Walther P-22 Review [2021 – Hands On Review]

Walther P-22 Features

Walther P22 Color Variations

The Walther P22 comes in many different colors other than black, so there’s bound to be one for you.

Walther P22 – Our Take

So, what grade does the Walther P22 get? Well, let’s run it through the gamut and see where it comes out.

Reliability

The Walther P-22 is a simple, straightforward gun, as rimfires so often are. Most .22lr firearms are known for being finicky with ammo, and the P-22 proves the rule rather than the exception.

While CCI Mini-mags tend to run without issue most often, switching to Federal’s bulk pack or American Eagle’s 40gr offering bump up the odds of experiencing a stoppage significantly enough.

Using copper jacketed rounds helps to keep the feed ramp cleaner than exposed lead projectiles. If I keep my P-22 immaculately clean and running the best of rounds, I’m still all but guaranteed to perform stoppage drills a couple times per range trip.

Ergonomics

The P-22 is a comfortable “Goldilocks” gun, that seems to fit the vast majority of hands. The magazine release is out of the way enough to avoid unintentionally dropping the mag but is easy enough to hit without breaking your grip on the gun. The P-22 achieves its goal of providing modern semi-auto stylings and ergonomics in a rimfire package.

Accuracy

The P-22 is not a target pistol. While most shooters I know expect that every .22lr handgun should be a tack driver like their old Mark III or IV, this simply isn’t set up like that. The main impediment for the P-22 to achieve target gun levels of precision is undoubtedly the trigger.

In double-action, the trigger is extremely heavy (by necessity). In such a light gun, this inescapably causes more movement than desired throughout the entire gun. In single-action mode, the weight of pull is greatly reduced, but there’s still significant creep and grit.

At 8 yards, American Eagle’s round grouped better than CCI’s Mini-mags or Federal’s bulk pack. Groups averaged ~1” for American Eagle, ~1.5”-2” for CCI, and looked like a shotgun pattern with Federal’s 36gr pill.

Shootability

The P-22 might not be the best for showing off impressive group sizes, but it is an extremely enjoyable gun to shoot. 10-round mags limit the fun available, but for point-n-shoot plinking to P-22 is tough to beat.

This is doubly true if you track down the threaded barrel adaptor (or pick up the threaded tactical version) and run a suppressor on this gun. The P-22 is a really good suppressor host, and the action runs quietly.

For shooting in a rural setting where safety concerns are taken care of but noise for the neighbors is an issue, a suppressed P-22 is unlikely to be heard from any appreciable distance. Even in it’s OEM configuration though, the P-22 is always a welcome addition to a range trip.

Value

With a MSRP of $339 the Walther P-22 comes in the middle ground price-wise, allowing it to keep pace with the competition. Used guns are commonly found in the mid-to-upper $200’s, though not knowing the round count (and how close to slide failure) makes them a bit of a gamble.

Walther P22 Pros and Cons

Best Ammo for Your Walther P22

Plinking is not only super fun, but it’s a pretty cost effective way to scratch your shooting itch. Here are two selections from CCI: the Standard Velocity and the Stingers. 

The Standard Velocity rounds are like the gold standard for plinking, but if you’re looking for something with a little more punch…. Opt for the Stingers.

How to Care for Your Walther P-22

Let’s say that you’re in love with the way of the Walther, and you plan on picking one up. Or maybe you had one gifted to you. And despite what anybody says, there’s nothing wrong with owning an extra plinker.

But the question remains…Do you know how to care for and clean one of these? They’re not as simple as other firearms to takedown. Check out Colorado Shooter Instrcution’s video on how to properly takedown and reassemble the P22.