Pocket 22 pistol

[JFthunder]

I'm looking for a moderately priced da rimfire that's slightly smaller than my M&P22 Compact and light weight enough to be casually carried in a light jacket or cargo pocket. I have been considering the Berreta 21 and Taurus P22. Can any of you provide comparison (+/-) experience with recently mfg versions? I've read the previous threads I could find here but am having a hard time deciding on a direct benefits vs drawbacks for these. Any other current mfg that I should consider will be appreciated. I use dao semi autos for most defensive carry situations (P229DAK, P290Rs, 3953) when out and about. Little gun for around the farmstead, dog walking, small pests, and "FUN".

I was somewhat surprise and certainly pleased by the level of response to my quest. Thank you all. Lurking on the big GB site I watched availability and sales $$ for the little pistols discussed here. I was successful in winning a very low cost Taurus PT22. I've had a chance to give it a clean and lube and taken it to the backyard range for trials. It is not perfect in appearance or function but so far seems to perform acceptably with both Federal and Winchester hv round nose loads. Definitely not as reliable as I would want for personal defense; but that was not the role I intended for it to fill. I am happy to have it in a pocket as I do chores and walk the mutts around our 3+ acres and dispatch the farm rodents lurking about. Thanks again to all who contributed!

 

[Drm50]

I've done a lot of searching for the perfect 22 carry piece. My wants go further than the OPs. In this pocket pistol class the Berreta 21 is hands down winner in what you would call 25 frame.
It is very dependable and surprisingly accurate. It's no target gun but best in class.
I gave up and went to 32 frame size. None of the 1911 style shot for beans, including a new SIG Mosquito that I dropped near $400 on when first out. None were giving me adequate accuracy for my purposes.
The Walther PP copies were the same thing.

 

[smoothshooter]

I have extensive experience with the Taurus PT-22.
Excellent guns.
Advantages: really good sights, chamber can be safely loaded/unloaded without operating slide or hammer.

Disadvantages: for all practical purposes when magazine is shot dry, you cannot replace magazine and work slide to get back into action. If you have to deal with a self-defense problem, you had better solve it in 9 shots or less because that's all you are going to get. The slide spring is extremely heavy and the slide serrations are not deep enough to get a good grip on to work slide. You have to press the barrel pop-up lever to expose the chamber, pull the top round out of your loaded magazine, insert it in the chamber, snap barrel back down and shut, insert loaded magazine, and you are ready to go.
I carry one in a pocket holster almost every day.
I do carry a spare magazine most of the time in case 9 shots are not enough and a rapid reload is not required.

I have two PT-22's, and have found them both to be way more accurate than a pocket sistol should be.
They are what I call " rabbit hunting accurate " out to 10 to 15 yards or so

 

[DWMartin]

Ruger LCP 2.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

As posted in previous threads, I have a Love -Hate relationship with my 21a. It will fail to eject, reload, etc.
Have been unable to relate if this a Ammo specific situation.
Have pretty much concluded it's more of a Hot Dirty gun situation.
If I shoot 5-6 Mags pretty fast, it will hang up.
One or two? Probably not.
So what's a Mother to do?
Ruger LCP 22 you say.
I just bought one.
So far it's a lot like the 21a except I've had some Failures to Fire.
Federal Punch you say? Just got 500 rounds, haven't had a chance to shoot any.
So if I feel the need to carry a Pocket Pistol, which one?
Ruger LCP MAX. So far Have fired 150 rounds of Ball, 4 different Brands, with ZERO Problems.
Or it Could be the 2 inch 63 if the Old Revolver Evil Twin Me reappears.

 

[Jimmyjones]

Beretta model 21, I have 3 and one in .25. My pocket .22 for years.

 

[dmthomp32]

I agree the Beretta 21A should be the standard but I have yet to own one that would function! I've had three of them and none have been consistent performers. Even those who swear by them in this thread admit to their reliability issues. I really wish they would work as I love the concept of a pocket .22.

I think a better choice would be the model 70 or 71 by Beretta, still a .22 but slightly larger but way better in terms of reliability. I've heard good things about the poly PT22 by Taurus but have never owned a Taurus.


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[OLDSTER]

Beretta Model 21A hands down. My DIL and SIL both carry them.

 

[Engine49guy]

My favorites are
Beretta 21A,
Walther TPH,
North American Arms derringer
Iver Johnson 22 ppk

 

[ispcapt]

I've had 2 Iver Johnson TP-22. Gave one to my son and kept this one. I've run a couple of 1000 rds thru this one and not one problem. I carried them on the farm as they easily carried in the pocket.
If you can find one. I haven't seen one for sale for quite a while.

 

[cyphertext]

Another vote for the Ruger LCP II .22lr. Mine has had some teething issues, but is actually getting better the more I shoot it. Mine is a little ammo picky, but it last weekend I shot 120 rounds of Remington Golden Bullets through it without an issue, and 100 rounds of Winchester Silvertip with one failure to fire. Prior to that range trip, Winchester Super X performed terrible with many failure to fire with multiple tries but the same round would fire in my Taurus TX-22. Had some light strikes with Mini Mags as well. Ruger says to run about 500 rounds through it before worrying about those issues and that it will work itself out.

 

[max503]

If I had any inkling of carrying a 22 as a SD gun...it would be a revolver.

Don't get me wrong. I'd love a Beretta 21 or a Taurus PT22 as much as anyone here, but not for SD.

In fact, I've carried this many a time. It's my Model 34.

 

[djohns6]

S&W Mod 317 . 8 shot 12 oz.

 

[PeterJ]

S&W 43C. 11 oz. and as trouble free as you can find. Fits in just about any pocket and you will probably forget you are carrying it,,, love mine.

 

[Drm50]

For my purposes I went a little bigger but not much sacrifice in weight.
S&W 422, 4".

 

[tominboise]

I bought a Beretta 21A 25 years ago and have been happy with it ever since. It likes round nose ammo but other than that, it's been surprisingly accurate and reliable over the years.

 

[No Quarter]

The Beretta is hard to beat, though I had a Walther TPH that was sexy as all get out. I sold it for an obscene amount to a collector. Loved that little gun. I would also love to get a Beretta Minx in 22 short.

 

[dmthomp32]

I've had 2 Iver Johnson TP-22. Gave one to my son and kept this one. I've run a couple of 1000 rds thru this one and not one problem. I carried them on the farm as they easily carried in the pocket.
If you can find one. I haven't seen one for sale for quite a while.

My local shop has a nice example in Charlotte with box and docs, I think they want $230 for theirs. I asked to look at it bad they said "you don't want that. They are garbage and don't function." However when I looked them up there seem to be quite a few satisfied customers on gun forums!


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[Linejudgemick]

My wife has a PT-22 that can be a fun little plinker when it decides to cycle, but not trustworthy enough to rely on as a personal defense tool. Thank goodness she now has a Shield EZ 380. Just as a matter of fact, the grip on the PT-22 is wider than that of my M&P Bodyguard 380.

 

[BC38]

I've had 2 Iver Johnson TP-22. Gave one to my son and kept this one. I've run a couple of 1000 rds thru this one and not one problem. I carried them on the farm as they easily carried in the pocket.
If you can find one. I haven't seen one for sale for quite a while.

I'll second this one.
I also have a Sterling model 903 in stainless about the same size.
The Sterling is a better quality gun, but the TP22 has the advantage of being DA/SA.