Walther WMP .22 Magnum Range Report

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YankeeIronSights

New member
Hi Everyone,

I tested a Walther WMP in .22 magnum yesterday and was greatly impressed with how well it shoots and performs.

I had zero malfunctions shooting about a hundred rounds of CCI ammo.

Accuracy was very good.

Ergonomics felt awesome, even for my medium size hands. It fills your hand perfect, like a full size service handgun.

I love the fireball that comes out of the barrel. Sounds loud and deep, like a larger caliber handgun. However, there is practically no recoil.

The pistol comes optics ready, although I prefer using the factory sights. The red fiber front sight is easy to see in low light.

The magazine release offers a paddle style button in addition to the traditional side button.

I also like the easy-to-load magazine.

It is very easy to takedown for cleaning.

In summary, I think Walther has a winner [emoji471] and I highly recommend it for range fun, training new shooters and hunting purposes. It could also serve as a home defense gun, in the absence of any other better option. I do not think that it is a good concealed carry option due to its large size. However, some may not mind carrying it owb.

There two great videos on YouTube that show the excellent features of this handgun.

https://youtu.be/06h_NGP5eTc

https://youtu.be/3hkqxniKdP4

https://youtu.be/4lOzQ5i3Lh0

Please share your opinions below.
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M

mk70ss

New member
I have had mine for 8-9 months now and agree with all your comments. The gun just works, has a great trigger, sights and is very accurate. I have about 500 rounds through mine and zero issues so far.

upload photos online
 
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Jim Watson

New member
Lots of folks carrying .32s, .380s, and .38 wadcutters.
I think 15 WMRs, once proven reliable, would be a contender for small bore defense.
 
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wild cat mccane

New member
Tis true on all accounts. But the WMP is larger than the Walther PPQ 45 and more like the Walther Creed/PPX that is one chunky monkey. You have to hold it to feel the size.

Awesome reviews. I want one and hope the prices drop a bit more from current $400.
 
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Forte S+W

New member
Holy Smokes! That's one heck of a fireball!

I was skeptical when Walther announced the WMP since they've never made a .22WMR pistol before and some of their older generation P22's were known to develop stress fractures on the slide over time with use of High Velocity .22LR ammo, but that was with ZAMAK slides whereas the WMP is Aluminum, so it shouldn't be a problem.
 
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wild cat mccane

New member
Hey there. Kinda was on the hunt to buy today but by any chance any of you experienced failures to lock back on empty or difficulty to lock a mag in?

Just watched Honest Outlaws kinda crude review and he was having it.

Thanks!
 
L

LeverGunFan

New member
My WMP has been very reliable with a variety of 40, 45 and 50 grain WMR ammunition. No issues with lock back on empty or problems seating magazines. It's been more reliable than my 22LR pistols.
 
M

MarkCO

New member
YankeeIronSights said:
Hi Everyone,

I tested a Walther WMP in .22 magnum yesterday and was greatly impressed with how well it shoots and performs.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the review and post. I have a few folks that are older with terrible arthritis and this might be the ticket. Even a 380 EZ was a bit difficult for them. Have you by chance any compare and contrast to a M&P 380 EZ in terms of ergonomics or manually racking the slide?

Or anyone else?
 
Y

YankeeIronSights

New member
I own a 380 EZ but it recoils a bit more. It is accurate and I like it a lot. Being much smaller, you need to have a firm grip.


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S

Sevens

New member
Thanks for the review and post. I have a few folks that are older with terrible arthritis and this might be the ticket. Even a 380 EZ was a bit difficult for them. Have you by chance any compare and contrast to a M&P 380 EZ in terms of ergonomics or manually racking the slide?

Or anyone else?
Click to expand...
I have zero experience with the M&P 380EZ so I cannot compare, but I have the Walther WMP.

My biggest concern to pass on would be to make sure you put one of these in your hands rather than to order one never having seen it. I say this specifically because it is kind of -MASSIVE- in size.

Easy to rack, easy to shoot, the trigger is decent and not difficult to pull, but the reach to that trigger might be a question for some and if this were to be a carry gun, know going in that it's going to require creativity for some to conceal it.
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M

MarkCO

New member
Sevens said:
I have zero experience with the M&P 380EZ so I cannot compare, but I have the Walther WMP.

My biggest concern to pass on would be to make sure you put one of these in your hands rather than to order one never having seen it. I say this specifically because it is kind of -MASSIVE- in size.

Easy to rack, easy to shoot, the trigger is decent and not difficult to pull, but the reach to that trigger might be a question for some and if this were to be a carry gun, know going in that it's going to require creativity for some to conceal it.
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Click to expand...
Thanks for the feedback posts. Purely for home defense.
 
9

9x19

New member
MarkCo,

Ruger's Security 380 might be an option. I bought one for the same reasons, and it has been quite easy to manipulate. I ended up buying a second one for the wife.
 
M

MarkCO

New member
9x19 said:
MarkCo,

Ruger's Security 380 might be an option. I bought one for the same reasons, and it has been quite easy to manipulate. I ended up buying a second one for the wife.
Click to expand...

Still a relatively small pistol. For these folks, old, pretty much homebound, I'd like a full size pistol with very low recoil. One gentleman, I took his Glock 17 and put a 9 pound spring in it and he is shooting 80 grain solids at 1050 fps. It's about the best solution for him.

One of the Ladies, she had a Lady Smith .38. She literally could not shoot more than a round or two. She gets out an about, but would be okay with something primarily for HD since, when she is out, she is usually with family.

Another is a lady with MS who lives on her own.

I might just need to get one and test it out with these folks.
 
J

JohnKSa

Administrator
For these folks, old, pretty much homebound, I'd like a full size pistol with very low recoil.
Click to expand...
A lot of people just don't get it.

I've worked with people who have hand strength issues due to age-related or health-related issues and it's not a simple problem to solve.

People typically recommend revolvers, but the recoil and DA pull can be prohibitive and even hammer-cocking can be a problem..

One man I know in his middle 80s has to use two fingers to pull the DA trigger of his full-sized .38Sp revolver and it's a struggle at that.

A woman I know with a health issue that causes joint problems is totally unwilling to deal with centerfire revolver recoil after several experiments. She can shoot rimfire revolvers but has significant trouble cocking the hammer on DA rimfire revolvers.

When turning to autopistols, things can get a bit easier, but other issues crop up. The gun companies are finally starting to help out with guns that are easier to rack, but they still have room to improve.
I took his Glock 17 and put a 9 pound spring in it and he is shooting 80 grain solids at 1050 fps. It's about the best solution for him.
Click to expand...
Basically you took his full-sized 9mm and made an easy-to rack, full-sized .380ACP locked-breech pistol out of it.

This is not so simple to do, by the way, as lightening the recoil spring significantly in a typical striker-fired pistol can have safety consequences if it is not done properly. The trigger pull can actually pull the gun out of battery.

It would be nice if the gun companies would look exclusively at the home-defense category and go all out for ease of operation and light recoil in an autopistol, but they seem really set on the idea that a truly full-sized pistol just can't be chambered in anything lighter than 9mm.
 
M

MarkCO

New member
JohnKSa said:
Basically you took his full-sized 9mm and made an easy-to rack, full-sized .380ACP locked-breech pistol out of it.

This is not so simple to do, by the way, as lightening the recoil spring significantly in a typical striker-fired pistol can have safety consequences if it is not done properly. The trigger pull can actually pull the gun out of battery.
Click to expand...

Absolutely. Thanks for adding that safety admonition. I should have. The striker spring is an XP, as is the trigger spring (to take the pull back to about 5 pounds). It's a sweet shooter, and yes, I did all the safety checks on it as well.
 
M

MarkCO

New member
Jim Watson said:
Too bad the .30 Carry was hopped up to .30 Luger level.
It should have been a .32 +P or maybe +P+
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When the .30 carry was introduced, I was excited for this very reason. Then I saw what it was an lost ALL interest.

It's always interesting being a coach/instructor. When I first started, the old standby of grip tighter worked 95% of the time. With such a diverse group seeking SD firearms training in terms of age and physical limitations of all kinds, it has been good, as it has stretched me and moved me to examine more options to meet the reliability and use needs of those students. I have 6th graders under 80 pounds on my Trap team and Ladies over 80 with less than 25 pounds of grip strength.
 
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