Experiences with 422?

[firefighterjohn]

I just put a nice 4" 422 on layaway at my LGS. It was gun only, no box or paperwork but it is very clean. I've watched a few reviews and most are really positive.

I did some quick searching here and didn't find much posted about the 422.

If you have/had one, did you like it? Any advice you have on shooting, what kind of ammo it prefers, and maintenance help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[kev74]

I've had a 2206, similar action, in stainless, with a 6 inch barrel, for about 15 years and love it. Very accurate and very reliable.

 

[robvious]

422 was my first new pistol purchase.. a long time ago... hasn't been out to play for a while... it ate about any ammo I put in it mostly wildcats back then... still have it, need to dig it out.. it liked a drop of remoil on the rails after a good cleaning to keep it functioning well.... enjoy your "poor mans model 41" and the 422 uses model 41 magazines...

 

[Model52guy]

I started picking up 422’s, 622’s , 2206’s, 2213’s and 2214’s a few years ago. I have several examples of each. They are fun guns. These slides are the same on all the models except blue vs SS. They use the model 41 magazine, except for the 2213 and 2214 which uses shorter version .

 

[ColbyBruce]

I really like the 422/622/2213/2214/2206 series of pistols. I have owned nine of them. My son has the brushed nickel 2214 I bought him thirty-one years ago and I have two 622’s and a 2206. The finish on the 422 models is not durable. There never was a plethora of holsters offered for the series. I used Bianchi X15 and 2000 shoulder holsters to tote mine. Pachmayr offered stocks and some company, possibly MMC, produced adjustable sights for installation on the fixed sight versions. You will enjoy the gun.

 

[Ameshawki]

Our club had two. Had being the operative word. Ours never worked right. Finicky on ammo. Both broke the take down piece and Smith never had the part in stock. Sold them several years ago and they are not missed.

 

[marvin02]

I love mine. I had a dove tail cut in the front and installed a fiber optic front sight and had it cerakoted.

This is a fantastic disassembly/assembly tutorial:

422/622/2206/2213/2214 Disassembly - Reassembly Instructions

They use the same mags as the model 41.

I have shot mine at steel challenge matches and it runs great.

There are still parts available for them.

 

[DMcBB]

My dad taught me to shoot on his 422, which I still have. I taught my two older kids to shoot with that 422, and I plan to teach my youngest to shoot on it when he’s old enough.

It’s not an amazing pistol, but it’s a solid pistol that’s fun to shoot and works about as well as you can hope for a semiautomatic with a rimfire cartridge. I would never sell it, but that’s probably more for sentimental reasons than anything else.

 

[retired2006]

I see several people mention that these use model 41 magazines. This is true, BUT only if the magazine is the new style with the plastic founder. If you have the older 41 mags with the metal founder, they do not have the cut necessary to use in these pistols.
I have a 2214, a 2206, and a 422, all are fine pistols, but like all 22's, can be finicky about ammo.

 

[SmithNut]

Never had an experience with any of those mentioned here

However, I do own a M422, it was the prize for winning the "Best Modern Display" at the SWCA Symposium in Albuquerque, NM back in 1996.

Heck maybe need to take it out to see if it shoots. Nawwwwww....!

 

[lscocoa]

I shoot mine every time out shooting . It’s the 4” model 422 and it goes most places as my woods gun . Accurate and runs most everything I put through it.

 

[Sevens]

The 422/622 series was the first low cost (full size) rimfire that S&W ever offered. It's my opinion having owned multiples and worked with some of the later guns that this series of pistols were better guns than EVERY MODEL that S&W made after them. The 22A series were substandard and the Victory series have been riddled with QC problems. The M&P series do not have my interest at all, so I cannot really comment on them or compare.

 

[.38SuperMan]

Regrettably I picked up a new first year 2206 when the came out. I bought it for my son to shoot but unfortunately it never really ram right. I sent it to Smith and a private gunsmith twice but it never functioned properly. No matter the ammo, mini mags, wildcats, stingers, you name it it would fail to eject or stovepipe. New mags, different ammo and trips to the gunsmith, no luck.

It would have been a fun gun but I finally gave up three years ago and swapped it for a late Winchester 62a.

 

[Sevens]

Did I read that correctly? You bought a 2206 when they first came out and it never ran right and you kept it until 3 years ago?

So you either fought with it -- or it lay dormant -- for 30 years...?

 

[damienph]

My 422 is one of my favorite .22LR semi-autos.
It is every bit the shooter that my Ruger MkIIs are.

Pictured with my S&W 22A-1

 

[SmithNut]

Did I read that correctly? You bought a 2206 when they first came out and it never ran right and you kept it until 3 years ago?

So you either fought with it -- or it lay dormant -- for 30 years...?

I'd say he has good luck after-all.... trading a 2206 for a Winchester 62A? That's a $300 gun traded for something well north of $1000 (depending on age).....

I'd of done that deal even if I had a 2206 that shot flies at 100 yards consistently...

 

[Model52guy]

My 422 series pistols are way less ammo finicky than my model 41’s.

 

[Drm50]

I’ve had several of them. Favorite was the 422 Target 4”. It was perfect EDC Rural 22. ( not meaning for SD ) kind of a Kit Pistol.
Very nice to carry both in profile and weight. Capable of practical accuracy on the scale of a m34. Fall in crick with 34, it’s PIA to strip a revolver to the bone, 422 is simple and quick. Of course never fell in again to test that theory.
Found it to handle anything poked in it with no problem. 22s are dirty so needs cleaned every 500 or so. Spare the oil. I have a set of the black synthetic grips a member gifted me. I carried them on my 4” to save the woodies.
Wish I had kept the 4” Target, a buddy cried until I let him have it. Recently dealt off the 6”Target and the 4” Field model with fixed sights. They take same mags as 41 and are now available again for $28@. I’ve had 2206 and 622, don’t like stainless so they didn’t stay around long.

 

[BigBoy99]

I like my 422 because of the low barrel and barrel bushing. My .22 cal. suppressor fits on the gun perfectly. The lower barrel ensures that the suppressor doesn't block the front sight picture.

 

[firefighterjohn]

Thank you very much to everyone who shared their 422 experiences; I think I'll be very happy with it. Unfortunately, I haven't had any spare time to reply to all of your posts individually, but I did LIKE them.

This S&W group is a great bunch, full of honest common sense advice you can't get ANYWHERE else!