Opinions of the Walther P22

Status
Not open for further replies.
Kiln said:
I doubt that many cracked slides were from anything but normal use because there are pages of them. Personally I haven't had that problem yet and have several thousand rounds through mine. My biggest complaint is that mine is pretty picky about what it feeds.

From what I understand there have been quite a few improvements made to them since the earlier models so hopefully newer guns will have a longer lifespan.

I never intended to call the P22 junk as they're alright guns, I just think that they're a bit overpriced for what they are and if I had it to do over again I'd spend the same amount of money on a gun that is less prone to failures.

I wish you luck and encourage you to keep enjoying it, I've heard that a new slide is only around $50 so even if it does break after several thousand rounds it isn't that expensive to get one running again. I don't really baby mine because of this.
Click to expand...
I bought it used, so the price thing is a non issue.

The slide thing could be anything, there are tons of different reasons for cracked slides.

I feel the first one I had WAS junk...this one doesn't suck so far.

I take care of my weapons and treat them like old friends. I feel confident in the P22. Silencer would be fun.

Yes, the safety is stupid.
 
All I'm saying is that if I'm buying a .22 pistol for $300 it had better be made of a durable metal. I've got tons of cheap zink guns but none of them ran me three bills like the P22 did. In my case I just didn't know any better at the time.
Click to expand...

Pretty much how I feel about zinc and why I bought a Ruger SR22, similar gun, not ammo picky at all as far as function, and aluminum slide. I also have a Mk 2.
 
MCgunner said:
Pretty much how I feel about zinc and why I bought a Ruger SR22, similar gun, not ammo picky at all as far as function, and aluminum slide. I also have a Mk 2.
Click to expand...
You're not going to break zinc, unless you're purposefully trying to. This same discussion is on another thread. I could care less that it isn't predominantly steel, and for the umpteenth time I bought it used for $240 with 3 mags, so MSRP was not a factor. I don't like Rugers or the Buckmark. I've shot Rugers, owned a Buckmark, not what I wanted.

To lay this zinc vs steel thing to rest: I have full size steel pistols. I have a pot metal carbine. I run the zinc gun MUCH harder, and it runs and runs well. End of lesson.
 
meanmrmustard said:
You're not going to break zinc, unless you're purposefully trying to. This same discussion is on another thread. I could care less that it isn't predominantly steel, and for the umpteenth time I bought it used for $240 with 3 mags, so MSRP was not a factor. I don't like Rugers or the Buckmark. I've shot Rugers, owned a Buckmark, not what I wanted.

To lay this zinc vs steel thing to rest: I have full size steel pistols. I have a pot metal carbine. I run the zinc gun MUCH harder, and it runs and runs well. End of lesson.
Click to expand...
Yeah I have a .22lr rifle with zinc parts that works fine and when I run a google search I don't get 50 pictures of one broken in half either. The same can't be said for the P22.

You can continue to live in fantasy land if you want but be aware that at some point you are more than likely going to have to replace the slide on your P22, as am I. The fact that you think all of the pictures resulted from anything other than normal use just shows that you won't accept reality. My P22 gets shot alot but I'm not under the impression that it is going to last forever as you seem to be. Zinc is prone to cracking because it is a brittle metal that slams back and forth every time it is fired it has nothing to do with its ability to withstand the pressures of the .22lr cartridge.
 
I would definitely pass on the "pot-metal" Walther p22 and look into the new Ruger sr22. I've seen them for $299 brand new and all the reviews I've read compare the two in some way and everyone says the Ruger is hands down the better functioning pistol. Made with better metals as well and IMO its the better looking one. Ill be picking one up for my girlfriend here in a few weeks. The Ruger (again, from what I've read) isn't nearly as ammo picky as the Walther. Just a heads up.
 
I rented one at the range and wasn't too impressed with its accuracy or trigger. Not that I'm not the best shot but I think I got better groups with my 9mm. It could've been the crappy bulk ammo but I don't really see how it could make that much difference at 7yds.
 
sawdeanz said:
I rented one at the range and wasn't too impressed with its accuracy or trigger. Not that I'm not the best shot but I think I got better groups with my 9mm. It could've been the crappy bulk ammo but I don't really see how it could make that much difference at 7yds.
Click to expand...
It's a bit heavy, but it's smooth. I have a steel swinger I welded myself that I shoot at, plate painted white or yellow so I can see my shots. I'm getting head sized groups at 20 yards. Plate is a 12 inch circle.
 
My small wife with her skinny arms and short fingers has a much easier time shooting the suppressed P-22 than a Ruger MKII or a Buckmark simply due to the P-22's lighter weight and shorter trigger pull. There is just no substitute for people with small hands.

The safety is backwards, the front sight prone to flying off and it fouls quickly with a silencer attached so that the slide needs a little push when loading a mag with ten rounds. But the wife wants what the wife wants. :)

Ranb
 
For $300 I don't want my slide made of zinc. A local sports shop - Mahoney's - advertised a basic model of the Ruger 22/45 on sale for $269. With deals like that out there, as well as the fact that the P22's controls and trigger system have no analog in the P99, therefore taking it out of play as a practice or "understudy" counterpart to the larger gun, it makes no sense to me.

(You - the OP - asked for an opinion, and I gave it.)
 
Last edited:
It is getting sold today. I broke my washing machine last night when I got my turkey vest wrapped in the turbine thingy. Need the money.

Good news is, I put several hundred rounds through it, and found a gent wanting it for $300. Looks like I'll be getting the Cadet conversion for one of my CZs.

Other than I HAVE to sell it, I wouldn't for no reason, nor do I want to. This "reality" you guys are saying I'm avoiding is that if you'd read the stories behind some of the pictures you're seeing, a lot of those pistols have seen 5000+ rounds or better before a crack ensues. When that happened, owners replaced with a $50 COMPLETE slide and kept on shooting.

Yes, other than the zinc part, you better believe I prefer it to other .22 pistols. Guess this thread is sorta defunct now that she's going down the road. Thanks for your input regarding a super little pistol. :)
 
Kiln said:
Yeah I have a .22lr rifle with zinc parts that works fine and when I run a google search I don't get 50 pictures of one broken in half either. The same can't be said for the P22.
Click to expand...

The reality is that on the internet you will find more people complaining about things that people praising the same things. If I were to make my buying decisions based on the negatives found on the net, I'd never buy anything, as you can always find negative reviews of just about anything you can think of.

I can do a search on the internet for broken Glocks, cracked P99 frames, exploded Colt and Smith cylinders, everything. The P22 is no exception.

I have a P22 with about 1500+ rounds through it, I also have a P99. My original P99 (first gen) cracked the frame while shooting standard American Eagle 115gr. factory ammo. Does that make the P99 a junk gun? Not even remotely. Like anything made, there's always the possibility of getting a defective one, but it doesn't mean that's representative of the product in general.

For what it's worth, I really like the little pistol, and for my wife, it's the only gun she feels comfortable shooting.
 
I bought the wife one, she loves it. It has 1500+ rounds through it. It shoots great as long as you keep Federal and Winchester ammo far away from it. Her's really loves CCI Blazers and Mini-Mags.
 
I agree that if I listened to only negatives, nothing would get bought. I do, however, like a good product review, especially those with video.

The pistol, sadly, is gone as of this morning. Bought it for $240, put 400 rounds through it it 3 days, sold it for $300. I will buy another soon. :evil:
 
My thing is that 5k rounds through a .22lr pistol that I own is done in a period of 3 months or less. If you shoot frequently, the P22 has proven to be a poor choice for a range gun.

Why the hell would anyone want to buy a gun for $300 that requires a $50 slide every 5k rounds when an aluminum/steel gun can be had for the same price that has a known history of being durable and reliable at muuuch higher round counts. Even the Jennings J22 has had documented cases of going to 10k rounds before slide failure and it costs 1/3 of the price a P22 does.

Also, most other firearms failures aren't as easy to find via a quick Google image search as failures of the P22 are.
 
I couldn't get anything I wanted for $240, so most of you post is subjective. But, that's what this thread was for; opinions. All are entitled here. But, I must say, I decided to do some looking as well, and there are just as many instances of P22s going beyond experienced service life beyond five or six thousand rounds. I shoot a lot, but I have MANY other guns, so I think me putting that many through a P22 is extreme. As I said, especially lightly used, I will most likely get another.
 
But, I must say, I decided to do some looking as well, and there are just as many instances of P22s going beyond experienced service life beyond five or six thousand rounds.
Click to expand...

Not to sound snobbish, but ALL pistols should have a service life beyond 6000 rounds. I've fired over 6000 rounds though my newest Ruger Mark III in less than one year. The pistol is, for all practical purposes, still brand new. I fully expect to wear out long before the pistol does.

I just don't expect the same out of a zamak/potmetal pistol.
 
Fishbed77 said:
Not to sound snobbish, but ALL pistols should have a service life beyond 6000 rounds. I've fired over 6000 rounds though my newest Ruger Mark III in less than one year. The pistol is, for all practical purposes, still brand new. I fully expect to wear out long before the pistol does.

I just don't expect the same out of a zamak/potmetal pistol.
Click to expand...
Experienced service life, not expected.

And you're not snobbish, sir, as I did indeed ask for opinions.
 
Kiln said:
Also, most other firearms failures aren't as easy to find via a quick Google image search as failures of the P22 are.
Click to expand...
I hate to hijack someone's thread but I can't help myself.

I just did Google searches for "broken Glock", "broken P22" , "broken P99", "broken 1911", and here is the breakdown:

1911: 41,800,000 results & 4,390,000 images
Glock: 3,730,000 results & 258,000 images
P22: 414,000 results & 37,700 images
P99: 148,000 results & 21,700 images

You can just about insert any name you want, and you'll get many more results than the P22. And if the results above were to be believed, it would appear that the unbreakable 1911 are not so bullet-proof after all.
 
Dudemeister said:
I hate to hijack someone's thread but I can't help myself.

I just did Google searches for "broken Glock", "broken P22" , "broken P99", "broken 1911", and here is the breakdown:

1911: 41,800,000 results & 4,390,000 images
Glock: 3,730,000 results & 258,000 images
P22: 414,000 results & 37,700 images
P99: 148,000 results & 21,700 images

You can just about insert any name you want, and you'll get many more results than the P22. And if the results above were to be believed, it would appear that the unbreakable 1911 are not so bullet-proof after all.
Click to expand...
First I'll respond directly to your post by saying that the amount of search results makes absolutely zero difference because it can return any picture posted of a Glock, 1911, P22, or P99 and add it to the results. It doesn't have to be broken it just has to have the model of the gun tagged in the photo's name and it will be added to the results.

I searched specifically for slide cracks and the P22 has more than enough in the first three pages to convince me that they do frequently have this issue. Alot of them have links to forums with pissed off posters because their $300 gun didn't last 10k rounds which frankly for a .22lr pistol is not a good sign for the quality of the gun.

Find me a picture of a Buckmark or a MK3 that has had a slide physically break in half and I'll admit that the P22 is a fair deal for the price. Until that time I'll continue to direct people towards a gun in the same price range that is known for quality performance and durability. You can defend it any way you like but anyone who actually knows anything about guns knows that the P22 is a joke as far as firearms go.
 
^ You'd do better to suggest a service style pistol in .22, as I remember on several posts stating openly I do not care for the Buckmark or Mark IIIs. I've seen several Buckmarks with hanging slides, and I do not like Mark. III disassembly. I don't see the P22 as a joke, albeit they're expensive new, but for every instance you're finding folks with broken slides, there are other threads with shooters who've not had it happen. I type in Buckmark, and I'm obviously not the only one who has seen or experienced issues with locked slides and feeding. Good luck with Brownings customer service over S&Ws too. Heard MANY a horror story about guns being gone for months. Is the SR22 better? Probably. M&P22? Sure. If the zamak thing is all this thread was going to generate, pretty weak. Issues like finicky ammo, crappy mags, difficult reassembly have come up sparingly or nonexistent., tells me that the P22 isn't that funny of a joke.
 
Whoa, this debate is still going on after all. :)

Yeah the google results mean nothing since there are probably 100x more 1911's and Glocks sold than P22's.

Statistical likelihoods and the actual gun you purchase may not coincide, and that can be a good thing (if a gun like the P22 or Kel-Tec is known for certain problems, but the one you get runs flawlessly) ....or it can be a bad thing (if a gun like a Glock which is known for reliability and durability, and you get a lemon). No matter what you buy it is a gamble. Some bets are just safer than others. It's all calculated risk. I think it just irks some people when others take these higher-risk guns, and then champion them as slam dunk purchases because theirs is good. It's not that they are wrong, because the reviews online should be fair and balanced, but it just irks some people. It only irks me if someone gives a total newbie bad advice. If you said the P22 was a great gun for self defense and will last not only your lifetime, but your children's lifetime, THAT would upset me. It sounds like Mr. Mustard understands the risks associated with a P22, accepted them, and enjoyed his P22 until unfortunately it had to be sold.

Most of my purchases are pretty safe but I have taken a couple calculated risks such as on the Beretta 21A Bobcat in 22LR. I read a lot of negative reviews about its reliability, (people saying 1 or 2 jams per mag) but found a good deal on one so I bought it. It has run nearly flawless, but I am not under any misconceptions that it is more than what it is, and am not championing its reliability or durability. It is a fun little gun though, as I feel the P22 is, so as long as you are aware of the risks, enjoy it.
 
P22 owner checking in. I have the 5" "target" model. I can remove the barrel extension and "compensator"-looking end piece and have the standard 3.42" version.

A little over 2,000 rounds in, and no problems. And I mean NO problems. It eats whatever I feed it, time after time after time. It's a fun little shooter that's brought hours of good, clean family fun for young and old alike.

However, I subscribe to thenotion that where there's smoke, there's fire. If I had it to do over again, I'd probably not get the P22. I'll run it, and if it breaks, and I can find an economical replacement slide, then I'll go that route and keep on truckin'.

If not, then I'll get something else.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

socalbeachbum
  • Locked
Walther P22 Rail question
Replies
1
Views
327
herrwalther
H
P
  • Locked
Walther P22
Replies
18
Views
1K
mfree
M
K
  • Locked
Opinions on Walther P22
2
Replies
35
Views
3K
ToBNamedl8r
T
B
  • Locked
Walther P22 opinions
2
Replies
30
Views
1K
The Lone Haranguer
T
S
  • Locked
Walther P22
2
Replies
35
Views
2K
hq
hq
Back
Top