Walther P22 slidewear - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

Tomcat088 · 09-12-2007, 01:14 AM

I wanted to inform some people of wear that may or may not be an issue for you. Keep in mind that my Walther P22 has thousands upon thousands of rounds through it. I can't even tell you exactly how many thousands of rounds it has through it, but I know it's over 10K. Anyway, for the past 2K or so, I've noticed more and more slidewear on the frame right where the slidestop is. The wear has gotten so significant that without an empty magazine in the pistol, if you bump it, the slide will close. This can be a problem if you like to keep the action open, insert a new magazine, and then use the slidestop to close the action on the new one. I have no problem "slingshotting" the first round into the pistol, BUT it does cause some concern. I teach alot of beginners on this pistol, and many of them find the slidestop more comfortable than actually racking the slide. If one of them wasn't extremely careful with their muzzle control or was surprised with the slide closing on it's own, it could be disasterous. From now on, I will only teach newbies to slingshot this pistol for that reason. This pistol has been extremely reliable for me and I have NEVER had any complaints about it. I just wanted others who were considering buying this pistol or who had just gotten one to be aware of this potential issue.

I was on the phone with Smith & Wesson about 3 days ago to get a new recoil spring for this pistol (which was free). I told them the issue (slidewear) and they said, "oh yeah, send it over it sounds like we need to get you a new slide for that pistol." I then said, "sweet, you can get me a new slide for it?" He replied, "Sure. How long have you had the pistol?" I answered "5 years", to which he replied, "oh, well it sounds like you need to buy a new pistol then." I asked him why and he said because the pistol only has a one year warranty on it. I told him that all the other pistols that they handled had a lifetime warranty, why shouldn't this one. He informed me that since they merely import it from Walther that they don't have a lifetime warranty. So I asked him if I could purchase a new slide from them and he said no. I found this strange because if it's under warranty they'll give you a new slide with a different seriel number, but they won't sell me a new slide and said that I had to buy a new pistol.

I suppose I have a few questions from all of that. Have any of you had any experiences like this with Smith & Wesson and an imported gun? Have any of you had any issues like this with other manufacturers who import guns? I know that the XD's are imported, but springfield still gives them a lifetime warranty and does warranty service on them. I haven't look on rimfire central yet or anything, but I had another question. Does anybody have any idea how to contact Walther directly to see if they would allow me to ship them the pistol to be worked on or do you think they would? I just thought all of it was a bit strange and wanted everyone to be aware of this potential problem in the future.

scurtis_34471 · 09-12-2007, 09:05 AM

I avoid using the slide release in hopes of avoiding this problem. You might be able to have a gunsmith machine out the notch a bit. I was having that problem on my Bersa and that did the trick.

bscman · 09-12-2007, 09:08 AM

Is it the slide itself, of the slide stop that is worn?

My first makarov had an issue just as you're describing...replacing the slide stop resolved the problem.

I always prefer to slingshot the slide rather than release it with the slide stop--for the very reason you describe.

As for the serial number issue...it should be the FRAME that is serial numbered, not the slide. The FRAME is what is registered, the rest of the parts are just parts. A slide is not an FFL item...
I'd try calling back, and talking to a different person, to see if the story still rings true. I've had dealings with other companies in the past, that have given my different answers depending on who I talk to.

I've heard *mostly* good things about smith and wessons customer service. There have been a lot of very happy 22a owners on rimfirecentral.

nick__45 · 09-12-2007, 09:26 AM

When I buy guns, I always get the one back in storage instead of the display model for this very reason. Most people rough handle display guns by letting the slide slam back. The sound may be cool and tactical to some, but it is wear and tear to low budget owner like me. I always get a perfect guns without a scratch and take care of it from there.

It is like buying car, picking one with a few hundreds miles on the odo may seem innocent and harmless, but there are probably a lot of engine wear and tear from all those people high-rev-ing it prior to a proper break-in.

09-12-2007, 01:14 AM	#1
Tomcat088 XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Lubbock, Tx Posts: 688	Walther P22 slidewear I wanted to inform some people of wear that may or may not be an issue for you. Keep in mind that my Walther P22 has thousands upon thousands of rounds through it. I can't even tell you exactly how many thousands of rounds it has through it, but I know it's over 10K. Anyway, for the past 2K or so, I've noticed more and more slidewear on the frame right where the slidestop is. The wear has gotten so significant that without an empty magazine in the pistol, if you bump it, the slide will close. This can be a problem if you like to keep the action open, insert a new magazine, and then use the slidestop to close the action on the new one. I have no problem "slingshotting" the first round into the pistol, BUT it does cause some concern. I teach alot of beginners on this pistol, and many of them find the slidestop more comfortable than actually racking the slide. If one of them wasn't extremely careful with their muzzle control or was surprised with the slide closing on it's own, it could be disasterous. From now on, I will only teach newbies to slingshot this pistol for that reason. This pistol has been extremely reliable for me and I have NEVER had any complaints about it. I just wanted others who were considering buying this pistol or who had just gotten one to be aware of this potential issue. I was on the phone with Smith & Wesson about 3 days ago to get a new recoil spring for this pistol (which was free). I told them the issue (slidewear) and they said, "oh yeah, send it over it sounds like we need to get you a new slide for that pistol." I then said, "sweet, you can get me a new slide for it?" He replied, "Sure. How long have you had the pistol?" I answered "5 years", to which he replied, "oh, well it sounds like you need to buy a new pistol then." I asked him why and he said because the pistol only has a one year warranty on it. I told him that all the other pistols that they handled had a lifetime warranty, why shouldn't this one. He informed me that since they merely import it from Walther that they don't have a lifetime warranty. So I asked him if I could purchase a new slide from them and he said no. I found this strange because if it's under warranty they'll give you a new slide with a different seriel number, but they won't sell me a new slide and said that I had to buy a new pistol. I suppose I have a few questions from all of that. Have any of you had any experiences like this with Smith & Wesson and an imported gun? Have any of you had any issues like this with other manufacturers who import guns? I know that the XD's are imported, but springfield still gives them a lifetime warranty and does warranty service on them. I haven't look on rimfire central yet or anything, but I had another question. Does anybody have any idea how to contact Walther directly to see if they would allow me to ship them the pistol to be worked on or do you think they would? I just thought all of it was a bit strange and wanted everyone to be aware of this potential problem in the future.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

09-12-2007, 09:05 AM	#2
scurtis_34471 XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 246	I avoid using the slide release in hopes of avoiding this problem. You might be able to have a gunsmith machine out the notch a bit. I was having that problem on my Bersa and that did the trick.

09-12-2007, 09:08 AM	#3
bscman XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 135	Is it the slide itself, of the slide stop that is worn? My first makarov had an issue just as you're describing...replacing the slide stop resolved the problem. I always prefer to slingshot the slide rather than release it with the slide stop--for the very reason you describe. As for the serial number issue...it should be the FRAME that is serial numbered, not the slide. The FRAME is what is registered, the rest of the parts are just parts. A slide is not an FFL item... I'd try calling back, and talking to a different person, to see if the story still rings true. I've had dealings with other companies in the past, that have given my different answers depending on who I talk to. I've heard mostly good things about smith and wessons customer service. There have been a lot of very happy 22a owners on rimfirecentral.

09-12-2007, 09:26 AM	#4
nick__45 XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 260	When I buy guns, I always get the one back in storage instead of the display model for this very reason. Most people rough handle display guns by letting the slide slam back. The sound may be cool and tactical to some, but it is wear and tear to low budget owner like me. I always get a perfect guns without a scratch and take care of it from there. It is like buying car, picking one with a few hundreds miles on the odo may seem innocent and harmless, but there are probably a lot of engine wear and tear from all those people high-rev-ing it prior to a proper break-in.