Though often overlooked, the .22 Winchester Magnum Round (WMR) is actually a damned useful rimfire cartridge. Providing up to 60% greater velocity that its .22 LR “little brother,” the .22 WMR, aka 22 Magnum, is a fine option for small game hunting, varmint eradication, and self-defense applications. To get the most out of this round in a handgun, Walther created the Walther WMP SD, a full-sized, semi-automatic pistol featuring a threaded, suppressor-ready barrel.
I ran more than 250 rounds through my evaluation WMP SD, evenly split with and without the can, and the pistol proved accurate and lots of fun to shoot. It also features a first-rate trigger, and I experienced no malfunctions in my shooting.
With the right ammunition, the WMP SD certainly has self- or home-defense capabilities, too.
Walther WMP SD Pistol At a Glance:
- Full-size, optics-ready .22 WMR pistol with 4.9-inch threaded barrel for suppressors.
- Exceptional accuracy with multiple sub-1" groups and flawless reliability across 250+ test rounds.
- Light recoil, even softer when suppressed; ideal for training, small-game, varmint use, and defensive roles with modern .22 WMR ammo.
- Ambidextrous Quad Release, 15-round mags, fiber-optic sights, and ergonomic textured polymer frame.
- Do-it-all rimfire platform offering high capacity, easy handling, and strong value around $500 street price.
Walther WMP SD Features
The single action WMP SD features an aluminum slide with deep racking serrations at the rear and front. The rear sight blade has a generous notch, with the rear of the blade serrated to diminish glare on bright, sunny days. The red fiber optic front post pops nicely.
But the WMP SD has a removeable optics plate so the user can mount a number of different optics on the pistol. For my range sessions with the WMP SD, I removed the plate and selected the correct adapter plate (two were included) to mount my Trijicon SRO red dot onto the WMP.
The 4.9-inch barrel is, as noted, threaded and included a screw-on thread protector.
The pistol’s polymer frame includes quality texturing along the sides, and the front and rear of the grip. The undercut right behind the trigger guard added to stability during my shooting.
The trigger guard itself is roomy enough for a gloved shooting finger. A bladed safety is built into the trigger. The trigger itself required approximately 3/10 inch of take up before engaging the sear, and then broke at a smooth 1 pound, 10 ounces on average.
Walther’s patented ambidextrous reloading mechanism — the Quad Release — sportes four activation points, including paddle and button releases. When I pressed any of these four options, the magazine dropped right out.
Standard mags hold 15 rounds and include loading tabs on the sides for easy insertion of cartridges. For those in restricted states, the WMP is also available with 10-round magazines.
Lastly, the pistol sports a good sized accessory rail for a light or laser.
Walther WMP SD Range Test
I ran the WMP SD with CCI Uppercut Defense ammunition, Remington Magnum Rimfire and Winchester Varmint and Small Game. At my outdoor range, I shot from 5- and 8-yard distances, off-hand, and at 10 and 12 yards from a rest.
Accuracy was exceptional.
I had no trouble drilling five-shot clusters at 1 inch and better shooting offhand. With the CCI Uppercut, for example, I made groups of 0.90 inches and 0.75 inches at 8 yards.
At the same distance, the pistol running Remington ammo drilled 0.70- and 0.55-inch group.
At 12 yards from a rest, Winchester’s Varmint and Small Game pegged an outstanding 0.40-inch group.
Adding a SilencerCo Switchback Suppressor
Recoil was minimal throughout, but it was even less of a factor when I added the SilencerCo Switchback rimfire suppressor to the end of the pistol’s barrel.
Modular and lightweight, the Switchback offered me three different length options and four possible configurations. The suppressor works with handguns and rifles chambered in .22 LR, .22 WMR, .22 Hornet, .17 HMR, .17 WSM, and 5.7 x 28mm. The Switchback simply screws onto the end of the WMP’s threaded barrel.
22 Magnum for Self Defense?
Admittedly, the .22 WMR is not what I consider a prime self-defense round. At the same time, many people do in fact use pistols and revolvers in both the .22 LR and .22 WMR for just such purposes.
If that’s what a person is comfortable with and can shoot accurately, it’s not my place to tell him or her otherwise. And I do not have exact numbers, but I don’t doubt that both rimfires have stopped their share of muggings, murders, and rapes.
Ammunition manufacturers responded to this reality by creating .22 WMR and .22 LR self-defense ammo designed to maximize expansion and penetration in the small caliber.
The CCI Uppercut Defense I used, for example, featured a jacketed hollow point bullet with special nose skiving to initiate full, reliable expansion while still retaining the weight needed to hit critical penetration depths.
This offering was actually an extension of the Uppercut Defense line which was introduced in .22 LR.
Federal, Hornady, Speer and Winchester, among others, also produce self-defense options in .22 WMR.
Full-sized but lighter-weight, accurate and featuring little recoil, relatively inexpensive to run, plus optics and suppressor ready. That’s the definition of a do-it-all pistol and that is exactly what Walther offers with the WMP SD.
Walther WMP SD: Specs
Caliber: .22 WMR
Action: Single, semi-automatic, hammer fired
Barrel: 4.9 inches
OA Length: 8.6 inches
Weight: 27.8 ounces (empty)
Grips: Textured polymer grip frame
Sights: Fiber Optic Front, Serrated Rear
Optics Ready: Yes
Finish: Black
Capacity: 15+1 rounds
MSRP: $599
Hook & Barrel Bottom Line: Walther WMP SD
The H&B Bottom Line is a rating system based on seven criteria. Each category is worth five points (or ampersands) for a total maximum score of 35.
Ergonomics and Handling: &&&&&
The geometric texturing all around the grip, including across the finger grooves, made for a very solid hold. Roomy trigger guard fits a gloved shooting finger. Full-sized frame for added stability while shooting.
Recoil: &&&&&
The .22 WMR round doesn’t recoil much to begin with, and the WMP’s full-sized frame provided plenty of recoil control. With Switchback suppressor, muzzle rise was very slight.
Action and Reloading: &&&&
Smooth semi-auto action; spent brass ejected very positively. The 15-round mags loaded into pistol easily thanks to large mag well. Magazine loading tabs made for fast loading and unloading of the smallish .22 WMR rounds.
Sight Mounting Ease: &&&&&
Optics plate was easily removed. With the provided RMR adapter plate, my SRO optic fit right into place. All of two minutes to mount the red dot!
Intended Purpose: &&&&&
Definitely not a single-purpose pistol, the WMP does so many things so very well, including plinking, varmint and small game hunting, and self-defense. Plus, easy to add an optic and/or suppressor for more specific applications.
Overall Versatility: &&&&&
A do-it-all pistol in a very flexible round: affordable plinking and practice, solid varmint eradicator, plus self- and home-defense applications with the right ammunition. Great option for recoil sensitive shooters, too.
Value-Price Point: &&&&
Suggested retail makes the WMP among the pricier rimfire semi-autos, but the pistol is capable of many applications and is extremely accurate. In-store prices approx. $100 off MSRP, making this semi-auto a very solid value.
FINAL SCORE: 33/35
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