Sig Sauer P322: a Review
Twenty-Two rimfire must be undoubtedly the most popular and common gun-and-ammo combination out there. From old single-shot rifles bought at Sears and Roebuck to the more outlandish race guns such as the Black Widow, rimfires are fun, easy to shoot, and—generally speaking—cost-effective. While most relegate these guns to plinking, I argue they can be much more. A proper 22 handgun can make a superb training tool and an entry point for new shooters. While the market has a plethora of options, one of the best might be the Sig Sauer P322.
The Ultimate Training Companion
I think most will agree that a 22 pistol is a ton of fun to shoot. The minimal recoil and affordable ammunition mean people can invest time in it. While many think of shooting a 22 as a casual event, I argue that it can be much more than that. Shooting 22 pistols is a serious training tool and a great gateway to bring new shooters into the conversation. Also, having a facsimile of your primary weapon—whether a handgun or rifle—can be greatly beneficial. More time can be spent on fundamentals and perfecting your craft. The result is easy translation to a larger caliber system. The benefit of the P322 is it subscribes to the P320 ecosystem. To be frank, I am a big fan of Sig’s line of handguns. I carry a couple of different versions of the P365 and then use the P320 for more duty-type use. This thought process is the same for many as the aforementioned firearms are some of the most sold today. The initial feeling of the 322 puts it somewhere between the 365 and 320. Its grip frame is a bit larger than a 365 but not quite as wide as the 320. However, it still feels svelte and is very light. I think this balance between the two models is quite nice and offers a balance of the two for training applications.
Some features I like about the gun include 20-round magazines, a threaded barrel, a flat-face trigger shoe (but comes with a curved trigger shoe in the box), an optics optics-ready slide, and the ergonomics mentioned above. It’s slightly pricier than other options—which is $399.99—but is packed with more features at that price than others on the market. I’ve shot my personal 322 a lot and has also become a favorite when I take new shooters out, especially with a suppressor affixed to the end. As for setup, I kept the flat-face trigger and added the threaded barrel adapter to the muzzle which increases the thread pitch to 1/2X28—a general standard for rimfire suppressors. I then added my Silencerco Warlock II to the end. Next, since the gun is optics ready, I went ahead and added a Vortex Defender CCW to the slide (I went with the 3moa dot size for a bit more preciseness). Outside of a light, this is standard for most of the handguns that I use regularly.
Range Report
The 322 is a ton of fun to shoot. It runs relatively well suppressed and my only complaint is that it didn’t initially love running hollow points. To remedy this problem, I polished the feed ramp—which was a bit rough and jagged. I haven’t had problems since, but I feel that this is something that should be a part of the quality control process. Less stress for the owner is always in the manufacturer's best interest. The accuracy was satisfactory for this style of weapon, and it ran well with CCI Mini-Mags. Like most training style 22 pistols, ammo with velocities of 1200fps and better are optimal. Anything less will be problematic as they don’t provide enough energy to reciprocate the slide. Both magazines ran flawlessly, and the gun ran smoothly throughout several hundred rounds outside of the rough feed ramp. My wife and I took turns running plates at about 25 feet. I added some dynamic movements going near-to-far after changing positions. My wife is still learning the basics of shooting, so having a 22-pistol made teaching easier and gave her better confidence with her 9mm handgun.
Final Thoughts
A 22 pistol should be in the arsenal of every gun collector or enthusiast. But rather than just being utilized a s casual plinkers, they should be considered as a serious training tool. The guns are affordable and light recoiling which allows you to spend time focusing on the fundamentals. This will translate into better handling of your primary sidearm. Not only this, but this pistol will be a great introduction for new and inexperienced shooters, which is the best way to spread interest in the shooting hobby. I find the Sig Sauer P322 an excellent option for this role and will be hard to beat with its packed feature set and price point. So, with all of that, go out and have fun shooting.
