Review: Rock Island Armory XT 22 Magnum

By Patrick Sweeney

When it comes to firearms, we consider a lot of ratios. The cost-­benefit ratio. The weight-­to-­power ratio. The size-to-­magazine-­capacity ratio. But how often do we consider the fun-­to-­size ratio? Or the utility-­to-­disadvantaged ratio? After spending some time with the new Rock Island Armory (RIA) XT 22 Magnum, I can conclude that it scores high in the last two and doesn’t neglect the others.

Chambered in .22 Magnum, the XT 22 is built on a single-­stack, all-­steel 1911 frame. Getting a 1911-based design to run on a magazine loaded with .22 Magnum cartridges is a notable achievement. But this is RIA, the same company that gave us the hot .22 TCM. G&A’s editors have been monitoring the development of this pistol for the last couple of years with our fingers crossed, and we’ve all been anxious for this announcement.

The big problem with rimfires is that they really don’t have the oomph to cycle the slide of a 1911, even if the slide is modified for blowback operation only. Yes, even the .22 Magnum lacks the muscle for slide cycling. It punches above its weight downrange, but we’ll get to that in good time.

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Source:: Guns and Ammo