The P22 uses an additional, passive, safety mechanism to protect against accidental discharges in the event the weapon is dropped. If the safety is on, the hammer will strike the safety instead of the firing pin and, therefore, fail to fire. If the hammer is cocked when a P22 has been placed on 'safe,' the hammer will continue to remain cocked and will fall only if the trigger is pressed.

The P22 safety does not prevent sear or trigger movement, and (as noted), it does not provide a hammer-drop function. Second, it acts as a 'firing pin lock' by rotating a portion of the safety into a notch on the underside of the firing pin, thereby inhibiting forward movement. First, it serves as a 'hammer block' by rotating a portion of the metal surface of the safety into a position that interferes with the hammer's contact with the firing pin. The P22's slide mounted safety, when engaged, performs two functions. The gun will not cycle efficiently unlessВ high velocityВ .22 rounds are used. Walther recommends the use ofВ CCIВ Mini Mag round nose coated lead. When this occurs, the trigger bar is in a position where it engages the lockwork when the trigger is actuated. This overcomes the magazine safety's strong spring, and thereby serves to allow the trigger bar to spring upward under the force of the less powerful trigger spring. Once a magazine is fully inserted, however, an actuator surface on the front of the magazine pushes against the magazine safety. When a magazine is not locked into the weapon, the downward force of the stronger magazine disconnect spring causes the trigger bar to pass beneath the internal lockwork of the weapon when the trigger is pressed.

The magazine disconnect on a P22 works by using a strong spring to apply downward force against the trigger bar, such force being sufficient to overcome the action of the relatively weaker trigger spring which interacts with upward force on the same bar. The P22 is equipped with aВ magazine disconnectthat prevents the trigger from operating on theВ searmechanism unless a magazine is actually inserted and locked into the weapon. The action will not open until the projectile has left the barrel and the pressures have dropped to safe levels. The P22 operates byВ blowbackВ where pressure generated by a firing cartridge is countered by a combination of the inertial weight of the slide assembly and the force of the recoil spring. The P22 may be firedВ double actionВ at about 12 pounds of force, and operates as aВ single actionwith slightly more than 5 pounds of force. It can by fitted of with red dot sights, laser pointers, flashlights, and magazine extensions. The barrel is known to be able to be changed in 2-3 minutes, in the proper hands of course.

It wields a unique design, where the magazine pushes the safety lever in the gun, so without it you can't fire the weapon. For comfort on shooting, it has adjustable hand guards for the user. From Walther Industries it is called 'P99's little brother'. Reported as to having the same feel as the Walther P99. The Walther P22 is a pistol of German make.

Walther p22 safety position