Walther P22 legality question?

Question

What is the difference between a California legal Walther P22 and one that isn't California legal??? Is it just that one has a threaded barrel for a suppressor and the other doesn't?

Answer 1

Yep, that's it.

No evil threaded barrels in California!

God that's ridiculous, isn't it?

Answer 2

Also, to my knowledge, it is illegal to own a handgun magazine that holds over 10 rounds in CA. However, most manufactures make 10 round mags that will still fit the same gun...tho I think most p22's come standard with a 10 round clip, so you should be ok.

Answer 3

I own a P22 and have a suppressor for it.

The original design of the P22 incorporated a threaded barrel to allow easy disassembly and quick change to smaller/longer barrels offered by Walther.  The P22 was actually sold in California for almost a year before it was brought to the District Attorney's Office attention that the pistol did in deed have a threaded barrel.  In California any firearm with a threaded barrel is conisdered an 'assault rifle' and banned.  This created a recall of all P22's, and, Walther introduced the non-threaded barrel version for Ca residents shortly afterwards.

For about $12-$14 an adapter can be bought that quickly converts the P22's barrel threads to standard 1/2" 28tpi used by many 22 suppressors.  The Walther P22's design has a very quiet action compaired to a Ruger 22/45 or similar blow back semi-auto - very little 'click-click' noise - with a 33db suppressor it can be fired a few feet away from somone and they would never know a firearm had been discharged.

Hope this helps  

Answer 4

The only difference is the threaded barrel.  Both have 10 round magazines.  I don't believe there is any place other than California and Chicago where the Walther P22 with a threaded barrel is banned.

Answer 5

It's a moot point, since I'm sure CA is moving toward a near-total ban on firearms. You're welcome to move out here to Idaho where freedom is still legal

Ditto on the 10 round limit, by the way.