Walther P22CA: FTE/Failure to Eject Issues

[PartyBarge]

Brand new P22CA, factory mags.

With Winchester ammo 50% of rounds wouldn't eject.
With CCI Minimag 10-20% of rounds wouldn't eject.

Could be the gun just needs to be broken in a bit, will keep trying different ammo.

[tnlrat37]

http://www.gunlink.info/downloads/PDF/1917-1911M_P22_bible.pdf

[Mystery_Milk]

The Walther P22 has been iteratively improved over time.
The original isn't around anymore.
They released a "P22Q" model that the CA model is currently based on (and is now just called the P22).
Last year they released a "P22QD" model that has a decocker with further improvements, and from what I've seen these work a lot better.

From what I understand the manufacturing tolerances on some of the parts are pretty bad and people have had good results from manually fitting the parts after the fact. You could try that if you have experience with modifying parts.

Or you could try the Volquartsen extractor. I've read it's helped some people but not others. I've also heard that getting a captured spring and steel guide rod helps ammo compatibility, although I'm not really quite sure how. Maybe it's just the fact that it's higher-quality parts? (Galloway Precision and Tandemkross both make one.)

[plumbum]

Use quality high-velocity ammo.
Shoot a few hundred rounds.
Clean as needed.

[FeuerFrei]

P22 probs discussed in the rimfire section here... https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/....php?t=1482252

P22 bible is a great help and way better than the manual it comes with. Total breakdown to the component level. As well as diy mods/fixes.

[deckhandmike]

It’s been a steaming pile of crap for years. Only gun I’ve ever sold.

[Kokopelli]

The wife has no problem with her P22CA. She did the recommend 200 round break in with CCI mini mags. The best ammo we found for ours is Federal bulk LR HP from WalMart. It even cycles the Aguila 60 grain stuff fine.

How many rounds have you fired through yours?

[billofrights]

Volquartsen extractor helped me, but I still stick with the CCI minimags. I hate that the only .22 I have to start people on is such a turd. Browning Buckmark, here I come!

[Pofoo]

Just went through this a few months ago.
It MAY break in. Lube well and keep the chamber clean. Shoot 500 rds. Mine likes CCI minimags and Remington golden bullets. Stay away from anything with lots of wax on the bullet. 99% reliable now, but not very accurate--I have the short barrel, not the target model.
Also, this gun is very susceptible to limp wristing.
Then send it back for repair. Walther service was very good. They replaced my whole slide in short order.
Also, FYI. Be aware that if you add a front fiber optic sight your gun will shoot low. NO one makes a height adjustable rear sight. I made a higher adapter plate and epoxied it to the sight. This solved the height problem, but not the overall accuracy problem.

[Foulball]

Brand new P22CA, factory mags.

With Winchester ammo 50% of rounds wouldn't eject.
With CCI Minimag 10-20% of rounds wouldn't eject.

Could be the gun just needs to be broken in a bit, will keep trying different ammo.

Mine has the same problem but it didn't start until well after 1000 rounds. I've stripped it down and completely cleaned it and tried every type of ammo available, nothing has worked to fix it. Trying to decide whether or not to order all new extractor parts (and every other part I can order) or to just write it off as a non-funtional, unreliable piece of crap.
Truthfully, it was really fun to shoot before this problem started.

[Skip_Dog]

No issues with the 2 I have. The eat all the ammo I feed it.

[dyjag]

Mine was not good. Got rid of it. Was able to pick up a Ruger SR22. It is everything the Walther could be but is not.

[FeuerFrei]

Hammer + extractor mod gives greatly improved reliability.

Since I don't sell or trade a non-operational/finicky firearms, (don't want the bad karma) I decided to fix my P22 via P22 bible info.

The best mod I did was to radius the top of the face of the hammer to make room for the safety bar to slide over. (doing this without disassembling the pistol at all) I used disposable nail boards. Polished a little at a time and cycled the slide as I went. The safety bar bump can be felt as the hammer attempts to clear it. (slows the slide down) I polished the hammer until the bump feel was barely noticeable.

So, for the cost of 2 nail boards I got a reliable 22 double action, ambi friendly, dry fire-able pistol that newbs with small or large hands can learn with. That's why I bought it. Reliability at last. Who-da thunk it?

Does Walther need a kick in the nuts for poor design/QC? Yes. Smith & Wesson too? Yes.
P22 is easy enough for the table top gunsmith to make run right.

[Gregchico]

No issues with the 2 I have. The eat all the ammo I feed it.

Both of mine are the same. Maybe people in So Cal are trying so shoot them sideways or something....

[PartyBarge]

Hammer + extractor mod gives greatly improved reliability.

Since I don't sell or trade a non-operational/finicky firearms, (don't want the bad karma) I decided to fix my P22 via P22 bible info.

The best mod I did was to radius the top of the face of the hammer to make room for the safety bar to slide over. (doing this without disassembling the pistol at all) I used disposable nail boards. Polished a little at a time and cycled the slide as I went. The safety bar bump can be felt as the hammer attempts to clear it. (slows the slide down) I polished the hammer until the bump feel was barely noticeable.

So, for the cost of 2 nail boards I got a reliable 22 double action, ambi friendly, dry fire-able pistol that newbs with small or large hands can learn with. That's why I bought it. Reliability at last. Who-da thunk it?

Does Walther need a kick in the nuts for poor design/QC? Yes. Smith & Wesson too? Yes.
P22 is easy enough for the table top gunsmith to make run right.

This post gives me hope.