Fussy Walther P22

G

gunnre

New member
Bought Walter p22 couple months back. Only rounds I find it'll shoot is CCI minimags. Hates Federals, tried Winchester super X, Remington thunders etc. hates them all. Won't eject or stovepipes. At the range today ran into a gal that had no probs running old corroded crab in hers with no problems. Was an older version than mine. LGS, Gander and Cabela's say no such complaints from customers. Called Walther, they think I'm shot a past sober. Love the gun, the feel, keep a pretty tight group at 10 meters but I didn't buy a singles shooter. Any thoughts from you P22 owners will be welcomed.
 
I bought one not long ago. Mine cycles Remington golden billet really well. Hates super x. I read replacing the factory guide rod with the stainless captured one helps. For 25 bucks I may try it.

Cci will probably always work best, but a good cleaning can go a long way, even after a couple hundred rounds.
 
My Remington 597 is pretty picky with ammo but the best I've actually found for it are Norma USA TAC 22.

I've put probably about 300 of those slimey rounds through it with no problems.
 
I have a well used P22 and it is ammo picky as well. These little handguns are known for such and each has a slightly different personality. With a new one, it should break in and feed/cycle somewhat better after the first 200 rounds.

There is a good reference you might want to read for maintenance, improvements, and fixes - The P22 Bible. The following will lead you to the PDF:

http://www.gunlink.info/downloads/PDF/1917-1911M_P22_bible.pdf

Happy shooting!
 
Good to know this are very finicky. I had considered buying one to practice and match it with my PPQ. Guess I won't now. A friend of mine has the mosquito what is worse and now won't even work with the CCI bullets. Guess I will stick with my trusty browning buckmark. It's really a whore, will shoot anything you like, she has low standards, so brands do not matter, she'll take it.
 
This is a great pistol at the range BUT it has a weakness, very picky about the velocity of the ammo, for the most part you want to use 1,400 fps and up as the gun is. For under 20 bucks you can buy a Galloway captured recoil spring and it will feed the cheapest of ammo. I love the feel of this P22, bought mine for 235, add the 20 bucks to Galloway spring and you have a great range gun for under 260.
 
Thanks all. I did download the P22 Bible when I first got it. Thanks for reminding me I have it. Yes I did consider sending it back. Gonna check into replacing the spring as mentioned. If nothing else it is a cheap pistol so I shouldn't be out too bad if I tinker and experiment. Does add entertainment to my range time. ;) Keep you posted about my efforts.
 
Thanks Addizzle19. Found the Remington Gold Bullet HP, $35 for 525. Gun loves it. To MS 6852 and others that soured on the P22, DON'T BAIL. This gun is an absolute blast. Enjoy the journey with whatever gun you choose.

Trying to figure out uploading a pic with this post. After 2-3 ten rd clips with each Rem Golden Bullet HP and CCI mini mag with absolutely no glitches I compared POA accuracy. Very similar.....yet different. CCI Mini Mag put a cluster of 5 just below POA, cluster of 4 at seven o clock 1.5 to 2" from POA. The Remington Golden Bullet put an 8 bullet cluster about 1.5" around POA with 5 under POA. Two strayed 2" lower lt and rt. ( Loose nut on the trigger pivot:cool:

Also I ordered up the Galloway captured recoil spring. I have no intentions of cleaning this gun until than. So, starting clean, I put 40 rounds through yesterday and 80 today. No glitches, no clean. Off to fed the dogs and figure out how to upload pic.
 
Should clarify to MS6852 and others.
I had and am having a blast with this pistol; learning to shoot it, learning what works in it, what I can do to improve it, what I can do for my technique. I've loved my time with this tool. And I will continue as it seems room for growth get either more difficult or I get more stubborn as I age on.
 
Last edited:
This is a long shot but if you happen to live in the middle TN area I've got a bunch of different kinds of .22 ammo that we can try out and see what your gun likes.
 
gunre
Bought Walter p22 couple months back. Only rounds I find it'll shoot is CCI minimags. Hates Federals, tried Winchester super X, Remington thunders etc. hates them all. Won't eject or stovepipes.
Click to expand...
Sounds like my Ruger SR22. It liked cci mini mags but I tried a variety (the same variety) and got the same results.
22lr semi-auto pistols are an inherently fussy species, I believe.

On the positive side, if there's a fix, you don't really have a problem.

I'm hoping to pick up a p22 in a month or two, so please keep us apprised.
 
Semi-auto .22 pistols(and rifles) are like that. Some are more particular than others. You have to try a box of as many brands as you can to find the ammo it'll both shoot well and cycle the action. The cost of said ammo means nothing.
Yes, you do end up with hordes of part boxes. That's what .22 bolt actions or single shots are for. snicker
However, a P22 isn't a target pistol so don't bother with standard velocity stuff.
 
Just wondering, since another poster had mentioned it and it may help the op and others: has anyone tried the Galloway captured recoil spring? How do you like it? Reliability improvement? For 20$ I may give it a whirl.
 
Update. Recieved the Galloway captured spring as mentioned. For $20 it makes the field strip so much easier to reassemble. That is worth the money period. Range test this morn: still does not like the Winchester Super X, Fed bulk target, twice no eject, once a stove pipe in 10 rd clip. Next experiment will be Browning BPR performance target 40 gr, 1255fps. Similar to CCI Mini Mag.
Understand, I'm enjoying this experiment as it is more affordable than anyother caliber and anything that doesn't work will work in my HGB or 10/22 takedown and charger as they fire anything, may try a frozen pea someday :eek: So stock piling 22lr now works for me for when supply dries.
After 50+ rounds of each CCI and Remington I can't say that one is more accurate. Best I can tell and what is operator error is the Rem keeps 10 shots closer, The CCI tends to give me real tight groups other than two or three of ten that spray wide and low. Will keep you posted
 
I've had mine for 10 years or more. It runs great with CCI or Aguila hi ammo. It will choke on most bulk stuff. It is almost like weak springs in the magazines. If I only load 6 of the bulk stuff, it will shoot 'em all. If I load all 10, I get stovepipes, FTF's, etc.

Joe
 
OK Here's what I think I learned today at the range. (Stuck between
jobs and I don't wanna steal 17 yro sons gas and dating money doing the yard work.)
The Feds, Browning, etc with what I thinks uses lead balls & won't work. My suspicion is lead balls are no good. Question: is the brass cartridge of a lead ball different? I'm thinking the brass cartridge of lead shot is weaker,(thinnner), and expands in the chamber thus no discharged of or stovening. Wacky or what are your thoghts?
 
I read one time that the little Ruger was like a Walther that worked. Just sayin.....................................................
 
:) Yep.
So Walther offers no target/plinking 22's rifles means my 10/22 Takedown and Charger are safe with me.
Still love to shoot the P22 and my accuracy is getting better in the 10 yd range. Fortunately the gun was cheap enough and has plenty of upside for me to overlook it's picky diet choice.
 
Glad I stuck with this P22 and kept plinking a few mags through everytime I went to the range. Over this long weekend I put 150 rounds of Rem Goldens and 50 CCI Minimags without one an eject of stovepipe issue.
Really is a blast to put on target not worring if the next round is ready. :eek:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top