THE BEST .22 HANDGUNS - WALTHER P22 - III part

 

THE BEST .22 HANDGUNS

III part

 

WALTHER P22

Walther P22

Unlike the Ruger Mark firearms design born from the last Great War, the Walther P22 is a new movement and represents a pistol of entirely different provenience, maintaining all of the features of a modern full-size pistol. After the enormous success of famous Walther P99 center-fire pistol line the German gunmaker, Carl Walther GmbH Sportwaffen decided to exploit that design by introducing in 2002 the rimfire version. The Walther P22 design intent was to duplicate the grip, feel, and fire controls of the tactical styling and concepts from their centerfire handguns. As an instant hit and the panache of a new trend, Walther P22 became one of the most imitating pistols in a world of contemporary rimfire handguns. 

The Walther P22Q is fascinating in its compact size, and it seems more like a modern concealed carry pistol than the standard 22 LR handgun. The Walther P22 is a hammer-fired pistol with traditional DA/SA operation and was one of the first rimfire guns to use modern manufacturing procedures and features only found, at the time, on new “wonder nines” pistols. However, the immediately noticeable difference to Walther's famous center-fire P99 is the P22 shrunken proportion of about 75 percent of the overall size followed with P22’s external hammer and a slide-mounted thumb safety. 

Mechanically speaking the P22 is a standard fixed barrel rimfire weapon that uses a blowback action of a double action / single action design. The pistol trigger pull required power in double-action is an 11-pound, and in single-action, the trigger pull is just over four pounds. The excellent sights are completely adjustable consisting of a polymer ramp front sight that can be moved for elevation and a polymer rear sight adjustable for windage. The great trigger complemented by solid 3-dot polymer sights offers a decent accuracy at 25 yards making P22 an excellent choice for target shooters and plinkers.

The P22 is ultra-modern handgun made of black polymer grip frame with a slide and frame receiver components made from MIM (Metal Injection Molding) cast zinc alloy. The gun has a compact look due to the barrel measuring of only 3.42 inches, which consists of a rifled steel insert placed within a steel barrel sleeve. Although the extractor, recoil spring guide, and ejector are all made of steel, the weapon is very lightweight, and thanks to its polymer construction, the P22 only weighs mere 17 ounces unloaded, so the shooter can actually feel recoil when he shoots the weapon. 

Furthermore, the P22 resembles ergonomics of center-fire big brothers in the form of polymer grip provided with an interchangeable back strap allowing a comfortable grip. In the same manner is arranged a novel ambidextrous magazine release located on the trigger guard, which is a European, paddle style. Except for the ambidextrous magazine release, the influence of European style is also evident in the hooked front on the trigger guard. There is also an accessory rail at the front for the mounting a light or laser. Beyond aforementioned the slide mounted manual safety, the gun also includes several other safety mechanisms such as magazines disconnect safety, trigger lock, and the drop safety. 

However, there is only one issue with P22 connected with its design so the gun doesn't function well with low-velocity ammunition so the owners would only use the recommended high-velocity ammunition by the manufacturer to avoid jams and malfunctions.

Definitely, this affordable .22 handgun serves the purpose of plinking, training and casual target shooting as well for new shooters and the entire family. The P22Q offers several different equipment configurations consisting of longer barrels with compensators, a barrel-mounted weight or an internally threaded barrel allowing the attachment of a suppressor.