The Walther P22 is a small pistol that tends to get dirty fast, especially when using low velocity ammunition where all of the propellant isn't used when a cartridge is fired. Frequent cleaning will keep your P22 functioning properly and safely.
The P22's small size makes cleaning it a quick but somewhat tedious task. Before you get started you will want to have the following items on hand and ready to go.
Cotton cleaning patches
Cleaning rod
Small cleaning rod patches
Cleaning solvent (synthetic safe)
Cleaning spray (synthetic safe)
Oil or oil patches
Toothbrush and cotton swaps
Canned air (optional)
Once you've got all of the supplies on hand, begin the cleaning process by first ensuring that the firearm is not loaded. To do this, remove the magazine and then lock the slide back. Inspect the chamber to ensure that it's empty. Once you're sure the pistol is empty, remove the slide by gently pulling down on the take down lever that's located below the slide just above the trigger.
With the take down lever pulled-down, gently depress the slide release and lift up gently on the slide as you move it forward over the barrel. Once the slide is removed the chamber and barrel of the pistol will be exposed.
This is as far as the manual recommends that you go in disassembling the pistol for cleaning. With the slide removed, dab some solvent on a cotton cleaning patch and begin wiping the black residue off of all exposed areas of the pistol. Don't forget the underside of slide.
Once you've got most of the residue removed with the cotton cloth, use the synthetic safe cleaning spray and spray liberally into the pistol's action to remove the grime that you can't reach by hand. This part can get a little messy, so you may want to do this outside or while the pistol is over a bucket. After I spray the P22 down, I like to spray it down with canned air to get any residual cleaner off of the components.
At this point the pistol should be looking pretty clean. If you've got any tough spots, use a toothbrush or cotton swaps to scrub gently. Once the frame and the action of the pistol are clean, it's time to clean the barrel. To clean the barrel, soak a small cleaning patch with solvent and gently insert it into the barrel through the chamber. Never insert anything into the front of a firearm's barrel. Doing so may knick the barrel and adversely affect the accuracy of the firearm. Run the cleaning patch in and out of the barrel a couple of times and then inspect it by looking through the barrel.
If you notice any lead or copper fragments, you may need to very gently run a wire brush through the barrel a couple of times. Be very careful not to force the brush when doing this as to not gouge the inside of the barrel.
Once the barrel is clean, use a cotton cloth soak with oil to give the pistol and its components a slight coating. The mistake that many people make when cleaning firearms is to go crazy with oil. This is counter-productive because a firearm with too much oil will get dirtier faster. Plus, you don't need a lot to protect and lubricate the pistol.
Once the P22 is oiled, replace the slide and re-engage the take down lever. Now you've got a happy, clean Walther P22. If you'd like to give your P22 a really good cleaning, check out the tutorial at SpentBrass that goes into detail about removing the action from the frame to really get the grime out.
