Pistol Polymer Frames? Good as Steel? Walther P22 OK?

Question

I am planning to buy a Walther P22. I have liked the Pistol's performance-superb.The only confusion that I have is about the Polymer Frame.Just for this I may shift to someother manufacturer.Are Polymer Frames better than Steel in durability and lifespan.Walther says "YES".Any comments on this...Practical users...Thanks in advance

Answer 1

Polymer is very durable, but I am not convinced it will last longer. I will say that if a polimer gun is run over by a vehicle, there is a great chance that it will fire after due to the fact that the frame can bend, and return to form(Glock has proved this time and time again).

Polymer also makes the gun a bit lighter which may or may not be a plus. By this I mean that a polimer frame gun is top heavy and in rapid fire is a bit jumpy. This is something that  unless you are used to shooting a steel frame gun, you wouldn't know the difference. Polimer may be a few oz lighter, but in a full sized gun you really dont feel much of a difference.

I am a police officer and carry a polymer framed Smith and Wesson. We recently switched over to Smith from Sig Sauer. I carried a Sig for 10 years, and can say that the Sig is by far the best "out of the box" combat pistol.  I don't feel the weight difference, but I guess there is some.

Dont get me wrong, Polymer frames like a Glock, or a Springfield XD are great weapons that perform every bit as well as a all steel gun, but the jury is still out on durability.

I read in either Guns And Ammo or Guns And Weapons For Law Enforcement, that Springfield Armory was awarded a contract to build 50,000 top slides for the 1911 .45 to fit the USMC surplus of recievers. Some of these 1911s have been in service since WW2. Slap a new slide and barrel on them, and they are ready to serve another 60 years. This is a fact, the 1911 built to mil spec will shoot out dozens of barrels before it needs replacing. It is difficult to discuss if a polimer frame would be able to sustain such use/abuse over so many years as that they have only been around for 15 years or so. Glock to the best of my knowlege is the first.                      

So why so many polymers out there, and why so popular???

Marketing and Money. A polymer frame can be manufactured for less than half the price of a full steel gun. That is it. Look at the prices of a full steel gun as opposed to a polymer. It is why I believe my agency went to Smith and Wesson. A Sig costs 800 dollars, and a Smith costs 500 dollars. Both shoot a .40 cal bullet reliably. Even Glocks cost about 500 dolars, and are not superior to Sig.Case closed.

STOP BOOING YOU GLOCK FANS.  I have extensive experience with both types of guns, and will say that a polymer frame has some benifits that out perform a steel gun, and visa versa. To say one is superior is impossible.

Walther wants you to buy their guns. I suggest you buy a gun that is affordable for you, fits your hand, and will be easy to shoot, Polymer or not.

As far as a p22 is concerned, may I suggest that you look into a Ruger. I have a Ruger 22 that I, and my friends and family have shot well over 30,000 rounds through, over the last 20 years.  I don't believe I will live long enough to break it, and its American made!!!

Good Luck

Answer 2

On the side of the barrel when the slide is in the closed position you will see a 2 letter code.  AH is for 2007 and AI is for 2008.  These are the date of manufacture codes.   You want one that is either AH or AI.  The prior years had some problems that can be fixed but if you want better reliability out of the box I suggest you get these.  Firing the highest velocity ammo you can find is not suggested for regular use.  I suggest you use CCI Mini-mag 40 grain solid ammo for the first 200 rounds.  Then try Remington Golden Bullets for a cheaper ammo.  After 300 rounds try different ammo to see what your gun likes and doesn't like.  .22 pistols can be particular on ammo but that isn't always the case.  The P22 isn't a target pistol by any means.  It is a great plinker and fun to shoot.  For more information than you probably would ever want on this gun go to www.rimfirecentral.com under the Walther section.  I know the P22 will hold up well with normal maintenance for 5000 rounds.  I can't tell you from practical experience if it will still be great at 10000 since mine hasn't gotten that far yet.

Answer 3

ok i have a Walther p22 i have had for 1 1/2 year now and have dropped it carrying it around several times i found not a scratch or crack its quite durable also it has a good feel plus ive never had a jam with any ammunition brand ive used or bullet type ,so all around i would recommend it ,it is quite fun to shoot also,good luck

Answer 4

polymers have improved a lot over the years.

in some ways polymers are better than steel in durability and lifespan, especially when you consider exposure to the elements.  Definately a gun that is only occasinally cleaned and maintained, polymer will outlast steel.  But for a gun that is carefully maintained, then steel will outlast polymer

Answer 5

All polymer frames are cast around steel 'skeleton' inserts, which bear the stress and wear between receiver & slide, as well as other wear points. The great advantage to polymer frames is the lower weight over the polymer composite compared to an all-steel or other metal alloy receiver frame. As all wear contact points are 'steel-to-steel', the service life expectancy of a polymer-frame weapon will be the same as an all-steel frame design. NO polymer-frame design I know of has ANY stress or load contact points between metal and polymer-only surfaces.

My polymer-frame H-K USP and my Glocks are constructed this way.

Answer 6

In some ways Polymer is better than steel.  Polymer doesn't rust, it flexes absorbing recoil better than steel and it is lighter than steel.  It doesn't seem to wear out either.  I've owned Glocks for 15 years and the Polymer frame is still as sturdy as ever.

The Walther P-22 is a very nice little pistol.  I love mine.  Mine is ammo sensitive.  That is, it'll only reliably cycle the hottest .22 LR ammo I can find.  Currently I'm using CCI Mini Mags in mine.  

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