Walther P22

[Blackcloud6]

Looked at A Walther P22 today. First time I took a good look at one. The thing felt like it was molded to my hand. Almost walked home with it but decided to ask what people think. I don't have 22lr semi so....

What do the Highroaders think of this pistol?

The price in the shop for the Matt Black version is $259, what do you think about that?

 

[GigaBuist]

The price sounds fair. I paid $300 for my matte black one w/ the 5" barrel and goofy weight at the end of it. Shoots pretty nice. Occasional jams but this isn't an SD pistol so it doesn't bug me if I get 20 failures to feed in 1,000 rounds of cheap ammo.

The controls feel like a "real" semi-auto pistol which is why I got it. Should make it easier for new shooters to transition from the .22LR to a more potent caliber with similar controls. That's the plan anyway. Besides, it keeps the manual of arms somewhat like my other weapons. Good for newbies, good for me.

If you want something cheap to feed compared to your "combat ready" weapons it's probably going to be a good fit.

If you want a dedicated target gun to nail targets at 50 yards with you're probably better off with something more suited to that purpose. Not saying it's inaccurate or anything -- but that's not what it was built for.

Here's mine:

Big version here

 

[CZ-100]

I purchsed one last summer for my son, he loves it, he has put over 800 rds down range with it.

Paid $245 which included tax.

I has been a good little gun.

 

[Doug Add]

My reply is about the same as CZ-100. Bought it last spring to teach my son to shoot a pistol. We have a few thousand rounds through it. We used high velocity for the break-in period, and now we shoot Remington Golden Bullets (under $9 for 550) without any troubles.

Fun and inexpensive to shoot. We always take my Browning Hi-Power and S&W 686 to the range, but shoot at least twice as much and usually more through the P22.

Friday afternoon my son was making cans and milk jugs dance all over the field with the Walther. He has made me promise not to sell it!

 

[outfieldjack]

Question....

Not to hijak the thread, but is it worth the extra $$$ for the 5 inch barrell or will the 3 incher do just fine?

 

[Ex-MA Hole]

I have one and love it. I have both barrels- came with the longer one, bought the shorter one later. I used to use the longer and shorter each time at the range, because "one is for target, one is not". Whatever...I finally got my head out of my $#^- I ahven't used the longer one in over a year. I can't notice much difference. When my Wife FINALLY shots (I can dream, can't I?), I will put the longer barrel on- just to make it look a bit less, er, meaner?

It is a great gun, and find myself shooting this more then anything. I even carry it at times (everyone gasp, good. Now grasp your hearts and say "he carries a .22? Good. Now gasp again). I find it to be very reliable (took me a while to find the ammo that it liked to eat), and light and easy to put into the pocket of cargo pants/ shorts/ kahkis. I don't think that you can go wrong.

 

[sachsr1]

I just got mine, and I love it. I usually tend to over grip a gun, but even as small as this is it fits great in my hands. I got the p22 as a toy, I'm waiting for my .22lr can, and I like the look of the p22 w/ a suppressor. I have a Ruger 22/45, and a 10/22 that I'm having threaded.

 

[9x19]

I have the 3.4†barrel version and have been utterly pleased with its performance and accuracy. I bought it used, so can't say how many rounds have been thru it, but the (Wal-Mart) Federal bulk-packs run just fine in it.

It's a good plinker, and informal target gun, and I liked the first one so much that I bought a second. The first, lately loaded with CCI Velocitor ammo, accompanies me while mowing my place, and this pistol/ammo combo has dispatched a skunk that thought it could take up residence in my tractor shed, and has quite a few turtles and two snakes to its credit as well.

Good little guns, IMO.

 

[jamz]

Ex-MA Hole: good for you. When I had my P22, I carried it at times too. With that little thing, you can put 10 shots in a very small area in about two seconds. And it's so wonderfully light ! (Especially compared to my 1911)

Fun little gun, I'd recommend it. The downsides, if you search, are 1) Zinc slide that gets lots of wear, fast, and 2) only uses HV ammo. Standard velocity ammo won't cycle it.

-James
(Current MA Hole)

 

[Kar-el]

I had two, one 5 inch one 3.4 inch. I had the original bad mags with no slots. After getting the new mags they still had multiple FTF, FTE, the safety would engage while firing, light strikes, the gun would not strip the rounds off the mags. After the third time back to S&W I had to request new guns.

I bought the P-22's to teach my boys (small hands-they were 5 and 6). I instead stood behind them learning to clear malfunctions. The new ones work okay, but still more misfires than any of my other .22's. They are nowhere near as good as my Ruger Mark II. I haven't sent them in again because I just don't feel like letting S&W have my guns all summer like the last time I sent them in. ( well okay, it was only 10 weeks-but still.....)

My boys say don't bother with the 5 inch, the 3.4 inch shoots just as well for plinking, neither is a target .22. I say that without me trying one out with a red dot mounted on it like my Ruger-I can't justify it because of their reliability.

Don't get me wrong, they are a fun gun with some nice features but reliability issues keep me from enjoying mine as much as I should. I think there are much better guns out there for the money.

 

[GigaBuist]

Not to hijak the thread, but is it worth the extra $$$ for the 5 inch barrell or will the 3 incher do just fine?

I got the 5" version simply because I wanted the longer sight radius.

On a good day I can put 10 rounds down range rather quickly and land them in a 3" hole at 7 yards. I suppose given that I wouldn't feel horribly uncomfortable carrying it. It sure does conceal quite nicely and it is super light!

I did mange to strip the little worm screw on the weight though within a week of getting it. I still haven't gotten around to finding some small torx bits to get it out. Cleans up pretty easy w/out taking the whole thing apart though.

Sure is fun to shoot though. So much fun in fact I'm thinking about taking up rabbit hunting. Between the Walther P22 and my Saiga .410 (no idea why I bought it) I should be able to put a fair amount of wabbit meat in the freezer!

 

[Siggyboy]

I've had one for almost 2 years, got one of the early ones and it has been a great shooter. It had about 4 or 5 FTF in this time and that was it. Its a great little gun. However, many people have had problems with theirs. Many problems were with some real early magazines (even earlier than mine) that have since been changed. Others have had other problems and some just like to bash the gun because they don't like the looks of it or because of its alleged "weak zink" slide etc.

While there may well be a certain risk of problems with the P22, I love mine and it is a fun gun that has worked almost 100% for me. Also, S&W has excellent customer service and they will fix anything that might be a problem.

 

[Ex-MA Hole]

Yup, that's it-

"Ex-MA Hole: good for you. When I had my P22, I carried it at times too. With that little thing, you can put 10 shots in a very small area in about two seconds. And it's so wonderfully light ! (Especially compared to my 1911)"

Stopping power is "questionable", but the comfort level/ ability for "10 shots in a very small area in about two seconds" makes it nice. I have a PPK/S for "Real carrying", but "10 shots in a very small area in about two seconds". How can you pass that up?!?!? (Actually, I get 11- load, put in in the chamber, drop clip, add the 11th). Yes, it's VERY light. Did I mention "10 shots in a very small area in about two seconds". (No...you did)...if you get good with this gun (which ain't hard, or expensive), I find it VERY accurate. I wouldn't complete in the Olympics with it, but hitting cans, paper...real good choice.

 

[Blackcloud6]

Thanks to all who have posted. I've put one on hold at Cabela's. They $239.99 there and I have gift certificates!

 

[NEtracker]

Wish we had a Cabelas here! I get a lot of fly gear from them.
Anyways, I've had a P22 since 2002, when Four Seasons got them in.
I got it with the 3.4" brl, but later picked up the 5". The 5" is on there now with a red dot & tac mount. It's my range plinker, and cycles standard velocity fine. I shot a lot of CCI mini mags & other HV early on, and Remington Goldens cycle fine, not Federal bulk.
I've introduced many to the shooting sport with the P22, and several have gone out to purchase one after gettting an LTC.
(Things to watch for: loosening barrel nut, loosening stove bolt. And, yes the slide may wear some.)

For those in MA, I'm waiting anxiously to see if the new Ruger MkIII gets tested and approved to the Atty Gnrls Regs. I don't want to pay $400+ for a used beat up MKII.