Phoenix Arms HP22A

Those guns are known for developing cracks in the frame. Especially if you ever use any high velocity ammo.

Mine has been very reliable. The slide safety lever is secured with a covering of clear silicone sealer. The only problem was that the place where the disconnector kicks the trigger bar down, developed a burr. Shooting then became a sequence of firing a shot, smacking the side of the gun, firing another shot, etc. Later I took the RH grip panel off and filed off the sharp corners on the contact areas.

Good plinker for the price, especially with the 5" barrel. Magazine safety is annoying but easily disabled.

Use ammo your gun likes and you should be happy.

Small light and cheap to buy and shoot. If your gun does NOT like the ammo you bought it WILL tell you so very clearly.

edknn

Had a heck of a time changing the barrels on mine but finally got it in place. Trigger pull is horrendous, black enamel-like finish is nothing to write home about, and I lost count of all the safeties on it but it still makes for a halfway decent plinker with standard velocity ammo.

I think for the little extra money, you get (and don't laugh even though is sounds funny) a heck of a lot more quality with the Heritage and a lot more options too.

If you're thinking about actually carrying it, stepping up to the $220 range will open you to a world of compact .32s and .380s that are actually smaller and lighter.

Please introduce your granddaughter on a Walther p22 or Ruger. A Phoenix gun nearly burned off 2 of my fingerprints and left slide bits in my thumb once.

A good friend of mine has one. It's one of the worst pistols I've ever fired. It wasn't unusual for it to choke on every single round in the magazine. Accuracy was so bad you'd be better off throwing the cartridges downrange.

A lot of people apparently get accurate and reliable pistols, but my buddy didn't.

Hyper velocity rounds will crack the frame.

I'd recommend anything else.

If you're feeling lucky, you stand a pretty good chance of getting a good one. Maybe. Their warranty and customer service are supposed to be pretty good.

A student of mine was qualifying with one and the magazine release broke off. He had to hold the magazine in for the remainder of the class.

Not bad for the price. Mine fires just fine and accuracy isn't bad. Softball size goups at 20-25'. Had it for about 3 years now. Grandkids use it when I take them to the range.

mesinge2 said:

A student of mine was qualifying with one and the magazine release broke off. He had to hold the magazine in for the remainder of the class.

Click to expand...

This does sometimes happen. The release button is slipped over a hollow pin and then the pin is hit with a punch to deform it and hold the button on.

Constant pressure on a pretty weak piece of metal. Mine had a high round count (which means tons of mag changes but it is still a potential problem.

The frames are also extremely thin and crack frequently. If they'd fix that they'd be great guns.

No one's gonna tell you the Heritage is a better-built gun. It might be more "fun", but guns in this price category draw a lot of negative attention.
I own both. The HP22A is indeed overly-complicated with its safety features, but it's a remarkable shooter. There are no other guns in this price range I know of that have as crisp and consistent trigger, a real hammer, and a rear sight that is at least windage adjustable.

True, the frames crack after thousands of rounds, typically at the magazine well. This does not impact safety or function. What else is typical is that, when such cracked guns are returned to Phoenix under warranty, they are simply replaced with new guns.

Now, I like my Heritage, too. A lot. But that's not the gun you asked about here. (However, I think it would be way easier for an 8-year old to handle.)

AVTOMAT writes:

If you're thinking about actually carrying it...

Click to expand...

He's not. His intended purpose is in his post.

True, the frames crack after thousands of rounds, typically at the magazine well. This does not impact safety or function. What else is typical is that, when such cracked guns are returned to Phoenix under warranty, they are simply replaced with new guns.

Click to expand...

^This.
The "cracked frame" is actually the top of the mag well and is a cosmetic flaw. As mentioned, Phoenix will replace the frame if you send it in.

I love mine for what it is,,,, a cheap, range toy or to introduce someone into the shooting sports. If you change your recoil springs every 600-800 rounds, you will find it is also quite reliable. Recoil springs are inexpensive and you can get them from Phoenix for about $2 each (last time I bought 10, it may be more now).

Disable the funky mag safety. It's easy and costs nothing (see You Tube video). It is fairly accurate out to 30' or so. It is reliable with good recoil springs. It feels good in the hand, looks like a real gun and is a fun, range toy. Best $120 I ever spent. I even bought extra mags so I have 10 mags at 10 rounds each so I can 'warm up" at the range with 100 rounds of .22LR before I bring out the big boys. It's funny but if you poll people who actually own one, you get a very high satisfaction rating. Of course, like any gun, you still get those who got lemons but the factory CS is second to none.

I've had some experience with the .25ACP version. Complete and utter junk, to put it very mildly. The words I'd like to use wouldn't be high road, so I'll leave it at that.

There are other modestly priced plinkers these days, so I'd look at other options.

edknn said:

Any one had any experience with the Phoenix Arms HP22A? I never thought I'd look at a so called Saturday night special, but they get great reviews and are on;y $129.00. They have a few too many funky safeties, but there are easy ways to eliminate them. I would usually never eliminate a safety, but if you see them on You tube, the one with the magazine is especially unneeded and a PITA. Reviews show them very reliable right out of the box. They just look fun, and maybe a good way to get my granddaughter into shooting. We practice with BB guns now. She is 8 and has been brought up to respect guns and not touch unless she asks and we let her. I thought about the Heritage Rough Rider, but think the Phoenix would be easier for her to operate.

Click to expand...

A lot of the so called "Saturday Night Special" pistols are made of that Zamak (pot metal) and will crack easily. Does this mean that a Walther P22 is a Saturday Night Special?

I would get a Ruger SR22 pistol, they cost a bit more but are insanely reliable and come with Ruger's fix it forever understanding.

I had a Phoenix and it was a good little shooter. I also have a Ruger SR22 and would not hesitate to spend the extra money again for the SR22 over a Phoenix. It's just a better, more reliable firearm.

I had a Phoenix but both the frame and magazine release failed. It was very reliable with good ammunition for several thousand rounds but the frame failure is not just cosmetic when it can extend all the way down to the base of the magazine well.

Mine was a turkey,,,

Mine was a turkey,,,
And their famous warranty didn't fix it.

I would probably sell the barrel and mag cheap to whoever might want them.

Aarond

.

I've been happy with the one I bought back in '06. Don't know the round count, probably 6-8 bricks worth of the cheap HV stuff (Federal 550 packs, Remington 525 packs, etc). It's been about as reliable as any .22 autoloader, and they're surprisingly accurate.

I got rid of the mag disconnect and the slide mounted safety. The former I won't tolerate on any gun, and the slide mounted safety had a habit of engaging while shooting.

The "range kit" is a worthwhile $35 investment; the longer barrel is nice, and the extended mag baseplate really makes it feel more like a mid size gun.

I'd say go for it. You may find you really love it, and even if you do have a troublesome one, there are worse ways to blow $130.

I honestly like the design of the little critter well enough that I will probably duplicate it with a 416 stainless slide and 7075-T6 frame so I have one that'll last forever.

For a little more money you can get a Beretta Bobcat. It is not made of Zamak. Neither should use hi speed ammo.

^^ He probably already bought it, or something else (like the Heritage.)