# So, I have a new gun. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 29, 2009, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-new-gun/491203 "2009-03-29T19:11:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-new-gun/491203/1 "2009-03-29T19:11:12Z")
I went to the St. Charles Gun Show this weekend. It was insanely packed yesterday, but today was much better. I picked up a [Walther P22.](http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=13152&storeId=10002&productId=58954&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=43804&isFirearm=Y) Mine is a two-tone with nickel upper. It’ll pay for itself in ammo savings in a year, tops. I also picked up a drop-in conversion bolt for my AR-15 (Oly. Arms, actually) to allow me to shoot .22LR from it, as well, and a couple of .22LR mags for the AR-15. Then I dropped a whopping $19 for 500 rds. of 22LR. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-new-gun/491203/2 "2009-03-29T19:17:53Z")
Very nice! I believe they come in a 3" or 5" barrel, which did you get? You can also get a suppressor for those guns to have some more fun. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-new-gun/491203/3 "2009-03-29T19:26:43Z")
I got the 5", like I linked to. FWIU, the “suppressor” isn’t a real suppressor, just a can-like chunk o’ metal on the barrel of your firearm. Besides, is just 22LR. Nothing adequate hearing protection can’t handle. I’m eyeballing the DIN-rail laser, though. **Political:** _lots_ of Scary Black Guns going out the door. [CMMG](http://cmmginc.secure-mall.com/shop/?shop=1&cat=1&) seemed to be the crowd favorite, being a “local” company and all. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-new-gun/491203/4 "2009-03-29T19:33:49Z")
> [@](#): > > Interchangeable barrel (sold separately) can convert the P22 from the standard configuration to the target version in minutes What is the target barrel? ---
**Author:** ![Hirundo82](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/919ad9/32.png) [@Hirundo82](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hirundo82)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-new-gun/491203/5 "2009-03-29T19:39:01Z")
With the price of ammunition, I’ve been getting into .22lr since the New Year. I bought a [Browning Buck Mark](http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?value=006B&cat_id=051&type_id=381) last month, and yesterday I went by Gander Mountain and picked up a [Marlin 795](http://www.marlinfirearms.com/firearms/SelfLoading/795.asp) for $170 (before the $20 mail-in rebate). I’m planning to add some ghost ring sights to the Marlin to make the sight picture similar to my AR-15. Now I just need to find time to get to the range. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-new-gun/491203/6 "2009-03-29T19:43:43Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > What is the target barrel? The target barrel is the 5". But you can change to the 3.5" for a compact/concealed carry-sized firearm by just switching barrels and unscrewing the attached barrel shroud. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-new-gun/491203/7 "2009-03-29T22:00:06Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > Then I dropped a whopping $19 for 500 rds. of 22LR. Man, I just bought 640 rounds for my SKS. I am jealous. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2009, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-new-gun/491203/8 "2009-03-30T00:28:09Z")
Oh Yeah: there was an anime convention going on at the same time. Watching teenaged kids running around in their various “anime outfits” mixing with (mostly) conservative/traditionalist gun owners was…interesting. Both groups seemed equally bemused by the other. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2009, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-new-gun/491203/9 "2009-03-30T01:13:26Z")
I have a P22. It’s green, and has the long barrel. I bought three new .22s this year: A Winchester 9422, a Ruger 10/22 on which I put an International (Mannlicher) stock, and a Henry AR-7. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2009, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-new-gun/491203/10 "2009-03-30T01:26:29Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I have a P22. It’s green, and has the long barrel. How does the P22 shoot for you? It’ll be next weekend at least before I can take mine out. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2009, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-new-gun/491203/11 "2009-03-30T01:43:56Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > How does the P22 shoot for you? It’ll be next weekend at least before I can take mine out. My basic-as-they-come Ruger Mk.II 4" is more accurate, feels better in my hand, and points better. But the Walther will shoot any .22LR ammo. I called Ruger a few years ago when I experienced several failures to load, and was told that all Ruger .22 pistols have ‘target chambers’; while most other makes (and Ruger .22 rifles) have ‘sport chambers’. Target chambers are tighter than sport chambers, so they can be finicky about ammo. I still have lots of Remington Thunderbolt left, so it’s good to have the Walther to shoot them in. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2009, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-new-gun/491203/12 "2009-03-30T14:27:14Z")
Well in all fairness, **Johnny** , I don’t think the P22 was ever marketed as a “target” pistol. As I understand, it was designed and marketed as a “trainer” for the P99 series, since they are functionally identical, and the P99 is a “service” pistol. I haven’t seen a P99 around here (in either 9mm or 40 S&W), since here locally the P22 long barrel is fairly popular (at least out of Walther’s catalog of products) as just a “plinker.” ---
**Author:** ![Soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2009, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-new-gun/491203/13 "2009-03-30T14:33:22Z")
\ I need a sequential threads thread stat! We’re sitting just underneath **The Bizarre Case of the Texas School Depository Window**! \ ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2009, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-new-gun/491203/14 "2009-03-30T15:38:19Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > Well in all fairness, **Johnny** , I don’t think the P22 was ever marketed as a “target” pistol. That’s true. But the Ruger still feels better in my hand. In its favour, the P22 has the coolness factor, a better magazine release, and it will digest any ammo I put in it. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2009, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-new-gun/491203/15 "2009-03-30T16:50:01Z")
I hate to admit this… The last time I took my Mark II completely apart, it took days to get it back together again. A lot of it had to do with gravity. And the position that the pistol had to be in at certain stages. I really like the pistol, but sheesssss… ---
**Author:** ![The\_Batman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/22d042/32.png) [@The\_Batman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Batman)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2009, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-new-gun/491203/16 "2009-03-30T17:50:27Z")
I have to say, it’s a very cool looking pistol. It looks like something out of the _Aliens_ movies. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2009, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-new-gun/491203/17 "2009-03-30T19:05:09Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > I hate to admit this… The last time I took my Mark II completely apart, it took days to get it back together again. Another point for the P22. It’s _much_ easier to take apart and put back together. (Though I’m not used to having to use hex wrenches for cleaning.) ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2009, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-new-gun/491203/18 "2009-03-30T23:34:14Z")
I also was at the show on Sunday. Arrived at 9:00 and it wasn’t too bad, but it was crowded when I left at noon. I have a P22, and it’s a decent pistol, but not nearly as accurate as a Mk II. 🙂 I also have the threaded adapter, and a suppressor. 😃 OK, to be accurate I’ll have the suppressor as soon as my dealer receives the Form 4 back from the ATF boys. But it’s gone pending, so at least it’s nearing the end of the process. I’ve ordered a replacement upper for the Ruger Mk II that replaces the original and has provision for rail mounting sights as well as a threaded barrel. Should have that in a few weeks. Hope you enjoy your new acquisition. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotGrrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9dc877/32.png) [@PatriotGrrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotGrrrl)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-new-gun/491203/19 "2009-03-31T00:21:11Z")
> [@Hirundo82](#): > > I bought a [Browning Buck Mark](http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?value=006B&cat_id=051&type_id=381) last month I used to have one of those. Fun to shoot, but a bit finicky. Those two screws on top have to be tight enough - but not too tight, and the ejector is a piece of spring wire which can get bent. Nice gun otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-new-gun/491203/20 "2009-03-31T00:30:01Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > I hate to admit this… The last time I took my Mark II completely apart, it took days to get it back together again. > > A lot of it had to do with gravity. And the position that the pistol had to be in at certain stages. > > I really like the pistol, but sheesssss… I love my Ruger Standard pistol. Over forty years old and still as accurate as can be. But oy, do I hate cleaning it. I am able to easily break it down but like you I can’t put it together to save my life. The first time I ever did it it took me over five hours to get it back together. The last two hours I broke down and looked for illustrated instructions on the net that showed me how to do it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-a-new-gun/491203.md?page=2)