small .22

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Thu Aug 28, 2014 10:09 am

I am looking for a small, light .22 semi auto.
I have an Astra Constable in .22.
Anybody got any suggestions?
I know I can not be aware of all of them out there.

piller · Post by **piller** » Thu Aug 28, 2014 10:19 am

Do they still make that one with the 3 inch and the 5 inch barrel? Phoenix Arms made it. It was very inexpensive, and, from the review in Gun Tests Magazine, it was worth having. They tried it against a couple of much more expensive semi autos and it matched them for accuracy and function.

edit: Here is the website. Please note that the disclaimer reads that they are designed for standard velocity target ammunition.
https://phoenix-arms.com/Products/HP22A_Deluxe.html
I would not use any of the Hyper Velocity stuff in them, but that is just me.

jazman · Post by **jazman** » Thu Aug 28, 2014 10:34 am

Beretta makes a nice one, I think it may be called a .22A. Has the same tip up barrel design as their other small ones like my .32 Tomcat. That design has given me very good service over the years.

Paladin · Post by **Paladin** » Thu Aug 28, 2014 10:38 am

Try these buy going to you favorite gun shop and see which one fits you hand the best. The S&W revolver is not cheap but a GREAT gun in 22 Mag for a pocket gun. The Walther P-22 is the next smallest and lightest with the short barrel. The Sig is the larger of the three and somewhat finicky about ammo until you get it broke in. You may not want the suppressed versions but it makes them a LOT more fun.

vancelw · Post by **vancelw** » Thu Aug 28, 2014 10:40 am

I had one of the Walther P22 pistols for a while. Very reasonable in price and surprisingly accurate. My complaint with it was the lock, safety, and magazine disconnect safety. The presence of all three is annoying, but I detest pistol with a magazine disconnect safety.
I considered Ruger SR22 which is similar in size and shape. The safety on it is backwards to me, but I think it is also a decocker so it has to operate in the direction it does?!?! not sure.
I now have the Walther PPK/S I got from rjohns94. I really like it, although it is not very lightweight. The initial double action pull is stout enough to practically ensure a miss.
The Ruger 22/45 Lite pistols are nice, but not small.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Thu Aug 28, 2014 12:36 pm

I've had the 317 AirLite, the .22 LR version of this magnum, for almost 20 years....excellent 8 shot belly gun. Really heave double action pull. It was my first EDC. It weighs about 12-13oz loaded.

rjohns94 · Post by **rjohns94** » Thu Aug 28, 2014 4:06 pm

Berretta 22a
Walther PPKs. PP and the newer version
Browning (baby browning and berretta look alike)
Sig mesquito.
NAA

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Thu Aug 28, 2014 5:26 pm

I do like the Ruger Mk-II and Mk-III ones but they aren't "small".

The Beretta-21's are nice (Taurus also makes a copy and they seem well made), and about as small as a practical semiauto can get. There is also a 25 ACP version available that is the same size. I think the Taurus holds more rounds than the Beretta, but don't know if magazines interchange, or if that is even true (just going by website information). I think my Beretta holds 7.

For super-tiny, the North American Arms Pug's are 5-shot single-actions, so a bit slower than the semiautos, but more concealable, and ALSO are available in 22 WMR, which may be better than the 25 ACP (lots of opinions out there on that).

jcw · Post by **jcw** » Thu Aug 28, 2014 5:59 pm

Beretta 21A can be a great pistol. Very ammo sensitive. Keep the chamber spotless. I've owned 3 of them over the years. In all 3, CCI mimi-mags ran the best, The one I carry from time to time took about 300 rds. to smooth out. Some good in depth videos on you tube along with ammo tests that pretty much matched what id discovered. Triggers on the new ones are pretty gritty. Mouse guns are fun. A bit bigger but seem to be Ok, is the Ruger SR22. I have only limited experience with it. It ran fine when I shot a buddys.

BobM · Post by **BobM** » Thu Aug 28, 2014 9:44 pm

I handled one of the new S&W M&P22 compacts a few days ago, and now I want one. I think it's supposed to compete with the Walther P22 and Ruger SR22.

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Thu Aug 28, 2014 10:12 pm

The Constable is a great PPKS clone. I have the 2-barrel Phoenix kit and it is a decent, functional piece... but the constable is smaller. (I use the Phoenix with Aguilla 60gr SST loads almost exclusively. It likes them and it seems to shoot them well. Makes it almost as useful as my .32acp shooting 60gr loads...)

But, I guess a lot depends on what you want the gun for. I, personally, would swap my Phoenix for a Constable in a NY-Minute, but then, I like the PPK clones and the Astra has a higher book price.

Mike Armstrong · Post by **Mike Armstrong** » Thu Aug 28, 2014 10:33 pm

If you want LIGHT, get a Ruger LCR .22. It isn't really small, but weighs next to nothing. Mine in .22 WRM is very accurate at the ranges you would need to use it (+- 10 yds.). It's made of aluminum, stainless, and plastic, so pretty sweatproof and wetproof. Just don't practice with it without your earplugs, even ONE shot.

I like my late-model .22 Constable, but it isn't small, as noted. And for serious use, I prefer a revolver.

hfcable · Post by **hfcable** » Thu Aug 28, 2014 11:21 pm

my favorite [ and i have several] is the S&W model 43 kit gun; light weight 3" barrel, adjustable sights. balances better to me than the newer airlites, as the 43 has a steel barrel. very accurate;

my next favorite is the old charter arms 3" pathfinder.....mine has the 22 lr and the 22 wmr cylinders [ change out in seconds, removing one screw ] and it is all steel very light and more accurate than one would believe.

i do like the beretta m21s and the ones i have are utterly reliable.

the two barrel set phoenix is nice but more ammo finicky. still it is quite accurate.

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 12:49 am

OI,
I have an extra Constable slide I can trick out and still have the original slide for resale value.

Hagler · Post by **Hagler** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 3:54 pm

Mescalero,

If small is what you want, then how about a Walther TPH?:

http://www.littlegun.info/arme%20allema ... h%20gb.htm

Shawn

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 4:06 pm

Boy,
That IS small!

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 5:00 pm

Mescalero wrote:Boy,
That IS small!

Stop touching yourself.....

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 5:11 pm

The Walther!

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 6:22 pm

Mescalero wrote:The Walther!

Walter doesn't like that either.....

Bill in Oregon · Post by **Bill in Oregon** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 6:25 pm

BLAINE IS OUT OF CONTROL AGAIN!

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 6:27 pm

Berretta still makes the model 25 in .22 lr. I have one in .25 acp and it's reliable and surprisingly accurate.

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 6:48 pm

I cannot imagine a Blaine " in control "

hfcable · Post by **hfcable** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 7:07 pm

Mescalero wrote:I cannot imagine a Blaine " in control "

yes, then ....... well.........its just that....well he wouldnt be Blaine !

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 7:32 pm

true, how true.

jhrosier · Post by **jhrosier** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 7:39 pm

Like most of us here, I've been wanting a small accurate & reliable 22 auto pistol for most of the last fifty tears.
Well guess what, there ain't none !
Seems like you can sometimes have two of : small, accurate & reliable, but never all three.
I've come close a couple times though. I got lucky and scored a S&W m63 revolver at a real good price. It is small reliable and surprisingly accurate. I think that I will stop looking.
The current crop of plastic & pot metal guns coming from Umarex(Walther), Ruger, et all don't impress me at all.
I did spring for a Ruger 22/45 LITE and it has left a good impression. It is a bit big for a pocket pistol but is very accurate and reliable with the Federal bulk pack ammo. It weighs about 24 oz. I got rid of the magazine safety and the trigger pull became noticeably better.

Jack

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 8:07 pm

I think you are right, there just are not any that fit the bill.
I have that Constable, and I have a Llama complete parts gun.
The Llama tricked should fit the bill.

pokey · Post by **pokey** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 9:25 pm

i also have a phoenix arms [ looks alot like that walther ] from the early '90s.
it is/was reliable and accurate , but not high quality, what do you want for 100$.
the firing pin retainer came out while shooting , gathered up the parts and staked
it back in. Then my son shot it until the slide developed a crack. so I bought him
a ruger mk II and retired the little one. it was ok while it lasted, and fit in a pocket.
Too many safeties though [slide, thumb safety on grip,mag disconnect,etc.]

phoenixarms.jpg

rjohns94 · Post by **rjohns94** » Sat Aug 30, 2014 2:09 pm

The TPH is very nice but watch the sharp edges on cycling. Bottom of slide slit me open across the web of thumb-forefinger. As far as accuracy, that's all relative. These aren't meant to be target guns but I have found the Walther PPKs and PP to be very accurate for cans, self defense, even rodents and one rattle snack. The beretta 22a fired stingers without fail for me and has served me well in woods taking small game in virginia as I sat in a tree stand on several occasions. Also used it to finish off a deer a guy shot during hunting season and a pack of possums that took up temporary courting festivities on a neighbors tree next to their house.

markshere2 · Post by **markshere2** » Sat Aug 30, 2014 4:36 pm

Taurus makes the PT 22 tip-up barrel clone of the beretta 21.

Mine has been 100% reliable for the 3 mags I have shot out of it so far.
The beretta ... not so much

The fat grip helps this mousegun's ergonomics... a lot
I like mine.

Http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taurus_PT22

hfcable · Post by **hfcable** » Mon Sep 01, 2014 12:32 am

markshere2 wrote:Taurus makes the PT 22 tip-up barrel clone of the beretta 21.

Mine has been 100% reliable for the 3 mags I have shot out of it so far.
The beretta ... not so much

The fat grip helps this mousegun's ergonomics... a lot
I like mine.

Http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taurus_PT22

they are nice, i have had one, and have had 4 of the berettas in 22 lr, and two in 25 acp...still have 3 or them in 22 lr.......all of mine would function flawlessly and essentially endlessly with most ammo. though every one of them had at least on brand of ammo with which they stumbled. the taurus worked well with every thing i tried. i just got a beretta tip up 32, but have not got to try it yet.

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Wed Sep 03, 2014 7:50 pm

My back yard carry piece. LR cylinder is loaded w/ one bird shot two shorts and two HPs.

Mine has a 4" barrel but it's also available in 3"&6". My Vintage and classy .22 pocket pistol is my Grandfather's
S&W Model 61 Escort. I don't carry it much because it's almost new in the box when Grandpa bought it new in the '60s, but a light and very accurate shooter.

jb

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Thu Sep 04, 2014 9:10 am

I inherited an Escort when my mother died, I forgot all about it.

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Thu Sep 04, 2014 7:01 pm

They are a bit different with the low barrel but once I got all the old WD40 crud out of the action it's been a
great shooter! Grandpa would spray down his guns once a month with that stuff. It preserved them really well but nothing worked
until all the residue was removed.

jb

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Thu Sep 04, 2014 7:05 pm

2ndovc wrote:They are a bit different with the low barrel but once I got all the old WD40 crud out of the action it's been a
great shooter! Grandpa would spray down his guns once a month with that stuff. It preserved them really well but nothing worked
until all the residue was removed.

jb

Any crud left by WD-40 was already there, and the WD stripped it off and brought it to the top waiting for it to be cleaned off....You can't just spray it on, and not clean or wipe afterwards.....

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Thu Sep 04, 2014 7:09 pm

BlaineG wrote:
2ndovc wrote:They are a bit different with the low barrel but once I got all the old WD40 crud out of the action it's been a
great shooter! Grandpa would spray down his guns once a month with that stuff. It preserved them really well but nothing worked
until all the residue was removed.

jb
Any crud left by WD-40 was already there, and the WD stripped it off and brought it to the top waiting for it to be cleaned off....You can't just spray it on, and not clean or wipe afterwards.....

He didn't. Just sprayed it and left it. This goes back to the early '70s by the way. WD was a new wonder in those days from what I've been told.

jb

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Thu Sep 04, 2014 7:15 pm

2ndovc wrote:
BlaineG wrote:
2ndovc wrote:They are a bit different with the low barrel but once I got all the old WD40 crud out of the action it's been a
great shooter! Grandpa would spray down his guns once a month with that stuff. It preserved them really well but nothing worked
until all the residue was removed.

jb
Any crud left by WD-40 was already there, and the WD stripped it off and brought it to the top waiting for it to be cleaned off....You can't just spray it on, and not clean or wipe afterwards.....
He didn't. Just sprayed it and left it. This goes back to the mid '70s by the way. WD was a new wonder in those days from what I've been told.

jb

My Grandfather was a huge believer in 3-1 Oil....slathered it on. Many years after he passed, I got his Sentinel Revolver, and Browning .22 Auto......it had turned to cakey yellow wax....Came off pretty easy, and there was no rust.....

2LT Van Cott · Post by **2LT Van Cott** » Thu Sep 04, 2014 7:33 pm

Anyone suggest the Browning 1911-22? There is a "Commander" version as well.

hfcable · Post by **hfcable** » Thu Sep 04, 2014 7:36 pm

2LT Van Cott wrote:Anyone suggest the Browning 1911-22? There is a "Commander" version as well.

he is looking for a small 22 auto

2LT Van Cott · Post by **2LT Van Cott** » Thu Sep 04, 2014 8:03 pm

hfcable wrote:
2LT Van Cott wrote:Anyone suggest the Browning 1911-22? There is a "Commander" version as well.
he is looking for a small 22 auto

Yep, a bit smaller than a Bearcat, about the same accuracy...

vancelw · Post by **vancelw** » Thu Sep 04, 2014 8:53 pm

Yep, the Browning 1911-22 is 3/4 size. Not small but smaller than some other things mentioned here. I've been drooling over one for a while but have so many .22 autos already, including a Glock slide and a Kimber 1911 slide.