Feedback on WALTHER P22 needed.

Sterling · October 24, 2018, 12:28 AM

Any forum member posses this pistol ? And can give some feedback good or bad re: build qaulity and reliabilty as rimfire can be picky. Im curently looking for a semi auto 22lr of this size and price point. Will not be used for sd strictly for range fun.

**JohnKSa** · October 24, 2018, 01:44 AM

It is a fun gun that is not very expensive. My wife has one and she likes it. But it's picky about ammunition, and the last time it was at the range, the front sight fell off.

Since I bought her a Ruger SR22, the P22 has stayed in the safe.

A lot of people have them and like them, but I'm not a big fan.

Cheapshooter · October 24, 2018, 09:55 AM

I've had one for over ten years. Great for what it is. A fun little rimfire plinker. It is not a bullseye target pistol, or family heirloom piece. Reliability is good with the right ammo. Remington Golden Bullets, and CCI MiniMag works great. Accuracy is "good enough" for some fun plinking.
Some of the early models had problems with the slide cracking. Mostly in the long barreled "target" version because the ZAMAK slide would slam against a steel extension that was attached to rhe muzzle end of the barrel with set screws.
There are several mods, and tweaks that can be found online.
https://www.waltherforums.com/forum/...p22-bible.html

pblanc · October 24, 2018, 10:01 AM

I have had no trouble with frame cracks on my P22, although the problem has been widely reported as Cheapshooter notes.

Initially I had frequent failures to feed with mine, but these seem to have smoothed out and now the pistol is reasonably reliable. As has been noted, standard velocity 22LR ammunition may fail to cycle the slide fully. You are best off sticking with fairly high velocity ammo.

It is an OK pistol for range shooting and for introducing a new shooter to semi-auto pistol shooting. From what I have seen and heard, the Ruger SR22 is a better pistol.

Cheapshooter · October 24, 2018, 10:33 AM

I will add, in agreement with pblanc, if it were available at the time I bought the Walther I would have opted for the Ruger. However, I am satisfied enough with the P22 that I have no intention to replace it with a Ruger. Unless of course one happens to come along at a great price.

LeverGunFan · October 24, 2018, 10:49 AM

Mine has been reliable, I haven't had any malfunctions using common high velocity ammo. Aftermarket magazines are available from KeepShooting.com, I have one and it is well made and works as well as the factory mags.

bac1023 · October 24, 2018, 11:02 AM

Umarex junk...

Jdin8455 · October 24, 2018, 04:18 PM

Get the Ruger SR22, and feed it CCI mini mag 40 grains.

I love mine

Cheapshooter · October 24, 2018, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Umarex junk...

Easily said by someone that only posts about the ultra high end, over priced "ststus symbol" guns that only the very wealthy, or very foolish can afford. Someone who obviously has absolutely no experience with the Walther P22.
I believe the OP asked about experiences of people who actually own a P22. Not the opinion of someone that thinks every gun priced under $1000+ is "junk".
If mine were junk I hardly believe it would have lasted this 10 or so years, and thousands of rounds fired!

tallball · October 24, 2018, 06:23 PM

If it's pretty much the same thing as the Sig Mosquito, then it's likely to be junk. Maybe I'm confused. I thought that Umarex owned both companies, so I assumed the two pistols are pretty much the same thing. Maybe I'm wrong.

JERRYS. · October 24, 2018, 08:12 PM

my [daughter's] P22 has been flawless, and I mean no malfunctions, yet. thousands of rounds and no problems of any kind, even with the junk Remington thunderbolts, two of which were dud primers.

Cheapshooter · October 24, 2018, 09:27 PM

Quote:

assumed the two pistols are pretty much the same thing. Maybe I'm wrong.

Yes, you are. While my experience with the Walther is much more extensive I have some with a Mosquito. Larger than the P22, and considerably more finicky about ammo. Most problems with the Mosquito of a good friend, and shooting buddy were resolved by keeping it clean, lubed, and using CCI MiniMag ammo.

bac1023 · October 24, 2018, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Easily said by someone that only posts about the ultra high end, over priced "ststus symbol" guns that only the very wealthy, or very foolish can afford. Someone who obviously has absolutely no experience with the Walther P22.
I believe the OP asked about experiences of people who actually own a P22. Not the opinion of someone that thinks every gun priced under $1000+ is "junk".
If mine were junk I hardly believe it would have lasted this 10 or so years, and thousands of rounds fired!

Excuse me? I’ve likely owned way more inexpensive guns than yourself, so I think I’m qualified to speak on them.

I owned a P22 for years as well as other Umarex products and stand by what I say. It’s Airsoft quality stuff built with plastic, aluminum, and sometimes pot metal.

If you like them, more power to you. However, for the price of some of this Umarex crap you can get bonafide rimfires like a Ruger Mark Series, Browning Buck Mark, etc. I’m simply trying to save the OP from the same mistakes I made.

Oh and until YOU have experience with the “ultra high end” stuff, as you call it, maybe you’re the one who should keep your comments to yourself. There’s nothing overpriced about the stuff I buy. I do think some guns are overpriced for what you get, but I know the difference. In fact, Umarex is a perfect example of overpriced guns. If they were under $200, they would be a decent option for folks to plink with.

Anything else?

bac1023 · October 24, 2018, 10:20 PM

Quote:

If it's pretty much the same thing as the Sig Mosquito, then it's likely to be junk. Maybe I'm confused. I thought that Umarex owned both companies, so I assumed the two pistols are pretty much the same thing. Maybe I'm wrong.

Yes, very similar in terms of “craftsmanship” or lack there of.

Too many good rimfires out there for the same price.

bac1023 · October 24, 2018, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Get the Ruger SR22, and feed it CCI mini mag 40 grains.

I love mine

Yes, I feel the Ruger is definitely a better quality gun. I had one for a while. Sold it to a friend.

Cheapshooter · October 24, 2018, 11:02 PM

Agreed, as I mentioned earlier. The Ruger is a better made gun for about $75 more money. So if you can budget a little more, or wait a little longer to save a bit more money, get the Ruger. But as mentioned by most others with personal experience with the P22, they work well for what they are.
If top accuracy is your goal, something more in the design of rimfire target pistols like the Buckmark, or Ruger MK series might be a better choice. Again, at a bit more cost.

GarandTd · October 25, 2018, 10:34 PM

In my neck of the woods, the p22, SR22, and m&p22 are all similarly priced around $300. The target models such as the Mark IV or Buckmark do command a higher price by $50-$100+, depending on model and features.

pblanc · October 26, 2018, 10:12 AM

The Walther P22 does have its share of reported problems, but not nearly as troubled a history as that of the SIG Mosquito.

The P22 is what it is.

Is it a highly accurate 22lr bullseye pistol? Certainly not.

Will it become a family heirloom? Not in my family.

Would I use it for self-defense? Of course not, but that applies to all other 22lr pistols as well.

Is it junk? In my opinion, no. It is a fun little pistol to shoot and a good training tool. Despite its ZAMAK slide and "cheap" construction, not a single part on my P22 has failed after quite a few years of use. It did have some teething problems which smoothed out with use.

I paid $250 for my P22 on sale. It has more than returned my investment. You can certainly buy better 22lr auto-loader pistols, such as the Walther PPQ 22lr, if you are willing to pay a bit more.

sigarms228 · October 26, 2018, 10:22 AM

For just a bit more you can get the Smith and Wesson M&P 22 Compact which has been getting good reviews for a while now and has a reputation of working with a wide range of ammo and being durable. I have one and really like it and never have as a problem with it with various ammo. I bought it as a training pistol and fun to shoot for my wife but she has yet to try it. Maybe some day LOL.

https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/20...mp-22-compact/

Cheapshooter · October 26, 2018, 11:13 AM

Quote:

The Walther P22 does have its share of reported problems, but not nearly as troubled a history as that of the SIG Mosquito.

The P22 is what it is.

Is it a highly accurate 22lr bullseye pistol? Certainly not.

Will it become a family heirloom? Not in my family.

Would I use it for self-defense? Of course not, but that applies to all other 22lr pistols as well.

Is it junk? In my opinion, no. It is a fun little pistol to shoot and a good training tool. Despite its ZAMAK slide and "cheap" construction, not a single part on my P22 has failed after quite a few years of use. It did have some teething problems which smoothed out with use.

I paid $250 for my P22 on sale. It has more than returned my investment. You can certainly buy better 22lr auto-loader pistols, such as the Walther PPQ 22lr, if you are willing to pay a bit more.

Nailed it!

T. O'Heir · October 26, 2018, 11:29 AM

"...reliability as rimfire can be picky..." It's not the reliability of rimfires so much as the nature of rimfires. You have to try a box of as many brands as you can to find the ammo that both shoots well and cycles the action with any .22. Some of 'em are more particular than others though. Makes no difference what you pay for it either.
"...the SIG Mosquito..." Was just branded by SIG. They didn't make 'em. GSG made 'em. The classic example of getting what you pay for.

Kvon2 · October 26, 2018, 02:01 PM

My wife's P22 has been absolutely flawless with minimags and a ton of fun.

Its fine with most ammo but the hotter stuff definitely works better.

I loaded a mag with some subsonic ammo just to see what.happens and as expected it didn't go well.

Siggy-06 · October 26, 2018, 03:25 PM

+1 on the Ruger SR22 over the Walther. Mine eats every brand of .22lr I feed it. Also the S&W M&P22 is worth a look too.

bac1023 · October 26, 2018, 04:18 PM

Quote:

I paid $250 for my P22 on sale. It has more than returned my investment. You can certainly buy better 22lr auto-loader pistols, such as the Walther PPQ 22lr, if you are willing to pay a bit more.

The PPQ 22 is also Umarex junk, but its larger, so they do feel a little more solid. They sure as hell aren't the quality of a Ruger Mark Series or a S&W Victory for about the same money.

I guess at $250 new its not too bad. I think they should be priced under $200 to make it worthwhile.

I'm glad some of you like them though. Junk is a relative term.

JohnMoses · October 26, 2018, 04:31 PM

The P22 is one of several loaner pistols I bring to live fire class. It was consistently the #1 choice of students, especially newbie shooters. I feed it bulk box federals, and have had very few malfunctions to clear. I found a used one for a good price at the pawn shop (with 3 mags!) so I don't bother bringing the SR22 anymore. (Students get the mags mixed up.) In short, mine run very well, and I have run lots of bulk box ammo through them.

October 24, 2018, 01:44 AM	#2
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 24,990	It is a fun gun that is not very expensive. My wife has one and she likes it. But it's picky about ammunition, and the last time it was at the range, the front sight fell off. Since I bought her a Ruger SR22, the P22 has stayed in the safe. A lot of people have them and like them, but I'm not a big fan. __________________ Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?

October 24, 2018, 09:55 AM	#3
Cheapshooter Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 8,306	I've had one for over ten years. Great for what it is. A fun little rimfire plinker. It is not a bullseye target pistol, or family heirloom piece. Reliability is good with the right ammo. Remington Golden Bullets, and CCI MiniMag works great. Accuracy is "good enough" for some fun plinking. Some of the early models had problems with the slide cracking. Mostly in the long barreled "target" version because the ZAMAK slide would slam against a steel extension that was attached to rhe muzzle end of the barrel with set screws. There are several mods, and tweaks that can be found online. https://www.waltherforums.com/forum/...p22-bible.html __________________ Cheapshooter's rules of gun ownership #1: NEVER SELL OR TRADE ANYTHING!

October 24, 2018, 10:33 AM	#5
Cheapshooter Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 8,306	I will add, in agreement with pblanc, if it were available at the time I bought the Walther I would have opted for the Ruger. However, I am satisfied enough with the P22 that I have no intention to replace it with a Ruger. Unless of course one happens to come along at a great price. __________________ Cheapshooter's rules of gun ownership #1: NEVER SELL OR TRADE ANYTHING!

October 24, 2018, 10:49 AM	#6
LeverGunFan Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 407	Mine has been reliable, I haven't had any malfunctions using common high velocity ammo. Aftermarket magazines are available from KeepShooting.com, I have one and it is well made and works as well as the factory mags. __________________ *Support the Second Amendment Foundation and the Firearms Policy Coalition*

October 24, 2018, 11:02 PM	#16
Cheapshooter Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 8,306	Agreed, as I mentioned earlier. The Ruger is a better made gun for about $75 more money. So if you can budget a little more, or wait a little longer to save a bit more money, get the Ruger. But as mentioned by most others with personal experience with the P22, they work well for what they are. If top accuracy is your goal, something more in the design of rimfire target pistols like the Buckmark, or Ruger MK series might be a better choice. Again, at a bit more cost. __________________ Cheapshooter's rules of gun ownership #1: NEVER SELL OR TRADE ANYTHING!

October 24, 2018, 12:28 AM	#1
Sterling Senior Member Join Date: July 7, 2014 Location: Katy Tx Posts: 126	Feedback on WALTHER P22 needed. Any forum member posses this pistol ? And can give some feedback good or bad re: build qaulity and reliabilty as rimfire can be picky. Im curently looking for a semi auto 22lr of this size and price point. Will not be used for sd strictly for range fun.

October 24, 2018, 10:01 AM	#4
pblanc Senior Member Join Date: March 23, 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 697	I have had no trouble with frame cracks on my P22, although the problem has been widely reported as Cheapshooter notes. Initially I had frequent failures to feed with mine, but these seem to have smoothed out and now the pistol is reasonably reliable. As has been noted, standard velocity 22LR ammunition may fail to cycle the slide fully. You are best off sticking with fairly high velocity ammo. It is an OK pistol for range shooting and for introducing a new shooter to semi-auto pistol shooting. From what I have seen and heard, the Ruger SR22 is a better pistol.

October 24, 2018, 11:02 AM	#7
bac1023 Senior Member Join Date: February 2, 2008 Posts: 1,107	Umarex junk...

October 24, 2018, 04:18 PM	#8
Jdin8455 Member Join Date: February 25, 2018 Posts: 55	Get the Ruger SR22, and feed it CCI mini mag 40 grains. I love mine

October 24, 2018, 06:23 PM	#10
tallball Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2014 Posts: 2,444	If it's pretty much the same thing as the Sig Mosquito, then it's likely to be junk. Maybe I'm confused. I thought that Umarex owned both companies, so I assumed the two pistols are pretty much the same thing. Maybe I'm wrong.

October 24, 2018, 08:12 PM	#11
JERRYS. Senior Member Join Date: September 23, 2013 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,969	my [daughter's] P22 has been flawless, and I mean no malfunctions, yet. thousands of rounds and no problems of any kind, even with the junk Remington thunderbolts, two of which were dud primers.

October 25, 2018, 10:34 PM	#17
GarandTd Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2016 Location: Rural PA Posts: 1,639	In my neck of the woods, the p22, SR22, and m&p22 are all similarly priced around $300. The target models such as the Mark IV or Buckmark do command a higher price by $50-$100+, depending on model and features. __________________ 22lr, 20 gauge, 8mm Mauser, 35 Remington, 30-06, 5.56x45/223, 9mm, 380acp

October 26, 2018, 10:12 AM	#18
pblanc Senior Member Join Date: March 23, 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 697	The Walther P22 does have its share of reported problems, but not nearly as troubled a history as that of the SIG Mosquito. The P22 is what it is. Is it a highly accurate 22lr bullseye pistol? Certainly not. Will it become a family heirloom? Not in my family. Would I use it for self-defense? Of course not, but that applies to all other 22lr pistols as well. Is it junk? In my opinion, no. It is a fun little pistol to shoot and a good training tool. Despite its ZAMAK slide and "cheap" construction, not a single part on my P22 has failed after quite a few years of use. It did have some teething problems which smoothed out with use. I paid $250 for my P22 on sale. It has more than returned my investment. You can certainly buy better 22lr auto-loader pistols, such as the Walther PPQ 22lr, if you are willing to pay a bit more.

October 26, 2018, 10:22 AM	#19
sigarms228 Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 2011 Posts: 1,768	For just a bit more you can get the Smith and Wesson M&P 22 Compact which has been getting good reviews for a while now and has a reputation of working with a wide range of ammo and being durable. I have one and really like it and never have as a problem with it with various ammo. I bought it as a training pistol and fun to shoot for my wife but she has yet to try it. Maybe some day LOL. https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/20...mp-22-compact/ __________________ “When the people find that they can vote themselves money that will herald the end of the republic.” ― Benjamin Franklin

October 26, 2018, 11:29 AM	#21
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...reliability as rimfire can be picky..." It's not the reliability of rimfires so much as the nature of rimfires. You have to try a box of as many brands as you can to find the ammo that both shoots well and cycles the action with any .22. Some of 'em are more particular than others though. Makes no difference what you pay for it either. "...the SIG Mosquito..." Was just branded by SIG. They didn't make 'em. GSG made 'em. The classic example of getting what you pay for. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

October 26, 2018, 02:01 PM	#22
Kvon2 Senior Member Join Date: January 4, 2016 Posts: 757	My wife's P22 has been absolutely flawless with minimags and a ton of fun. Its fine with most ammo but the hotter stuff definitely works better. I loaded a mag with some subsonic ammo just to see what.happens and as expected it didn't go well.

October 26, 2018, 03:25 PM	#23
Siggy-06 Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2014 Location: Florida Posts: 1,148	+1 on the Ruger SR22 over the Walther. Mine eats every brand of .22lr I feed it. Also the S&W M&P22 is worth a look too. __________________ Flicks just like a lighter, just a different kind of fire.

October 26, 2018, 04:31 PM	#25
JohnMoses Senior Member Join Date: April 11, 2008 Posts: 197	The P22 is one of several loaner pistols I bring to live fire class. It was consistently the #1 choice of students, especially newbie shooters. I feed it bulk box federals, and have had very few malfunctions to clear. I found a used one for a good price at the pawn shop (with 3 mags!) so I don't bother bringing the SR22 anymore. (Students get the mags mixed up.) In short, mine run very well, and I have run lots of bulk box ammo through them.