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Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Colt .22 Automatic




EDIT 11/27/2010:  From what I have gleaned from different internet sites, Colt originally had plans to market this pistol as the “Colt Cadet.”  Another gun company claimed rights to the name “Cadet,” so Colt settled for the name “Colt .22 Automatic.”  Strangely, I find more information on this pistol by searching “Colt Cadet” than I do by searching “Colt .22 Automatic,” including sources for replacement magazines.

This may be the Colt pistol that, someday, nobody will remember. Searching for it on the web today brings up very few hits. The usually rabid die-hard collectors of Colt handguns have yet to consider this pistol worthy of pursuit.

When this pistol was introduced in 1993 Colt’s marketing department seemingly put no effort into a name, simply calling it the Colt .22 Automatic. The upper portion of the pistol is stainless steel while the lower part is some sort of synthetic; some sources say it is a hard rubber made by Pachmayr. There were two variants of this pistol, both with 10-round magazines. From 1994 – 1998 the original design had fixed sights, a 4 ½’’ vented rib bull barrel, and weighed in around 33-ounces. Colt offered a target model from 1995 - 1999 with adjustable sights, a 6’’ vented rib bull barrel, and it weighed in at around 40-ounces; in 1995 this version was named "Handgun of the Year" by the Shooting Industry Academy of Excellence. Both variants are decent shooters. Someone out there in the wide world of guns knows why Colt gave up on this pistol; so far, the truth has not been shared. It may simply be that big sales numbers never materialized.

Two things with this pistol were very bad ideas. The first major irritation is the location of the magazine release; it is on the right hand side, just above the trigger guard, exactly where I habitually put my trigger finger until I am on target. On occasion, I have accidently dropped the mag because of this. I would have preferred a butt mag release than to have it where it is on this pistol. The second major irritation is that Colt decided to make this pistol with mags similar too, but not quite like the magazines used by the Colt Woodsman. The Woodsman mags fit this pistol, but they will not actuate the slide stop. A minor problem with the mags made for this pistol is that the mag-spring doesn’t put enough oomph on the follower to lock in the slide-stop solidly after the last round. The slide does lock reliably, but the stop usually is barely in the slot; eventually this will wear the slide stop notch.

Everyone should have access to a good .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol; they are great for tuning up our shooting skills and they use ammo that most of us can still find and afford. Most of all, semi-auto .22 pistols are fun fun fun! If you are in the market for a good .22 semi-auto and you run across one of these, you may want to consider that, while it may take many thousand rounds of ammunition, eventually all guns have some part that will break. When a manufacturer quits making a given gun model, the parts that are available for repairs dwindles with each passing year. I don’t know if Colt still services this pistol or carries parts. If I keep shooting it as often as I do, someday I will find out for sure.


CLICK HERE for using Beretta Neos magazines in the Colt .22

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41 comments:

  1. Bought my mom one of these years ago, probably 96 or 97. She still shoots it and is pretty darn good with it!

    Thanks for the birthday wishes - I appreciate it!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Funny, the mag release for my Beretta NEOS is in basically the same spot, but it's never bothered me.

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  3. I can't find this paticular gun anywhere, can anyone help. None of my local stores carry it.

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  4. They haven't made this model for 10 years or so and I don't have any records as to how many were produced. It does not surprise me that they are now hard to find secondhand.

    You may find one come up for sale at one of gun auction websites.

    Good luck!

    Zack

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  5. I've got one of these. 22 pistols are very personal. They need to fit the particular nuances of particular shooter. My Colt 22 fits me great and has rewarded me with some perfect NRA bullseye timed fired scores. Believe it or not, I got rid of my Hammerli Trailside.

    These pistols pop up once in a while on gunbroker dot com.

    Mine is very reliable with most ammo types. It has problems with some though, including Federal Champion. Nothing has ever broken on mine.

    Takedown and cleaning is a snap also. There is one hex screw in the front of the receiver. There are no tricks for assembly or disassembly. It's better than the vaunted Ruger in this regard.

    Note the weight. The Colt is light enough for casual one handed shooting. Many 22 pistols are over 40 ounces and become bothersome for this.

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  6. I have had one of these for a long time. I had reliability issues with certain ammo as well. It was my first pistol.It is not uber reliable but points well. Very similar to a 1911 colt.

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  7. I have one of these, so thanks for the great info. I am looking for another clip and am having a hard time finding them. Anyone have any information that can help?

    Thanks! Jeremy

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  8. Check CDNN Sports for magazines.

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  9. Beretta Neos mags work 100%

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks for the tip on the Neos mags. I'll have to grab a couple next chance I get.

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  11. i wanted one of these SO BADLY in my teen years, then colt stopped making them. then my mom got her ruger mkII back from her brother. then that got stolen. i have never recovered from these tragedies, and to this day i don't own, or have free access to, a semi .22...though i predict a tricked out mkIII 22/45 in my not-to-distant future.

    ~aim true

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  12. im lookin for a holster for this gun any help

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  13. I bought one of the target models the day Colt announced their quitting the business. I engraved the gun with deep Germanic florals (nasty job, stainless) and gold filled some of the lettering, for my wife, still unfired, trigger mech is quite complicated. Made one good looking pistol. Does anyone know how many of these guns were made? Heard less than 3,000. David S.

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  14. I have a Colt .22 with a 4.5" Barrel that I bought new in 1994 ($249)and have never had any misfires or jams,very accurate. Just recently purchased a NOS Colt Factory Conversion kit to modify my pistol with the 6"barrel with integral scope mount & sightless slide at Natchez shooter's Supply (Tenn.)has less than 10 of these new kits available ($198). my kit fit like a glove with no problems. P.S. Colt Mfg.has new magazines available for the .22 you can purchase them on their web site at around $40.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Do you happen to know where I could find the ribbed front sight for a 4 1/2 ?

      Delete
  15. To all,Sorry about the price error on the Colt .22 Mag. from Colt's Mfg., the price is $29.95 Ea. not $40 and can be ordered Direct from Colt on their new web site !

    ReplyDelete
  16. CDNN investments lists:
    Colt Cadet 22lr 10rd Stainless Mag New OE for $19.99

    ReplyDelete
  17. I also have one of these beauts. I love it. feels like a "BOND" gun in my hand.Have also had minor probs with some rounds. Also, must keep the thing clean! Slightest dirt and she says nayyyy!

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  18. great gun and i still use it to teach my kids to shoot. Any ideas where to find parts or magazines?

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  19. I love my "Colt Cadet" which was bought for me by my father for my 13th birthday in 1996. I love this gun and still shoot it all the time. Kinda cool that it's a Colt rarity.

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  20. Anybody know where I might purchase
    part number SP58361.(A2)- Front
    sight ribbed assembly for the 4.5
    inch barrel of a Colt 22 (cadet) ...thanks

    ReplyDelete
  21. I have a Colt .22 (aka Colt Cadet) that was buried in my closet for years. Still have the original box, owners manual and mags. It is the .22 with the "Target Match/Target Model" on the owners manual. Anyone know someone that might want it?

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  22. i would be interested in the aka colt cadet

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  23. Would like anonymous from Aug 14 on the colt (AKA cadet to contact me me please.

    gr8oldguy@verizon.net

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  24. looking for 6" barrel for a colt cadet

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  25. I HAVE A 6" TARGET WITH ACESSORY RAIL ON TOP VERY ACCURATE PISTOL, BOUGHT IN THE MID 90'S AS FAR AS I CAN REMEBER IT HAS NEVER MALFUNCTIONED, MY SLIDE STOP ENGAGEMENT IS ALSO WEAK, I WILL TRY THE BARETTA CLIP AND SEE IF THAT HELPS I BOUGHT IT TO TEACH MY TEENAGE BOYS TO SHOOT, WE HAVE RAN ALOT OF DIFFRENT AMMO THROUGH IT WITH NO PROBLEMS

    ReplyDelete
  26. I have purchased a Colt 22 standard (non-target) model that shoots very high. The sights stocked with it are not adjustable. Does anybody have any recommendations for adjustable sights?

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  27. I purchased one of these Colt 22's in the mid 90's and have put thousands of rounds thru it, I just love it, now that my vision is getting poor I would like to put a red dot sight on it and I am having no luck locating a sight mount. Does anyone have any suggestions?

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  28. I have one of these and have tried several times to find someone who knew what the heck it was. I have attempted to find some extra magazines and had no luck.
    This is one of my favorite hanguns. I have never had an issue with this firearm nor have had anything break. Even when my rifle will not cycle a particular round, my Colt will eat them as fast as I can pull the trigger. This is a fine, accurate, and well balanced firearm.

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  29. I'm looking for parts for this Colt .22. Specifically the front sight rib for the 4" barrel. Anyone selling a 22 for parts or know where I can get parts?

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  30. Just bought this 94 Colt 22 pistol at my local gun store and it's in new condition with the blue case and instruction manual. I am so impressed with this I can't stop shooting it!!!! Very very accurate and of course fun . Absolutely recommend anyone that stumbles on to one of these BUY IT !

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  31. Hi i just bought one these colts 22 with 2 mags and it is a N R A series was told and is brand new, plan on never shooting it,to nice to use.It according to colt is made in 1995 and has the blue case and box,what a nice find!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Hi i just purchase the colt 22 brand new in the box,it is a N R A series and came with the blue case as well as the brown box,what a beautiful gun that i don't plan on ever shooting .I was made in 1995 and never been used,what an awesome gun, thanks!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Hey there Mark! Congrats on finding that Colt; you have a beauty on your hands.

    Thanks for sharing the find with us. Take care!

    Zack

    ReplyDelete
  34. I ALSO OWN A .22 STAINLESS STEAL COLT TARGET WITH 4.5' BARREL LOVE THE TRIGGER , ITS LIGHT JUST RAN ACROSS IT. I DONT HAVE IT ACCURATE YET I CLEANED JUST MINUTE AGO AAN FOUND OUT WHY IT WASNT SHOOTING ACCURATE REAR WAS LOOSE STILL LIKE TO HAVE A DIFFERENT STYLE REAR SIGHT . NOT A JAM RUNNING ALL TYPES OF ROUNDS BUT DOES NOT LOCK BACK AFTER LAST SHOT BUT HALF THE TIME

    ReplyDelete
  35. I've got this gun. Mine was made in 94. Anyway I used to hate this gun. It always jammed or would not discharge the brass properly. I finally broke down and purchased a good box of ammo. It shot perfectly. I then went with a slightly less expensive ammo and I get occasional jams.

    ReplyDelete
  36. I have a 1996 ducks unlimited edition 1 of 250 in the box.. anyone be able to tell me the value of it?

    ReplyDelete
  37. I have the the Colt 22 Automatic, aka "Cadet", but mine is blued. I've never seen another blued one, nor can I find info about it. Can anyone else shed some light on this?

    ReplyDelete
  38. I have the Target model it was made in 1995 it is by far my favorite 22 semi auto. It will cycle almost everything and rarely malfunctions I easily have 10,000 rds through it and I bought it used these are very high quality by today’s standards and if you find one I would not hesitate to buy it if it’s in good shape and not ridiculously priced ($600 or less) they are great pistols

    ReplyDelete

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