New G22! :) and now I’m sick to my stomach… :(

[DerbyDale]

I just bought a new Walther G22 today (impulse buy), took it to the range and had a blast. All was right with the world…

Until I get home and I was getting ready to clean it. I looked at the instructions on the take apart, and looked on the web at some of the photo guides… Now I’m sick to my stomach…. All I want to do is clean my new gun, but it appears to do so almost requires a gunsmith and a few days off work locked in the basement.

I know some firearms are not meant to be taken apart for regular cleaning like the Henry Golden Boy for one... What is recommended/required for cleaning the G22???

I’m scared I need to take it back to the gun shop and loose my shirt just to get rid of it.

 

[nathan]

I know how you feel. Its a German design and its complicated alright but actually after I ve done mine , its as simple. Theres two pins that you have to punch out . Read the instructions. Take your time and be patient. Once out, be careful to remember each piece to put back. Then the main block you have to punch some more pins. Make sure you dont lose those small tiny springs.

 

[Eightball]

Could just use a boresnake for a while before you actually get up the nerve to pop the thing apart.

 

[jpwilly]

This is exactly why they make aerosol cleaners and oils. Carbon cleaner then re oil. Works very well. I wouldn't disassemble until you start having problems with it.

 

[Owen]

cleaning usually comes before the first trip to the range ;-) The "oil" on most new guns is usually anti-corrosion preservative, not a lubricant.

On the bore, I wouldn't worry about cleaning it until you start to see a degradation in accuracy. .22s are cool that way.

I haven't actually taken a G22 apart, but whenever I'm fiddling with an unfamiliar gun, I get a big clear plastic bag, and work inside of that to catch errant springs and pins.

GL

 

[jakeswensonmt]

whenever I'm fiddling with an unfamiliar gun, I get a big clear plastic bag, and work inside of that to catch errant springs and pins.

Damn that's a good idea. Wish I had known that trick when I was a kid taking apart carburetors.

 

[BsChoy]

A glock doesn't need to be stripped that far for maintenance on a regular basis. Field strip it and be happy once every year or two is all you need to break it down that far to clean the internals

 

[mgregg85]

A glock doesn't need to be stripped that far for maintenance on a regular basis. Field strip it and be happy once every year or two is all you need to break it down that far to clean the internals

Yeah but this is a walther g22, not a block.

 

[bond007]

Walther G22 is not fun to take apart. I shoot mine very regularly and have taken to cleaning out the action and barrel after each trip and doing a full detail only once a year. No drop in accuracy or reliability yet.

 

[DerbyDale]

owen wrote: cleaning usually comes before the first trip to the range ;-) The "oil" on most new guns is usually anti-corrosion preservative, not a lubricant.

Yeah, I normally do take them home and get all the factory gunk out first. This is the first time I have ever went from the shop to the range with a new gun. The stop at the shop was a spur of the moment thing on the way to the range, and the purchase of the G22 was an impulse buy. While at the range I just couldn't resist trying it out. I put around 150-200 rounds down range and decided this is one of the funnest little 22s I have ever shot.

So far all I have done is run a bore snake though it a few times. This has to be the most complicated/difficult breakdown on a firearm I have ever seen. I'm going to hang on it it for a while and see how it goes. I normally go shooting every weekend, sometimes twice a week, and the thought of having to go through this each time is not a pleasant feeling. :banghead:

jpwilly wrote: This is exactly why they make aerosol cleaners and oils. Carbon cleaner then re oil. Works very well. I wouldn't disassemble until you start having problems with it.

I'm a little old school and have just now started using a bore snake. I have never even tried aerosol cleaners. What would you recommend I try, and how do you properly use it? Where does all the gunk it cleans go? Sorry for the green horn questions, I just don't have any experience with this stuff...

 

[Frog48]

You'll have to get acquainted with it eventually... So I'd recommend that you just bite the bullet, and do it sooner rather than later.

 

[Eightball]

While you're in the process of undoing your latest toy, keep us posted, at the very least.

 

[DerbyDale]

Well I just bit the proverbial bullet...

Total time was 1hr 30min.

I used the Walther G22 disassembly pix and guide which was a big help.


The tear down was obviously very easy, the hardest part was getting it back together. The things that gave me the most trouble was getting the two springs & rods back in the bolt mechanism, then getting all that back in the upper breach. You almost need a 3rd or 4th hand to do it... Next I had to fight to get that tiny spring back in place under the last shot hold open mechanism.

I'm glad I took it apart because it was beyond dirty. I'm not looking forward in doing this every weekend... I need to find some shortcuts...