S&W M&P 22 vs Walther P22 vs Ruger SR22

[SoMD_Gen4]

Looking to get a 22 pistol as a trainer...for wife, newbs, nieces/nephews, future children, etc.

Besides the hand size/trigger distance conversation...what are the pros and cons that I should be considering.

What's your favorite and why?

Am i missing one that I should be considering in this price range? (<$400)

Not interested in the Mark III because I don't feel like exerting that much effort to clean it.

 

[Blaster229]

I think most people will say do not even consider the Walther. I had one and it was terrible. Even with higher velocity ammo (which is recommended), it just didn't work well. I even sent it off to have them look at it and they found nothing wrong.
Maybe I had a Friday afternoon or Monday morning one.

 

[BigCity]

I like my SR22.

 

[Pwilliams1]

I don't have any experience with the p22, but I have a ppq 22 and it's been awesome. Granted expectations were low with a .22 pistol, but I haven't had a problem with it yet. I shoot mostly cci sv, but have also fed it federal auto match, and Remington golden bullets with no problem.

 

[Pwilliams1]

I should add that mags seem to be difficult to come by

 

[AACo]

I haven't owned a S&W 22, but HAVE owned a Walther P22 and currently own a SR22. I didn't have any serious issues with the Walther, but it was picky on ammo. Really only liked to cycle mini mags or any high velocity rounds. SR22 will eat anything. Also check out the Ruger 22/45.

 

[blankford]

M&P 22 COMPACT. The compact is made by S&W right here in the good ol US of A and not outsourced to Walther. It's also the perfect size and the little thing is indestructible. Mine.

 

[rbird7282]

Having shot the SR22 and I own the M&P 22 Compact, I would say the SR22. Both are good guns and fun to shoot but the trigger on the S&W sucks.
Perhaps look at a Browning Buckmark


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[AJRB]

Having shot the SR22 and I own the M&P 22 Compact, I would say the SR22. Both are good guns and fun to shoot but the trigger on the S&W sucks.
Perhaps look at a Browning Buckmark


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I have also been looking into picking up a 22 pistol. The trigger and thumb safety have eliminated the M&P compact from my list of options.

I'm leaning towards the walther "ppq 22 tactical" which has a threaded barrel. It has no thumb safety and a nice trigger from the reviews I have seen.

If I wanted an external safety I would probably go with the M&P compact

 

[alucard0822]

Of the 3, the Walther is a small cheap feeling pistol, have one that shoots well, just feels like a toy with it's pot metal slide. Of the other 2 both are nice, the Ruger is a little more refined IMO. The smaller or lightweight Buckmark variants are in that price range and a better pistol IMO, could also get a conversion kit, the Advantage Arms GLOCK kits are especially useful if the goal is to transition into a service caliber pistol and you own a GLOCK.

 

[SoMD_Gen4]

Yeah I am still debating the thumb safety route. It doesn't necessarily hurt with the thought that this would be primarily for newer shooters. Maybe that eases some of the anxiety for a new shooter? not sure.

I am not particularly interested in pistol that is picky on ammo. I usually try to stick to Federal Auto Match, but will pick up anything on a good deal.

 

[Mdeng]

As a trainer you can't beat the S&W M&P 22. It has a full size frame that is identical to their 9mm and 40 cal. The controls are in the same locarion with the other ly exception being the addition of a thumb safety. It is built off of the Walther P22 wrapped in the S&W molded body. I have several and use them with students regularly.

 

[chuck]

Of the 3, the Walther is a small cheap feeling pistol, have one that shoots well, just feels like a toy with it's pot metal slide. Of the other 2 both are nice, the Ruger is a little more refined IMO. The smaller or lightweight Buckmark variants are in that price range and a better pistol IMO, could also get a conversion kit, the Advantage Arms GLOCK kits are especially useful if the goal is to transition into a service caliber pistol and you own a GLOCK.

I looked into the AA conversion for a Glock 17. Ended up getting a SR22 for about $50 more.

 

[Mdeng]

Yeah I am still debating the thumb safety route. It doesn't necessarily hurt with the thought that this would be primarily for newer shooters. Maybe that eases some of the anxiety for a new shooter? not sure.

I am not particularly interested in pistol that is picky on ammo. I usually try to stick to Federal Auto Match, but will pick up anything on a good deal.

If you would like to take one of mine for a spin give me a call we can meet at the range. You are welcome to try out any brand of ammo you would like.

 

[bitterkenny]

I've shot all three, but own (for now) a regular size M&P22.

I found the P22 just felt cheap in my hand, and heard about some reliability problems. I didn't have any issues myself, but I was shooting CCI Mini-mags. The double action trigger was pretty rough, but single action was ok. I would avoid it.

The SR22 was pretty good. Felt too small in my hands honestly. Double action felt pretty heavy to me. It was accurate and reliable, but hard to manipulate given its size. Overall great gun though. It would be still be one to consider if I were in the market.

M&P22 felt more like a full sized pistol, because it is a full sized pistol. I wanted a 22 to augment shooting my full and compact Glocks, so wanted something that felt like my other guys. This was the closet one. The safety didn't bother me, and I understand it's pretty easy to remove. The stock sights were horrible and the trigger is nothing special either. 12 rd mags were nice, but expensive and hard to come by for a while.

In the end, I'm actually ditching all my semi-auto .22's. It's not a close enough analog to shooting 9mm for me, and I must be the only person in the world that doesn't find .22's fun. Already sold my M&P 15-22 rifle and listed the M&P22.

 

[atblis]

Honestly, pick up a Mark II and learn to live with the cleaning. You're not going to get a more durable or accurate pistol for less.

The P22 is a pot metal junk gun.

Ruger SR22 looks promising, but have no personal experience.

The CZ 75 Kadet is an option, though the best way to do that is to buy a 9x19 and get the conversion which makes $400 impossible. Not the cheapest route but you're getting an all steel pistol with the exact heft and controls of the 9mm. They are also very accurate. They used to sell a Kadet pistol, but I don't think they're available anymore.

 

[fidelity]

Note, there are two Walthers with a similar name that are often confused and sometimes mislabeled by sellers. They are similarly priced.

There is the original P22 which looks similar to a PPQ and got terrible reviews. It comes in 4 and 5 inch versions with 10 rd mags.

There is the newer PPQ 22 which is a trainer for the PPQ M2 and has received great reviews. It comes in 4 and 5 inch versions with 10 rd or 12 rd mags.

Here's a review of the newer one ...

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2014/08/jeremy-s/gun-review-walther-ppq-m2-22-lr/


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[cdstraw]

I have the S&W M&P 22, my daughter has a Walther P22, I have never shot the Ruger SR22.

Of the two I have shot S&W M&P 22 and Walther P22, I would pick the S&W M&P 22. Overall (IMHO) the M&P line of pistols appear to standardize how a semi-auto pistol looks and feels. Each manufacturer has slight variations in their production of semi-autos to meet their customer demands.

If you are interested in a middle of road feature, operability, maintenance and feel which will closely replicate the vast majority of the other semi-auto class of pistol, I would select the S&W M&P 22.

Are there better pistols, yes. Are there worse pistols, yes. Your getting a Chevy or Ford, versus a Cadillac or Kia.

 

[Gryphon]

M&P 22 COMPACT. The compact is made by S&W right here in the good ol US of A and not outsourced to Walther. It's also the perfect size and the little thing is indestructible. Mine.

+1

 

[rbird7282]

If you don't mind going with a used pistol, try a S&W 2206. All steel and has s threaded barrel just in case you ever want to add a can


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