Gun Test: Walther P22

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I recently tested the Walther P22, a polymer-framed, 10-shot pistol chambered in .22 LR. This is a hammer-fired pistol with traditional DA/SA operation. It has a slide-mounted safety on both sides that blocks the firing pin so the hammer can be manually lowered safely. It also has a magazine disconnect safety so the gun won’t fire without the magazine inserted and a paddle-style magazine release that can be used by right- or left-handed shooters. There is also an accessory rail at the front for installing a light or laser.

I was lucky enough to fire the gun with a suppressor, which made the gun very quiet and easy to shoot with no hearing protection. The gun has a threaded barrel, but it is covered by a simple thread protector, and it looks completely unthreaded with it on. An adapter is included for suppressor use. With the suppressor, the extra weight helped reduce the recoil.

The P22’s small size and low recoil make it easy for anyone to shoot. The pistol’s accuracy was very good for my informal testing against a small army of plastic bottles. You really have to focus on your fundamentals to get good hits, and with the Walther P22, this is both fun and cheap.