Intratec TEC-22
| TEC-22 / Scorpion | |
|---|---|
 TEC-22 | |
| Type | Handgun |
| Place of origin |
 United States |
| Production history | |
| Designer | George Kelgren |
| Manufacturer | Intratec |
| Produced | Circa 1992 to 2000 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 0.822 kg |
| Length | 284 mm |
| Barrel length | 102 mm |
| Width | 41 mm |
| Height | 157 mm |
|
| |
| Cartridge | .22 Long Rifle |
| Action | Blowback-operated, semi-automatic |
| Muzzle velocity | 1000 ft/s (305 m/s) |
| Feed system | 30 round box magazine. |
| Sights | notch & post |
The Intratec TEC-22 is a semi-automatic handgun chambered in .22 Long Rifle. It was also marketed as the Scorpion and Sport-22. Like most firearms of this caliber the TEC-22 operates using a straight blow-back action.
The TEC-22 is constructed largely from molded plastic and stamped metal parts. Together with an extremely simple design this allowed the gun to be made and marketed inexpensively.
Design
The single-piece frame/receiver is molded from ABS plastic and largely un-machined with the exception of the bolt guides which the bottom of the bolt rides on. A stamped steel receiver cover rests over the top of the bolt, sandwiching it in place. The receiver cover hinges at the front of the frame and latches onto the rear of the bolt assembly. The bolt assembly consists of a cast steel bolt that rides on a spring and follower; a thin firing pin channel runs down the center of the bolt, allowing the stamped firing pin to be struck by the hammer and impact the cartridge at the front of the bolt. The action is simple straight blow-back.
A small switch on the frame actuates a trigger block safety. A hinged door at the bottom of the grip provides a small storage compartment.
Variants
Original
The original TEC-22 variant featured a threaded barrel and a 25-round magazine. The barrel's threading is 1/2-20 and allows a barrel extension to be attached. A small, knurled nut threads onto the barrel to protect the threading.
Sport-22
The Sport-22 featured a non-threaded barrel and a 10-round magazine to comply with the now expired 1994 U.S. firearms legislation which forbade the sale of the original TEC-22 model.
Similarities to Ruger 10/22
The TEC-22 is designed to use magazines and drums made for the popular Ruger 10/22 rifle. The extractor is also interchangeable with 10/22 extractors.
Accessories
The below items are advertised for mail order in the 1994 TEC-22 manual:
- Barrel extension
- Scope base
- Recoil compensator
- Sling set
Reliability
Failure to eject ("stovepiping") is a common complaint of TEC-22 owners. Some owners report better reliability with certain magazine brands that have steel feed lips. The magazine well is fairly loose, allowing the magazine a wide range of possible orientations. Because of this, the play in the magazine orientation can affect ejection.
Another common complaint is the tendency of the firing pin to break. Aftermarket firing pins are available.
An issue commonly found on these pistols that affects reliability revolves around the spacing found between the chamber wall and extractor ramp. The space is so vast that the extractor does not get enough of a grip on the spent casing's lip to properly extract the round. Several pistols have been made into reliable guns by reducing this space.
When the Tec-22 first came out, some were recalled because they were firing automatic bursts.
References
- Intratec TEC-22 manual.