Grand power of Slovakia is not a particularly popular pistol manufacturer in the U.S., but they should be. They make some excellent pistols, including the best full-size .22 I’ve ever shot: the Grand Power K22 X-Trim . . .
The X-Trim’s full-sized polymer frame feels as solid as a duty pistol. If you picked up a K22 you would think it was a full-sized 9mm, aside from the weight. At just 1.6 pounds, it’s NERF or this.
The K22 X-Trim’s low weight is due in part to the skeletonized frame.
The K22’s modest texturing provides adequate grip — and no more. Shooters with small or large hands, and everything in between, can use one of the pistol’s four interchangeable back straps to get the perfect fit. In theory. In practice, they’re as difficult to change as a pro-gun liberal.
The owners’ manual provides no guidance on how to change the back straps. Naturally, I used my fix everything tool, a KA-BAR, to pry the installed back strap off. Final installation of the new back strap required banging the unloaded gun’s frame on the floor. By some miracle I was able to fit the new backstrap without scratch the frame or damaging the back strap.
All of the controls are ambidextrous. TheK22 X-Trim’s magazine release is a bit sticky when pushed from the left side of the pistol. The slide release is long and thin but still easy to use, much like the ones on a modern Walther.
Shooters have two safety options (other than the Four Safety Rules).
The frame-mounted safety that ships with the K22 is elephant’s ear enormous. I frequently found myself accidentally putting the gun on safe. On the positive side, the K22 X-Trim’s XXXX safety makes a great thumb rest, which helps control the already mild recoil. The large safety’s competition friendly, but too large for a range gun.
Paging Goldilocks! Unfortunately the optional safety is too small. It’s easy to miss. With gloves, it’s easier still.
The K22 X-Trim ships with two 10-round magazines. The bullet holders are easy to load and drop free without delay. They’re as wide as 9mm double stack magazines and feel tough enuf, even though they’re plastic.
The K22 X-Trim’s metal-housed fiber optic front sight is right-sized and pops like a tart.
The K22 X-Trim’s rear sight is windage and elevation adjustable. Screwdriver-averse buyers will be glad to know they’re sighted-in at the factory. My example was pretty darn close to zeroed straight out of the box.
The Grand Power K22 trigger’s on level with a mid-level 1911’s. Yes it’s that good.
There’s no grit during the short pull before a dry spaghetti break. The reset is top shelf: very short and easy to ride. In double action mode the K22 X-Trim’s trigger clocks-in at about 12 pounds, and it’s still silkly smooth.
The Grand Power K22 X-Trim is threaded 1/2 X 28, ready to suppress out of the box.
Disassembly is simple. Make sure the K22 is unloaded, pull down the take down lever and lift up on the slide.
The thread protector does not need to be removed to take the slide off, a feature I wish more guns shared.
Finding a reliable .22 semi-auto pistol is something of a challenge. The K22 ate every one of the 500 rounds I fed it, including sub sonic ammo. The magazine locked open on the last round every time. I never cleaned or lubed it.
The Slovakian semi’s accuracy is more than merely adequate. I shot this five-round group off a rest at 17 yards with Cci Mini Mags.
I shot this five round group at 17 yards with a rest, feeding the pistol Aguila subsonics.
The Grand Power K22 X-Trim is an excellent .22 semi-automatic pistol. It’s ideal for Grand Power K100 owners who want to save money on ammo. That said, they’d have to shoot it a lot to make that saving worthwhile; the X-Trim msrp’s at $600.
That’s a good $150 more than the Ruger SR22. Is the K22 X-Trim worth it? If you’re looking for a completely reliable .22 pistol with an excellent out-of-the-box trigger, so you can shoot a lot of rounds and hit where you’re aiming, albeit one with a safety suitable for a VTOL jet, then yes.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Grand Power K22 X-Trim
Caliber: .22 LR
Action: DA/SA
Capacity: 10+1
Barrel Length: 5″
Front Sight: Fiber Optic
Rear Sight: Elliason
Construction: Steel Slide, Steel Frame, Polymer Grip
Safety: Frame Mounted Thumb Safety
Weight: 25.1000
Length: 7.4″
Height: 5.3″
Width: 1.4″
MSRP: $788 (more like $600 on the street)
RATINGS (out of five stars):
Reliability * * * * *
It ran perfectly even dirty and with no lube.
Accuracy * * * *
Zeroed from the factory and very accurate.
Ergonomics * * * *
Three stars is average and the K22 is average for a full sized gun. However the K22 gets a fourth star because its way more comfortable than most other .22s.
Overall * * * *
The Grand Power K22 X-Trim is 100 percent reliable, comfortable and accurate. The CZ Kadet is the only gun that comes close. At $600, the GP’s not cheap but the ammo is, relatively speaking.