Walther P-22 Review [2023 Hands-On Review]
Today we’re taking a long look at the Walther P-22, a popular rimfire handgun. This review will cover exactly what it is, how it came to be, and how well it stacks up performance-wise.
Walther P-22 Specs
- Model 5120700
- Caliber .22LR
- Barrel Length 3.42″
- Trigger Pull 11 lbs
- Capacity 10 Rounds
- Overall Length 6.5″
- Weight 16 oz
Walther P-22 Background
The Walther P-22 is billed as a “tactical rimfire” pistol and was designed to more closely match the popular centerfire pistols on the market, rather than emulate the Ruger Mark III’s of the world.
This offers shooters a chance to build muscle memory on a similar layout to their defensive handgun, while using low-cost .22lr ammo.
Released in 2002, the Walther P-22 has found immense commercial success, despite recurring issues with QC and parts breakage. Some have attributed the slide breaks to an inherent design flaw, while others have pointed at the use of inferior metals used. While the issue dogged Walther for some time, it appears to have been addressed in more recent revisions of the P-22.
Walther P-22 Features
1 Double Action / Single Action Trigger
Provides that extra level of safety against accidental discharges.
2 Ambi-Magazine Release
Great for either left-handed or right-handed shooters.
3 Threaded Adaptor for Suppressor Mounting
What’s better than shooting a 22LR suppressed?
4 Limited Lifetime Warranty
It’s nice to see a good warranty for anything you invest money into.
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
- Great Suppressor Host
- Ergonomically Sound
- Good Trainer for New Shooters
- Terrible Trigger
- Slide Might Snap
- Marginal Reliability
Report Card | ||
Shootability | When the P-22 is up and running, it’s a fun gun to shoot, and good for experienced shooters and new shooters alike. | B+ |
Reliability | Some ammo types run mostly well, while others stop the show with regularity. Even a detailed clean and polish will only get you so far. Stoppages run the gamut from failures to feed, extract, and eject. Possible catastrophic failure of the slide. | D- |
Ergonomics | This is a comfortable enough gun to hold and shoot, with controls that are placed out-of-the-way enough while shooting, yet close enough to engage when needed. | B+ |
Accuracy | Try out a few brands of ammo and you’ll find one that clusters instead of slinging rounds into a loose formation. Good bullets can’t fix the trigger though. | C+ |
Value | The price isn’t great, nor terrible. A decent price for a decent gun, assuming you get one of the good ones. | C+ |
Our Grade
B-
Reviewed by Jens Hammer
Reader’s Grade
C+
Based on 21 Reviews
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Walther P-22 Gun Deals
Looking for the sweetest deal on the Walther P-22? Finding guns at a decent price is seemingly getting harder and harder these days. That’s why we’ve provided you with a head start in looking for the right price.
Disclaimer: These are priced at the time of writing. Price and availability are both subject to change.
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$349.99
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.
Range Rounds
CCI Standard Velocity 40GR
Marketplace | Cost |
| Brownells | $0.06 |
| Natchez Shooter’s Supply | $0.07 |
Walther P-22 Starter Pack
If for some reason you do decide on picking up a Walther P22, you’re going to need the basics to go with it.
- Magazines: Walther P22 Mags at Gun Mag Warehouse
- Gun Cleaning Kit: Gloryfire Universal Cleaning Kit on Amazon
- Shooting Glasses: Unsure of what shooting glasses you need, check out our top picks for the best shooting glasses.
- Hearing Protection: Although it’s only a 22LR, you still need to be wearing ear pro when shooting this gun. Find out your best option at our Best Shooting Hearing Protection article.
- Storage: Vaultek Lifepod on Amazon
Upgrades and Accessories for the Walther P-22
There’s nothing better than coupling a nice plinker with quality reactive hit/miss targets. Here’s our top three choices for you to check out.
Best Targets for the Walther P22
Other 22LR Pistols of Its Class to Check Out
.22LR pistols truly are so much fun to shoot. However, as seen above, the Walther falls short of expectations. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have other options. As a matter of fact, Gun University’s reviewed one of the best available on the market.
#1 Ruger 22 Charger
Ruger 22 Charger
A unique pistol extension of the classic Ruger 10/22 rifle platform.
Sold at Guns.com, Brownells, Palmetto State Armory
- Shootability A+
- Reliability A-
- Ergonomics A-
- Accuracy A-
- Value B+
Our Grade
A-
Reviewed by Jens Hammer
Reader’s Grade
B+
Based on 11 Reviews
Your Grade
Do You Own This Gun? Leave A Review
Success Your Grade Has Been
Added To Our Reader’s Score
We use email to verify the accuracy of our reviews. We promise to never spam you.
Right now, the Ruger Charger is near the top of our list as one of the most fun guns to shoot. If you’re seriously into plinking or even Rimfire competitions, you need to give this gun a shot. And if you slap a can on this firearm…thank us later… READ MORE
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.
Important Links and Manuals for the Walther P22
Looking to find more information on the Walther P22? Check out the following links to get started!
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About Jens Hammer
Life is an adventure for Alaskan expat Jens Hammer-a.k.a. Rex Nanorum. He’s a combat veteran with the 2nd Bn, 75th Ranger Regt and has completed 5 tours between Afghanistan and Iraq. Now, Rex is a certified helicopter pilot instructor, salvage diver, commercial fisherman, and personal trainer. And Gun University contributor.
Recent Posts
May 26, 2023
May 26, 2023
I purchased my P22 in July of 2002 (first year production). From all the negative reports I’ve read, It would seem that I got a ringer. It’s never given me any real trouble. Feeding, firing, extraction and ejection have all been pretty much reliable. Accuracy too has been just fine for the type of gun that it is. I’ve put just about 800 rounds of high velocity and a couple of hundred rounds of standard velocity ammo through it without any breakages. Since learning about the potential slide failure issue, I’ve switched to using standard velocity only in an effort to protect it from undue stress. My only real complaint is the pull weight of the trigger in DA mode. I know that it’s going to be stiffer in order to light the rimfire primer reliably but I bet it could be lighter. At least it pulls smoothly. I just wanted people to know that not all P22’s, even first year guns, aren’t epic failures. I like mine very much.
I’ve owned a P22Q and haven’t had any issues whatsoever. I run CCI just because it’s good ammo.
I believe a lot is written negatively about the P22 and haven’t experienced any of what’s been said or written.
My P22 was an epic turd. Couldn’t fire 5 rounds without at least one jam. It would jam the fresh round from the magazine, feeding incorrectly. Best day of ownership was the day I traded it off at a gun show for something else.
I own at least a dozen rimfire handguns and understand they can be finicky…. but the P22 is just a bad design. If you really want a Walther, try the Walther PPQ .22lr. It is much more reliable with a much better factory trigger.
It needs good bullets, preferably in individually mounted box packaging to avoid getting stuck, it’s a nob, but it’s really lightweight and easy to handle, I’d give it an A anyway.
I disagree from experience. The only problem I’ve had was extracting, but that was for when at the end of the day carrying, I had a problem getting out the steel case. That was easily fixed by closing it and pressing on the extractor as I pulled it out. Other than that, it’s a great pistol
Spot on, your P22 experience was very similar to mine. I had no slide problems, but extraction and ejection problems were totally unacceptable with most ammo.
I tried all the tricks in the “Walther P22 Bible” found online, and improved reliability quite a bit. Polishing the hammer and underside of the slide really helped.
But the thing I discovered that fixed everything was actually spec problem with the extractor. Both the original part and the replacement from Volquartsen are just a little too long to actually grip the rim of the cartridge! The CCI MiniMags have enough kickback to push the slide back and blow the case out, but most other rounds require a little assist from the extractor. I got a replacement extractor from Lugus Manufacturing which is the correct length (or has the hole drilled in the right place, anyway) that fixed the problem outright. The gun now extracts and ejects reliably with all kinds of ammo and has become one of my favorite plinkers.