[Okiecruffler]

Had one follow me home , LNIB for $150 couldn't resist, but was worried due to the bad reports I've seen. So I put 250 rds thru it today, and so far I like. Some problem with the mag not feeding for the first 50rds or so, but then it loosened up. Off hand 2 1/2 inch groups at 15 yrds with cheap federal ammo, open sights and my old eyes (one of these days I'm going to have to get Rx shooting glasses). Looks like I better keep alot of those little plastic recoil spacers around. Whoever designed that should be horse whipped. Groups will probably shrink once I get a red dot on it, but the one I have doesn't match up. Looks like its at least worth what I paid.

[Bill Adair]

Okie,

Nice price on your 22A!

I've had a 22S (7") for several years now, and like it a lot.

It's as accurate as any pistol I've ever shot, and one hole 10 shot groups at 50 feet are possible, when I'm shooting well. It seems to shoot Federal 711 as well as the more expensive stuff, so that's what I use. Tried a brick of Nobel which was more expensive, but it didn't shoot any better.

Don't let that plastic buffer pad bother you. It takes just a couple minutes to change, and mine lasts through many bricks of ammo.

It's never actually failed, but I get tired of looking at the poor beat up thing, and replace it anyway. :D

S&W sent me a bag of buffer pads for free, and I've hardly put a dent in them.

Bill

[Kahr carrier]

Guntests did a report on the 22A ,they rated them good. I like them myself you got a great price on yours Congrats.:)

[alamo]

I've got one too that I've been pleased with. Don't seem to have near the following as the Rugers or Brownings.

[Plan-B]

I bought a 22A ($219 NIB) this past summer which turned out to be a jam-o-matic. I was averaging one FTF or FTE per magazine. Sometimes I could shoot through 3 magazines and then it'll jam 4 times on the 4th. I haven't touched it since I picked up my Walther P22. Although I'd say the S&W seems much more accurate than the Walther.

[TarpleyG]

I agree about the plastic pads. Also, keep an eye on the extractor. Mine came off one day. Didn't even see it. I do not know if it broke or just came off. Anyway, S&W promptly mailed me another at no cost even though I have had the gun for over a year.

GT

[Bill Adair]

Plan-B,

Did you call S&W?

There customer service is excellent, and I'm sure they would fix that problem for you, at no charge.

My 22S feeds and extracts everything, though I and one other owner reported problems with ours on one particular brand of ammo. The rounds would not ignite about thirty percent of the time. Hammer strike was perfect, and we assumed it was a bad batch of ammo. I've heard no further problems with that brand, so I won't mention it here.

Bill

[Plan-B]

I was shooting the Federal bulk stuff available at Walmart for the most part. I also tried some CCI Stingers to see if I could get better results if I put some "snap" behind it. Honestly I haven't given it a second thought since I picked up my P22.

The next time I go to the range I'm going to try the Remington Golden Bullet ammo that works so well in the Walther. Maybe I just need to find the right kind of ammo for it. I'd like to hear what kind of ammo you had issues with though.

[alamo]

I just called S&W and said I needed a few buffer pads. Took my name & address and said they'd send them out, didn't ask for payment. I'm sure they're quite inexpensive.

[Bill Adair]

Plan-B,

Picked up a brick of Federal 711 target ammo with the gun. Was less than $20 at the time, but has since gone up to $22/brick. Then I went to Wal-Mart and bought one box of all their better ammo, but passed on the bulk stuff. Next trip was to the gun shop/range, where I bought a few boxes of Eley and other stuff Wal-Mart didn't stock.

Tried all of it in my gun, and found that the Federal 711 was the most accurate, though the Eley (at many times the price) was just as good, but not better.

The ammo that would not ignite reliably was T-22 that I bought some time later, when I ran out of Federal. Bought a brick, tried one box, and took the rest back for a refund. Picked up a brick of Nobel (RWS) target ammo then, and it matched the Federal in accuracy, but was also more expensive.

I've not tried any T-22 since, but suspect the problem was limited to that batch. Haven't heard of anyone else having problems with it lately.

Try a box of the Federal 711 in your 22A. Several of my friends also use it, with the same great results I'm getting. :D

Bill

[Plan-B]

I don't know exactly what the Federal stuff was that was giving me problems. I'll double check when I get home since I still have a whole brick of it, but it sure wasn't the 711 if it cost $22/brick. :what:

I'm not so much of a stickler when it comes to .22 accuracy since it's all for goofing around anyway. Still, if I can get this 22A reliable that might be enough to get me to spring for the 7" barrel. :D

One thing I love about shooting .22 is that even trying a dozen different kinds of ammo is still reasonable on your wallet.

[agony]

I've posted in the past on TFL about my 22A. I got it when they first came out. This is the standard barrel, not short, not bull-barreled.

Put over 50,000+ rounds through it in the past 4 years. It still runs reliably, with maybe 3 FTF out of a 550round box of cheap Walmart Federal ammo. I still get 2-3" groups of the bench at 25 yards. I've replaced the buffers at least 20 times, and S&W has sent them to me for free in the past.

The joy of this el-cheapo pistol is that it still runs after a lot of abuse....the finish is worn, the rails are worn where the slide rides the aluminum frame. I clean it once every 2,100 rounds (4 boxes).

The real joy that the 22A gives me is that it has introduced a lot of non-gun folks to the fun of shooting. My girlfriend loves it so much, she claims it's hers.

[Plan-B]

Bill,

I found a brick of Federal Gold Medal 711B at a gun show this weekend for $17.95. I haven't been to the range in almost 2 months. I'm looking forward to trying this stuff...

[Bill Adair]

Bryant,

That's one type I haven't tried (711B), and it is the only 711 variant I could find in their on line catalog. The specks look the same, so perhaps it's a replacement for 711?

I emailed Federal to ask if 711 has been discontinued.

Have a couple bricks of 711 on hand, along with most of a brick of Dynamit Nobel 40gr match ammo that shoots just as well, but costs more.

Guess I'm going to have to stock up, while my dealer still has 711 on hand. :D

Using an Ultradot red dot sight on my 22S, I've shot many tiny one hole ten shot groups at 50 feet indoors. The sight has been temporarily transferred to another gun, so I'll try the iron sights next trip to the range. Don't think I've ever sighted in the iron sights, as I bought the gun and Ultradot together.

Please let me know how you like Federal 711B.

Bill

[tatters]

I like my 22a as well. I bought mine on sale, and I wanted to put optics on it, so the built in rail was a plus. I killed a groundhog at 30 yds with Winchester Wildcat ammo. Very accurate gun. Small hole with many shots on paper. It has only malfunctioned when it was extremely dirty. I use all kinds of ammo in it.

I had a red-dot on mine, but I took it off. I like the open sights, but the eyes are not what they used to be. I will soon get a regular pistol scope.

Agreed, S&W service is top notch.

[Newton]

Loved mine, wish I still had it in place of the Ruger 22/45 stainless I have now. Trusted public opinion on the Ruger, wish I hadn't, hate the thing.

Newton

[Bill Adair]

Bryant, all,

Got an email reply from Federal as follows:

"We have not made the 711 for several years.

The 711B is a subsonic load which replaced it."

Guess I'll have to try some myself, when my stash of 711 runs out. :D

The reason I mounted a red dot on mine is that I'm well into social security age, and these old eyes don't work as well now.

Bill

[Okiecruffler]

Finally got The Wife out to shoot it and ran into a BIG problem. She wants one. I might as well give in. I learned my lesson with the SKS that I never get to shoot anymore. I am having a problem with one of the mags tho'. After the first shot it hangs up and the second cartridge is held to low to feed. Something is catching somewhere. I was going to fix it tonight, but the whole work thing reared it's ugly head and I didn't have time. Wish I'd have been born rich instead of so good looking. Other than that, I've got about 1000 rds thru it with no aggrevation.