First Impressions
The F22 offers everything that I want in a compact braced pistol. Short and wieldy with a high rate of fire, it embodies the key elements of the braced pistol. Franklin Armory has thought of everything.
Whether the brace is folded or extended, the F22 feels comfortable and solid. It points well, coming up to my eye quickly and accurately. It is small enough folded to fit in a backpack and extends long enough to provide a more solid shooting platform than a regular handgun.
My favorite features of the F22 are its binary trigger and 10/22-pattern action. The Franklin Armory 22-EZ trigger pack is one of the company’s most popular products, second only to the AR platform trigger kit. It takes a 10/22 from a slow plinking rifle to a lightning-bolt lead blaster!
The F22 binary trigger is a semi-auto, three-position-safety controlled system. When the safety switch is pointed rearward, it is in safe mode. Extend it downward, and it is in normal semi-auto mode. Push it forward, and it is in binary mode. This allows the trigger to fire when pulled and released. It can be done very quickly.
Nearly every gun owner is familiar with the Ruger 10/22, and for many, it was their first .22 rimfire rifle. The original 10-round magazines, the BX15, BX25, and even the Butler Creek 30-round magazines all fit the Franklin Armory F22 pistol. This versatility is great because of the reliability and availability of these well-known magazines.
More Features
The SB Tactical pistol brace and chassis are the heart of the F22. The hinge point is extremely rigid and affords a solid shooting position when aiming. It is difficult to fold and unfold but is very reliable. The B5 Systems pistol grip has a skateboard-tape style of texture that gives me a confident grip.
The F22 sports upgraded controls, including an extended and knurled bolt handle. The magazine release is extended, and an enhanced firing pin is included for added reliability. The long Picatinny rail provides many options for accessorizing with red dots, scopes, and even lasers. The gun does not come with sights, but my Truglo red dot is a good choice for aiming.
No braced pistol is complete without a suppressor, and the F22’s 8-inch barrel is threaded at 1/2x28 to accept a variety of muzzle brakes and silencers. I went with the light, short, and effective Banish 22. Matched with CCI Subsonic .22 LR ammo, it is very quiet. Suppressors are the best thing to happen to firearms since fixed cartridges. If you do not have one, you are missing out!
If a braced pistol is not for you, Franklin Armory has a full-sized rifle version of the F22 complete with Hogue over-molded stock. It too comes with the 22-EZ binary trigger pack, threaded muzzle, and 10/22 magazine compatibility. Plus, an integrally suppressed barrel is available for both the F22 pistol and rifle, making them even more convenient and quiet.
RANGE TIME
To test the F22, I took it to my Area 52 shooting range in Southern Arizona to shoot steel gongs, swingers, and soda bottles from 10-25 yards. Ammunition was CCI Velocitor rated at 1,435 fps and CCI Subsonic rated at 1,050 fps.
Firing the F22 with binary trigger is great fun. The binary function is unusual and a bit surprising due to its release-fire feature. Firing slowly, the gun will “double tap” two rounds every time with perfect cadence, and it is accurate. I was able to keep two shots in nearly the same spot at 10 yards on my gong.
A well-oiled action is important for reliability when shooting a high-volume ammo-burner like the F22. One failure to fire was encountered with the Ruger BX25 magazine, but I believe it was ammunition-related. All other rounds fired flawlessly in my test.
My Banish 22 suppressor was effective when combined with CCI Subsonic ammo. Due to its low 1,050 fps velocity, the Subsonic loads can cause semi-auto actions to fail to function properly, but not to worry. The F22 functions well suppressed. Loaded with the BX25 magazine, it rattled bullets reliably and was very quiet.
Firing at a paper target at 10 yards off-hand, my group measured 1 inch with CCI Velocitors. That is evidence of a good barrel and smooth action. The binary trigger system is not a target trigger, but it is crisp. It is a good plinking trigger.
