PT22 Taurus...any good?

[Kiln]

I loved my HP22 and it was completely reliable until it cracked the frame at about 3k rounds. The company recommends that you use only standard velocity ammo in it but it doesn't matter much, (I only used Rem standard vel.) you're unlikely to get more than 3k rounds through it without some sort of part failure. If you get one make sure to get a brand new one with warranty, that company will always make it right as I've found out from experience but a bunch of guys over at the Bryco-Jimenez forums have had the problem with the frame cracking in the same spot. If you shoot it alot it won't last but mine always worked well up until it gave out.

The finish isn't great and will show alot of wear if you carry it alot, the safeties aren't too bad after you learn them, disassembly is difficult at first but once you get it down you can take it down and put it back together in 20 seconds. It was a decent gun for $170 including an extra mag and both barrels, they're a bit higher now though I think. The barrel changes very quickly and can be ordered from Phoenix for $20 if you don't get the kit.

I know next to nothing about the PT22 other than the trigger isn't good on them, I believe that they're also a zamak gun so they are likely to have a limited life like the HP22.

 

[chicharrones]

The Taurus and the Beretta have aluminum alloy frames and steel elsewhere. The new Taurus PLY22 has a polymer frame. Like MCGunner mentioned, it's the design (not necessarily the materials) that makes these guns not as good as they could be (IMO).

 

[MCgunner]

Well, I checked out the firestorm/bersa today. It's about $340 at a LGS nearby which is a little overpriced on most of their stuff. I bet one could find it for under 300. Anyway, it's larger than I'd reckoned on, not really pocketable and I have preferred belt kit guns, main one being my Rossi 511 Sportsman 6 shot 4" adjustable sighted kit gun in stainless. I love that thing. God knows how many rounds has been put through it and it shoots under 2" with about anything at 25 yards and puts the accurate stuff near an inch, single action of course. The DA is pretty rough. But, being a field gun, I care less about DA on it. So, I may get a Bersa/Firestorm some day if I find a deal at a gun show or something and the whim comes back, but for now, I've managed to curve the desires. The Phoenix Arms HP22 remains the most accurate pocket sized .22 auto I've ever had experience with. It may be zinc, but it sure is a shooter! PA honors their warranty, too, so if the frame breaks, I'll converse with them about it. I've got in excess of 3K rounds in that gun, too, had it a lot of years, so it may well be due. Also, with the 3" barrel, its favorite, most accurate load is CCI Stinger. But, it's yet to crater on me, just the recoil springs every 500 rounds or so. I don't use it as a regular range gun, try to preserve it for the pocket kit gun roll/fishing gun.

Also, I have to add, as to pocket kit guns, my Radom P64 fills that roll pretty well, unreal accurate for a pocket gun, it puts cheap Monarch 94 grain ball into 3" at 25 yards. It may be a little more expensive to shoot, but it'll take small game with ball ammo and if I run in to a BG on the trail, it's better suited than a .22. At 10 bucks a box, 9x18 is no worse than buying .22 mag, think of it that way.

Anyway, whatever, between the two choices in the OP, I'd go with the Phoenix Arms HP22 and forget the little Taurus OR the Beretta it's a copy of. Even if you get a tip up type .22 to work, it ain't gonna be as accurate OR useful as the HP22. AND, neither company has as fast a customer service response as does Phoenix Arms which is fortunate since you're GOING to have to call them for new recoil springs, very least.

 

[chicharrones]

Well, I checked out the firestorm/bersa today. It's about $340 at a LGS nearby which is a little overpriced on most of their stuff.

Bummer. The OTD price at one particular gun shop around here is $294.00.

 

[mje]

Taurus reliability seems to be all over the place, judging from what I've seen and read. I was looking at a used one at a local Gander Mountain, and everything about it was rough and ill-fitted. I ended up buying a new Beretta 21a instead, despite the large difference in price. Side by side, it was easy to see why the Beretta cost significantly more.

As for the Bersas- no one around here carries the .22, which is a pity, as the .380s look very well made. I suspect it would make a great trail gun.

 

[mje]

I've read a ton, pro and con, about the Taurus, so when I saw a used one at a local Gander Mountain I asked the salesman if I could examine it next to a Beretta 21a. Looking at the two of them, the Taurus looked like a piece of crude junk- so I bought the Beretta. I suspect Taurus has major issues with QC. They turn out some good guns, and a lot of junk, too.

For the same amount of money as a PT-22 you can buy a Bersa .22 (if you can find one), which strikes me as a really well made gun. I'd like to find one as a sort of companion to my PPK. For a few $$$ more, you can get a Ruger, which is kind of the benchmark for reliability and accuracy in a reasonably priced .22 pistol.

 

[griz1]

Had a PT 22 but the frame cracked and it jammed alot. Glad I got rid of it.

 

[Moptop]

Thanks all for your replies!

I want to thank everyone for input and sharing their experiences with these pistols. I did end up buying a new Phoenix HP-22A at one of the 2 St. Charles (MO) gun shows this past weekend. I've already test fired it and it performed perfectly and was quite accurate. I got down to a 2" group at 15yrds after a little practice with it. I'm not planning on using this as a CCW piece, I just wanted a plinker and something I could throw in the glovebox or tacklebox and not have to worry about scuffing it up. Since I don't plan on running up a high round count on it either I'm sure it will be just fine for me.

 

[10sport64]

I put a video and 2 follow ups on this pistol.
http://youtu.be/VeRl4Pa1bZY

 

[dcarch]

Shot one this past Saturday. It embodied everything I dislike in a pistol. Poor accuracy, bad trigger pull, very unreliable. Jammed probably 4 to 5 rounds per magazine. I handed it back to the guy who owned it and said "Thanks." I will not be buying one.