Review: Walther WMP .22 WMR [Tested]
The Walther WMP is a great pistol in a weird market segment. Crank up the emo music and embrace the alternative lifestyle.
PPT Editor. Marine vet, hunter, and long-range shooter. Articles in 10+ major publications
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Walther WMP Pros & Cons
Pros
- Wildly fun to shoot
- Quad Release works!
- Get optic plates without asking
Cons
- Limited utility
- Expensive ammo
- Very few holster options
The Bottom Line
The Walther WMP is a great pistol in a weird market segment. Crank up the emo music and embrace the alternative lifestyle.
Walther WMP Specs & Features
Specs
- Caliber: .22 WMR
- Action: Semi-automatic hammer-fire
- Capacity: 15+1
- Manual Safety: No
- Sights: Fixed
- Overall length: 8.2”
- Barrel length: 4.5”
- Width: 1.48”
- Height: 5.66”
- Weight: 27.8 oz (with empty magazine)
- Comes with: 2 magazines, optic adapter plates, lock, hard case
Features
- Quad Release magazine release system
- 10-round version available
- Bull barrel
- Optic-ready (RMR and Shield adapter plates included)
- Polymer frame, aluminum slide
When 5.7x28 burst onto the scene, I have to imagine that the .22 WMR crowd was thinking, “Seriously? We’ve been here the whole time!”
The stretched rimfire cartridge has been a favorite of pelt hunters and prairie dog resistance front commandos since 1959. It has enough speed and power to take small animals without destroying the pelt or blasting over the horizon and onto the neighboring farm.
That’s about where support for .22 WMR ends. A few pistol manufacturers are challenging that, though. The Walther WMP straddles the fence between .22-caliber plinking guns and serious self-defense pistols. I rang up Walther and asked them to send me one so I could see for myself just what this unique pistol was all about.
Several hundred rounds later, I have a better understanding of the WMR. Let’s take it one step at a time and see if this pistol has a place in your gun safe.
Table of Contents
How We Tested the Walther WMP
I get to shoot a lot of different things in this line of work, including the WMP Walther sent for me to review. The words you’re about to read and the pictures you’re about to see are results of actual real-world testing, uninfluenced by hookups or sponsorships. During testing, I shot CCI through the WMP for reliability and accuracy testing.
My perspective comes from years of shooting professionally and competitively in the Marine Corps and for fun in the civilian afterlife. I’ve sought out training from some of the best in the business and firmly believe in being a lifelong student. I think back to those lessons every time I put a new firearm through its paces.
Walther WMP Background
Walther is a relatively small pistol manufacturer, but the company has been around since 1886, and the people there know a thing or two about building rock-solid pistols. The German engineers also have extensive experience with rimfire designs; Walther’s target pistols are a sight to behold.
The WMP blends the two worlds. It’s a rimfire pistol, obviously, but Walther gave it features usually reserved for bigger-bore duty guns like the dearly departed PPQ series that the PDP has since replaced.
Who Is It For?
Walther is leaning hard on the readiness messaging these days, which suggests this is a self-defense pistol.
If you trust your life to .22 WMR, be my guest. Otherwise, this is more of a training tool and back-forty blaster. If I needed a rugged sidearm to ward off coyotes, armadillos, and snakes but had no interest in a conventional self-defense pistol, the WMR would be just what the doctor ordered.
It’s also just kind of interesting because so few people shoot .22 WMR. Everyone you meet at the range will want to check it out. With .22 WMR ammo prices at or above those of 9mm, you’ll be excused for not letting them shoot it.
Ergonomics: Fit & Feel
My initial impression of the WMP was positive. Walther shipped mine in a hard case with two 15-round magazines, three optic mounting plates, and a spare rear sight, which was a nice surprise because the website says it only comes with two plates.
Someone at Walther must own stock in a gun lube company because its pistols always come drenched (at least they’re in a plastic bag, so the case stays dry). Plan on doing a deep clean on day one.
The WMP is a full-size pistol (8.2-inch slide, 28-ounce unloaded weight) and feels substantial in the hand.
Walther’s characteristic build quality is evident from the second you pick it up to the moment you decide to dump the mag with a big, dumb grin on your face. Field-stripping the WMP for cleaning could not be easier.
Magazine Release(s)
The strangest thing about shooting the WMP is getting used to the fact that there are magazine releases everywhere. There are four of them, to be exact: a button on each side of the grip and a paddle on each side of the trigger guard. Combined with the ambidextrous slide stop, this Quad Release design makes the WMP totally lefty-friendly.
The reach from the back of the grip to the magazine release button is so long that I preferred using the paddle release with my trigger finger. Whether or not you want to give that digit another job is up to you, but it’s nice to have options.
How Does the Walther WMP Shoot?
The WMP printed decent enough groups. I’d classify it as accurate but not a tack driver. Fiber optic sights are polarizing because some self-eject; I prefer tritium or plain old steel. My test WMP’s fixed sights put rounds high and left, so budget for a red dot. Pistol red dots are the way.
I struggled to shoot fast with the WMP because while the trigger break was clean and predictable, the reset felt about a mile long.
Be advised that if you deem .22 WMR worthy of self-defense and decide to make the WMP your carry gun, finding a holster is easier said than done. Off-body carry is your friend, and there are many great bags out there designed specifically for CCW (good thing we made a guide to the best off-body carry bags).
According to Walther, the WMP works best with 40-grain ammunition from CCI or Fiocchi. I shot CCI Maxi Mag hollow points and saw consistently good groups. It suffered from double-feeding once the pistol got super gummed up (it’s hard to stop when you’re having fun), it suffered from double-feeding.
That’s less of a Walther or CCI flaw and more of a filthy rimfire blowback problem. Clean it more often than your centerfire pistols, and you’ll be golden.
What Sets the Walther WMP Apart?
The WMP doesn’t have much competition, thanks to its oddball cartridge selection. Smith & Wesson makes the M&P 22 WMR, but it costs a little more. The KelTec PMR30 is priced like the WMR (or cheaper) and holds 30 rounds instead of 15, but I give the WMR the edge in quality.
Unlike those two, the WMR looks and feels like a full-size pistol. The supersized barrel and chunky slide might make you forget it’s a rimfire pistol altogether.
Walther WMP By the Numbers By the Numbers
Accuracy
4/5
Reasoning: I had no issues with the WPM’s accuracy. In fact, it shot a lot better than I expected from a semi-automatic rimfire pistol. Maybe that’s a function of all that powder pushing 40-grain bullets, or perhaps the extra-beefy barrel keeps shot groups tidy. Either way, it’s certainly adequate. On the other hand, the sights might not marry point of aim with point of impact particularly well. If you run your WMP as it came from the factory, your results may vary. The good news is that you can mount a reasonably priced red dot with the included adapter plates and adjust it to perfection in seconds – that’s what I’d do.
Reliability
3/5
Reasoning: The WMP is well-designed, but no semi-automatic rimfire gun will get stellar reliability marks from me. The ammunition is just inherently glitchy, especially when you pick up the pace. Keep your WMP clean, and bring a small bottle of gun oil to the range to keep it running smoothly.
Customization
3/5
Reasoning: Aftermarket support for the WMP is practically nonexistent, but the pistol has room for customization where it counts. Walther ships it with RMR and Shield adapter plates so you can mount an optic. The frame rail lets you add a weapon light. If only finding holsters was that easy.
Ergonomics
5/5
Reasoning: As usual, Walther hit a home run in the ergonomics department. The humpback grip shape and shallow texture are nothing new, but they work well. The sights fall naturally into place, making the pistol very pointable. Keep in mind that .22 WMR is a long pistol cartridge. At 1.35 inches end-to-end, it requires more real estate than 9mm or .45 ACP in your hand. This will feel chunky if you have small hands or prefer a compact grip. I love the Quad Release. It’s weird, it’s fun, and it works.
Value
4/5
Reasoning: Walther lists an MSRP of $549 for the WMP. That’s a reasonable price for a pistol of this quality, and it’s competitive with peers from Smith & Wesson and KelTec.
Overall
4/5
Reasoning: Does the Walther WMP pack enough performance and features to justify its price? I say it does. It may or may not be your cup of tea, but it’s an objectively good pistol, and I had a great time training with it at the range.
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Upgrades & Accessories
Being as this is a newer pistol, there aren't a lot of specific upgrades for the Walther WMP. That said, there's a few things you can add on to make it a better experience.
Since the WMP ships with Shield and RMR adapter plates, I recommend adding a red dot ASAP. For this gun, I'd opt for the C&H Precision ECD-XL. It's under $300 and is a rugged model that works with the RMR footprint.
While you're shopping, stock up on some ammo. The preferred brand around here for rimfire pistols is CCI Max-Mag. It's a clean rimfire round that tends to work the best in finicky rimfire guns.
Finally, if you're headed to the range, you definitely need ear and eye pro. We recommend PPT's own brand -- ShellShock Protection. Our combo set gets you a nice pair of premium electronic ear pro (compelte with comfy gel ear cups) and eyes in a convenient carrying case.
Final Verdict
The WMP occupies unfamiliar territory. It costs as much as a 9mm pistol, and the ammo costs more. Meanwhile, the power delivery is nowhere close. I can’t think of a defensive situation where I’d advise carrying one over a comparable 9mm pistol.
There is one exception to that. Someone with medical issues that limit dexterity or grip strength will find the WMP much easier to rack and keep on target than a snappy 9mm.
If you’re shopping for something that’s fun to shoot at the range and can pull double-duty as a pest control device, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend WMP.
The extra zip you get from .22 WMR makes it a more practical round for critters, and – even if it isn’t my first choice for defensive uses – it’s a lot better than .22 LR or a swift right hook.
You’re also allowed to buy something just because it’s fun, and the unconventional WMP is a great way to spice up your collection. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have more .22 WMR ammo to burn before I send the WMP back to the Germans.
What are your thoughts on the Walther WMP? Let us know in the comments section below! Like these types of firearms? Be sure to check out all the Best .22 Pistols and Revolvers!