Talk me into a 22a. Let's hear the positive!

Looks like I am a little late to the party but I have a 22a that I like to shoot alot. I don't like it's looks and I am always worried about the plastic spring insert thingy but I love the way it shoots. I shoot at a 25yard indoor range and the thing is almost boring accurate and reliable. And what they are selling them for, you can buy four of them for the price of a new 41.
 
You're not too late; thanks for your positive response.

My youngest princess wants me to buy it.

Looks like I'll be getting one soon.

Lee
 
My friends 22a must have over 5,000 rounds through it by now. He recently broke the nylon recoil spacer, very easy to replace.

My friend bought his used about ten years ago and it is one of the earlier ones. He had it less then a year and the finish on the barrel was starting to come off and the slide got a small knick taken out of it close to the were the slide release lever fits in. He also had a problem with the grips coming loose. He sent the pistol back to Smith for work. They sent his pistol back with a new slide, new grips making it look like new. All the work was done for FREE! Until the nylon spacer broke last month, the pistol has been great.
 
The first one I bought was the plain jane model and I put about 2000 rounds through it. I then came across the fancy model with the front fiber optic front sight so I bought that one and sold the first one. I have about 3 to 4 thousand rounds throught the latest one. I have had zero problems with either of them and they shoot any ammo from the most expensive to the cheapest. I cannot fault these little guns.

Graydog
 
This is probably going to be very repetitious, but I got my 22A in March, std sights. About 700-800 rounds later, almost all the cheap brick ammo, and absoulutely no issues with performance. I did have a few (+/-5) FTF and FTF, but I am pretty sure they were ammo-related. I did get several extra nylon spacers (which at first I didn't know why-only figured it out from this forum-thanks!), but have not had to change one yet.

Overall, very pleased. It is a great gun for the money.

Regarding the sights, in doing research on the various .22's out there prior to buying, I read about the sight picture problems in a dark range, but did not want to spend the extra $75 for the hi-viz fiber optic (it was only a $200 gun to begin with!). I figured, how bad can it be? After purchase and use, I found it was an issue, but not so much that it was a big problem. However, I opted to get the red dot, and am thoroughly pleased with it. It definitely makes shooting easier and more enjoyable.

Hope this helps.
 
I think the looks of it throw some people off--its not as strange as a Beretta Neo, but it is definitely...different. But I've seen one with wood grips and it looked spectacular (wish I could find the pic).
 
Thanks for your input stringfellow.

Funny you mention the looks. When I first started to fondle one in a store, I thought it was a little unusual myself. The more I looked at it, the more I liked it.

The grip looked different at first, but I actually like the way it feels in my hand. Also, It seems very well balanced and much heavier than I expected. It has really grown on me. I also like the way it looks with those tru glo's on it after seeing the pictures that others have posted in this forum. Heck, compared to the neos, the 22A is a conservative! I like conservatives!;)

thanks,

Lee
 
I purchase mine a couple of years ago and used it extensively that summer in a program offered at a local range. Trigger and accuracy on mine are fantastic as is the overall feel and "pointability". I had a few functioning problems, most of which were misfires attributable to an absolutely abysmal box of Remington Golden Bullets. Those aside, there was only a very occasional mis-feed. Not enough to be concerned about in an informal target-plinking pistol.

Hope this helps.
HRF
 
Thanks!

That brings up another question. I have read some reviews where the authors recommended breaking in the gun with CCI Mini-Mags. Seems like they are the darling of the internet. Lots of people like them.

Would you guys agree with that recommendation? I do have a box of CCI and a Federal Value Pack from Wally-World ready to go!

Lee
 
I bought a used barely shoot one a few months ago.
I mainly use Walmart Fed 550 and Win 333/555 w/o any problem.

I have no problem w/it and pretty accurate.
Haven't even taken it apart to clean it - don't know how yet.

Only wish I could make the grip thinner/smaller - somehow.
Then it would be a great gun to me.

What is this plastic spring thing that everyone is taking about?
 
22bond, check the owners manual, page 23, figure 20.

The plastic recoil spacers do get beat up over time and will need to be replaced. I don't know how many rounds will wear it out because I don't own one yet. The gun comes with 2 spares and Smith will send you more if you need them.

Here is the owners manual. I always read them cover to cover even before I buy a gun if possible.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore/SmWesson2/upload/other/22A_22S.pdf

Thanks

Lee
 
leejack said:
22bond, check the owners manual, page 23, figure 20.

The plastic recoil spacers do get beat up over time and will need to be replaced. I don't know how many rounds will wear it out because I don't own one yet. The gun comes with 2 spares and Smith will send you more if you need them.

Here is the owners manual. I always read them cover to cover even before I buy a gun if possible.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore/SmWesson2/upload/other/22A_22S.pdf

Thanks

Lee
Click to expand...

I bought it used and didn't come w/anything else.
Thanks for the link.
Now I see what that is.
So it takes down like the old Hi Standard.
 
leejack said:
I do have a box of CCI and a Federal Value Pack from Wally-World ready to go!
Click to expand...

I have had the best luck with those two.

Win 333 were OK, they were the first box, might be better now that it's a bit better broke in.

Mine did not like Win Subsonic much at all.

Since the manual for the 15-22 pretty much says "No Remington" (and the internet seems to support that) I haven't ever tried any.
 
Thanks tc!

Well, looks like I've got the right ammo, now all I need to do is get the gun.

lee
 
I got a 22A-1 (5.5 inch high-vis sight) beginning of this year. Almost 2000 rounds perfect now.
We used CCI Mini Mags for break in. Good to use a higher powered round until things break in on these .22s. We had no problem with those, and after a few hundred rounds it has feed and fired perfect with everything we have put in it (CCI Mini Mag, CCI std .22 LR, Federal Bulk pack, Federal Automatch, Winchester Super X...).
I am amazed with the accuracy. It is a target pistol, so it's to be expected, but I WISH I was as accurate with my Sig P226 as I am with this pistol (I'm not that good with either:rolleyes:, the sights seem to be a good part of this for me, almost 50 and eyes going fast).
I really like the high-vis sights. They are great from dimly lit indoor ranges to outdoors.
With the top rail mounted directly to the barrel, this is a great gun for optics. I like the high-vis sights too much to put any optics on this barrel, but plan to get another barrel and put some sort of optic on that. Has it been mentioned enough how quick the barrels are to change, and how easy to strip/clean it is.
I'm very glad I got mine, and would buy one again. I think it is a great value.
 
bump for all the people reposting the same question recently
 
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