Plastic 22LR Plinkers - Walther P22 or Beretta U22 Neos?
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BreakerDave
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- Sep 12, 2005
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I've shot the Walther P22 and the Beretta U22 Neos. Both are entry level .22LR pistols. Do not expect higher end performace from either one. If you go to http://www.rimfirecentral.com/ you will find both have their adherents and detractors. Somewhere in the Beretta forum there is a link to a step by step trigger job for the Neos.
FWIW, I thought I'd get a P22 but after firing several, I was unimpressed. I have heard that that they can be finicky regarding ammo choice. With the Neos, I was happy with how it did. I think its safety is in a poor place, but generally speaking, it's pretty good for an entry level .22LR. It even has an integrated rail for those who want to use optics. Additionally, the take down is a breeze when compared the Ruger. I don't think the Neos can be upgraded in the way you can upgrade a Ruger, but then again, it's not designed to be. It's simply an entry level plinker and it performs that role well.
That said, there may be one other thing you could take into your selection process, the cross compatibility of mags. Walther and Browning both make .22LR pistols where the mags from the pistols can be used in their .22LR rifles. (That is a cost saver.) Beretta has been promising for two or three years to release its Neos carbine kit which will allow users to do the same thing, but who knows when we'll see it. Good luck with your selection.
FWIW, I thought I'd get a P22 but after firing several, I was unimpressed. I have heard that that they can be finicky regarding ammo choice. With the Neos, I was happy with how it did. I think its safety is in a poor place, but generally speaking, it's pretty good for an entry level .22LR. It even has an integrated rail for those who want to use optics. Additionally, the take down is a breeze when compared the Ruger. I don't think the Neos can be upgraded in the way you can upgrade a Ruger, but then again, it's not designed to be. It's simply an entry level plinker and it performs that role well.
That said, there may be one other thing you could take into your selection process, the cross compatibility of mags. Walther and Browning both make .22LR pistols where the mags from the pistols can be used in their .22LR rifles. (That is a cost saver.) Beretta has been promising for two or three years to release its Neos carbine kit which will allow users to do the same thing, but who knows when we'll see it. Good luck with your selection.
markinho
Member
If the Neo or the P22 don't blow up your skirt, I would take a look at the Sig Trailside or Mosquito:
If you want polymer, the Sig Mosquito could be a good bet.
If you want polymer, the Sig Mosquito could be a good bet.
richard597
Member
I own both the Walther P22 and Beretta Neos. I enjoy shooting both equally. I have had no problems with either. If forced to choose, I would buy both. Just my .02. Your mileage may vary.
Richard
Richard
Tropical Z
Member
The Neos is vastly superior in materials used and build quality and will shoot inexpensive bulk ammo.The Walther is a toy that may or may not work.
gunfan
Member
Olympic Arms Wolverine! Buy it! You will NOT be disappointed!
Scott
Scott
pauli
Member
there are two reasons to buy a p22, in my opinion:
a: you intend to suppress it. they are VERY popular for this.
b: you intend to use it to introduce new shooters who have small hands.
they have issues with every type of ammo out there that i've tried, other than minimags (which cost more than i'm willing to pay to shoot a p22!). mine runs pretty much 100% with remington, but thunderbolts cause leading and golden bullets get copper flakes everywhere, and the casings are more likely to stick in the chamber. plus, remington seems to be less accurate in my gun. federal is slightly too long and slightly too weak to run reliably for me. winchester is between the two others, but causes leading and is dirty.
to put it all another way: i own a p22, and i'm presently trying to decide what to replace it with (either a trailside or a revolver). i'll keep it around for new shooters, though.
a: you intend to suppress it. they are VERY popular for this.
b: you intend to use it to introduce new shooters who have small hands.
they have issues with every type of ammo out there that i've tried, other than minimags (which cost more than i'm willing to pay to shoot a p22!). mine runs pretty much 100% with remington, but thunderbolts cause leading and golden bullets get copper flakes everywhere, and the casings are more likely to stick in the chamber. plus, remington seems to be less accurate in my gun. federal is slightly too long and slightly too weak to run reliably for me. winchester is between the two others, but causes leading and is dirty.
to put it all another way: i own a p22, and i'm presently trying to decide what to replace it with (either a trailside or a revolver). i'll keep it around for new shooters, though.
CZ-100
Member
I purchased one a couple of years ago for my son, we have over 2,000 rds thru it with NO problems.
Growler
Member
I own both the P22 and the Neos. I have had zero problems with either one, in feeding and reliability. Both are great pistols and are loads of fun to shoot.
I have a Sig Trailside when I play "bullseye." I use my Ruger Super Single 6 when I play "SA cowboy."
As for my Neos, I bought the entry-level and added the red dot for the sole purpose of plink! plink! plink! It hasn't let me down.
As for my Neos, I bought the entry-level and added the red dot for the sole purpose of plink! plink! plink! It hasn't let me down.
Last edited:
wally
Member
Buy the Neos if you want to play with optical sights. A Neos and a Red Dot sight rocks! Mine is reliable with all the cheap ammo -- Federal Champion, Remington Golden Bullet bulk-pak, Remington Thunderbolt, and Winchester Wildcat.
If you want to win matches buy neither.
The P22 is a good size to handle as an analog for a sub-compact defensive gun and like has been said, very good for new shooters with small hands. Only problem I've had with mine is the barrel nut kept working loose until I put blue loc-tite on it. Was reliable with all the above ammo except the most recent brick of Federal Champion doesn't cycle the slide enough to pick up the next rount most of the time. Bricks I bought last year worked fine. Not sure what is going on here.
--wally.
If you want to win matches buy neither.
The P22 is a good size to handle as an analog for a sub-compact defensive gun and like has been said, very good for new shooters with small hands. Only problem I've had with mine is the barrel nut kept working loose until I put blue loc-tite on it. Was reliable with all the above ammo except the most recent brick of Federal Champion doesn't cycle the slide enough to pick up the next rount most of the time. Bricks I bought last year worked fine. Not sure what is going on here.
--wally.
markinho
Member
I just went through the "which .22LR autoloader" process and ended up getting a Ruger MK III.
I wanted something that would be reliable, accurate, comfortable, and relatively inexpensive for mostly range work. I live in the city and don't see using it much outside, maybe just a few times a year. Consequently, it will go mostly from my house to the range in my range bag and not see much holser or backback time, if at all. So far I'm pretty happy with my decision, although my impression of the Browning Buckmark and Sig Trailside is that, anecdotally, they're in the same class as the Ruger.
I don't know much about the Neo, so I won't comment on it.
However, I did handle a P22 and believe that it's really a "Mini-Me" version of the P9X line and not really in the same class as the other, more full-sized .22s just mentioned. I think the P22--even the longer barreled version--is best suited to a lightweight backpack weapon that could easily be transported due to its small size and light weight. If that's your bag (sorry for the second Austin Powers reference), then the P22 is really a standout and has no equal.
But according to my research, the P22 is not a very strong competitor for target work at the range compared to other models. The P22 is not likely to be as accurate and is said to be fussy with ammunition. It does look cool, though, and it could be the best .22LR autoloader for smaller hands.
You will have to decide for yourself, though.
Good luck
I wanted something that would be reliable, accurate, comfortable, and relatively inexpensive for mostly range work. I live in the city and don't see using it much outside, maybe just a few times a year. Consequently, it will go mostly from my house to the range in my range bag and not see much holser or backback time, if at all. So far I'm pretty happy with my decision, although my impression of the Browning Buckmark and Sig Trailside is that, anecdotally, they're in the same class as the Ruger.
I don't know much about the Neo, so I won't comment on it.
However, I did handle a P22 and believe that it's really a "Mini-Me" version of the P9X line and not really in the same class as the other, more full-sized .22s just mentioned. I think the P22--even the longer barreled version--is best suited to a lightweight backpack weapon that could easily be transported due to its small size and light weight. If that's your bag (sorry for the second Austin Powers reference), then the P22 is really a standout and has no equal.
But according to my research, the P22 is not a very strong competitor for target work at the range compared to other models. The P22 is not likely to be as accurate and is said to be fussy with ammunition. It does look cool, though, and it could be the best .22LR autoloader for smaller hands.
You will have to decide for yourself, though.
Good luck
atblis
Member
Guns that I've shot
1x Beretta NEO, flawless and accurate
1x Sig Trailside, flawless and the most accurate (best trigger too)
Many Rugers, flawless and accurate
3x Walther P22s, all consistantly malfunctioned and were inaccurate
In fact (except for my Dad's RG10) the P22 gets my nod as the biggest piece of crap I've ever shot.
Definitely a NEO over the P22
1x Beretta NEO, flawless and accurate
1x Sig Trailside, flawless and the most accurate (best trigger too)
Many Rugers, flawless and accurate
3x Walther P22s, all consistantly malfunctioned and were inaccurate
In fact (except for my Dad's RG10) the P22 gets my nod as the biggest piece of crap I've ever shot.
Definitely a NEO over the P22
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