Is the 5" Walther P22 bbl threaded?

R

Redhook

New member
On the back of the Jan 2002 SAR Magazine Gemtech has an ad for their Outback silencer shown on a Walther P22. If you haven't seen it, it looks awesome. But the gun is shown without the (non)compensator/weight, so it looks like its in the 3.4"bbl configuration with the silencer on the front. But, I was wondering if the 5" bbl is threaded (for the compensator/weight) in the 1/2x28 thread to mate to the Gemtech?

If so, that would be great! You won't have to buy another barrel.

-Red-
 
The P22 uses an interesting barrel system. There is a sleeve over the barrel and a barrel nut that screws onto the end of the barrel that presses against the sleeve. This pulls the barrel forward against a block in the frame, that the barrel fits through, to keep it from sliding back out. I suppose the suppressor could be built to replace the barrel nut or a replacement barrel nut could be made as an adapter to allow a supressor to be screwed on, but there doesn't look like there would be enough threading to support the added weight. Why don't you call Gemtech and ask them?
 
looks kinda like this...

http://subguns.biggerhammer.net/nfaad.cgi?read=65769

That will scroll away soon. Gemtech requires that you send them the 5" barrel version. They cut the barrel down, and rethread it for an adapter that steps it up to 1/2x28. The factory barrel nut will no longer fit the modified barrel as they change the thread pitch for the adapter. Cost $145 not including shipping. That information is current as of last week, straight from Gemtech.

Bluegrass Armory makes a stainless steel adapter that simply replaces the factory barrel nut, even uses the factory wrench to tighten or remove it. It works on either barrel length, and is the one pictured in the link above. Price - $50.
 
I'd scan it, but my scanners been acting all freaky. But, chops pic is pretty close. The Gemtech sits a little closer to the muzzle and there's no cone.

The bluegrass adapter sounds better. Even if you don't mount an AAC silencer to it.

I must admit, it looks pretty nice!

-Red-
 
This is somewhat off topic but I am wondering...when viewed from the breech end, there's a tubular structure surrounded by the barrel mass. What purpose does that tube serve and how does it transition into the rifling?
 
My Gemtech Outback has a little flare on the back of it, but it's smaller than that on the suppressor in the picture. I'm not sure what kind of suppressor that is in the pic. The differences are minor, and I like this system better than what Gemtech is currently offering. It's a little more versatile, and it doesn't require permanent alterations to the barrel.
 
Chop,

Since the guy sells AAC silencers, I would dare guess that it's an AAC. I take it that you used the bluegrass adaptor?

-Red-
 
Please forgive my ignorance, but I thought silencers were illegal. Or can you get them if you have some type of special permit?
 
Please forgive my ignorance, but I thought silencers were illegal. Or can you get them if you have some type of special permit?
Click to expand...

Your not ignorant....Silencers/Machine Guns/destructive devices/short barreled shotguns are Title 2 NFA (1968 Gun Control Act, Title 2 is the National Firearms Act) class 3 weapons, semiauto/revolvers/bolt guns/shotguns are Title1- class 1.

More details here Class 3 info

Silencers are legal in some states, and illegal in others.....they require a $200 tax stamp (on top of item price) to the ATF, takes 2-3 months to process your paperwork and your good to go. Hope that helps.
 
No problem Curley!

Yes! Silencers are quite legal in 35 or 36 States including Texas. But they fall under different regulations than most firearms.

Silencers are not regulated by your state government, short of making them illegal to possess. They fall under the same classification as Class III firearms (machine guns) and other explosive devices. They are all regulated by the BATF under the National Firearms Act (NFA) of 1934.

I don't know about Texas, but you should be able to purchase a silencer from just about any class III dealer in your area. But you can't take it home with you right away. To take possession of the silencer you will need the signature of your local Chief Law Enforcement Officer. Then you send the proper forms, finger prints, passport photo, and $200 to the BATF. 60-90 days later, if your records clean, you'll get the forms back and you can take it home.

There is a couple of down sides. First, if approved, you give up some of your privacy rights. I believe the BATF has the right to inspect your NFA weapons on demand. They want to be sure that they are being kept safely and are in your possession. I've never heard of a private citizen being asked to do so, but I know a few dealers that have be audited. Second is the long wait for approval. And third is the $200 you tack on to every silencer, machine gun, explosive device, short barreled rifle, etc. that you buy. It's a tax you know.

If I missed something, anybody, feel free to add.

-Red-
 
Redhook,

Doh! I should have realized that was an AAC, but I never really took much of a look at his website or the ad. Yeah, I bought one of the short barrels for the P22 from Earl's Repair Service, and I bought two of the Bluegrass adapters. I was really surprised by them. I know they're very simple things, but the quality and finish was way better than I was expecting, they do nice work. I just came back from shooting at a friend's house outside of town. My P22 throws a startling amount of fire and sparks of burning powder from the ejection port when shooting it in the dark with the suppressor on it. I think I'll try to find a slightly heavier recoil spring for it to see if I can slow the slide down a little bit.

CSKS - if understand your question correctly, that tubular structure is the chamber end of the barrel. It's not much more than a liner stuck through the block. The barrel itself is very, very thin.
 
Yep. It's not much more than a steel liner. The rifled part is just a hair thicker than the walls of the chamber. The barrel sleeve is a close fit, and probably enough to keep it from splitting. I'm still a little in doubt about the long term durability of this thing. If Walther is the company I believe them to be, they've thoroughly tested it to the extreme, but time will tell. I stripped the thing completely apart tonight as it was getting really dirty. It's not as complex as I thought it was from the exploded view drawing. The frame is a much harder plastic than on a Glock or H&K and gives me the impression it may be brittle. But that's just how it feels with everything stripped out of it. It's hard to tell how tough plastics are sometimes.
 
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