If you're like me, when you think of Walther you think of guns like the classic Walther PPK and the newer Model P99 service pistol. Walther (Dept. ST, 2100 Roosevelt Ave, Springfield, MA 01104; 800-372-6454; www.waltheramerica.com) recently threw us all a curve when the company introduced the innovative G22 carbine.

The Walther G22 is a magazine-fed semiautomatic carbine chambered for the .22 Long Rifle cartridge. The G22 is the first Walther .22 rifle to ever utilize the "Bullpup" design that moves the action back into the rear of the riflestock. This design makes for a very compact carbine that makes use of a 20-inch barrel but with an overall length of only 29.5 inches. The G22's interesting features don't stop there.

Walther's G22 proved to be plenty accurate. Its best 50-yard group average was 1.25 inches.

Innovations Abound
Since the action is back near the shooter's face, a left-handed shooter can't shoot the G22 without getting smacked in the face with the bolt handle. To solve this problem, Walther simply offers the G22 with right- or left-handed controls, and the customer orders the gun that suits his shooting style. Actually, the G22's stock is set up so that the carbine can be converted from right- to left-hand use; however, Walther advises that only an authorized gunsmith should carry out this adaptation.

The gun's synthetic stock has a large thumbhole, and incorporated in that thumbhole area is a large lever that serves as the magazine release. On either side of the carbine, just above the trigger, is an ambidextrous safety and safety lock. Bright orange firing indicators pop up on either side of the action when the gun is off safety and ready to fire.

SPECS Walther G22 .22 LR Semiautomatic Carbine
Manufacturer:	Walther
Model:	G22
Operation:	Blowback-operated autoloader
Caliber:	22 Long Rifle
Barrel Length:	20 inches
Overall Length:	29.5 inches
Weight, empty	5 pounds, 9 ounces
Safety:	Slide safety; cocking indicator; integrated lock; magazine disconnect
Sights:	Adjustable; Weaver-style universal accessory rails
Stock:	Synthetic Bullpup design
Magazine Capacity:	10 rounds
Finish:	Matte black, green
Price:	$420-$530

Integral to the carbine's stock is a carrying handle that also functions as a rear sight platform, much as those found on the AR family of rifles. The entire rear sight assembly rises vertically for use when iron sights are indicated, or it can be lowered completely out of the way when a scope is mounted.

The rear sight blade is actually a disk that incorporates six different elevation settings on the rear sight notch. Rotating the sight disk allows the shooter to find the right sight setting to compensate for differences in ammunition and range. The top surface of the carrying handle is grooved for use with Weaver-style optical sight mounts.

The front sight also sits high in its own sight assembly, with the front sight blade being dovetailed into battery so that adjustments, or sight substitutions, can be easily made. On the bottom edge of the front sight assembly is another set of Weaver-style rails that will accept the Walther laser. In addition, the bottom of the stock's forearm also sports the Weaver-style universal rail for mounting a bipod or other shooting accessories.

Even more interesting innovations are at the rear of the G22's stock. Using spacers that are provided with each G22 carbine, the shooter can alter the length of the stock to suit his personal requirements. Two large Allen screws in the butt of the gun are removed and spacers are added or removed until the desired length of pull is reached. Also, on the rear bottom edge of the G22 stock is a compartment that holds an extra 10-round magazine.