Bought my first "Cute" gun

[LightningLink]

I've had my eye on these Walther P22 pistols for a while now. I was always just on the verge of getting one, but would keep waiting. I have a Ruger Mark II for more serious target shooting, but I was looking for something that would be a "fun" plinker.

While browsing around the gunshow this weekend, I noticed a
few tables with these new "Slate" (blue/gray) framed P22s. I think for the first time ever I thought, "Now that's a cute gun." But, it was priced about the same as regular P22s, maybe a little less than some of the 5" barrel models and so I kept looking.

I eventually went back to the table that had the lowest marked price ($369) to fondle it some more. That's when the dealer saw my interest and started telling me about it: "Limited run ... blah blah ... worth something some day ... blah blah ... comes with both 3.4" and 5" barrels ... blah blah". Both barrels? And it's marked lower than the black P22 with only the 5" barrel? Hmm, very interesting. He whips out his calculator, taps some buttons and says he'll let me have it for $339. I had no idea how much the second barrel costs, but simple cost comparison tells me this is a decent deal. Not stellar, but good enough to close it. It wasn't until I got home when I saw that the 5" barrel upgrade alone can cost $80 to $90.

It's all in all identical to the black P22. Likewise it comes with one -A mag with pinky rest and one non-A mag with no pinky rest. Oddly though, the two mags appear identical except for the part number and base-plate. I've read about some notch or slot in the top-back of the new mags but both of these have that mod. Perhaps the retrofitted all the older non-A mags? Anyway, here she is ... my first "Cute Gun"

So was it a good deal?
Thanks,
LL

 

[Min]

I think those P22's with colored frames are better looking than the black ones.

I agree with you about the cuteness factor. I think you did well on the price, but I wouldn't worry about things like that. If you are like me, the joy that comes from bringing a new gun home from a gunshow is what counts.

Have fun!

 

[Angelo]

Nice little .22 you got there! Good luck with it and enjoy!

Angelo

 

[Standing Wolf]

It's definitely cute.

The only gun I've ever bought because it was irresistibly cute was my Walther PPK, which turned out to be quite a good shooter.

Cute normally doesn't carry much weight with me, but once in awhile...

 

[Sisco]

I've been eyeing one of those at the gunshop. Can't wait for your range report!

 

[zahc]

<cutesy voice> AWWWWWW </end cutesy voice>


I want one! NOW!

 

[Combat-wombat]

I know we're all gun nuts here, but it just seems a little strange to call a gun "cute". However, if I had to call a gun "cute" it'd probably be a Glock 26.

 

[bpisler]

My one and only "cute" gun was a old nickle plated Smith 38/44 with fake pearl grips.

 

[CWL]

All my guns look pretty macho, except for my Kel-Tec P32.

That's purdy cute.

 

[firestar]

My Kel-Tec P-32 is "cute" but my Walther PP .32 is pretty.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

I know we're all gun nuts here, but it just seems a little strange to call a gun "cute". However, if I had to call a gun "cute" it'd probably be a Glock 26.

Thank you, I agree. I've even called mine cute. So has my wife and a few friends. Guess they're used to seeing more "macho" guns. My PT-22 has a real cuteness factor. Aside from being a .22, that tip-up barrel always gets a "cute" from somebody.

 

[Tamara]

There's no real word to describe either the Walther P22 or the Ruger Bearcat except "cute", actually.

(...and I like my cute Bearcat, too. It looks like one of those cap guns we had as kids, except it actually shoots. )

 

[cool45auto]

I've been wanting one for a while also. I would have to agree it and my P32 are "cute". So much so my fiance hasn't let go of my P32 since our last range session!

 

[cadfael]

I hate to admit it, but I think that my PM9 is aesthetically pleasing.

Adam

 

[cratz2]

Well, I don't own a Walther and I don't really own a decent 22 pistol (Marvel-equipped 1911 aside) so I might just have to buy one of those. My local dealer has one of those that comes with two barrels as well but I think it's either green or black.

Cute gun.

 

[LightningLink]

I got out this weekend to give the new P22 a test drive. As mentioned in my first post, it came with both one -A and one non-A magazine although I could not tell the difference except for the part number and the pinky rest.

I used 4 different types of .22 ammo:
* Federal bulk-pack.
* Winchester Super-X.
* Remington bulk-pack.
* Old Remington lead-bullet that is probably 20-30 years old.

Firing somewhere between 200-300 rounds, all ammo types fed, fired and ejected flawlessly with both magazines. Most rounds were fired with the 5" barrel as I only put a couple magazines through the 3.4" barrel. The old Remington stuff had a tendency to spit burning powder, but it did that in my Ruger Mk II as well.

Shooting from a bench-rest at 10 yards, I was able to put 10 rounds in a 2.25" group. Not bad at all compared to the 1.25" group I got from my Ruger Mk II. Although the Ruger is definitely more accurate and has a much better trigger, the P22 isn't bad at all for a "plinker" type pistol. I'll be interested to hear if anyone finds that disabling the magazine safety improves the trigger pull like it does on some other semi-autos.

If there's anything I don't like it's this:
1) Trigger will need to break in some more to be smoother. It's not horrible, but not great either, just okay.
2) I need to watch those hex-screws that hold the compensator on. They DO work loose after a while.

Over all it's a great little pistol! Aside from the two things I didn't like, I had a blast shooting it.

LL

 

[doublebarrel]

Now that was first baby! The P22 was my very first handgun, actually very first firearm at all. I fell in love with the look, couldn't stop fondling her, don't konw why

But it shoots like crap, that is to be nice. I had jams with all Wally World cheap 550/500 round bulk packs (in comparison, my currenty 22s, Ruger 22/45 and 10/22, eat those cheap ammo without a hiccup). The mag pops out on its own during firing, the barrel nut came loose after a while(I had the short 3.4" version), and one of the roll pins near the safety kept creeping out under recoil.

So, had to let her go...

 

[Darrin]

LightningLink,

That thing is crap and you will not want to be seen with it in person. You should have gotten the black one.

Tell you what, since we're all friends here, I'll trade you my black P22 for your's. That way you won't be made fun of in public with a "cute" gun.


Just kidding with ya. I love my P22, (short barrel only). Hopefully, you won't have to ship yours off to be "worked on." Periodically with mine, the slide will get caught on the hammer. This prevents the next shell to load completely. Also, the slide will catch when dropping the slide on a fresh mag. A little tap on the slide sets it in place as well as pulling the hammer down just a bit further.

I've read others here who praised his/her P22s after having "Walther America" tweak 'em a bit. I emailed Walther America last night for instructions on sending mine to be worked on.

Congrats on the score! You'll love it! (But, if you don't love it, can I have it? )

 

[Shane]

My 2 guns in which I classify as "cute" our an NAA Mini revolver, and a Beretta Cheetah.


I'd eventually also like to add a Sig Sauer P232 and a Beretta Jetfire into my "cute" collection.

 

[Tacblack]

They are "cute" looks like a fun plinker.

Let us know how it runs. Heard the early models had some extracting problems. Thanks

 

[David S]

i have been thru two of them, the first i got jammed so much it was unshootable. i sent it to walther america, and they sent me a new gun. this second one has yet to jam, its a keepier.............this is a good gun to teach people with because its set up like larger cal guns, its easy to go from the P22 to say the p99........the set up is similar.

 

[Bullet Bob]

Cute Gun

I bought a New Model Ruger Bearcat just because it was so darn cute - I don't even care for single actions very much!

 

[modifiedbrowning]

I want a P99 9mm in the Grey color. Pretty please?

 

[arinvolvo]

This was my first cute gun, and I happen to love it:

 

[10-Ring]

Very cute indeed