Comments/Suggestions for the Phoenix .22

[Guest bubruins]

I shot a friend of mines phoenix .22 tonight at the range and I had several problems with it. I did a search on this site and found most phoenix related posts to be about failures, but not solutions.

I shot some Remington thunderbolt and Winchester high velocity plated ammunition through it and I encountered several FTF's and FTE's. Has anyone on this forum had any success with a different ammunition, such as CCI minimags?

Are there any modifications that can be made to this gun that would improve reliability (i.e. polishing the feed ramp or a DIY job)?

I'm asking because my friend told me the gun was worth less than $50 to him and I've been eyeing the .22 plinker handgun market lately.

[Guest Arko]

It's a cheap .22 Retail is about $150, so smith work probably really isn't worth it.

Having said that, mine is very reliable with round nose ammo and lots of lube.

Sorry I can't help more than that.

[Guest boatme99]

Nothing a good 3# sledge hammer couldn't fix.

[mousegunner]

Ammo of preference is CCI mini-mags. Seems to work well with all .22 pistols.

I have a Phoenix HP-22, and it has been 100% reliable for me. Here's my review:

Phoenix Arms HP22A .22 LR Pistol Review

You should also visit the Phoenix Arms forum. I believe your friend's little gun can be made reliable and fun to shoot with just a little effort!

bryco-jennings-jimenezarms.com :: View Forum - Phoenix Arms pistols.

I would give him $50 in a heart beat!

[Mike.357]

Magazines seem to be the issue with any auto loader I have had that had feed issues.

With some tweaking of the feed lips, either tightening them up, or making them a little looser has solved the issue every time. A little dry lube has helped in certain instances too.

Grease on the rails instead of oil might help some too. Grease what slides, oil what turns or pivots.

I agree with Mousegunner though, 50 bucks would be a reasonable offer provided you think you can fiddle with it to make it work.

[extremescene]

CCI mini mags and Federal AM22 have worked well in our hp22. Lots of lube is needed.

[lowbud]

I had one that wouldn't shoot anything but stingers until I sent it back. they have a good warranty.. then it fired anyhting. My second one shot anything right from the start.

[craglawnmanor]

I agree with many comments above. CCI ammo has always worked the best in my HP-22.

[Guest bubruins]

Thanks for all of the info, especially the links. Last night was my first night shooting a .22 handgun so now I know about the CCI ammo. I'll pick some up before we go to the range again and see how it works.

I read mousegunner's review and noticed that he had the optional 5 inch barrel. Did this make a significant (or $41 dollars worth) change in accuracy? Does anyone on here have any experience with this or any other modifications?

[GLOCKMEISTER]

next time you go fishing tie a line to it and try using it for an achor

[Guest mosinon]

mine performs pretty well. But I had it checked out by lowbud before I bought it. Plenty fun and plenty cheap in my opinion.

[Oh Shoot]

mine performs pretty well. But I had it checked out by lowbud before I bought it. Plenty fun and plenty cheap in my opinion.

Seems pretty darn accurate too, I've shot it. Really.

And it's really held up well...between us, must have almost a hundred trouble free rounds through it by now?

- OS

[Defender]

Mine was beat to death almost when I got it for a song. It runs surprisingly well, and although I wouldn't wanna trust my life with it, its a great plinker. I have the one short barrel with mine, wouldnt mind getting an extra longer barrel as well. Everything I have read about it on the net indicates that as far as "Saturday night specials" go, its among the more reliable. I find it odd that many of these "specials" are made in Commiefornia...

[Guest mikedwood]

Less then $50? I'd grab it, clean it, use Miltec1 on it and use CCI FMJ and I about bet it would shoot fine.

If not you would have a great plinking gun to practice tap rack bang on for $50.

[Guest Bonedaddy]

Mine didn't like nothing but CCI at first, now it shoots the cheaper stuff pretty reliable but I did polish the feed ramp and "slightly" rounded the edge of the breach. Pretty accurate for a cheap pistol. I have both barrels and I swear the 3" is almost as accurate as the 5" out to 15 yards. Sometimes they just need shooting some to smooth them out. If you buy it used, I would take a dremel tool to the mag safety. Won't take 5 minutes to fix. That way you can drop the mag and rack the slide to clear a FTF or FTE without having to put in an empty mag.

[Defender]

What exactly do you have to do to do this? I HATE theat safety, lol.

Mine didn't like nothing but CCI at first, now it shoots the cheaper stuff pretty reliable but I did polish the feed ramp and "slightly" rounded the edge of the breach. Pretty accurate for a cheap pistol. I have both barrels and I swear the 3" is almost as accurate as the 5" out to 15 yards. Sometimes they just need shooting some to smooth them out. If you buy it used, I would take a dremel tool to the mag safety. Won't take 5 minutes to fix. That way you can drop the mag and rack the slide to clear a FTF or FTE without having to put in an empty mag.

[Guest Arko]

I'd be interested in the mag safety "fix" as well. I used mine a few weeks ago to introduce some new shooters, and that mag safety was confusing to them.

[Metalhead]

next time you go fishing tie a line to it and try using it for an achor

Yup. We carried em for awhile, had to stop after a 90%+ fail rate.

[Guest bubruins]

Like many have mentioned, the gun isn't something I'd trust my life with. I would have one FTF or FTE per magazine on average. I only shot about 70 rounds, though.

It's good to hear that people are having some success with them as plinkers and that you can remove that goofey magazine safety.

[Oh Shoot]

Like many have mentioned, the gun isn't something I'd trust my life with..

So there are .22 pistols you WOULD you trust your life with?

- OS

[lowbud]

Like many have mentioned, the gun isn't something I'd trust my life with. I would have one FTF or FTE per magazine on average. I only shot about 70 rounds, though.

It's good to hear that people are having some success with them as plinkers and that you can remove that goofey magazine safety.

only a nincompoop would trust their life to a .22, I always thought they were made for only one reason.. plinking..

[Mark@Sea]

What, OS, you haven't kept up with Mikes' ninja chipmunk threads?

[Oh Shoot]

What, OS, you haven't kept up with Mikes' ninja chipmunk threads?

Good point, but I think the sticky feet traps saved his ass from the killer munks more than the .22 shorts.

- OS