Gonna buy my first handgun (trying to decide between P22 and Ruger 22/45 etc)

[searcher451]

For almost a century, Walther has made some of the highest quality handguns that the world has even seen. Many of them are classics to this day, from the P38 to the P5 to the P88 to the PPK.

But please note that the P22 is not -- repeat, NOT -- among the Walther classics. In many cases, it's not even servicable. You need to consider only two words: pot metal.

 

[woad_yurt]

Not a P22!!!

 

[Geneseo1911]

The MkIII 22/45 isn't as bad to take apart as everyone says

Just look at the directions. If you think a MkIII is hard, try taking apart an Ithaca 37 shotgun.

The Ruger is a wonderful little gun, very accurate & fun, but the P22 is a little bit closer to a "real" gun by way of controls & shape. If you're buying a .22 to learn before getting a larger caliber, it might be a better way to go.

 

[rhoggman]

I own both

I bought my girlfriend a pink camo Walther P22 which is fun to shoot. I paid just under $400 for it. All the talk about it being ammo sensitive are accurate. I cannot count all the FTF's & FTE's I have had with it. Also more than one round has been lodged in the chamber. This is a real pain in the you know what. The only ammo I let her put in it now is CCI Stingers, because every other type of ammo I have used causes some type of failure/ mag.

I wanted a semi-auto .22 pistol for myself, but wanted something a little more accurate. I ran across an older 22/45 made in the 1990's that had a target barrel for $250. This handgun had been well taken care of and appeared new, so I bought it instead of a new one. I have never had a failure of any type with this weapon, and it is much more accurate. Also if you want to upgrade the barrel/ action and make it a tree rat suppressor Tactical Solutions sells some nice upgrades. You can also mount a scope on a 22/45 because it has a bolt, not a slide.

I would say that the 22/45 is hands down the better option for accuracy, usability, and durability. The P22 is lighter, smaller, and still fun but...... FOR THE BETTER WEAPON AT A CHEAPER PRICE (AND MORE OPTIONS), GO FOR THE RUGER 22/45.