Walther P22 slide wear

[Mity2]

Originally Posted by 45 ACP

Aluminum slide?, are all p22s like that?

Its not an aluminum. Its an Zinc Alloy - which is worse then Aluminum....

[pianoman]

Thanks for the modification manual for the P22. I used metal files and emery paper and that seemed to work well. Also, you can use the 1500 grit emery paper and polish the ears with your fingers which will also give the polish a nice round shape. Anyone know of a way to fix the existing damage to the slide from the ears? Thanks again!

[Freidenker]

Hi, I bought a P22 which I will have next week and I am a little concerned about this wear on the slide, it seems to be just too much from the experiences written. Would you recommend that before I fire this gun me to make the polishing to the ears that wear the slide? You think is it essential to do? My gun was produced in 2007, AH series, may be by then they corrected this problem from factory? Any advice will be highly appreciated.

[Mity2]

Originally Posted by Freidenker

You think is it essential to do? My gun was produced in 2007, AH series, may be by then they corrected this problem from factory? Any advice will be highly appreciated.

I would. Its easy enough to do, and cheap enough insurance...

Anyone know of a way to fix the existing damage to the slide from the ears?

I was told that S&W is pretty good about replacing worn slide with new one.
This would certainly be a waste, if your not gonna take care of the cause, but if you do that first, then get new slide under warrenty, I think that would be the way to go

[Freidenker]

Thanks for the advice, the thing is I'm not sure if I will be able to do the job myself, I'm just starting and never even imagined till some days to make a modification to a weapon, even the slightest like this one. Have some of you made this? Is there any danger in this polishing of the ears? How skilled one has to be to do it without having a high risk to spoil the gun?

[greener]

Originally Posted by Freidenker

Thanks for the advice, the thing is I'm not sure if I will be able to do the job myself, I'm just starting and never even imagined till some days to make a modification to a weapon, even the slightest like this one. Have some of you made this? Is there any danger in this polishing of the ears? How skilled one has to be to do it without having a high risk to spoil the gun?

It's not difficult. I did it and I am not that precise a workman. Remember, you are polishing to remove the sharp edges, not putting the part on a grinder. All you are doing is rounding them over a bit and smoothing them out.

[RocketFoot]

I am going to clean and inspect my P22 today...it probably has close to 5000 rounds through it now and last time I cleaned it, there was zero noticeable wear on the slide. I have not polished the ears or anything to date.

[Freidenker]

Thanks greener, it's good to know of someone who is not an expert doing this polishing with success, I was thinking about shooting some shoots and then check out if there is wear and see if the ears have sharp edges, but I feel more confident now to make it.

Rocketfoot it will be very interesting to read about what you've seen in your unmodified p22 after so many shoots, I guess if you don't have any anormal wear this issue might have been solved by Walther in the last models, what year of production is your p22?

PS: What year is your p22 greener?

[RocketFoot]

Well, after 5000 rounds, I do see some rub marks where the trigger bar ears rise up to contact the slide. They are noticeable, but not deep enough to even catch your fingernail. I don't think the trigger bar can rise any higher to do any more damage to the frame. I also noticed some wear on the slide release catch notch on the slide. Walther actually put a steel pin in there to help prevent wear. In my opinion, the gun is well built but could benefit from a sturdier slide. Polishing the trigger bar ears couldn't hurt either, but probably isn't really necessary. My P22 was made in early 2007.

[Freidenker]

Originally Posted by RocketFoot

Well, after 5000 rounds, I do see some rub marks where the trigger bar ears rise up to contact the slide. They are noticeable, but not deep enough to even catch your fingernail. I don't think the trigger bar can rise any higher to do any more damage to the frame. I also noticed some wear on the slide release catch notch on the slide. Walther actually put a steel pin in there to help prevent wear. In my opinion, the gun is well built but could benefit from a sturdier slide. Polishing the trigger bar ears couldn't hurt either, but probably isn't really necessary. My P22 was made in early 2007.

Thanks Rocketfoot, great to have heard from first hand how this wear really is. It would seem that the guys at Walther thought this wear wouldn't affect the gun's functionality. I will shoot it as-is and will pay much attention to the wear. I'll write any further experience I may have about this.