. I was seriously disappointed when it couldn't get through one full magazine without a failure of some kind. 
I sent it to M&M Gunsmithing and Mike worked his magic. The little sucker is completely reliable now.
Here it is along with a few of its brothers.
I sent it to M&M Gunsmithing and Mike worked his magic. The little sucker is completely reliable now.
Here it is along with a few of its brothers.
- Joined
- May 6, 2009
- Messages
- 2,882
- Reaction score
- 4,043
Man the .22 TPH's have gotten pricey and the .25's are ridiculous
Grayfox
US Veteran
While quite common in Europe, the .25acp TPH is extremely rare in the U.S. Prices on those are up to $1500- 2000 or more IF you can find one for sale. 
From what I hear, the .25 version is usually absolutely reliable as well. Its the .22LR versions that are the troublesome, problem child.
As for spare magazines, .25 mags can be bought at reasonable prices. Maybe $40. .22LR magazines generally start at $150.
From what I hear, the .25 version is usually absolutely reliable as well. Its the .22LR versions that are the troublesome, problem child.
As for spare magazines, .25 mags can be bought at reasonable prices. Maybe $40. .22LR magazines generally start at $150.
I have a blued American Arms distributed by Interarms as the PX-22. This is marked Designed by Erma-Werke. Slightly different magazine release, otherwise a TPH copy. It too likes only round nose, and as others noted, 100% reliable with Remington Goldens. After I used up all the Goldens I had in other 22's, I tried CCI Mini-mags and it shoots dead-on the sights at 15-25 feet. Found it in a pawn shop in 1989 for $100, and I found 2 Erma-Werke branded mags for it on FleaBay a few years ago at a good price.
German Walther TPH pistols were banned from import for being "Non-Sporting" firearms under the 1968 GCA. Only law enforcement could buy them. That is the primary reason they are so scarce - and so much more valuable now. My local chief of police bought mine directly from Interarms for me in 1980.
The stainless Interarms-made guns were manufactured in the United States under license, hence could be sold to anyone. I bought one as soon as I could get one, in 1988. Mine is reliable. For reasons unknown, both stocks split at the screw hole after a couple of years. Fortunately, I was able to buy a replacement set from Interarms and the replacement set has never split since.
The chief advantage of the blue imported TPH pistols is that they have an alloy frame, thus making them much lighter. I wrote Interarms asking it to manufacture a stainless/alloy "lightweight" version, but, of course, never got a reply, and it never did.
I agree with Lee about the Beretta Model 21. The tip-up barrel is a great feature, allowing charging and clearing without withdrawing the slide. It's downside is that it is "fat." The Model 21's alloy frame does not help much to make it lighter, probably because it is so "fat."
Perhaps the best "mouse gun" design is the Budischowsky TP-70. It has all of the design features and appearance of a miniature Smith & Wesson Model 639. All it needed was an alloy frame and better build quality. The slide even locks open after the last round on early ones. The Mother Ship should have bought the design and perfected it instead of going with the Model 61. Oh well.
The stainless Interarms-made guns were manufactured in the United States under license, hence could be sold to anyone. I bought one as soon as I could get one, in 1988. Mine is reliable. For reasons unknown, both stocks split at the screw hole after a couple of years. Fortunately, I was able to buy a replacement set from Interarms and the replacement set has never split since.
The chief advantage of the blue imported TPH pistols is that they have an alloy frame, thus making them much lighter. I wrote Interarms asking it to manufacture a stainless/alloy "lightweight" version, but, of course, never got a reply, and it never did.
I agree with Lee about the Beretta Model 21. The tip-up barrel is a great feature, allowing charging and clearing without withdrawing the slide. It's downside is that it is "fat." The Model 21's alloy frame does not help much to make it lighter, probably because it is so "fat."
Perhaps the best "mouse gun" design is the Budischowsky TP-70. It has all of the design features and appearance of a miniature Smith & Wesson Model 639. All it needed was an alloy frame and better build quality. The slide even locks open after the last round on early ones. The Mother Ship should have bought the design and perfected it instead of going with the Model 61. Oh well.
Last edited:
CAJUNLAWYER
Member
I got a 629-4 Mountain gun, an 11-87 special purpose and a 1.75x6 Leopold from the Jumbo Sports in Lafayette when they were going out of business all at "theft" prices.
John F.
Member
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2009
- Messages
- 240
- Reaction score
- 249
I've seen several friends have problems with the US made .22 TPH's starting shortly after they came out, and on through the years. The only 2 German TPH's I've seen in action both ran very well. One, I
know, seemed a bit ammo-picky, but it loved Remington Thunderbolts, of all things! I think it's wise to keep them very clean, when carrying. Neat little guns!
John
know, seemed a bit ammo-picky, but it loved Remington Thunderbolts, of all things! I think it's wise to keep them very clean, when carrying. Neat little guns!
John
OP
Ms. TPH, the serial number on mine is just 6760 below yours. Nice example. Let us know how it does when it gets back from M&M.
Just a side note. I carried one of these last year while big game hunting. Shot a small 2-point mule deer, not with this gun. Immediately upon reached the just deceased deer, I used the little TPH loaded with Stingers and shot the deer in the rib cage twice to check terminal performance with Stingers in a short barrel. Both bullets made it to opposite side rib cage and the one bullet I recovered was well deformed. The wound was quite impressive.
> I think it's wise to keep them very clean
agree..
before mailing to M&M, I did a test run of 350 rounds w no cleaning, the last 10 rounds had 4 failures to eject, I blame it on the residue in the barrel causing the case extraction to be delayed..
imo it handled the first 250 rounds well, only Winchester had failure to eject, all the CCI cycled fine
the Wolff spring eliminated any failure to fire in SA, but I shipped it out because it still has failure to fire in DA
the Wolff spring makes the DA pull extremely heavy.. I told M&M I would prefer if it can be made reliable using the original spring
> the serial number on mine is just 6760 below yours.
yes, thanks for sharing that detail.. mine is marked IA = 1980
It likes CCI MiniMag HP, MiniMag RN, and it runs fast and smooth on Velocitor
I plan to try CCI Standard Velocity LRN when it gets back.. curious to see if it seems quieter? ;-)
agree..
before mailing to M&M, I did a test run of 350 rounds w no cleaning, the last 10 rounds had 4 failures to eject, I blame it on the residue in the barrel causing the case extraction to be delayed..
imo it handled the first 250 rounds well, only Winchester had failure to eject, all the CCI cycled fine
the Wolff spring eliminated any failure to fire in SA, but I shipped it out because it still has failure to fire in DA
the Wolff spring makes the DA pull extremely heavy.. I told M&M I would prefer if it can be made reliable using the original spring
> the serial number on mine is just 6760 below yours.
yes, thanks for sharing that detail.. mine is marked IA = 1980
It likes CCI MiniMag HP, MiniMag RN, and it runs fast and smooth on Velocitor
I plan to try CCI Standard Velocity LRN when it gets back.. curious to see if it seems quieter? ;-)
Last edited:
OP
Unfortunately I have not had a chance to fire mine yet. When I do I will have as much of a variety of ammo as I have to see what it likes, and a bore brush and patch.
Reference Post 27 (The Quote button doesn't seem to work this morning!), I have one of the Erma-Werke versions and have found it reliable with all ammo tried so far. I did once get a slam fire with the first round of a fresh magazine. Forget the brand cheapo ammo, but I never bought any more. It has never happened again.
Last edited by a moderator:
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2005
- Messages
- 26,075
- Reaction score
- 46,738
I hope you enjoy it!
fwiw, I expect you will find it reliable in SA
the challenge for these little guys is the DA mode, but I dont expect yours will have a problem, since it appears to be almost new.
on some TPH with heavy use, the hammer can develop some chips in the side that cause it to release early in DA, causing Failure to Fire. In the case of mine, all failures to fire, ignited on second strike.
Im waiting to hear from M&M to learn if my TPH needs a new hammer, as it appears to have seen a lot of use, if all the carry marks are any indication.
mine had failures to fire in SA mode, which was resolved by installing the new Wolff spring. This is the standard fix for unreliable (failure to fire) USA stainless models, based on this video:
https://youtu.be/MXtonpSI15s?si=jG2IUJmE44OjDW4x&t=220
Another failure mode my TPH experienced was failure to eject. On a clean gun, this only happened with Winchester ammo. All the CCI I used, ejected properly. Except when I let the gun get dirty, with over 250 rounds through it without cleaning. This is solved by cleaning the bore where the brass casing sits. It is also a good idea to clean the bore face at that time.
Another failure mode mine exhibited, was when chambering a round, with the safety On. Sometimes the slide would not go all the way forward into battery, and the hammer would not decock. M&M mentioned it might need a new sear. To be confirmed after I hear back about the repair process.
I do not normally allow the decocker to drop the hammer from SA mode. I use my thumb to ease the hammer forward when decocking.. except when chambering a round with the safety ON in which circumstance the hammer is supposed to follow the slide forward, and drop onto the hammer block that is part of the safety/decocker lever.
same, I bought it for cheap practice ammo, and nostalgia.
When I bought this TPH, as justification for the impulse expense, I told self that it could be a gift for my daughter to practice with.
But it proved unreliable, so my willingness to gift it, will depend partly on whether it comes back reliable after the M&M Tune up.. TBH, I would prefer to give her a KelTec P32 .32ACP, for the better defensive round, simpler operation, lower carry weight (10oz for the P32, 12.25oz for the TPH), and smoother hand feel.
Both is best.. the TPH is a really accurate little pistol, and ammo is cheap. (.32 ammo costs 6x more than .22)
Last edited:
Grayfox
US Veteran
Ms. TPH, I'm sure Mike will fix you up. He used to work as a gunsmith for Interarms and is considered THE expert on troublesome Walthers. But be patient. He had my gun for about 6 months before he finally got it working. But it does work perfectly now.
Similar threads
