Full-Feature Rimfire: SIG SAUER Announces the New P322 .22LR Pistol

1. ever heard of a mosquito?

   • It was mentioned in the article. I had one. Jam-o-matic with anything except CCI mini-mags. Got rid of it. It sounds as though this one has exorcised those demons.

     • those really are 21 good reasons, surprisingly.
       as an sao deal, it’s only cocked by racking?
       how often do you see steel frame/ alloy slide? i get the lower blowback energy, it’s just unique. alloy/ alloy?

2. I’ve been lusting after the kel tec CP33 for months, but might consider this instead.

   • The CP33 is a horribly designed product. I don’t even know whose hands it fits. Maybe a dolphin with flippers? Try before you buy.

     I expect the Sig Sauer to be a step up from the Taurus TX22, albeit at a premium price.

     • Disagree 100% about the CP33. It’s an awesome pistol, my favorite shooter in my arsenal. So, yeah, try before you buy and make sure it fits for you, but — I love that thing.

     • Got a tx22 for Xmas great plinker. Occasional hiccups mostly from bulk ammo or user error in loading mags. If you just pull the follower down to far and drop the rounds in they sometimes rimlock.

3. How does it physically compare to the P320?

   The G44 is physically the same size as the G19. Every control is in the same place. Holsters are compatible. A person can carry a G19 while training for pennies with a G44.

   So, is this a low cost trainer for the P320 or is it a stand-alone handgun? A stand alone handgun is acceptable. But what is needed for just about every duty and carry pistol these days is a .22 clone that can be used as a low cost trainer.

4. I want one.

5. SIG’s engineers went to great lengths to give the compact-sized P322 just about every feature today’s gun buyer wants in a modern .22 semi-automatic.

   Except the most logical one, building a reliable conversion kit for the pistol one already owns. I expected this nonsense from “mold the rails into the frame” Glock, but I would have hoped for better from the company that’s always bragging about “modularity”.

   • They did have a .22LR conversion kit for the P226, and maybe the P229? Let me tell you, it really wasn’t that great. While it’s nice to have the “same” gun for training, I’d prefer a .22 that works reliably instead.

     • Elsewhere in the thread, other commenters helped me realize why it’s such a challenge for a striker-fired pistol.

       OTOH, there is nothing about a hammer centerfire that would make it impossible to develop a reliable conversion. They made it work for 1911s decades ago.

6. I am interested to see how it compares to the Taurus TX22.

7. Sig has had a sorry record with this series of pistol.

   What really turned me off was the fact that it has an aluminum slide. Anyone who has had a lot of experience with firearms with aluminum slides or frames does not have to be told about how inferior a metal aluminum is when it comes to using it in firearms or any other mechanical device for that matter.

   As I have said many, many times before, “Never buy a new model firearm until it has been on the market at least two years because the rip off firearms companies do not thoroughly test any new model gun before dumping it on the market because its cheaper to let the public test it for them with their time and hard earned money”. Then of course there are endless recalls.

   If you want a reasonably priced and reliable .22 its still hard to beat the Ruger .22 MK series of pistols they have been on the market for decades and have stood the test of time.

   The average gun buyer these days is in his 70’s and most can afford to buy quality. The older designed .22 pistols like the Colts, Smiths, High Standard, Walther’s and FN Browning’s were the pinnacle of quality and reliability.

   A trip the range with a quality old fashioned .22 pistol will draw a lot of oohs and awes, not cause someone to throw up all over his shoes when you show them a cheap, junk, plasticky and stamped sheet metal piece of garbage.

   My favorite .22 pistols have been the Belgium made FN Browning Nomad, Challenger and of course the most beautiful .22 pistol ever made, the Browning FN Medalist. If that does not give put you in a swoon nothing will.

   • I don’t know if you’ve been to a gun shop or a shooting range in a while, but the average gun buyer is certainly not in his 70’s.

     • Exactly. The “average” gun buyer is now in her late 20s/early 30s.

     • I suggest Florian you attend a gun show in Ohio as the average age is now in the mid 70’s. Gun shows in Ohio is a dying form of hobby.

   • “Sig has had a sorry record with this series of pistol.”

     The P322 is an entirely new design. It may look like a P320, but it’s new from the ground up. So there is no record – sorry or not – with this series of pistol.

     • Considering how inept the engineers were who designed the P320 who you rally want to run right out and buy their latest creation without waiting a couple of years to find out if they did it right this time?

   • Here we go again. Someone who doesn’t know firearms, has never had firearms, and wants to lecture everyone one on them. It’s getting old, Vlad/ Cisco/ Dacian..you are like someone who hates football , but insists on commenting on football ..please tell us more about “plasticy” frames that always break and how every Glock carrier has shot himself..

   • Average gun buyer these days is in their mid-20’s likely. At least that’s been my experience. Of course your area may differ greatly from mine.

   • Dacian, I’ve been carrying a Colt Lightweight Commander in .45 ACP since I purchased it in the early to mid eighties. Does carrying and shooting that aluminum frame pistol for over thirty-five years qualify as a “lot of experience”? I must be the exception that proves the rule because I can’t imagine a better 1911 style pistol. When I see someone carrying a steel frame Government Model I silently wonder why. Extra weight to no advantage!

     • You certainly have not shot the Colt lightweight Commander much as that model gun was noted for a high rate of frame failure. Jeff Cooper the high priest of the .45 acp fanatics recommended the gun be carried much and shot seldom as you obviously have done.

       I have experienced aluminum frame failure in quite a few far lighter recoiling 9mm guns such as the modern Polish Radom Mag 98, the prestigious Walther P88 and the Walther P38 and the disastrous history of the Smith M39 to name just a few.

8. And yet again, the P250 gets no respect–in this case, the P250-22. Sure, it didn’t have last round hold open but in every other respect it was a good .22lr pistol. Of course, it was the last version of the P250 introduced and thus had the least amount of copies made, but it was fully interchangeable with all other P250 conversion kits (unlike the P322.)

   • @Newshawk

     100% agree.

     Regarding Sig and .22LR’s…the one that Sig and everyone else forgets about is the P-250 .22LR that works well with most any ammo I’ve tried. It does not have optics capability, it does not have suppressor mounts and it does not have a 20-rnd capacity…what it does have is that I paid $149 for it new when they were clearing them out of stock and a very, very smooth DA-only trigger pull. Out to 50 ft it is as accurate as any of the current semi’s on the market (S&W 41 and other dedicated .22LR match pistols not included).

     • glad you covered that dao aspect. makes me think the larger bores in that series would be more popular with the “no safety” crowd.

     • Yeah I was thinking of the P250 as well. Or if they could have made an x-change kit to go with your existing p320 trigger module but I am thinking since they used a hammer like pretty much everyone else does on their .22 models it must be more reliable.

       I would like to see this as an M17-22 or M18-22… Maybe they will do that eventually.

9. If it performs as advertised it will become the gold standard for how to properly add a .22 version to a successful centerfire pistol series.

   It checks every single box for doing things the right way- not the quick, easy, cost-cutting route that has hobbled most everyone who has thrown their hat in this ring before (including SIG themselves). It appears SIG has learned their lesson and has made a pistol that is now totally legit.

   I sincerely hope it is as good as it should be, and if so- I will absolutely be adding one to the collection.

   Fingers crossed…

   • Serious, non-sarcastic question: How is this better than a reliable OEM conversion kit that would allow training with the shooter’s favorite pistol, exactly the way he set it up (especially, in this case, one who had taken advantage of SIG’s vaunted modularity), except in .22LR?

     • The trick is a making a “reliable” conversion kit. In my experience, conversion kits don’t pass muster for reliability because, by definition, they are a compromise.

       The best results happen when a design encompasses a specific purpose- not a multi-purpose “jack of all trades- master of none” scenario. Attempting to morph a centerfire pistol design into a reliable rimfire design is a steep uphill battle, and trying to make a “parts kit” to do it is an extreme reach. One might be better off designing a reliable rimfire pistol first and then altering it for centerfire use to get a better result.

       In over five decades of firearm ownership I have had relatively few rimfire semi-automatics due specifically to their reliability challenges. For me, interchangeability, manual of arms, modularity, brand name, etc., all take a back seat to reliability, quality, ergonomics, accuracy, action, and capacity. And it appears SIG has hit the nail on the head for each of these requirements with this pistol.

       Compromise always results in dilution of performance. That’s why the Air Force will always have the best toys- having to land on a carrier compromises an aircraft’s design. SIG appears to have realized that the best way to offer a modern, reliable, ergonomic, reasonable capacity, quality semiauto .22 pistol is to design one to be just that… and only that.

       I salute them for their attempt to do it right.

     • Peter Gunn,
       Thank you very much for your thoughtful and detailed response. My entering attitude was conditioned by several factors: the fact that I am particular about customization (and duplicate effort), my successful experience with a 1911 conversion (subsequently stolen ☹️), as well as the military’s success with the same. Full disclosure: I also had a terrible experience with a Glock aftermarket kit, but hoped an OEM could get it right (and was frustrated when they, and now SIG, chose to go in a different direction).

       Now that I read your (and others’) feedback, I think I understand what differentiated those two experiences: the striker spring fighting the (always weak in a .22) recoil spring. Thanks so much!

       P.S. As a squid, I’m offended by your Air Force remark (not really; I’m a ship driver!).

10. “…pumped cases of CCI Mini Mags…” *sigh* Must be nice!

    Can you include me on your ammo distro list?

    • these days, the little 100rd count boxes are considered a case.

      • ooh, syntax.

11. I am an admitted Sig fan boi. I like the idea. Really like my P320 but am more partial to the all metal versions.

    I will wait and see how this performs in the wild before even considering to buy one. Till then, I’ll be happy with my Smith 617-4 10 shot.

12. Can’t use with the P320 holsters it is no good. Looks like a Glock also. Would have been better to just make a conversion kit for the P320 full size and P320 carry models, but I guess that is too difficult for SIG.

13. I’ve been spoiled by my PPQ .22, and have passed on all the various new .22 offerings the past few years. I might have to give this one a shot, though.

14. I like everything about it except two things: it’s a Sig, and it’s horribly self-unaware.

    First, on Sig — call me after they’ve had the recalls (or, shall I say, “voluntary upgrades”) that are inevitable.

    Second, bragging about capacity? My CP33 farts in the Sig’s general direction. 50 round magazines beat 20 round magazines. Granted the Sig dwarfs the ridiculous 10-round mags of the Glock 44, but they’re puny in comparison to the awesome Kel-Tec quad-stack 33-rd mag with the 17-rd extension.

    In fact, the Sig’s barely got more capacity than another Kel-Tec, the tiny P17, which also has a threaded barrel and MSRP’s at $199. Sure, Kel-Tecs can have problems, but so’s every Sig I’ve had or wanted to buy.

    All that bitching aside, it’s good to see another manufacturer building what customers actually want, rather than that absurd Glock 44 which scratches no itches except being a Glock.

    I want the Sig to be good. I like everything about it. Call me when it’s proven.

15. I dont own a .22 pistul – now- but if I did it would be a Ruger Mk3.

16. This is the first .22 LR pistol I’ve seen with a capacity of over 10 rounds (although I’ve heard Keltec has one too). The question is, why? Most manufacturers realize the fact that .22 LR pistols are for practice, not home defense, and that there are at least a half dozen freedom-hating states that limit their oppressed subjects to only 10-round magazines. I’m in one of those states. Why is Sig making a new gun that is automatically banned in half a dozen states? Will they make 10-round magazines for those of us living behind the iron curtain?

    Not only does my state limit me to 10 rounds, but also my gun club is a Fudd club (they call themselves a “bulls-eye club”) that limits members to loading only 5 rounds in a pistol! They claim that the 5-round limit is for safety reasons, but I think it’s just because the Fudd club’s officers are such extreme Fudds that they only shoot single-action-Army revolvers that can only be safely loaded with 5 rounds, so they’re jealous of anyone who owns what they call “plastic fantastic” pistols, and they limit us to 5 rounds just like they shoot). They are such Fudds that they consider a 1911 pistol with a 7-round capacity as “high capacity!”

    • Not a lawyer, and not legal advice. Most states that have magazine limits exempt 22lr. Casual perusal of NJ law says would suggest this is true in NJ: https://mcrpcnj.com/governor-murphy-attacks-right-to-carry/?msclkid=5360dd89aa1311ec879a5898491b1ba2
      (1) What is a large capacity ammunition magazine under New Jersey law?
      A: A large capacity ammunition magazine is defined under subsection y. of N.J.S.2C:39-1 as “a box, drum, tube or other container which is capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition to be fed continuously and directly therefrom into a semi-automatic firearm.” Under the new law, the definition no longer includes an attached tubular device which is capable of holding only .22 caliber rimfire ammunition.

      • A magazine is not a tubular device, like the ones on Henry’s. The limit still applies to magazines. At least in California.

    • @Stuck in NJ

      Take a look at the Taurus TX-22. 16 round capacity of .22LR. Comfortable in the hand, decent sights, accurate, very reliable (mine shoots whatever you feed it). Comes with a suppressor adapter. Less than $300.

      • …and 10 round mags are an in-stock option.

17. “The question is, why?”

    Because shooting is better than loading. Loading sucks. I have a 5-round 22lr revolver and a 10-round pistol, which never get used. And a CP33 that I take out on every trip and shoot the hell out of.

    My CP33 has five magazines (two with extensions). With that, I have 200 rounds on tap, without ever having to reload. I can load them up the day before while watching TV, and then when I get to the range I get to shoot instead of load and reload and reload.

    10-round mags suck enormously for 22lr. 22lr is pretty much the only caliber anyone can actually afford to shoot anymore. I just bought a case of 1,000 10mm rounds, cost me $625. I bought 1,000 .22LR Thunderbolts for $90. Shooting the .45 Colt, every time I pull the trigger I think “well, there goes a dollar.” With the .22, each trigger pull costs less than a dime. At today’s prices. That’s not even counting the cheaper stuff I stocked up on.

    A 15-round mag is plenty for the 10mm, where it’ll cost $10 just to empty the mag. But on the .22LR, 15 rounds is barely more than a dollar, there’s no guilt, I can shoot for hours and not even think about the cost. But shooting for hours SUCKS when half that time is spent loading pathetic-capacity mags. I have a Henry AR-7 .22LR, with 8-round mags. It’s absurd. I’d need four of those magazines, and still wouldn’t have as much capacity as one standard CP33 mag.

    High capacity .22LR has made shooting transformationally fun again by removing all the bullcrap associated with loading and loading and loading during range days. And I don’t need to have 20 mags. Five mags, 200 rounds, that’s a full guilt-free hassle-free low-cost range trip.

    Oh, and quit your Fudd club and tell them why. Join (or start) a club that thinks the way you do.

18. I WANT ONE JUST HAVE TO TRY FIND OUT FOR MY SELF . HOPE HAS REAR ADJ SIGHTS FOR BOTH WINDAGE AND LEVITATION . MAGAZINES LOOK WELL MADE HOPE HAS EASY REMOVABLE BASE .

    NOT LIKE THE MAGAZINES BROWNING LABLE 1911 22LR , THAT HAVE CHEAP THUMP BUTTOM AND NO EASY REMOVAL BASE .

    THANKS FOR INFOR ALWAYS

19. The idea of a capable 22LR pistol not pairing a little 10-round magazine to a standard sized grip is a dream that makes me funny inside, like when I used to climb the rope in gym class.

    I looked at that CP33, but I had cap guns when I was little that felt sturdier than that thing.

    If it eats ammo like a big boy, I’m definitely in for one.

20. I still have a Mosquito. Cost me $300. Do you think that Sig would swap the Mosquito for a 322 and a hundred bucks?

21. SWEET. I want one of these, especially at the $400 price point. Looks like a P365XL, which is not a bad thing, but is the size of the P320 Compact with a little longer grip. Looking forward to some serious accuracy tests for the P322 also. I know it probably won’t be up to the accuracy of my Buckmark but hoping it will be able to shoot sub 2 inch groups at 75 feet with decent ammo. Looks like SIG spent some serious time to design it for relability with a wide range of ammo. Big bonus being designed and manufactured at SIG plant rather than another Umarex.

22. No thanks

23. When will it be available to the public

    • They’re shipping now.

24. For those of you who hate loading 22LR, McFadden sells what they call their Lightning Loader and they have about 30 different adapters which cover a lot of the more popular 22LR firearm magazines. You snap your mag onto the loader, fill the hopper with ammo and within moments your mag is full. Their loader and adapters are fairly priced (cheap). Highly recommended if you are into volume shooting. Saves both time and wear on your fingers.

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