Walther P22

skeezix

skeezix

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I'm thinking about one of these for plinking - specifically the P22 basic pistol with 3.4" barrel. I'm interested in hearing about your personal experience concerning this gun's reliability, function, accuracy, and problems.

Thanks.
 
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I have one. Everyone loves this little gun.

Putting it back together can be a little annoying, though. You have to use a little tool for the spring.
 
I have been very happy with mine, extremely accurate and a pleasure to shoot. I have the longer barrel installed. Joe
 
I have had one of these for a couple of years. Really like it a lot and have much fun shooting it. I think its pretty accurate for its size and price. Make sure to get a reasonably new production gun. Many guns from the first few years production had performance/parts fitting problems, in other words, jam-o-matics. Walther seems to have ironed out those problems. My gun functions great up to about 500 rounds of Federal Wally-World bulk pack, and will then need a stripping and cleaning or you will start to get mis-feeds. Spare mags are pricey. The guns from the first few years came with two mags. Now they only come with one mag. Spare mags usually cost around $25-$30 each. Only purchase spare mags that are recent production. As with the first production guns, the mags from the first few years are also trouble-some. The web-site "rimfire.com" has a section where you can find alot of info on these issues if you want to sort through the threads. Sometimes you can find a deal for new mags on GunBroker.
 
I purchased one for my wife a while back and she likes it. Easier to field strip and clean than a Ruger MK I-III and much lighter. Ours is late production as are the spare mags we have. Feeds high velocity ammo well, but not anything leaning toward the standard vel. end. The fact that it looks like a larger caliber gun doesn't hurt either.

Myself, I prefer my GSG 1911 .22LR. Looks, feels and handles exactly like a good late production 1911. Feeds and functions on anything I've put through it including 15 year old corroded Remington target bull pack. First time to the range I was able to shred the 9-10 ring @ 50 feet off-hand. Runs around $310-$325 with the very well made mags at $28 to $35 each.
 
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My P22 Military is several years old. It came with two magazines.
Concerns the barrel mounting system is not good, the shroud quickly shoots loose and must be tightened regularly. I do not like the unsafe system. In order to put the gun on safe hammer down, you must have a magazine inserted and a round in the chamber, you must use the safety and THEN drop the hammer using the trigger. Not a very Walther system. The front sight flew away during use. When I called S&W service and said P22, the rep offered me a box without asking about the problem....?
I just needed a #3 front sight, which arrived hand addressed four working days later via USPS.
That being said, the feel and grip ergos are good for me and I can make called head shots on a half size steel silhouette on the .22 range at 25 yards.
Geoff
Who suspects this pistol was built to a price, just a touch too low.
 
i have had one (black 3.4") for several years. i had a p99 and loved it, and i saw a p22 at a gun shop, and fell in love. i bought the next one i found, and have had it ever since. i really like the grip shape, and the weight of the gun. mine is a very early one, and i have definitely read the horror stories, but mine has never missed a beat. i have used several different brands and types of ammo, and i keep it meticulously clean. i love it, and will also get a green one in the future!
 
I like mine too..I think it's a pretty cool little gun for the money. I have tried all kinds of ammo and so far it shoots everything.
 
Some of the first ones off the line had a little trouble. Anything you buy new will be 100%. I have the longer barrel, and like Barb said, everyone loves it. It will be going out with my nephew and me tomorrow. ;)

Barb, where did you get this mysterious spring tool? (asks he who has spent hours reassembling a P-22)
 
I was offered one as a gift but after seeing the trouble they had putting it back together I said no thanks. I am a revolver guy anyway so they helped me out getting a decent 34-1 instead.
 
Mine's been perfect with about 2000 rounds of Minimags and Remington bulk box hp's. I read on another website that the slides are not made of steel and referred to it as the "Bic Lighter of pistols...just use it until it breaks and then throw it away." But, I haven't had any trouble yet.
 
Had one a few years ago, wouldn't fire more than four shots without jamming. Tried several different kinds of ammo, put about 1500 rounds through it thinking it would "break in", just got worse. Clean or dirty, it didn't seem to matter. Sold it for a loss & moved on. Shame too, really liked the size & feel of it.

Darrel
 
truckemup97 said:
Barb, where did you get this mysterious spring tool? (asks he who has spent hours reassembling a P-22)
Click to expand...

I'm not Barb, but just read the fine manual, use of the guide is actually down in the long barrel section. It's just a little plastic rod that fits through the guide hole under the barrel on the slide. Works... I confess I didn't read the fine manual the first time through. Moral, read the whole manual on a weapon FIRST!

There are several YouTube videos showing strip and reassemble. Just look up Walther P22.

Geoff
Who notes men read the fine manual when all else fails. Sigh.
 
one of the worst guns I have ever owned, period. Failures to feed and extract....BUT, I was delighted when struggling through the second magazine full of misfeeds, the front sight flew off never to be found again.
The rear sight was loose, and tilted at a 15-20 degree angle to the right.
I gave it away.....
I understand they have improved them since I bought mine, but my go to 22 self loader is a Browning Camper fitted with a SWR Warlock silencer. It stays in my "work" truck for putting down critters, not to mention it is ultra reliable and fun to shoot....
 
The reassembly tool is just a "dowel" I made several of them to keep one in my range bag and one to loose!:)

I can put it back together without it. Takes practice and patience.

It's a gin with "Cool" factor. I do not think it is worth the price.It is not that accurate but has a great trigger and "fun" to shoot.

I did all the "fluff and buff" in the P22 "Bible"

http://www.spentbrass.com/pistol/walther/p22/P22_bible.pdf

This guy is amazing and Walther actually contacted him for design and production innovations. Go to Rimfire Central for anything and everything about this gun.

I much prefer the Ruger MII or Browning for accuracy. As a plinker I want to hit something.

DSC01382Small.jpg


This one cost me less than the Walther:

DSC02303.jpg
 
Thanks

Thanks to all of you for sharing your experiences with and opinions of the P22.

I haven't decided whether or not I want one - I'll have to find one to inspect and fondle. Then I'll ponder the options that are available in a similar price range.

I really appreciate the input!
 
Investigated a number of 22 semi's and ended up purchasing a S&W 22A for my son this Christmas. Great pistol, accurate with no feeding or extraction problems. Easy to break down and clean.
 
A decent fun little gun to plink with. It is my 13yr old daughters pistol. It's a short barrel model with laser. She read the manual, not dad, and discovered how to use the spring tool. She loves it and has now moved up to a M&P9.
 
skeezix said:
I haven't decided whether or not I want one - I'll have to find one to inspect and fondle. Then I'll ponder the options that are available in a similar price range!
Click to expand...

You might check out the Firestorm .22LR.
FIRESTORM FIRESTORM 22 3.5 S/A DUO FS

Generally slightly cheaper, proper safety system. Made by Bersa so it's durable and functional.

Geoff
Who still regrets passing up an old single action 22 model for less than $100 many years ago. Sigh, so many guns so little money...
 
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