walther p22

[futureranger]

im looking for a neat little pistol in 22lr i have a sti 1911 that i love to shoot but it hits my wallet pretty hard so im thinking about getting a good little range pistol. is the p22 a good choice? i saw a few with suppressors, is there a special barrel you have to get to use a suppressor on one? thanks for the help

 

[burningsquirrels]

lots of recent threads here about this... check the search.

 

[WarHall]

I've got one, and it's a fun little plinker.

Although the thread about it being an effective 'lethal' weapon got me to thinking about it again. There's gobs of info and (videos at you tube) about it with and without suppressors. I'd like to get a suppressor for it myself, just don't have the $ right now. Shoulda done it when I did, and I definitely lean towards the YHM, despite what the Gemtech crowd says.Here's a pic in my "James Bond" rig:

 

[burningsquirrels]

on the civilian gun defense blog, someone in georgia had a break-in in the night. the perp hid in a bathroom when the guy came out to look. he went back to his bedroom and got the p22, and told the perp to surrender... the perp charged him, he shot twice, the perp didn't get back up, but he sure changed his mind about continuing his charge. cops came, took him away. the homeowner was safe.

 

[HisSoldier]

I assume you know that the P22 has a zinc slide. I'd hate to have people buy one not knowing that.

 

[burningsquirrels]

the metals are cheap, but the thing works... i probably put 15k through mine, and i use it at steel matches and pin shoots.

 

[Quack]

since you have an STI, why not the top end 22 conversion for it?

 

[kwelz]

A friend of mine had his Walther P22 in the gun shop with a Slide cracked in 2 places. This is a widely known and documented problem.

 

[kellmark]

I have a P22 also, but have shot it only a few times. I understand its issues and limitations. So far, no problems and I like it. But I have a question.

With the issues with the Zinc slides cracking, why doesn't Walther or a third party supplier make replacement slides out of better material? Lot's of folks make replacement parts for guns, like barrels, springs, etc, why not a slide? I would buy one.

 

[gvnwst]

I have a P22, and despite what people said before i got it, it has been very reliable (if oiled, it hated being run dry) and decently accurate. The barrel on standard models comes threaded, you need a adapter to make it 1/2x28 (the standard .22 spuuressor threading) but those are only like $40. Overall a great pistol, and feels much more comfortable than the more reccomended ruger MK___.

 

[Oro]

I checked these out very hard in 2007 looking for a cheap the .22 pistol for plinking. The S&W/P22 was just too cheap to be comfortable with. I went with a Ruger MkIII and it was worth the extra $100. It feels right, shoots great, and is made of steel. Spend the small amount extra, get the Ruger. I am NOT a Ruger guy, but this one is a gem.

 

[futureranger]

what is so bad about zinc? and i was considering a 22 conversion for my 1911 but for a little more money i can just get a new pistol thanks for the help

 

[JImbothefiveth]

The STI with the kit will probably shoot better than the p22, and have a nicer trigger.

 

[Quack]

^ that's the route i'd go too.
better trigger, probably more accurate, and cheaper to train with.

that said i have had a P22 for a year, but want to sell it for a 2011 conversion

 

[HisSoldier]

I went with a Ruger MkIII and it was worth the extra $100. It feels right, shoots great, and is made of steel. Spend the small amount extra, get the Ruger. I am NOT a Ruger guy, but this one is a gem.

+1, I hate to say it because some of my big bore guns cost so much more, but my Mk III target model is probably the most accurate handgun I own.

what is so bad about zinc?

Nothing, for toys and cheap kitchen utinsils. Look at the properties of steel, Tensile strength 120,000 lbs Sq inch. (chromoly 4142 HT barstock, values can be much higher)
zinc (Zamak to be specific, an alloy of about 95% zinc, the remainder aluminum, copper and magnesium) 58,000 lbs Sq inch.

That's only a small part of the differences, ductility, hardness, and toughness to name a few, steel is wonderful!

The Brooklyn bridge was made in 1883, it still does it's job every day and hangs from steel wires. Anyone want to test the bridge made with zinc ropes?

 

[Pilot]

Ruger MK II or III or a Browning Buckmark. You will thank us once you buy one of these.

 

[searcher451]

I'm a big Walther fan, but the P22 is made of pot metal. It's also not a real Walther; it's a Umarex product (Umarex is the parent company). You'll do much better with a Ruger or Browning or Colt.

 

[futureranger]

thanks for the advice, any one have a kimber 22lr conversion? they look like a good bet for me, i think ill go with the conversion if it gets good reviews

 

[LibShooter]

Love my P22

3,000 rounds and going strong. It's a fun little gun that looks and feels like a big gun.

You'll need to experiment to find the ammunition it likes. They all love CCI Mini-mags, but can be picky with the cheap stuff. (Mine likes Remeington Golden Bullets. Go Figure. YMMV.)

I think a steel replacement slide would be too heavy for little .22lr rounds to move. The zinc they make it out of is pretty light. That's a trade-off to make the P22 act like a center fire pistol. It's a PITA, but S&W will replace a broken slide for free, or so I've been told.

The P22 is not a high quality target pistol and doesn't pretend to be. But did I mention it's fun. My wife has all but stolen mine.

For WAY more info, go here:
http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=48

Read the stickies and take everything 1917-1911M writes as gospel.

 

[HisSoldier]

Zinc is almost as heavy as steel. They use it for wheelweights now to make our world "lead free".

Iron Density (near r.t.) 7.874 g·cm−3
zinc Density (near r.t.) 7.14 g·cm−3

The reason they use zinc for wheel weights isn't because it's heavier than steel or lead but because it takes almost no time to die cast millions of them and no one cares that they are just pot metal, same reason manufacturers pawn it off on todays sophisticated gun buying population.

 

[Gideon]

Ruger and Buckmarks are the gold standard for .22 auto pistols for the masses. They're simply a great value, having said that, I have a Walther P22 and I think it's a good gun for plinking, in fact , a GREAT gun for plinking. I wouldn't use it for squirrel hunting but it looks good and mine functions well with most ammo and absolutely perfectly with CCI Mini-Mags.

The real advantage? I fits my hands well but it also fits my children's hands well. I've introduced my 8 year old to shooting and she loves it becasue this gun fits her. All of my children would struggle to grip a Ruger or Browining.

Also, some of us tend to buy better quality arms and talk about passing it down to our children. My P22 is just a cheap plinking gun and that's it. I didn't pay much for it when I bought it about 4 years ago or so and I got the kit model that also came with a 5" barrel. So it's made of pot metal. That does lower it's value and it's cost. Mine has a gazillion rounds through it and never had a problem. Drop it on concrete and it may crack the slide, I don't know but I do know I've already gotten my money out of it.

A friend has two identical Ruger's that have slapsided barrels and both have beautiful wood target grips with a neat thumb rest. One of them shoots everything and anything all the time. The other seems to know if you bough your .22's in a "brick" and hates them all; it likes stingers or CCI-Minimags. He gave that one to his wife

Since this isn't a serious self defense or hunting gun, I wouldn't hesitate to get one. I don't believe it'll be a bad deal.

I do think if you can save up a bit longer and get the Ruger or Buckmark that you will be more satisfied in the long run but I don't think the Walther is as much a piece of junk as some seem to think. With a red dot mine is very accurate as well.

God Bless
Gideon