422 what do you think of them?

[albanian]

I just picked up a excellent 98% S&W 422 at the gunshow. It has nice walnut grips and is blued. Mine is the 6" bbl with 2 12rd factory mags and manual. It has the adjustable sights as well. It came with a plastic box but not the S&W one. It also came with that orange takedown tool that fits between the slide and frame.

I got it for $200 OTD which I think it a good price considering it looked new and had the two 12rd mags. There was no wear on the outside of the gun, it was only when I field stripped it that I could tell it was fired. Very nice.

I have not shot it yet because the weather sucks. It feels great in my hand and I like the way it looks for the most part. The only thing I don't like about it is the grip angle. As this is just for the range and not self defense, grip angle is not that important. I would never own a gun with this grip angle for self defense. All my shots would end up in the dirt and not the bad guy!

Anyway, what is the general take on these guns? I have seen them for as low as $150 before but didn't buy them. I always wanted one for some reason and now I have one. Are they considered decent guns or were they a flop? I also own a Ruger MKII with 5.5" bull bbl in SS and a MKI in blue with 6" tapered bbl.

I paid $200 for the MKI and I am sure it is a better gun overall since I have owned many Ruger MK series over the years and they have been outstanding. I know there is not a better pistol for the money.

But, the S&W has something that the Ruger doesn't. It is lighter and feels like it wants to go with you plinking. I am now on the lookout for the 4" SS and alloy 622. I think would make a great trail gun if it is reliable. It seems like it is going to make a great informal plinker.

I just don't hear much about the 422 or 622. As I get older, I am gravitating towadrs owning more and more S&Ws. I am not trying to buy them but those are the guns I end up with.

 

[albanian]

I just picked up a excellent 98% S&W 422 at the gunshow. It has nice walnut grips and is blued. Mine is the 6" bbl with 2 12rd factory mags and manual. It has the adjustable sights as well. It came with a plastic box but not the S&W one. It also came with that orange takedown tool that fits between the slide and frame.

I got it for $200 OTD which I think it a good price considering it looked new and had the two 12rd mags. There was no wear on the outside of the gun, it was only when I field stripped it that I could tell it was fired. Very nice.

I have not shot it yet because the weather sucks. It feels great in my hand and I like the way it looks for the most part. The only thing I don't like about it is the grip angle. As this is just for the range and not self defense, grip angle is not that important. I would never own a gun with this grip angle for self defense. All my shots would end up in the dirt and not the bad guy!

Anyway, what is the general take on these guns? I have seen them for as low as $150 before but didn't buy them. I always wanted one for some reason and now I have one. Are they considered decent guns or were they a flop? I also own a Ruger MKII with 5.5" bull bbl in SS and a MKI in blue with 6" tapered bbl.

I paid $200 for the MKI and I am sure it is a better gun overall since I have owned many Ruger MK series over the years and they have been outstanding. I know there is not a better pistol for the money.

But, the S&W has something that the Ruger doesn't. It is lighter and feels like it wants to go with you plinking. I am now on the lookout for the 4" SS and alloy 622. I think would make a great trail gun if it is reliable. It seems like it is going to make a great informal plinker.

I just don't hear much about the 422 or 622. As I get older, I am gravitating towadrs owning more and more S&Ws. I am not trying to buy them but those are the guns I end up with.

 

[Karl in NY]

Everything I have heard about the 422/622 series has been strongly positive, except for a very negative "review" of the 622 in Gun Test magazine.

Just before the 422 was discontinued, I bought several for resale at $100/ea. (I was an FFL, and this was well over a decade ago).

They were very hard to resell at the time, simply no demand...which was predictable, since why else would S$W discontinue it?

A good friend bought my last 422, still shoots it, still loves it. It's a strange gun, with barrel on bottom it seems upside down...my friend is Polish, and we call his 422 "the Polish gun".

 

[Jim PHL]

I had one and loved it. Very light and thin, very accurate. A little 'different' to take down but not too difficult (nowhere near as complicated as the ruger). Mine went as part of a trade that brought me one of my favorites (3" M65) so I can't get too worked up over not having it anymore. If I saw one at a decent price I wouldn't hesitate to snap it up.

 

[M28]

I just acquired one and I think it's a great little gun. I'm still trying to fiqure out why they're not more popular.

Brian~

 

[greenberry]

When I was in jr high my father had the shortest brl one and it was pretty accurate and neat from what I remember. I do remember the pistols not being real popular though.

 

[mgeoffriau]

I love my 422. If you are into NFA stuff, they are among the easiest .22 pistols to host a suppressor. The barrel nut can be replaced with a nut that has standard suppressor threading, and the low barrel means the suppressor won't interfere with the sights.

 

[BUFF]

I bought a 4 inch fixed sight 422 when they were introduced. It came in a sort of 'starter's kit' that included paper targets, a can of RemOil and a box of ammunition. It has several thousand rounds through it now with complete reliability. I like how it feels in my hands, similar to the 1911's grip angle. It's too light for real precision off-hand but it's a great plinker and hiking companion.

I wish I had bought the stainless version and one of those little bitty ones, too. Great value for the money.

 

[dadjx2]

I have the 622 and enjoy it. FYI, if you start to have ftf issues, check the spring under the right grip. I have had mine slip out on one occasion.

 

[albanian]

By FTF do you mean fail to fire or fail to feed? I haven't had any problem yet but would be good to know.

Thanks.

 

[Frizzman]

I have a 4" 422 I bought used years ago. It was pretty cheap and I expected it to quickly wind up as trade fodder. Actually, I believe the main reason I bought it was because the shop that sold it gave everyone who bought a handgun from them a years range pass. It was almost like getting the pistol free. I quickly found that it was light and accurate and reliable enough for a .22 auto sporting pistol. It is lighter and easier to break down than the Ruger. Mine has become a "keeper".

 

[lsufan1971]

You got a good deal. I had a nice 6" 422 with 3 mags and target grips. I sold it a few months ago for $425.00. Great little gun

 

[Erich]

Sounds like a great deal to me as well.

These really did not make a splash, but everyone I know who has one really likes it.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

except for a very negative "review" of the 622 in Gun Test magazine.

That review - if it is the one that I remember - was a wholesale slam of all S&W 22's except the Model 41. If I am right, it was written just before the 22A and 22S were released.?

In contrast, like Karl, I have only heard praise for the pistol from the gun's owners.

 

[Old Navy]

The only thing I have ever heard a friend say about his was it was not as accurate as his Browning Buckmark Camper with short barrel and that it tended to be a little ammo finicky. But ammo finicky can be pretty common in rimfire guns

 

[Plumbata]

Bought one today. Only the second one I've ever seen (I bought that one too)

I didn't even ask the price, when I saw it in the case i just said "I'll take the 6" 422" The sales clerk didn't know which gun I was talking about.

$160. The only blemish is a scratch on the left side just behind the muzzle. I'm going to have to find a way to cover that up. I'd really like to find a 622.

 

[Muley Gil]

I had a M422 and had to sell it back around 1990. It was a great little gun.

I bought another one in 2005. I plan on keeping this one!

 

[jimk0512]

I have a 422, the 6" model with fixed sights. It is light, fairly accurate, and shoots inexpensive ammo (Federal 550 round box from Walmart) without fail. I had to read the instructions before I could take it apart for cleaning the first time. And I find it awkward getting the patch into the barrel. But it's a good plinker, I'm keeping it.

 

[Harris304]

I have a 4 inch 2213 stainless. It's a keeper
and i consider it one of my best guns. Paid
$225.00 for it and have yet to see it go cheaper.

 

[bhill]

I have a stainless 2206 6 inch all metal gun fantastic trigger very accurate bought for a little over $200.Were can you get that these days in a new 22cal pistol?