whforbes
Member
Hey everyone new to the forum was wondering if anyone has some thoughts on the Walther p-22. Thanks.
Walther p-22
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redfireftr
Member
This post does not belong in the classified section. Do a search and im sure you will find many opinions and reviews from THR members.
I have a Walther P-22 and I love it. It was the first "real" pistol I ever bought (not including the dubious Phoenix Arms 22 I bought about 8 years ago when I was 21 and just wanted to own a pistol). I've had mine for about 3 years and it's still one of my favorites to shoot.
Disassembly and cleaning can be a little bit of a bear, as the spring can quite easily go sailing across the room during reassembly.
If you're looking for accuracy, you're not going to get the same accuracy that you'd get from a Ruger Single Six, Mark III or another long-barrelled pistol/revolver. However, I personally think the P22 is more fun to shoot and more comfortable to hold.
The long and the short is, if you're looking at a P22 it's because it looks cool, feels good and is fun to shoot. As long as these are your requirements (as opposed to competition shooting), you won't be disappointed.
Oh, the P22 can be a bit picky with ammo too (especially the first 100 rounds or so), but I've never had a problem with CCI Mini-Mags, which are quite reasonably priced.
Disassembly and cleaning can be a little bit of a bear, as the spring can quite easily go sailing across the room during reassembly.
If you're looking for accuracy, you're not going to get the same accuracy that you'd get from a Ruger Single Six, Mark III or another long-barrelled pistol/revolver. However, I personally think the P22 is more fun to shoot and more comfortable to hold.
The long and the short is, if you're looking at a P22 it's because it looks cool, feels good and is fun to shoot. As long as these are your requirements (as opposed to competition shooting), you won't be disappointed.
Oh, the P22 can be a bit picky with ammo too (especially the first 100 rounds or so), but I've never had a problem with CCI Mini-Mags, which are quite reasonably priced.
gvnwst
Member
I recently got one, and i love it. While maybe not as accurate as a ruger MK__ the grip is by far more comfortable (i have small hands though, so it fits me better) and comes up more natrually. I consider double tapping at 10yd with the holes 1" apart good enough. I have run mostly federal bulk pack, and it runs fine. Also works with CCI stingers, mini mags, and other high velicoty and standard velocity ammo.
NOTE: Some of the older models (not sure what year) have a improperly designed hammer, and that BADLY affects feeding. The new ones however, are fine, walther fixed it.
NOTE: Some of the older models (not sure what year) have a improperly designed hammer, and that BADLY affects feeding. The new ones however, are fine, walther fixed it.
expvideo
Member
I just bought one as a suppressor host. Now I'm playing the waiting game with the ATF, but for the time being at least I have the pistol. I haven't had a chance to shoot it yet, but I like it. I carry a full size Sig, so it's really strange holding such a small gun. But after a little getting used to, it's pretty comfortable. It feels almost like a toy, but in a good way. It kind of brings me back to the days of cap guns, when a gun was light weight and just pointed really easily. My girlfriend thought it was pretty neat, too. I guess I don't really have anything to say that is going to make it sound wonderful, but I like it.
I also have plenty of firepower at my disposal for self defense/home defense. To me this is just a plinker. If this is a self defense/home defense gun for you, I would recommend stepping it up to at least a .380, prefferably a 9mm.
ETA:
It seems like Walther has improved the gun a lot, because my model doesn't have a lot of the flaws that I read about on older models. It seems like Walther read "the P22 Bible" and made a few modifications to the design. The extractor looks like it has been improved, and the hammer seems to be better. I don't know though, since I don't have an older model to compare it to.
I also have plenty of firepower at my disposal for self defense/home defense. To me this is just a plinker. If this is a self defense/home defense gun for you, I would recommend stepping it up to at least a .380, prefferably a 9mm.
ETA:
It seems like Walther has improved the gun a lot, because my model doesn't have a lot of the flaws that I read about on older models. It seems like Walther read "the P22 Bible" and made a few modifications to the design. The extractor looks like it has been improved, and the hammer seems to be better. I don't know though, since I don't have an older model to compare it to.
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mr.trooper
Member
I had a recent manufactured P-22. It worked fine with most ammo, even most bulk pack ammo. It didnt like un-plated lead ammo though.
As long as i shotcopper plated rounds it worked very well. I shot a pistol class with it, and it made it through without any problems.
After about 7,000 rounds though, it was prety obvious that it was rapidly aproaching eh end of its service life (thats the problem with zinc parts.
) so i sold it to a buddy for $75. He it happy with it, an it doesn't give him any major problems.
As long as i shotcopper plated rounds it worked very well. I shot a pistol class with it, and it made it through without any problems.
After about 7,000 rounds though, it was prety obvious that it was rapidly aproaching eh end of its service life (thats the problem with zinc parts.
) so i sold it to a buddy for $75. He it happy with it, an it doesn't give him any major problems.mr.trooper
Member
I had a recent manufactured P-22. It worked fine with most ammo, even most bulk pack ammo. It didnt like un-plated lead ammo though.
As long as i shotcopper plated rounds it worked very well. I shot a pistol class with it, and it made it through without any problems.
After about 7,000 rounds though, it was prety obvious that it was rapidly aproaching eh end of its service life (thats the problem with zinc parts. ) so i sold it to a buddy for $75. He it happy with it, an it doesn't give him any major problems.
As long as i shotcopper plated rounds it worked very well. I shot a pistol class with it, and it made it through without any problems.
After about 7,000 rounds though, it was prety obvious that it was rapidly aproaching eh end of its service life (thats the problem with zinc parts.
) so i sold it to a buddy for $75. He it happy with it, an it doesn't give him any major problems.burningsquirrels
Member
love mine. probably about 12,000 rounds easy through it, and i'm using it for steel matches now. it's enough to hit plates at 25 yards.
I bought my girlfriend a P22 to use so she would warm up to guns. It is a "neat" pistol, and it is "fun" to shoot; however it has some issues.
-Ammo sensitive... finicky
-Reliable with only higher end 22 ammo, dont think you are going to buy bulk ammo and have fun with this thing. It will most likely jam constantly.
-CCI Stingers and Mini-Mags are really the only reliable ammo for my spcimen
-Needs cleaned a lot IMO. Even the good CCI stuff will start jamming up after a couple hundred rounds.
On the good side:
-Recoil is almost non existant
-Good learning platform
-Multiple Safeties
-Feels good in your hand
-looks "cool"
-If it is pink your girlfriend will like it
-Ammo sensitive... finicky
-Reliable with only higher end 22 ammo, dont think you are going to buy bulk ammo and have fun with this thing. It will most likely jam constantly.
-CCI Stingers and Mini-Mags are really the only reliable ammo for my spcimen
-Needs cleaned a lot IMO. Even the good CCI stuff will start jamming up after a couple hundred rounds.
On the good side:
-Recoil is almost non existant
-Good learning platform
-Multiple Safeties
-Feels good in your hand
-looks "cool"
-If it is pink your girlfriend will like it
burningsquirrels
Member
^^^ yup. the one we got is my fiance's engagement present.
ours was picky with bulk ammo at first, but the gun loosened up after a couple thousand rounds. we also rounded the trigger bar ears, stretched the extractor spring, loctite'd the barrel nut and frame screws, and reshaped the extractor hook to throw brass in a consistent direction.
bulk ammo will always be bulk ammo, to me bulk only works "as good as it can" in dedicated 22 target pistols. autoloaders really need more kick to move the whole slide back.
FWIW, of the 'bulk', the federal 550 value pack is the best buy i've found. it doesn't foul the barrel like the others, and maybe 1 in 20-30 misfire. not very good, but at $12 i can't complain. the next cheapest that work good WITHOUT LEADING the barrel to obstruction, are the CCI mini mags. the dynapoints, super-x, thunderbolts, federal automatch and champions, all foul the barrel to heck after a few hundred rounds. at steel matches, we can share the gun between 2-3 people and it'll shoot 1000 accurately enough with no cleaning.
it's a good training tool and first gun with some tweaks. if you want a champion out of the box, go elsewhere. if you want a fun plinker, this is it. looks and feels like a centerfire, without the goofiness and 3 hour assemmbly time of say, a ruger. lol.
ours was picky with bulk ammo at first, but the gun loosened up after a couple thousand rounds. we also rounded the trigger bar ears, stretched the extractor spring, loctite'd the barrel nut and frame screws, and reshaped the extractor hook to throw brass in a consistent direction.
bulk ammo will always be bulk ammo, to me bulk only works "as good as it can" in dedicated 22 target pistols. autoloaders really need more kick to move the whole slide back.
FWIW, of the 'bulk', the federal 550 value pack is the best buy i've found. it doesn't foul the barrel like the others, and maybe 1 in 20-30 misfire. not very good, but at $12 i can't complain. the next cheapest that work good WITHOUT LEADING the barrel to obstruction, are the CCI mini mags. the dynapoints, super-x, thunderbolts, federal automatch and champions, all foul the barrel to heck after a few hundred rounds. at steel matches, we can share the gun between 2-3 people and it'll shoot 1000 accurately enough with no cleaning.
it's a good training tool and first gun with some tweaks. if you want a champion out of the box, go elsewhere. if you want a fun plinker, this is it. looks and feels like a centerfire, without the goofiness and 3 hour assemmbly time of say, a ruger.
lol.whforbes
Member
Thanks guys that helps.It seems almost like a split decision. Sorry for posting in the wrong forum.I'll be more careful next time.
burningsquirrels
Member
it's a tough call. like i said... out of box target pistol, no. playtime pistol, yes.
gvnwst
Member
Pretty much. I can't wait to get a suppressor (if i ever manage it) and se if it gets even more fun
Let the ridicule begin
I have a couple of these little Walthers and absolutly love the thing. They are a blast to shoot. Both of mine seem to like cci mini mags very well. The one has had around 2,000 rounds put through it though I have had a couple of misfires I have yet to have a round jam. Now let the hell rain down upon me. I usually carry a sig 226 for my ccw gun. When I want to carry something ultra light and easily to conceal. My Walther is my second ccw gun of choice. Laugh all you want but I cant seem to conceal my .44 redhawk all that well.
I have a couple of these little Walthers and absolutly love the thing. They are a blast to shoot. Both of mine seem to like cci mini mags very well. The one has had around 2,000 rounds put through it though I have had a couple of misfires I have yet to have a round jam. Now let the hell rain down upon me. I usually carry a sig 226 for my ccw gun. When I want to carry something ultra light and easily to conceal. My Walther is my second ccw gun of choice. Laugh all you want but I cant seem to conceal my .44 redhawk all that well.
expvideo
Member
I can't wait for mine
Hey, I carry a sig P226, too. Put some CCI Stingers in that P22 and it should be a pretty capable and nice and compact little self defense gun.
However, I would never trust it to be as reliable as my sig. Better than a blade loaded with hopes and dreams though.
I wouldn't go as far as to call it a split decision. It's just a matter of what you want the pistol to do.
A Ruger Mark III is a great target pistol. However, it's long and bulky and may not be what you're interested in. The Walther is super-stylish, small and comfortable, but isn't going to be driving nails at 50 yards or anything.
If you're looking for a home defense weapon, I would consider a Bersa 380, since it's a similar size and price but fires more powerful rounds.
Personally, I intend to have a P22 and a Mark III, since they both serve such unique purposes.
A Ruger Mark III is a great target pistol. However, it's long and bulky and may not be what you're interested in. The Walther is super-stylish, small and comfortable, but isn't going to be driving nails at 50 yards or anything.
If you're looking for a home defense weapon, I would consider a Bersa 380, since it's a similar size and price but fires more powerful rounds.
Personally, I intend to have a P22 and a Mark III, since they both serve such unique purposes.
XavierBreath
Member
whforbes
I have two I got used. The better Remington bulk pack work well.
Federal bulk pack did not. My shorter barreled one will out shoot my Ruger Mark III, on my longer barreled one, the sights are not adjustable enough to compensate how far it shoots off from point of aim.
Tinker2
I have two I got used. The better Remington bulk pack work well.
Federal bulk pack did not. My shorter barreled one will out shoot my Ruger Mark III, on my longer barreled one, the sights are not adjustable enough to compensate how far it shoots off from point of aim.
Tinker2
Ridgerunner665
Member
My son just bought a P22 (short barrel, black)...300 rounds (cheap Federal bulk) and 3 FTF's in the first 50 rounds, after that it was smooth sailing. Its just as accurate as my BuckMark, at 15 yards I can knock a Pepsi can around all I want.
The machined area of the slide (rails) looks like aluminum to me...but it may be sintered metal...whatever, it works.
The machined area of the slide (rails) looks like aluminum to me...but it may be sintered metal...whatever, it works.
My son bought one a month ago,
jams alot with winchester, then shot
federal copper coated, still jams but not as often, he was told it takes about 500 rds. for good breakend, but that CCI's would shoot good, but
hasn't tried it yet...
jams alot with winchester, then shot
federal copper coated, still jams but not as often, he was told it takes about 500 rds. for good breakend, but that CCI's would shoot good, but
hasn't tried it yet...
searcher451
Member
Run a search. The topic has been discusssed a dozen or more times on this very forum since the first of the year, I'll wager. Just note that the P22 is a Umarex gun, not a Walther; it's made of plastic and pot metal, which ought to tell you something.
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