First Impressions
To be perfectly honest, I’ve never put much thought into the .22 WMR. Typically only found on revolvers, it’s more expensive than the rather cheap bricks of .22 LR I can find just about anywhere and plink the day away. Cheap .22 got me through COVID and probably helped me become a better shooter since I could continue to go to the range.
When I got the chance to review the WMP, I was excited. I had just spent some time on the Q5 and was impressed. When I got a call that the WMP had arrived and went to check it out, I was again pleasantly surprised. This Certified Used model came with three 15-round magazines, which was an immediate plus. The gun is big – PDP-sized – and has the same fit and finish I’ve come to admire.
Although the aluminum slide has less machining and cutouts than the Q5, there are still some lightening cuts that aid in reliability for less powerful rimfire rounds. One of the biggest factors in reliability of rimfire autos is having enough energy to cycle the slide each time, while being able to hold up over time to extensive use. The German engineers seem to have put quite a bit of thought and science into making this light, rugged, and dependable.
Iron sights are excellent, with a blacked-out rear and fiber-optic front. This gun came with a low-profile replacement set as well as the installed standard-height sights, which seems to be common these days and helps with zeroing for different loads and velocities. The WMP comes fully optic ready, with three different plates for the most common patterns. It's an impressive overall package.
Look and Feel
A handsome gun, the WMP is reminiscent of the PDP, Q5, and Creed kind of rolled into one. The clean lines and smooth slide finish stand out. I’ve noticed this across the board from Walther, as the company does a fine job applying the Tenifer layer. The pistol features the same comfortable ergonomics as its counterparts, so the WMP fits nearly anyone's hands.
Interchangeable backstraps are included, which is helpful for shooters with smaller hands. Controls are fully ambidextrous, with the slide lock on both sides and Walther’s “Quad Release” system that includes buttons and paddles for the mag release on both sides. The button releases are purposefully recessed a bit and take a little more force than usual to actuate, which prevents the magazine from being released when the gun is set on its side. The small slide release is easy to use, and it does not take much to send it home with a slight downward motion.
One unique feature is that this is a hammer-fired double-action gun. Now, I’m a big DA/SA guy, but in doing some research, this more of a DAO gun. The hammer is recessed, so you can tell when it’s cocked. I had a Heckler and Koch P30L done up by LTT, and I would say the WMP function is similar. Once you understand it, the manual of arms is basically like a striker-fired gun. It even has a trigger shoe safety.
The one knock I have on the Walther is that the reset is quite long. I found myself pulling again without a reset and having to let off farther before the next round fired.
Specs
- Caliber: .22 Magnum
- Barrel Length: 4.5 inches
- Overall Length: 8.6 inches
- Width: 1.48 inches
- Height: 5.66 inches
- Weight: 1.74 pounds
- Capacity: 15+1, 3 magazines included
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Optic ready with 3 optic plates included
Range Report
Admittedly, I am a photographer first, so most of the time my best shooting is done with my camera. Through the camera lens, I’m able to find new features and focus points, at times discovering things I didn’t notice while handling the gun. In this case, the .22 Magnum had piqued my interest, and I was pumped to get this thing to my local range on my lunch break and see how it performed.
I was ready for recoil somewhat like a .380 or maybe .32 after seeing how much longer these shells were. Once loaded, I bore down on the grip, lined up the blazing red fiber optic, and squeezed the smooth trigger. The sound was loud and the fireball large, but the recoil was the same as any .22 LR I’ve ever shot. Throughout the first magazine, I was impressed with what ended up being a tight group at 7 yards.
The trigger is more akin to a striker-fired pistol than a double action. I’m not quite sure how to explain it, but it simply feels like the normal take-up stacking to the wall with the hammer already being cocked back. As I already mentioned, the reset is longer than I’m used to, but you can put rounds down range at a good cadence once you get the timing. Recoil is extremely mild and allows you to keep your sights the entire time. It's almost like the sights don’t move.
Accuracy
Rimfire ammo is notorious for being somewhat inconsistent and not the most accurate, but I was able to stack rounds on top of each other in some tight groups. Most of the misses I had were due to me getting used to the feel and report of the WMP. I had most rounds in a vertical line versus a buckshot pattern on target.
I didn’t venture much beyond 45 feet, but the results were the same. I went through four boxes of ammo: three CCI Maxi Mags and one Speer Gold Dot Defensive. I had zero malfunctions on that small sample size, but for the time and for its use, that was quite awesome. I had a lot of fun shooting both controlled groups and mag dumping.
The .22 Mag provides a considerable uptick in energy from a .22 LR and has traditionally been a varmint and small game round. As a full-sized semi-auto with good capacity, the WMP makes a great “walking around gun.” I have read that finding holsters may be tough, but if it’s a woods gun, I think you can make do with a one-size-fits-all option or throw it in a pack.
It was a unique experience having a louder pop with a big fireball and almost no recoil – whether that’s due to the round or the gun build, I’d have to investigate further.
Final thoughts
The Walther WMP is an intriguing pistol. This full-sized handgun packs more punch than .22 LR while being much more manageable than the more common rounds like .380 or even 9mm. The nuances of this gun do tend to make it a bit of an eclectic choice, as it doesn’t fit squarely into any box or category. It looks like any modern defensive gun but is geared toward pest control or hunting.
I am not in the camp that believes rimfire is a good option for self-defense, but there’s a case to be made if you can maintain this gun and keep it running reliably. The WMP works well and seems to be designed around the caliber. It’s a quality-built firearm with a rich feature set that was reliable for me and packs a punch. With an optic, I believe would be a truly awesome “kit” gun for the field.
