Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Walther P22 ...crap?

Does anyone here own a Walther P22? If so, what do you think of it? Does it have more than 1 or 2 thousand rounds through it?

I was in the Bass Pro Shop today and the guy behind the counter says he's worn two out and that both had frame failures resulting in the gun coming apart somewhere between 1500 and 2000 rounds. He said that Walther replaced it both times though and admits that he fired all those rounds in the course of a day. Anyway, he talked me out of buying one. I just can't believe Walther would put out such a crappy product. I've never had to think about the useful life of a rimfire before.

Outside quality issues, are they minute of squirrel accurate at 25-50 yards?


-Adrian

I have a very early p-22, now 8-9 years old. have fired mostly CCI mini mags in it with very few issues. Early on the mags required a little tweeking and a tiny bit of reshaping the hammer. I have 5k rounds more or less through it and have not seen any problems with the frame. I think your guy is one of those fellows who thinks he has all the answeres the problem is he just doesn't know what the questions are. He needs to go back to selling shoes in the womens department soon before someone gets hurt.

Bullwnkl.

1500 to 2000 rounds in one day?

And, he's the resident expert at Bass Pro Shops?

Why am I immediately thinking "mall ninja"?

How many people would it take to load the mags for a shoot like that?? Your fingers would be raw. Can that be fun??

Spot on VA.

10 round mags, loaded a minimum of 150 to 200 times in one day....

How long does it take to load a 10 rd. .22 magazine? Figure 30 seconds, minimum, if you're flying. That puts load time alone at 75 to 100 minutes. That's 1.5 hours, MINIMUM for just the load time.... and likely double that.

Okay, so you're looking at someone who says they paid for 4 bricks of .22LRs, about $60, easily, and spent 1.5 hours loading magazines (at least), just to burn it all up in one day.

That, I seriously, seriously doubt.

The BP guy, is a tool, and a fool, and I'd wager heavily either a phony or the LAST person you should take any responsible firearms advice from.

IMHO, the Walther is not the best little .22 out there, by far (Ruger MkII/MkIIIs still have that; followed closely by BuckMarks), but they are nowhere near as crappy as the "advice" from Bass Pro's little mall ninja....

Of course, ymmv....

I find that hard to believe, you'd have to have a real POS to be worn out by 1500-2000 rounds of 22rf.

I have heard the P-22's have so-so accuracy, and that it why I didn't buy one. They are neat guns and feel good in the hand. I don't like the mag release and other ergonomics.

Got a Ruger 22/45 mk II w/ the 5 1/2" ss bull barrel and like it fine. Id does need a break in as it'll jam after a few hundred rounds.

I snagged one today slightly used in the box with the grip spacers and two mags for $219. I figured I could always get my money back out of it if I didn't like it. My wife has been bugging me about getting her a .22 pistol and she has very small hands. She liked it when I brought it home, so I guess we'll see how it performs.

I've got about 300 rounds thru mine and side by side comparison last Sat at the range it was only slightly larger groups( offhand) then my Ruger Mark II which is a lot heavier and has a longer site radius.

You can shoot mine anytime you want!!!




Mike

I think most peoples "accuracy" issues are really there shooting skills.

I'd be interested in a machine rest test....they are very light combined with short barrel.

Mike

ad..,

My hunting pard bought one and we put a brick of ammo (500rds) thru it, using both mags in one afternoon. That's our usual break in proceedure for a .22 auto pistol. With a centerfire usually 100-200rds.

Anyway, the pistol got pretty hot but kept right on shooting. And shooting accurately. So, I'm calling B.S. on your informant. Another Mall Commando.

The P22 has gone thru development and mine is a late one and except that the front sight just flew away it functions fine. A buddy also has one like mine, the short bbl. version and he is a superb marksman with a pistol (one hand shooting).

He says that the P22 is too light and that it has no balance. That you just have to hold, squeeze and hope. The longer barrel version might be much better in the balance dept. but short one will fit in many pockets.

They are an cute inexpensive pistol. I have not practiced enough with mine to be good with it. I am sticking with the Woodsman. I have not sold the P22 however. Its likeable.

Thanks everyone, I feel a little better now. Might still consider one.

Mike,

I stopped by Autry's Armory today and they recommend AA suppressors. They're made in Norcross, just up the road.

Yes Sir!

They are AAC (Advanced Armament Corp.) that I was talking about sponsoring the silencer shoot!

Ops Inc is in the metro area and SWR is in East GA Evans, GA

I was talking to one of the guys last weekend down there about the Gemtech debacle..

You getting off work early?

Mike

I've had two Walther P-22's- I bought the first one- the short barrel version- because I wanted a small size .22 pistol- and because I like Walthers- and because I liked the looks, fit, and feel of the P-22.

I later sold it, however, to a friends wife because she said the little Walther was the only pistol she ever saw that she "... really liked" and wanted very much to buy it. She still has it and enjoys shooting it.

I sold it to her because I decided I would rather have the longer barrel model- and so I then purchased my second Walther P-22.

Both pistols I found fun, accurate, and dependable. I also found that my short barrel pistol shot (for me) as well as my newer long barrel version. And soon I missed not having that 'little' gun.

So, I traded the 'long' P-22 to another friend who wanted it (and who also continues to value it) for a very nice Mil-Surp rifle- with the intention of someday replacing my original 'little' Walther P-22.

I agree the P-22's do not compare to a Ruger or Browning .22 pistol- but they're not supposed to- I see them as a different 'type' of pistol- and that they are (only) what they are.

And liking "what" they are- I would just rather have the Walther. (And highly recommend them.)

You mind elaborating on that?

lewis

I've had a P-22 for a few years. I carry it around in my jeans pocket a lot, on quads, horseback, whatever. Have fired, probably several thousand rounds through it. Often go through the better part of a box of 500 or 550 (Federals) in one plinking session. Also have used quite a bit of hyper-velocity stuff (mainly Velocitors)and what have you. Never disassemble it, never clean it. Failures to function are very rare, almost zilch. Accuracy is as good as I get with any small, light .22. Probably one of the highest returns on investment of any gun I have. Of course, I've never spent any time behind the counter at Bass Pro shops so what do I know...

I really don't see that it's fair to compare the P22 to....well, almost anything else. It's a unique design. Kind of a 'tactical' pistol tho a bit light in caliber. Easily concealable, but not really a pocket pistol, yet not a target pistol either.

Yes, it's easier to shoot a S&W, Buckmark or Woodsman accurately. But, the P22 seems to be right there with them accuracy wize if you concentrate. At least for me.

I prefer the Buckmark, but that is personal as it fits my hand well.

BMT

I put about 50 rds thru my new(used) P22 today at the shop where I am having my can built. It ran flawlessly with the can attached. The guy wo builds the cans supplied the thread adaptor and attached it to my pistol. I'm waiting on him to get the new tubes in to be serial numbered and anodized so I can get my paperwork done for the ATF...That suppressor is sweet --- 4.5" long, 1" in diameter and 4 oz....

Damn, CJ, you have TOO many neat toys..... you need to share.