Walther P22

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MikePaiN

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I've been looking into getting a .22lr pistol, basically for inexpensive shooting/practice. I was leaning toward a Sig Mosquito or ISSC M22 but I got a local trade offer toward a rifle I'm selling using the P22.
Its the all black 3.8" model bought NIB last year, with ~1000rounds through with a trade value of $200 in this deal. I'm told the pistol is 100% has given no functional problems except the occasional FTF on cheap bulk ammo(not the gun). I know the owner from deals we've done in the past and know I can trust him.
So what do you all think of the Walther P22...?
Since I know this one runs my biggest concern is its size, I haven't handled a P22 in many years, but I seem to remember it being tiny..I understand the P22 comes with a "large" back strap and extended mags?
tx
 
seems folks either love or hate the P22---I have one and it's flawless--not the most fun to disassemble and clean but once you do it a few times, it becomes pretty easy. It does like high velocity 22lr cartidges best so I feed mine mini-mags and it runs without a hitch---if you google "p22 bible" someone has put together a wonderful book that you can download for free that gives you lots of tips on how to take it apart and how to tune it up a bit to run even better if you're the type of person who enjoys doing things like that.
it does come with several backstraps and it's not too small for the range (but I guess that depends a lot on what you normally shoot)---it's a fun toy and cheap to shoot compared to my other guns. Plus, if you ever want to teach someone how to shoot, it's a good choice for that as well.
 
I love my p-22, just make sure you shoot ammo it likes - I use CCI MiniMags. It really is tons of fun, nice little muzzle flash too! My kids, wife and new shooters enjoy shooting it. I also carry it for "light" concealed carry sometimes. It's a good skill developer too. I shoot it at our BUG gun matches and its lots of fun.
 
Sounds good....I think I'm going to do this trade. I'm getting 200+ rounds of CCI Stingers with it and for .22lr I always use either CCI boxed(not bulk) 40g Blazer or 40g Mini-mags.
 
Dont believe everything you hear on the 'net'

I bought a new P22 (2009 model) about 1 month ago as a goof off, tackle box, lightweight, throw into the pocket go hiking gun. My Ruger MkII Target was getting a bit heavy for day hiking and serious hiking, I usually carry my 357 Mag revolver.

I have about 1K rounds through it. I initially shot 200 Velociter/Stinger mix through it, then 300 Mini Mag and one box of Wally World Bulk. Can't remember what brand but they were copper colored bullets and was a 550 pack. I've also shot a few boxes of $1.77 50 round boxed stuff from Wally Word without fail.

It is definitely not the most accurate and I need to actually sit down at a gun rest and adjust the front sight and see what it likes the best group wise. The above ammo was more of a shake down, see what fails and plink sessions. So far it hasn't failed sve for two occasions. I've had one FTFeed since I didnt have the mag all the way seated in. And one mysterious FTExtract. It pulled about 1/3 way out and that was it. It was on the last round so the slide locked back. I just turned it upside down and shook it out without issue. That round was a Stinger.

My initial impressions are good. I like it and it will function for what it was intended....as a light weight/fun alternative to my Ruger. It is not a target gun or something I would hunt with on any regular basis, but if its rabbit season and a rabbit pops out while I'm hiking, its gonna go into the pot for dinner time. It is a touch small, but that is why I bought it. The mag with the finger extensions are a must. I have the large backstrap on and it helped a little front to back on the grip but not top to bottom. I do not think that it will "last a lifetime" like an all steel Ruger will and in that regard, the Ruger is a much better initial buy for someone that needs/wants only one 22lr semiauto. But for me, it was ideal. Plus my wife likes it....the Ruger is too heavy for extended shooting for her, but the P22 is ideal. I can shoot the P22 then really appreciate my Ruger MkII when I switch over....
 
Forgot to mention that I usually clean it about every 300-400 rounds and run it "wet" with CLP.
 
I love mine and have put several thousand rounds through it. I bought it used with about 1k rounds through it. I don't even clean it, just put on more oil. It functions great. I shoot mine with Federal bulk pack, mainly because that is what I can find that my AR conversion also likes.
 
Mine is a great little shooter. Fun, but picky about ammo. CCI Minimags, Remington Golden Bullets, and Thunderbolts are about all it will eat.

It will not feed any Winchester bulk ammo at all.

There is never any Federal around town, so I don't know how it works with that brand.
 
I bought one two years ago. It's an OK shooter and quite reliable... but, if I had to do it over again, I'd buy another Buckmark. The MSRP for the for the Buck Mark Micro Bull is only $339 - say $250 in the shop. It's a better pistol, more accurate, far better trigger. etc. My Buck Mark was stolen and I regret not replacing it with another Buck Mark.

The P22's are OK though, just not as good as Buck Mark or Rugers.
 
I have a Mosquito and after 1K rounds it likes the Federal 550 bulk (half the price of CCI mini's) just put a drop on the feed ramp if it acts up and it's good to go. It feels more solid and close to a service pistol than the P22

I shot a friend's P22 the other day. VERY small in the hand and feels cheap like a squirt gun. Same accuracy and a little better trigger. For transition from training to EDC, I like the Mosquito way more. If I favored the P22 over my own gun I'd be honest enough to say so.

Both can be accurate enough to keep in the bull at 10 yds. Please at least hold a Mosquito. It's honestly the best grip of any pistol I own of any size or weight.

Subjective, of course.
 
Please at least hold a Mosquito. It's honestly the best grip of any pistol I own of any size or weight.
I have handled one and do like the little Sig, but no one offered me a Mosquito in trade on my rifle :(
I'll be fine with the P22 and what it the worst that can happen? I don't like it for whatever reason so I put it up for sale.....no problem
 
I did the trade(I was surprised to see the deal included 3 mags with extensions) and after we went to shoot. I have to say, this one was impressive. I had 40g (boxed)Blazers, 36g Stingers and a 36g Federal Bulk pack ammo, it digested and fired everything. At first it was a little sticky chambering the 1st rounds, but the gun had been sitting for months, once I had a few mags through it was off and running. Accuracy at 25' was fine and pretty consistent with all the ammo used. Best of all, the feel, handling and sighting of the P22 is similar to my EDC(PT709 Slim).
 
Run a search. The topic has been discussed any number of times, with lots of fans and lots of foes weighing in with points on all sides. Keep in mind that the P22, and the SIG Mosquito, for that matter, are the Bic lighter of handguns. Use 'em till they break, then toss 'em and get another ... or get a nice Ruger or Browning that will last you a lifetime.
 
Great little gun..Fun to shoot...I use CCI mini mags and Stingers
The boxed 40g Blazers seemed to be the most accurate. I get them at $19/500, a bit less than Mini-mags, so the Blazers will be my main practice .22lr. I have 200 of the Stingers left that came with the deal, I guess ...I'll keep them on hand in case I ever have to use the P22 in a "SD" situation...
 
My P22 and the others I shot were not very good at all.

The one Sig Mosquito I tried was actually decent, although not 100%.

I would suggest an AA conversion if you have a Glock or a 1911.
 
I have the SIG Mosquito and the Walther P22. Actually, we have two P22s; my wife likes hers so much, I had to get another. We feed 'em Remington Golden Bullets and CCI Minimags and everything seems to work fine.

Neither one is a target pistol, but both are fun to shoot. The SIG took a while to settle in but after the first 500 or so rounds, it turned out to be quite nice. Have several thousand rounds through both of them now.
 
I wanted to update this thread because, after putting 500-600 trouble free rounds through this P22 since the trade, the pistol suddenly became wildly inaccurate. After stripping I found the barrel had come loose with about 5mm of rotational play. :mad: The barrel nut seems tight..so, as soon as I finish my coffee this morning I'll dig more into it.
 
Can't trade back can you?

I can't think of anything that would make this happen, other than that nut. You said it wasn't loose. The barrel is fixed, and so I'm thinking the frame got out of wack (not a professional gunsmith term :uhoh:).

I'd not shoot it any more, as they are fragile to begin with.
 
I got down too it this morning, here's the deal.... There is an "O" ring at the base of the barrel nut that kept it feeling snug even though it had actually loosened. I took it apart to see what was going on and how it was engineered. Sure enough the barrel was slopping around. Of course, this P22 didn't include the wrench :mad:...I worked out a tool to tighten it with, once cinched down the barrel was solid as a rock. I shot Walther an e-mail requesting the wrench, so I can keep on top of this in the future.
 
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