Walther P22 problems. Mine has them all. Devil Gun From Hell.

[Randall53]

I have a Walther P22 I bought several years ago. It has never shot a single magazine without stove piping, failing to eject, failing to chamber.  Most times, I'll see all three while trying to fire 1 magazine of any brand of 22LR.  I've tried CCI, Remington, Federal, etc...with no improvement. After buying this pistol and seeing these problems, I contacted S-W and they paid for me to ship it back to them. They returned it to me and I went to the range. No improvement at all. I was totally PO'd and threw it in my safe.  I forgot about the POS. While performing my 6 month ritual of cleaning all my guns I found DGFH at the bottom of a box. I thought I'd give it another try. I figured I'd take some sacred 22 ammo and shoot it a couple of hundred times to see if it would begin working. NADA....my plan wasn't working and I saw all of the above mentioned failures repeatedly. Then on the magazine 5, it just quit firing at all. I tried several times, but saw no indentation at all on the cartridge. I called Walther the other day, told them about the guns history and said I would like it fixed, my money back, or a new pistol. I also told them about the return a few years ago, about my frustration and all that. The guy asked a few questions, said I must have sent it back to S-W because they had no record of it. I replied that was probably correct. He said he'd send me a RA and for me to send it to them and they'd see what's wrong and call me back. Well, they are wanting me to pay for the return which would cost me 25% of the guns value on a pistol that is a POS. I know I have some fault in this since I should have pursued this when it came back in the same condition, but I'm about to tell Walther to BMAss anyway. Has anyone on here had these issues and had the pistol replaced or repaired properly? I have a copy of the P22 "Bible" but it's a pretty complicated book IMO. Anyone have any suggestions or help? It would be much appreciated.

[TNWNGR]

How many different magazines have you tried in it and did it choke on all of them?

[Randall53]

How many different magazines have you tried in it and did it choke on all of them?

 

I meant to put that info in. I've tried both of the mags that came with it and it didn't make any difference. I don't know anyone else personally that has one to try, but now it won't fire at all even if I hand load a cartridge.

[R_Bert]

Mine was a real bear for a long time, and still gets cranky.

 

Stuff that helped -

 

- fluff & buff all the rail parts (*do NOT remove the anodized coating on the slide*)

- polish the **** out of the feed ramp (mine is mirror finished)

- for now, run premium ammo (It liked CCI Mini Mags the first ~500 rounds)

- RUN IT WET (I carry the Rem Oil with me)

-although its only a .22, *grip matters*. A lot on this model, so grip the **** out of it.

 

Mine now easily runs any ammo, and with a few dabs of Rem Oil, I have run a 550 box of Federal red box through it in one session without failure.

 

AND.... as PITA as it is, field strip & clean it. If racking the slide is not smooth and crunch-free, well, it aint gonna run long.

 

I love mine now. I have 5 mags for it.  All run the same.

 

Mine has about 8000 rnds through it.

 

B.

Edited October 19, 2014 by R_Bert

[Will Carry]

  You must rid yourself of this evil! I had a pistol like that. It wasn't a Walther but it never worked right. I took it to my local gun shop (where I bought it) and told them that this gun was POS and the manufacturer has sent me two replacements and they didn't work either. So they took it back and gave me $200 credit toward a Ruger.  I was so happy to get rid of that gun. I actually own a Walther P-22. It has never failed but it has become a safe queen for other reasons.

[DaveTN]

I would let S&W deal with it again. I’m sure they regret ever getting involved with Walther, and their support reputation has taken a hit over it, but their support is 2nd to none. If the gun needs to go back to Walther (if that’s where it even came from) I’m sure they would do that; otherwise I would think they will fix it.

[TrickyNicky]

Sell it as a parts gun or gunsmith special and go buy the Ruger SR22. Problems solved.

[R_Bert]

Or open carry it. Then claim on insurance when taken away from you in the hood.  "dat nice gun! gimme!"

[Ugly]

Mine was a real bear for a long time, and still gets cranky.

Stuff that helped -

- fluff & buff all the rail parts (*do NOT remove the anodized coating on the slide*)
- polish the **** out of the feed ramp (mine is mirror finished)
- for now, run premium ammo (It liked CCI Mini Mags the first ~500 rounds)
- RUN IT WET (I carry the Rem Oil with me)
-although its only a .22, *grip matters*. A lot on this model, so grip the **** out of it.

Mine now easily runs any ammo, and with a few dabs of Rem Oil, I have run a 550 box of Federal red box through it in one session without failure.

AND.... as PITA as it is, field strip & clean it. If racking the slide is not smooth and crunch-free, well, it aint gonna run long.

I love mine now. I have 5 mags for it. All run the same.

Mine has about 8000 rnds through it.

B.

This^

I followed this link
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_5_27/13896_.html

Mine now runs like it should, I even picked up some aftermarket mags that cycle fine too!

It's a great little gun once you fix it. The combo of German safety devices and S&W's lack of quality in this thing led to its demise (IMO)

Since I've fixed mine It has been flawless. Be patient and you'll be glad you own it once you've given it the attention it needs and let go of the fact that such a great company would pump out a product like that. Edited October 19, 2014 by Ugly

[mikegideon]

AFIK, that gun had mag problems early on. There have been a couple of upgrades. I have the good mags, shoot CCI Minimags, and it runs as well as any other 22. There are better ones, but it's capable of working. Don't know what to say about the bible being too complicated. I went through it, but never had to do anything to mine. I did change it from a target model to a standard one.

[Randall53]

AFIK, that gun had mag problems early on. There have been a couple of upgrades. I have the good mags, shoot CCI Minimags, and it runs as well as any other 22. There are better ones, but it's capable of working. Don't know what to say about the bible being too complicated. I went through it, but never had to do anything to mine. I did change it from a target model to a standard one.

I agree that the bible has great info and pictures, but my hands and fingers don't work as good as they used to, and many of the mods the guy did I just wouldn't want to try nor do I have the tools. I know one thing. You could lay 500 good ones on a table with 1 bad one and I'll pick up the bad one 7 out of 10 times..!!!!!

[mikegideon]

I agree that the bible has great info and pictures, but my hands and fingers don't work as good as they used to, and many of the mods the guy did I just wouldn't want to try nor do I have the tools. I know one thing. You could lay 500 good ones on a table with 1 bad one and I'll pick up the bad one 7 out of 10 times..!!!!!

 

Check your mags. That was the biggest problem with that gun. If you have the originals, you are gonna have problems. As I recall, the stuff in the bible was pretty tweaky. I don't think I had to do any of it. I only use the P22 to start new shooters. so, I may not be the best guy to say. It's perfect for my needs. It's not a jam o matic. But, I also shoot the recommended ammo. 

 

If I was gonna shoot a LOT of 22, I would get one of the Rugers or Brownings. They're better guns.

[Randall53]

Check your mags. That was the biggest problem with that gun. If you have the originals, you are gonna have problems. As I recall, the stuff in the bible was pretty tweaky. I don't think I had to do any of it. I only use the P22 to start new shooters. so, I may not be the best guy to say. It's perfect for my needs. It's not a jam o matic. But, I also shoot the recommended ammo. 

 

If I was gonna shoot a LOT of 22, I would get one of the Rugers or Brownings. They're better guns.

 

Thanks mikegideon, I have a Buckmark and love it. It will eat a brick of federals at one sitting and still be shooting. I've done it several times back when I first got it and a brick was 8 bucks at walmart and it will do it today. I just liked the looks and feel of the P22 when I bought it. Sure wish I hadn't now though.  I think I'll contact S&W again. They should have the record of the last fix attempt and forget about Walther. If that don't work out, I'll try a new mag if I can find one, then give Rbert and ugly's fix a try.

 

Thanks for the replies.

[mikegideon]

Thanks mikegideon, I have a Buckmark and love it. It will eat a brick of federals at one sitting and still be shooting. I've done it several times back when I first got it and a brick was 8 bucks at walmart and it will do it today. I just liked the looks and feel of the P22 when I bought it. Sure wish I hadn't now though.  I think I'll contact S&W again. They should have the record of the last fix attempt and forget about Walther. If that don't work out, I'll try a new mag if I can find one, then give Rbert and ugly's fix a try.

 

Thanks for the replies.

 

I'll bet the new M&P is a helluva pistol. There's your look and feel, from somebody that knows how to do 22 autos. Still need to identify the vintage of your mags. That's an easy fix.

Edited October 19, 2014 by mikegideon

[Randall53]

I'll bet the new M&P is a helluva pistol. There's your look and feel, from somebody that knows how to do 22 autos. Still need to identify the vintage of your mags. That's an easy fix.

 

Yep, I've looked at them quite a bit. Sure wish they were around when I bought the Walther. The mags I have came with it and I think I bought the Walther sometime around 2004 or so. I'd try another mag, but it won't shoot at all now. It won't even dent the cartridge primer after chambering a round by hand. I think something broke last trip to the range.

[TNWNGR]

Just as an aside notion, given the questionable reliability of the magazines, couldn't you borrow a couple from someone else? FIW I've seen guns sold and traded due to unreliability issues. Then the new owner used new or different magazines or a different ammunition make and the problems were gone.

[monkeylizard]

The mags have writting on the side with a version number. This example is version "B" as noted by the last of the printed number. I'm pretty sure the "A" version had no letter as they weren't planning on making later variants of course. If there's an "A" or no letter at all, that's likely part of the issue, though it may not be all of it. The "A" magazine was a cause of many of its early problems. I have a "B" magazine and have had no issues, but I know there is at least a "C" and maybe a "D" revision. Mine has been flawless with CCI mini mags, both HP and round nose, but I can't hit the broad side of a barn with it. It's me, not the pistol. I've seen someone else have respectable accuracy using my pistol. Maybe it's the sights, but I don't shoot it well. I keep it because it's a good pistol with which to start a new shooter.

 

+1 to keeping it well lubed.

 

 

[mikegideon]

The new shooter thing is IT for me. It goes bang with very low recoil. I have taken girls from it, to 9mm, to a 1911 in under an hour, and they were comfortable with all of them. Haven't had that same luck starting them with a real gun.

[R_Bert]

The mags have writting on the side with a version number. This example is version "B" as noted by the last of the printed number. I'm pretty sure the "A" version had no letter as they weren't planning on making later variants of course. If there's an "A" or no letter at all, that's likely part of the issue, though it may not be all of it. The "A" magazine was a cause of many of its early problems. I have a "B" magazine and have had no issues, but I know there is at least a "C" and maybe a "D" revision. Mine has been flawless with CCI mini mags, both HP and round nose, but I can't hit the broad side of a barn with it. It's me, not the pistol. I've seen someone else have respectable accuracy using my pistol. Maybe it's the sights, but I don't shoot it well. I keep it because it's a good pistol with which to start a new shooter.

 

+1 to keeping it well lubed.

 

 

 

I have three A's and two B.  B's came with the gun. Most of the 5 have been used enough that the print is very light on them. 

[deafdogdief]

The mags have writting on the side with a version number. This example is version "B" as noted by the last of the printed number. I'm pretty sure the "A" version had no letter as they weren't planning on making later variants of course. If there's an "A" or no letter at all, that's likely part of the issue, though it may not be all of it. The "A" magazine was a cause of many of its early problems. I have a "B" magazine and have had no issues, but I know there is at least a "C" and maybe a "D" revision. Mine has been flawless with CCI mini mags, both HP and round nose, but I can't hit the broad side of a barn with it. It's me, not the pistol. I've seen someone else have respectable accuracy using my pistol. Maybe it's the sights, but I don't shoot it well. I keep it because it's a good pistol with which to start a new shooter.

+1 to keeping it well lubed.

Interesting info. Both mine are marked"A". Have had mine for a while after purchasing new and it runs fine.