A .22 caliber self-loading pistol has been a part of my life for many years. The Colt Woodsman, Ruger Standard Model, and Browning Buckmark are among these. The affordability of the .22 Long Rifle cartridge makes for inexpensive practice. I advise not going cheap on the pistol itself.
The .22 caliber handgun is a good trainer, an introduction to firearms, and it is also useful for small game hunting. I don’t recommend a .22 for defensive use, but for those who cannot handle the recoil of a larger caliber, the .22 is better than nothing. The best role is as a trainer, and this is where they shine.
Since most of our defensive handguns are polymer-frame handguns, it makes sense that our practice handguns should be as well. Among the best examples is the SIG P322. This is a polymer-frame handgun, although it isn’t striker-fired. The P322 uses a hidden hammer. The P322 features a manual safety, the controls are nicely laid out, and disassembly is simple enough. The pistol is a good performer and a low-maintenance .22.
Due to the nature of the heel-based bullet, the .22 Long Rifle isn’t as feed-reliable as a centerfire cartridge. Inside priming isn’t as reliable as a centerfire primer either. Just the same, a .22 caliber handgun can be reliable given proper maintenance and cleaning. The pistol should be cleaned every 300 rounds and lubricated often.
Most .22 LR ammunition uses powder developed for use in rifles. A few loads are specially formulated for good performance in shorter barrels. Federal AutoMatch and Winchester M22 are among these. Always use high-velocity loads. The majority of .22 Long Rifle loads are high velocity—you must search out and pay extra for standard velocity loads these days.
Another problem has been convincing a rimmed cartridge such as the .22 to feed in a pistol magazine. Despite these hurdles, the SIG P322 is among the most reliable rimfire handguns available and a very good performer.
I have fired a pair of SIG P322s extensively. The black version has been fired to the tune of just over 3,000 rounds without any evidence of problems. There have been no malfunctions and no failures to lock back on the last shot. There have been a handful of failures to fire despite a hard primer hit, but that is the nature of rimfire ammunition. I find the P322 overall more reliable than the full-size metal-frame .22 pistols many of us use for target shooting. The coyote brown example is a newcomer with about 600 rounds fired.
There is nothing wrong with a .22 as a fun gun for recreation. With its 20-round magazines, the P322 is a lot of fun at the range. The pistol is plenty accurate for meaningful practice. A polymer-frame .22 makes a great understudy for training if you deploy a polymer-frame 9mm carry gun.
The P322 is just the right size at seven inches overall length, five and one-half inches tall, and a weight of just a feathery 17 ounces. It is common for those hiking or small game hunting to deploy a .22 revolver or perhaps a steel-frame .22 automatic. The P322 is much lighter and has a nice ammunition reserve. For popping snakes or rodents at a few yards, the P322 is plenty accurate enough. I feel that a P322 is accurate enough for squirrel hunting given a ten-yard shot into the tree.
To ensure reliability, always load a semi-automatic pistol’s magazines properly. A key to reliability is to utilize the supplied magazine loader. Carefully stack each cartridge in place—do not simply drop the cartridges into the magazine as you hold the follower down. The magazine isn’t difficult to load.
The sights are excellent fiber-optic types front and rear. This makes for high practical accuracy. The trigger action breaks clean and crisp at just about 5.0 pounds. I prefer the flat trigger, although a curved trigger shoe is also provided.
The SIG features a light rail for mounting combat lights—a fine option for practice. When field stripping the pistol, be certain to clear the magazine and chamber. Rotate the takedown lever, pull the slide to the rear and up, and then over the fixed barrel.
Firing Tests
I have used the original P322 extensively. With the latest P322 I have taken advantage of the easy direct-mount carry-optic option. If your carry piece features carry optics, this makes the SIG P322 even more relevant.
I mounted a Hi-Lux TD3E enclosed-emitter sight. This sight features a steel cover to protect the aluminum-frame sight and easy adjustments. This is an advanced but fairly priced red dot sight. Results have been excellent.
This is a fast-handling and super-accurate combination. The .22 doesn’t kick much. The handle fits my hands well, and the balance of adhesion and abrasion is good. The pistol handles quickly and provides good results with iron sights and even better with optics. Recreational shooting is a lot of fun, while the pistol is also a great trainer.
As for absolute accuracy, I bench-rested the piece at a long 25 yards using the Birchwood Casey firing rest. Depending on the load—and all quality pistols prefer one load over another—the P322 will group five shots into 2 to 3 inches, all we may ask of a lightweight .22.
The SIG P322 is more reliable than most .22 pistols and quite accurate for its size and weight class. It is affordable, and in the end I find it well worth the price. It is, after all, a SIG—and that means quality.
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