Walther P-22 test report

[jackpine]

Just completed a break-in period on a newly aquired Walther P-22 and have to agree with just about all other threads previously offered on this topic in that; yes it is apparently just a plinker in that it does not deliver the acuracy one would expect from a Ruger,S&W,Hi-Std. or any other target grade .22. There was some apprehension about the pistol not performing or functioning to what most shooters would expect a semi-auto to do in terms of failures to feed,failures to eject and so on.But that was not the case as it would appear that Walther has made the corrections where needed from the reports given in previous threads.I ran the break-in with absolutely NO Failures to feed,NO failures to fire and NO failures to eject after 550 rounds.This is quite impressive considering many other comparably priced autos can't do this.For a plinker it rates as an average in accuracy at 20 yards which through my aging eyes I was able to print some 4 to 5" groups.Going rapid fire it performed flawlessly without a single hic-cup.It digested it's first 250 rounds of Winchester .22 H.P ammo,then 150 rounds of Remington Thunderbolts,then 100 rounds of Federal Champion and finally 50 rounds of CCI Stingers.If you don't mind hitting your grouse in the body then this is the perfect little game getter when your moose or deer is already hanging in the cooler and you need to fill stew pot with some small game.This would also do quite fine as a ladies self defence gun stoked with hollow points.As a well known gunsmith in these parts of S.W. Ont. use to say (he's now deceased) "the bad guy won't need no doctor if he's hit with them.)That's my 2 cents worth.
P.S. It's still illegal to hunt with restricted handguns in Canuckistan and my reference to the use as such is just a pipe dream.

 

[ghostie]

Glad to hear that your P22 is working well for you.

I've written and posted quite extensively about the P22 on this board. I'm very happy with mine. Not a target pistol but definitely a "fun gun".

My girlfriend and I seem to get about the same results as you with the P22. About 5 inch groups at 25 yards is the best we can do. But, at 7 yards and 10 yards, the gun really comes into its own. I was just shooting mine on Sunday (May 6th). I have over 10,000 rounds through mine now. I have no problem hitting a 1 inch circle on a piece of paper at 10 yards. If I fire slow and concentrate I can get all 10 shots into about 1.5 inch at 10 yards. If I rapid fire the gun I can get off all 10 shots as fast as you can count to 10, and this tends to print out as about a 5 inch group at 10 yards (slowly I am getting a little better at this ).

We also play the "staple the shotgun shell to the side of the target" game, and then try and hit the brass and knock it off. The P22 is great for this (again, at 7 yards and 10 yards). Can usually hit it within the first couple of shots. The P22 performs better than the SIG Mosquito in this game, I think. The P22 can also be fired noticable faster than the Mosquito (I'm talking "fire as fast as you can shooting" here).

So, what I am saying is, in our many hours of shooting this gun, my girlfriend and I have found it accurate enough to play a number of shooting games to build different kinds of skills on the cheap.

In a fantasy Canada, I agree that this gun would make an interesting tiny defensive gun for someone that worried about their ability to control a larger calibre gun in a defensive situation. 40gr. CCI "Velocitor" hollowpoints would probably have enough weight, energy, expansion, and velocity to at least do something in a defensive situation. 35gr. CCI "Stingers" move faster but are lighter and expand less. Shot placement would not be an issue with this gun at defensive range (providing the "panic factor" was not affecting the shooter).

Failures are never an issue with this gun as long as it is reasonably clean and the ammo is reasonably decent. CCI is my .22LR ammo of choice.

Cool guns!!

 

[twyeh]

A question for you guys.

The ported barrel/compensator, does that help the accuracy of the gun in any way?

 

[tangospike99]

Just wondering does you compensator move a bit?

 

[seth]

Just wondering does you compensator move a bit?

Mine did alot infact...

Until I tightened the living #### out of the two screws under it... now it's stable!

 

[Mightymouse]

Was the P22 new? Is so, maybe they have finally worked all the bugs out.

I used to own a P22 and yes the fake compensator did work loose.

Rather than stripping the little screws by over tightening them, I added a couple of drops of blue loctite. You can also do this to the frame screws if they tend to work loose on you.

I learned this and a ton of other tricks for the P22 at Rimfirecentral.com, there's a whole forum set up.

As you said it's a fun plinker gun to shoot and learn with, try a Ruger, Buckmark or S&W M41 if want get to smaller groups. Then a try a 9mm, or maybe a .45 1911.....they're even more fun!!

 

[ghostie]

I did a thread on "Walther P22 vs. SIG Mosquito" awhile back.

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=132068&highlight=P22+Mosquito

lots of good pictures in there.

This is my P22. The barrel was shortend by Barry Jensen at Bits of Pieces:

I did not find that the "compensator" did anything. It is really just cosmetic because there is no porting in the barrel. Not only that, there is a barrel sleave around the barrel, which is in between the compensator and the barrel (see the pics in my thread).

Yes the compensator does move around. It seems that every P22 owner has an issue with this at some point. If you really cinch it down your will crimp the barrel sleave. If that works for you then fine. Loctite will work too. I didn't like the compensator at all. I didn't like the look of it and I thought it threw the gun out of balance, so I went the route of getting rid of it all together and having the barrel cut to the legal limit (106mm).

The new ones are better. I think it is something like 2004 forward. They have date codes on them (AE: 2004, AF:2005, A2006). Mine is an AG bought fairly early in 2006. I've shot about 100-400 round through it almost every weekend since then. It's a little warrior that just keeps pounding out the rounds. I've found mine to actually get a little better with age, if anything.

 

[jackpine]

Many thanks to all that gave their input and experiences with this P-22 issue.It is always a treat to have the varied opinions of people who know what they are talking about and this is no exception.
jackpine

 

[torontogunguy]

I just got my P22 and note that it is supposed to come with two barrels and a compensator. Well, I got the one barrel and the compensator and am scratching my head now. I also got some sort of extension for the recoil spring rod? I am now really confused. No instructions mention the difference but it is definitely shown on the schematic. So my guess is this:

The shorter barrel, being only about 87 mm long is illegal in canadastand for all but the privileged few. The longer barrel that takes the compensator is legal. So they include a phoney baloney long barrel with the P22's to make them canada legal and the compensator is really just a weight now. Everything else seems to fit into place. I am going to put some blue locktite on the screws. The action on my new used one seems a bit scratchy although the trigger action is smooth like butter, especially when used single action. Ditto the magazines. Need a good cleaning? Going to play with it tomorrow night. Give it the yeoman's cleaning of all time along with a good, solid, proper lube with some hi teck lubricants (I love my Gun Butter!). The will report back.

Range report after the weekend but I don't expect much better than mediocre accuracy off a Ransom rest from this baby. It is made for plinking and for other things that we don't talk about. Just a fun Walther, right? You want accuracy? Try a S&W 41 or a FAS 602 or something. That's where you get so many rounds at 25M through the same hole group you can't count them. I don't think this Walther is long enough nor tight enough to give that kind of performance. Close though. The Walther GAP's are reputed to be very accurate target pistols; but larger and more expensive.

Anyone have any comments on the barrels? The manual indicates that the gun should come with TWO barrels and compensator. I got all of the other bits and pieces and LOVE the fact that it has a built in lock. ALL guns should have a built in locking mechanism by law. Period.

I have kids about. Not worried about my kids, they are trained, but the visitors are worrisome. So I lock the gun actions, lock the guns in a gunbox with their respective accessories, lock the gunboxes (labelled as to what's inside) in a ULC II grade gunsafe in a ULC monitored room. Call me anal, call me over protective, but I don't want anyone blowing off their fingers or worse in my home. And I have closehand knowledge of the results of such a slip of security and its aftermath... stateside friends. Their son is maimed for life after trying to clean some guns for his mom. Pity. Pity. So mine are locked up as best I can and only I have the combination to the safe(s)... and my lawyer (in a sealed envelope). He is my executor and has instructions in disposing of the collection as well... something that everyone should ensure is in place so that the family does not get screwed in the event of your demise.

Anyway, this is a talk about P22's. Love my P22 so far. Love my P99 so far. Will take them and do some serious shooting on the weekend and report back. They are both 'off the mark' though in MHO. Either too small or too large and heavy. Better bets for most applications.... except for plinking and duty carry perhaps. I would go with Glock for duty carry and personal self defense. Glock for GSSF fun. Lots to choose from for IPSC, IDPA, etc., but best bet is likely homebrew... of Kimbers for the weak of heart. I recently picked up a Glock 26 9mm and Glock 30 .45 ACP and am putting Storm Lake Barrels and Pearce grip extenders on them; they serve me as both GSSF shooting fun guns and defensive guns (CCW etc.).

Regards

 

[Trigun]

No, it only come with one barrel, the other barrel is only for the State.

Trigun

 

[vancityguy]

how much is the p22 selling for these days? i looked around locally and couldn't seem to find one... i assume if i did find one i would have to get the longer barrel version?

 

[Trigun]

how much is the p22 selling for these days? i looked around locally and couldn't seem to find one... i assume if i did find one i would have to get the longer barrel version?

Try shop around before you put green on the table. Should anywhere between $450 to $480. We don't have the choice to get the short barrel one before of the 12.6. We can only get the long barrel one.

Trigun

 

[torontogunguy]

No, it only come with one barrel, the other barrel is only for the State.

Trigun

I sort of figured that one out as having a look at the parts listing it shows up as being only 87mm long. But the question then is... what do Walther refer to as a "compensator"? Their compensator then appears to be merely a noseweight, with faux ports on it. Very much unlike my other guns, like my Glock 26 and Colt Double Eagle, which have real compensators or ported barrels and where they make a huge difference in recoil and flip up.

Just gave the P22 a good cleaning and hi teck oiling. Runs smooth as a baby's behind now.

There are a few quirks to get used to. Like during the take down one needs to remove the 'compensator'... but more importantly during the reassembly, one needs to use an extra little piece of recoil spring rod in order to keep the spring aligned for reassembly and then remove it at the right moment to permit assembly. My prior owner appears to have tapped the barrel housing for the little set screw to hold the compensator in place without having to resort to lock tite, but at the same time I seem to be missing the pin that holds the various backstraps in place.

This is a well thought out gun and I think it is going to be a pleasure to use.

Can someone tell me please... I know that suppressors are illegal in Canada but it appears to me that I am seeing a lot of suppressors being shown used with the P22 and it is dead silent; who makes these? And any idea as to why they would be illegal in Canada but not in the states?

Also, any thoughts as to why someone would want to have several magazines for this gun? I don't believe .22LR is part of any competitive sport that requires multiple magazines like this (I.E. IPSC).

 

[jackpine]

On a recap of all that's been said to this P-22 matter,most owners' complained of the cosmetic compensator working it's way loose after a session of shooting which could explain the average accuracy regardless of ammo type or maker. Considering that the front sight itself is a modular insert that interchanges with two other sight heights AND these inserts can also be located at the further-most area of the slide where a sight blank is also located.This would shorten the sight radius by 1.56 inches.The good news is that groups shrunk from 5" to about 3 1/2 to 4 ".I surprised myself by this and repeated the session to confirm it by reverting back to the original factory set-up with the longer sight radius and now using Fed. Champion ammo only.Also had another very competant shooter perform the test from start to finish with the modified set-up and his groups were just under 3".But all this discussion on firing this plinker using the sights provided is moot when a laser/weapon light is employed via the picatinny rail,and THIS is where the little plinker will shine a little brighter.

 

[vancityguy]

Try shop around before you put green on the table. Should anywhere between $450 to $480. We don't have the choice to get the short barrel one before of the 12.6. We can only get the long barrel one.

Trigun

i am taking my time in finding something and am open to other guns as well so hopefully i find something soon... how much does a good condition used p22 run these days, 300 or so?

 

[ghostie]

I also got some sort of extension for the recoil spring rod? I am now really confused.

What you are talking about is the "guide rod extention" for reassembling the gun. There is something about the design of the P22 which makes it very tricky to reassemble without this little piece of plastic. If you look at the picture below... put the spring onto the metal guide rod then put it in the gun. Then stick the plastic guide rod inside the part of the spring that is sticking out. Then when you are putting the slide on, put the small hole in the slide onto the plastic guide rod as you are putting the barrel through the other hole.

Some people also use a different method: take your cleaning rod and stick it through the small hole in the front of the slide (from the front). Then when you are lining up the slide to put it on the receiver, stick the front of the cleaning rod into the part of the spring that is sticking out.

Anyway, that is a very long answer to a very simple problem. With the SIG Mosquito, it is easy to get it together without any extra tool. But with the P22, I always use that little piece of plastic that they ship with the guns.

P.S. - the guns don't come with both barrels in the States. You can buy the 3.4 inch gun, or the 5 inch gun, and then buy the other barrel if you want. The 5 inch barrel that you buy comes with the fake compensator.

 

[vancityguy]

found the gun locally 529 at lever arms and 469.99 at italian sporting goods but i still think it is a bit pricey maybe i'll wait for a good used one to pop up

 

[seth]

found the gun locally 529 at lever arms and 469.99 at italian sporting goods but i still think it is a bit pricey maybe i'll wait for a good used one to pop up

Be leary of any used p22 made before 2004

The chamber stamp should ready an "A" something, it indicates the year:

AB
AC
AD
AE - Start here
AF
AG - Golden if you can find a 2006 model

The early p22's were nightmares

 

[vancityguy]

Be leary of any used p22 made before 2004

The chamber stamp should ready an "A" something, it indicates the year:

AB
AC
AD
AE - Start here
AF
AG - Golden if you can find a 2006 model

The early p22's were nightmares

thanks for the tip much appreciated but realistically how often do used p22's even pop up?

 

[ghostie]

thanks for the tip much appreciated but realistically how often do used p22's even pop up?

Seems like about an average of once a month in the EE. I'm thinking of getting another one myself. Probably the green one. The problem with the EE is that every used P22 I have seen come up there has been selling for about the normal retail price ($450 to $550).