S&W 22A 4 in. for $99...is it a deal?

M

maxinquaye

New member
Hello - this is my first post but I have spent the last couple hours reading and learning a LOT...what a wonderful resource! Thank you all.

I am relatively new to handguns, my first purchase was a G27 and I love it, but the ammo gets pricy. Therefore, I'm in the market for a .22LR target pistol. My friendly local dealer has a S&W 22A that they just got back from the factory (new rear sight). The gun has been fired a lot and is semi-beat up cosmetically (it was a range rental) but was accurate when I put a couple boxes through it. Subjectively, I liked it's feel.

I know it's not a large sum - I am really more interested in feedback on the pistol itself and it's longevity. $99 bucks is obviously a good price, but will the gun hold up in the long run, or could I get a proportionally better deal laying out a few hundred for some other (NIB) target plinker?

Thanks in advance!

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Try this - next time you get junk mail, send their own crap back to them in the envelope marked "Postage Paid by Addressee" ;-)
 
I have one in the 5 1/2 inch version and mounted a red dot scope on it! Great gun very accurate I paid about 250.00 for it New about 5 months ago. Have not had many probs just the usual misfire every once in a while but thats .22's for ya!! Well good luck.
 
I've got a 22S (the stainless? version). I'm not sure of the barrel length, but it's about 4 inches. I've got a ProPoint 3 mounted on top. If memory serves me right, I bought it new for 250 or so (I bought it as part of a package with a Ruger 10/22T).

It has served me fine since I've had it, again (as shooter45 says) with the occassional jam or misfire (I use cheap ammo for the .22). If the cosmetics don't bother you, 99 seems like a fine deal.
 
Welcome to TFL maxinquaye.

Like branrot said, if the cosmetics aren't a factor, $99 is a good price even for a range gun. I couldn't say that about any other pistol except a .22LR. It is practically impossible to wear out a .22 barrel by shooting it, so if they haven't cleaned it to death (ranges rarely do), that shouldn't be a problem. Any other parts that are worn can easily be replaced. I would definitely buy a spring kit for it and then start plinking away.
 
Maxinquaye,

I have the 22S (stainless) with 7" barrel, and an Ultradot (red dot) sight. Mine will shoot one hole ten shot groups off a bench rest at 50 feet!

You can't go wrong at $99 for the 22A, and the only part you may need is the nylon recoil buffer that sits behind the slide return spring. S&W sent me a pack of them at no charge, but I'm still on the first one (badly battered) approaching 1000 rounds.

Mine feeds everything but one brand of ammo flawlessly. That ammo was designated T-22, and two other model 22 owners reported the same problem. I went to Walmart and bought a box of almost everything they had in stock, and it all fed perfectly except the T-22.

Bill
 
Thanks for all the input - I went ahead and purchased the gun this weekend and put about 700 rounds through it. I'm very pleased for the most part.

Your right about that recoil buffer - I could not believe my eyes when I took the pistol apart for cleaning that such a cheap piece of plastic was used. I will call S&W and ask for some.

I was firing some cheap Federal ammo I bought at Wal-Mart and the magazine jammed several times - especially after about 300 rounds have been fired. The problem is that about halfway down the magazine there are two holes (Which have no purpose as far as I can tell), and the tip of the ammo kept getting stuck in the holes, causing the magazine to misfeed. Has anyone else had this problem?

Thanks for all your help.
 
maxinquaye,

Sorry. I haven't checked back here for a while, and missed your message.

Congratulations on your new 22!

I wonder if those magazine problems are caused by inadvertently loading a case with the rim behind the rim below it, instead of in front as it should be? That's not hard to do if you get in a hurry, so be careful that every case rim is in front of the one below it when you load.

Please let me know what you find.

Bill Adair



[This message has been edited by Bill Adair (edited July 27, 2000).]
 
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