Small and mighty, the Walther P22 is a perfect option for the ladies for a whole lot of reasons.
Let’s take a look!
Accuracy
The Walther P22 is great for easy accuracy thanks to its good build that is well-fit to the women shooters of the world. The remarkable lack of recoil and sound makes for easy shooting. Without the heavy recoil, there isn’t as much trouble with dropping rounds from anticipating the kick.
Also, Walther’s white dots sights on the P22 are adjustable. The front sights snap on and off to adjust for height and the rear sight is windage adjustable. The snap feature worried me, but it’s a snug fit that I never had issues with losing or moving. This pistol stays on target because it’s so easy to shoot and stay comfortable while you’re doing it!
Reliability
Good design and attention from Walther have created yet another reliable firearm in the P22. I shoot with higher-powered ammo, using pretty typical Federal 40 grain for the most part. The only trouble I ever encounter when shooting my P22 is when my build-up gets the better of me. Keeping it clean is half the battle. Disassembly is easy, and as long as I stay on top of my good maintenance, the Walther feeds and ejects just fine.
Handling
The excellent handling and ease of grip for smaller hands is what really makes the Walther P22 a perfect fit for women shooters. A solid gun, with a light polymer frame is a fantastically compact little package. So compact, it’s nice to take out for a run. But more on that later. When it comes to grip, this pistol is spot-on. Finger grooves, and a good texture that isn’t too rough, make this gun super easy to hold on to. This seemingly pencil-thin pistol is perfect for smaller hands and no trouble to hold on to.
Trigger
Built with a Double Action/Single Action trigger, the P22 trigger is excellent. Designed with a wide and easy-to-feel trigger, I love the smooth pull. There is a nice, clean break with a short reset.
Great for women who may be new to shooting, this trigger’s distinct feel is easy to anticipate. The initial 11 lb. double-action pull is significant, but the 4 lb. single pull for all of the follow-up shooting is quite nice. Walther has included a mechanical safety lever as well as magazine disconnect safety to prevent the trigger from being pulled if there is no mag in the gun.
Magazine & Reloading
Reloading is a breeze with the Walther P22. The trigger guard-mounted paddle release allows the mags to drop free with an ambidextrous grip. The P22 NIB came with two 10 round mags that feature a finger rest. I went ahead and purchased a few extra magazines. They are nice to have, and I didn’t quite trust that the metal wouldn’t take a beating on my reloading drill work. So far, they have held up just fine and I’m not sad to be a bit overly prepared.
Length & Weight
It has an overall length of 6.3” and a width of a 1.1.” It’s also super lightweight: weighing in at only seventeen ounces. This .22 pistol’s size is part of what makes it so perfect for women shooters.
Recoil Management
Thanks to the small caliber, great balance, and good design, this .22 is a very soft shooter. Not only does the low recoil allow for improved accuracy, but it also makes it easier to shoot for longer sessions at the range. Thin grips on many firearms tend to cause hand fatigue, and it doesn’t get much thinner than the P22. However, the incredible low recoil makes up for this common problem and I never find myself sore from strangling the grips to keep a hold of the pistol. Out of the box the gun comes with an extra back strap to better fit the hands. One larger and one smaller option covers all of the bases for shooters. Comfort is the bottom line with the recoil. It’s so great to have a small gun that doesn’t jump around as I’m shooting.
Price
Walther has priced this pistol right, and the $299 MSRP price tag can generally be cut down to $225-$250 if you look around. Packed with some nice features, like an accessory rail on the under-slide to mount my favorite add-ons, it’s nice to see a pistol offered at this price point that isn’t bare-boned. Several colors and configurations provide lots of options for good looks. I opted for the more military look, but there are likely some women who will be tickled to choose the Tiffany Blue color scheme.
My Verdict?
The Walther P22 is one of the best choices for women shooters to enjoy some time at the range. Built for fun in a small size, this pistol has incredibly low recoil, with great accuracy. Super easy to hold on to, this is a perfect plinker to enjoy.
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Richard Douglas is a long time shooter, outdoor enthusiast and technologist. He is the founder and editor of Scopes Field. Columnist at The National Interest, Cheaper Than Dirt, Daily Caller and other publications.
