P22 range report

[fish2xs]

Driven by the desire for an economical handgun to shoot during the
financial doldrums between receiving Christmas bills in the mail and
getting my tax return, I started looking into the limited selection of
22's that big brother (MA) says it's OK for me to buy.

A few days ago I picked up a P22 from my local shop. They didn't
have a model with both 3.5" and 5" barrels in stock so I had to wait
a few days. Finally got it last thursday and took a few hours on friday
to shoot it as I've had a busy weekend with little spare time. I also
picked up some Winchester High Velocity rounds to go with it. Given
my tight schedule, I was only able to shoot about 150 rounds. While
hardly a sufficient amount of time for a true test of durability, I do have
some impressions, so FWIW, here's my report:

It still feels great in my hand. It makes me think I should have gotten
the P99 instead of my 226. But I can dismiss these thoughts without
too much effort. It started out being very inaccurate, but then I realized
it was still cold out. While it was warmer than recent weeks, it was only
February and I was shivering a bit. So it was me that was being inaccurate,
not the P22. Once I started concentrating, I was hitting 8-9-10 rings pretty
consistently. I only had time to shoot the 3.5" barrel. I'll have to update this
info when I try the 5".

The ammo all fed and fired well except for one round. One thing I did notice
was that spent brass had about a 1 in 10 chance of hitting me in the face.
I'll have to wear a baseball hat with this one. After my short trip to the
firing line I decided to clean up. I was surprised that the P22 was more
complicated than expected. Taking the slide off and putting it back on
was somewhat involved. I only have my 226 to compare this to, but
the P22 seems to be way more effort to take down and reassemble than I
expected. I am not looking forward to searching for the plastic cylinder that is
needed to align the spring during reassembly. Every reassembly requires
it and it falls away once you put it together. Naturally it ended up landing in a
difficult place to find.

Executive summary:Yea, the honeymoon is far from over - but knowing this,
I like it alot. It is accurate and fun to shoot. I will just have to keep my patience
when it comes to cleanup time.

 

[TheOtherOne]

Taking the slide off and putting it back on was somewhat involved.

I agree. It's not hard getting it off, but putting it back on is a major job. You have to try and line everything up while keeping the spring compressed. It usually takes me quite a few tries to get it right.

 

[fish2xs]

first glitch...

Changed from the 3.5" to 5" barrel last night - no problem. take down is
getting easier with practice. Went to remove the extension that sits in front
of the slide (called a stabilizer) and one of the screws stripped where the
allen wrench inserts. I didn't clamp down very hard when installing it.
Now we'll have to see how well the repair/warranty side of things goes.

 

[WhoKnowsWho]

and one of the screws stripped where the
allen wrench inserts.

That sucks. At least you have the shorter barrel to use while hopefully S&W/Walther sends you a new screw. I never used the supplied allen wrench, I have some other better ones that fit better, have to use them for something!

 

[Johnpl]

My P-22 seems to have VERY light rifling...lands and grooves barely noticeable, compared to my other .22's. Walther USA says it is normal. Is yours the same?

Good luck with your problem. I hear great things about their service.

 

[fish2xs]

>> Walther USA says it is normal. Is yours the same?

I didn't notice, but I wasn't really looking....

I'll check and get back. May be a couple days though. This week
is very busy for me.


-p

 

[crewchief]

If you don't have one already why don't you get a screw extractor set and remove the old allen for now and order a new one from the manufacture. It would sure beat out any warrenty work and the time it would take to get your gun back. BTW Sears has decent extractor sets for not that much, at least cheaper then the postage on your pistol one way.

 

[Kodiak AK]

I am not looking forward to searching for the plastic cylinder that is needed to align the spring during reassembly.
What are you talking about?

 

[jamz]

^ What he said.

I've never seen any plastic line-it-up doohickey.

I just put the guide rod through the spring, push it through the hole in the slide, push an inch or so through it, grab it ( have to have your hands oil-free for this ), and, holding onto the rod from the outside of the slide, at the front, place the slide on until the barrel comes through the hole in the slide, then let go of the guide rod, which springs into place, more or less, with a little wiggling. Takes about 5 seconds. Or 50 seconds if you have oily hands.

I thought takedown was pretty easy. Hammer back, clip down, slide back, and take off slide, spring and rod. Then you can clean that stuff, and clean the bore while it's still attached to the frame.

I shot mine just today... I should clean it. Or maybe play some video games instead.

-James
Wanna ride bikes?

 

[Night Guy]

My P22 came with a 2" plastic rod to help line up the guide rod and spring. I place it in the end of the slide, put the guide rod in place on the frame and slide everything in. Simple stuff. Too bad I didn't find the little thing until after breaking it down a couple times and struggling for 15-30 minutes at a time trying to put the gun back together. Look in the zip lock bag of parts, you'll find it.

 

[clubsoda22]

I was surprised that the P22 was more complicated than expected. Taking the slide off and putting it back on was somewhat involved.

Try stripping and assembling a ruger mk2. talk about complicated.

 

[Kodiak AK]

Yea, club soda is right . I never want to break down a MKII again .



So that is what that little plastic rod is for . I was wondering . I ended up getting one of these today from a friend . P22, 2 mags , box , papers , a fobus padle holster , and a zip soft case for $120 . Did I get a good deal?

 

[Night Guy]

Yup. That's a great deal. You had better run before he realizes that you stole it.

From everything I've read and my own personal experiences, you'll have the best success with the pistol if it's an AC (2002) date code or newer and both mags have an A suffix in the serial number.

Enjoy it and feed it high velocity ammo.

 

[Kodiak AK]

Nah He knows I didn't steal it . He owed me a few bucks and we been swaping guns back and forth for the last 7 years or so . He will get the killer deal next time .

Bot my mags have an A , but where is the date code on the pistol? Is it on the chamber? That says AD so I would guess it might be a 03. I hav actualy shot this pistol before so I know it doesn't have any issues. Is it just me , or when the cap ban sunsets they can fit a few more rounds in the mags with new springs and followers?

 

[axeman_g]

right on Kodiak

I was looking at the monstrous follower in my p22 mags the other day and dreaming of 13-15 round capacity. Maybe some hi velocity hps from Aguilla???

I think that would just add some serious fun to an already blast of a gun to shoot.

 

[fish2xs]

>> My P-22 seems to have VERY light rifling...lands and grooves barely
>> noticeable, compared to my other .22's. Walther USA says it is normal.
>> Is yours the same?

Johnpl, I looked at my p22 and sig226 rifling and did not see a
significant difference between the two. If the p22's was lighter
is was only barely so.