s&w 22a

[zackyholdem]

i'm looking for a .22 pistol in the $200-$300 range, and i came across the S&W 22a for $250 new, i'm wanting to use it as a training pistol, just want to be able to put more rounds down range and work on my mechanics

any experience or reviews on this gun?

Thanks Zack

 

[REAPER4206969]

I have nearly 22,000rds. through mine with only common rimfire stoppages.

Best .22LR auto-loading pistol in its class, IMO.

 

[Jim NE]

I don't have near the rounds that Reaper has through his, but I have to agree. My 22a outshot (accuracy) any of my other guns out of the box. Didn't even have to adjust the sights. It's kind of scary when a gun is as accurate as guns costing 2 to 3 times as much. Totally reliable, too.

They'll definitely have to pry this one from my chilly, lifeless digits.

Oh, but do NOT pay $250. If you live near a Cabela's, they'll put them on sale for $199 a couple times a year.

 

[m2steven]

I have a 22A and it's a reliable pistol, easy to shoot. For some reason I can't aim the pistol very well. It's easy to hold and shoot, but i simply can't hit squat with it. I'm deadly with my little Ruger Mark III.

I don't think you'd be sorry you purchased this little weapon. Buy good ammo and it will go bang every time.

 

[MikePaiN]

You can't do better than a 22A in that price range. I'm going to grab one sooner or later since the wife hijacked my Buckmark.

 

[MrWesson]

I own and have shot thousands of rounds through my 22a. I am going to go against the grain here.

If you want a pistol and dont plan on putting optics on it then get a buckmark camper. They run around 299 new and will be much lighter than the 22a.

I find the 22a to be too heavy and I am looking to replace it although it is a very good accurate pistol.

 

[THEZACHARIAS]

Its the one pistol I own that goes to the range every time, no matter what else I'm taking with me. I think I've put more rounds through that one pistol than every other firearm I own combined, and its still accurate enough for the 10" steel 100yd plates at the local range. I would go with the longer 7" barrel over the other options, but that's just me.

Can't say enough good things about it (which constantly surprises me, considering its a S&W).

 

[zackyholdem]

thanks for all the info guys, looks like i'll be going with the 22a, i'm not in any hurry to get one so i'm gonna do a lot of shopping around for the best price.

thanks again Zack

 

[wally]

I've got the 7.5" fluted bull barrel model with the fiber optic front sight. Its my favorite .22 pistol, we've got all the major ones (Ruger 22/45, MKII, Buckmark, Neos, Walther P22). The Buckmark is my wife's favorite, but the M22A is her second choice.

Mine is early production and has had to go back to S&W twice, but they pay the freight both ways and turned it around quickly. Mine sees 600-800 rounds a month so its well over 20,000.

Since you are not in a hurry, I'd really hold out for the fluted bull barrel model I have.

Stock up on round nose ammo initially, there is a common quirk in the M22A where the second round out of the mag closes on an empty chamber when shooting HP ammo because the HP hangs on the mag catch cutout. Nothing I tried fixed it, so I just shot lead RN only for a while, somewhere along the line the issue went away. Others report the same thing. Mine pretty much only sees the Federal HP from WalMart now, and the issue is long gone.

 

[Steve 48]

It's my hunting pistol with a red dot mounted on it. I don't miss often with it.

 

[BCRider]

I haven't owned one myself but I shot a rental 22A a fair amount and it always worked pretty well. A couple of days it would jam about once a mag but remember that this was a rental gun that saw more use in a year than any one owner would put it through in a lifetime. They wore it out in two years but like I say, it paid for itself may times over during that two years. It likely went through a thousand rounds a week.

I would have bought my own 22A but I came across a 422 at a swap meet and got that instead. I've since paired it up with a short barrel 2206 stainless version of the same gun. They are both uber reliable and as accurate as my hands are steady on any given day. In other words it's me that is the limit on accuracy.

And BTW, where are all you 22A faithful when folks 'round these parts are asking about the "best" .22 handgun and all the Ruger and Browning fan boys come out of the wood work?

 

[K-Rod]

I have 7 of them & looking for the ever elusive Carbon Fiber edition to add to my collection. I can't say enough about them. You won't be disappointed.

+1 on waiting for the Cabelas sale. $199. I've picked up 2 used ones from Cabelas for under $160. They were LNIB. Someone just didn't want to take the time to figure out the 22a quirks. Their lack of patience was my score!!

 

[HM2PAC]

Excellent pistol. Mine also goes to the range every time the pistols come out.

 

[gathert]

Find a 422 or 622 if you can. They arent made anymore but can be had for the same price and in my opinion are ten times what the 22a is. They have a much nicer feel, are lighter, the grips are better, and there is no little weak hook to break when taking it down. Take down is really easy as well, and they are as accurate as you can shoot the pistol to be. Just my $0.02, but I would take a 422 or 622 over any .22 currently made.

 

[HankC]

how reliable is the 22A plastics trigger? Anyone failed? I have a 22A, plastics trigger is my only concern. I've also heard that the recoil buffer wears out overtime.

 

[HM2PAC]

I've had no problem with the trigger or the recoil buffer. Initially I thought the same thing, but over the last 2 years and countless rounds, no problems.

 

[K-Rod]

No problems with the triggers on mine as well. As for the buffers, they do get chewed up over time. Some here say they pay S&W for replacement buffers but I've never had to buy any. I just call them & ask them to put a couple in the mail for me & 3-4 days later they are in my mailbox free of charge. I responded to a thread here a while back about the 22a. I try & find it & repost it here.

 

[Rail Driver]

I owned one for quite awhile. It was SICKENINGLY accurate, out to 100 yds or more when there was no wind. $250 is about average new. Mine didn't care for CCI Stingers, but mini-mags functioned perfect.

 

[K-Rod]

Found it. Hope it helps:

I get my recoil buffers from S&W & they send them to me free of charge. I've never bought any. I don't know why you guys have such a hard time field stripping a 22a? I will admit, the first time I shot the recoil spring & rod across the room, I was a little pissy about the design but once I figured out how to keep that from happening, I now find it one of the easiest pistols to field strip.

1). Lock the slide back.
2). Remove the barrel.
3). Cover the top of the slide with your right hand & release the slide with you left thumb. "Ride" the slide forward while still covering the slide. Covering the slide will keep the recoil spring from flying out.
4). Once the slide is all the way forward, lift the slide off the frame & remove the recoil spring & rod out of the bottom of the slide.


To put back together.
1). Without the recoil spring & rod put the slide on the frame.
2). From the top put the recoil spring & rod in place.
3). While covering the top of the slide with your right hand, pull the slide back & lock with your left thumb.
4). Put the barrel back on & your ready to rock & roll!!!

I'm a 22a freak!! I have 7 different models & all of them set up differently from just irons to various different Red-Dots. We shoot A LOT of rounds through them!! 1100rds an outing isn't uncommon for us. We have various "Spinner" .22 targets & a "Dueling Tree". These pistols are very fun & very accurate!! Yes, we do encounter FTF & FTE but that's the nature of a .22 semi-auto. Just polishing the feeding ramp has amazing results on cutting these back.

When I bought the first one, I was a "Heavy" oiler. I put oil on every moving part. What a mess!! Now I run them fairly "Dry". I lock the slide back, turn the pistol upside down & put just one drop of oil on the underside of each side of the slide. That's pretty much it. I'll put a drop on the slide lock spring & the trigger spring on the left side right under the slide as needed.

As for the recoil spacers, the last 22a I bought was just your basic 22a I picked up from Cabelas used for $165. Came with just one mag & the box. The recoil spacer wasn't too bad looking so I didn't change it. I keep a pretty detailed "Log" on all of my firearms. This 22a has 3863rds through it since I bought it & I still haven't had the change the spacer. I do have a bull barrel that I've changed the spacer at 4178rds & 6298rds. I shoot A LOT of .22 ammo & have approx 20,000rds stock piled of various brands. They all have their special "Diet" that they like but believe it or not, Federal bulk 36gr copper HP seems to be the "Candy" they all like.