If you’re a 1911 fan, and want to enjoy shooting something different, you’ll like the Rock Island XTM-22 .22 Magnum 1911. There are some challenges in building a small caliber, locked-breech, semi-automatic pistol, especially in an all-steel 1911. Rock Island engineers were very creative in addressing those challenges.
RIA XTM-22 Features
The resulting firearm is a 1911 design but with some differences. The slide is open at the top like a Beretta 92/M9. There’s a shroud around the barrel. A dovetail fiber-optic front sight sits atop the barrel shroud.
The back portion of the slide is typical 1911A1 with a drift-adjustable, solid black rear sight, and small GI-type vertical cocking serrations. The slide lock, plunger tube, mag release, and thumb safety are old-school 1911, as is the grip safety. Both the slide lock and the mag release button are checkered. The grip panels are rubber with the familiar checkered diamond cut pattern and RIA logo.
The mainspring housing is flat with 25 LPI checkering. The front strap is smooth. The hammer and trigger are skeletonized, and the hammer has a serrated non-slip thumb surface. The trigger has an overtravel adjustment screw.
The pull was a consistent 4 pounds 6 ounces on my test model. The magazine holds 15 rounds in an alternating double-stack formation. The finish is Parkerized, and the gun weighs 2.5 pounds empty.
Except for the modified barrel and barrel sleeve with a fixed lug on the bottom of it, the principle of operation is like other 1911 pistols. When it comes to operating details, however, there are differences that became evident as I got to know the pistol. The high pressure of the .22 WMR cartridge, along with the slow-burning powder, requires a little pressure release right after ignition.
The Rock Island XTM-22 uses a pinned solid-state barrel design and delayed blowback slide. You can see a small gap between the barrel shroud and the barrel as the gun goes into battery. In a standard 1911, the barrel tilts to unlock, and this requires the barrel link to pivot. On this gun, the barrel link is solid to the barrel and the only movement is rearward. There is no tilting.
All of this means when you disassemble the gun for cleaning, you’ve got different looking parts. It’s no big deal except for the recoil rod and spring plug. The plug is threaded. You don’t need to remove it when you disassemble the firearm, but you may find it easier to remove it when it’s time to put the gun back together.
The .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire, also called .22 WMR, .22 Magnum, .22 MRF, .22 WMRF or .22 Mag was introduced in 1959 by Winchester. It uses bullets in weights comparable to the .22 Long Rifle, but it has a larger and thicker case that allows for more powder and higher pressure making it considerably faster than the .22 LR. The .22 Mag also shoots flatter and hits harder than the .22 LR resulting in deeper penetration and more reliable expansion.
This makes the cartridge effective against small game and varmints such as rabbits, groundhogs, squirrels, prairie dogs, foxes, and raccoons. The negligible recoil of the .22 WMR caliber, especially in this all-steel gun, makes it an easy-going target and plinking round. It’s a loud cartridge with a significant muzzle flash, which to me makes it even more fun. Putting all of this into a 1911 adds one more reason to love the platform.
Range Time
My first trip to the range with the Rock Island XTM-22 was a get-acquainted trip. I didn’t shoot it for accuracy, but I had six different brands of ammunition to choose from and there were no issues with the gun. The fire-breathing magnum rounds with associated loud pops were a hoot to shoot. This is where I discovered some differences in how the XTM-22 operates compared to other 1911s.
First was when putting the gun into battery. It will not rack or slingshot. The only way to get it into battery is to disengage the slide lock. Because of the 15-round double-stack magazine and the length of the .22 WMR cartridge, the grip is slightly larger than most 1911s.
I couldn’t reach the slide release with my right thumb. I learned to push the slide release down with my left thumb. After getting used to that, I was fine with it. The next difference is that the slide doesn’t lock back after the last round is fired. This is by design and is noted in the manual.
On my next trip to the range, I did some accuracy testing which included firing 10 rounds each of six different types of ammo. The best group was with the CCI Maxi Mag 40-grain JHP rounds — five in a ragged hole and the other five within two inches. But with each type of ammunition, I got light primer strikes on at least one, sometimes two rounds.
Each time, I simply cocked the hammer and the gun fired, but it obviously wasn’t an ammo problem. I reviewed what the manual said about lubrication, noting there needed to be plenty of oil underneath the barrel shroud where it contacts the slide, but the breech face needed to be dry. Rock Island recommends cleaning the chamber and breech face at least every hundred rounds.
I cleaned and oiled the gun as suggested before the next trip to the range, and the gun has operated flawlessly ever since. So, here’s the summation of my experience there. The gun worked fine out of the box. It had light primer strikes after I cleaned it using my usual method of cleaning. After cleaning it again following Rock Island’s instructions, it worked flawlessly with multiple types of ammunition.
Purpose
What about using the .22 Magnum for self-defense? I’m a rootin’ tootin’ .45 shootin’ concealed carry practitioner — or I was. For most of my concealed carry walk and my years as an instructor, I’ve been an adamant advocate of carrying enough gun.
When people in my classes struggled with racking slides and begged me to tell them it was okay to carry a .380 instead of a 9mm, I wouldn’t. Instead, I would work with them, showing them various tricks for racking that slide and remind them once it’s loaded, they will be okay.
My concealed carry instructor was a former marine who insisted if it doesn’t start with a “4,” it’s not enough gun. I was one of those people who wore the T-shirt with, “Why a .45?” on the front and, “Because they don’t make a .46” on the back. I turned 74 on my last birthday. That’s not really old, but some days I can’t even open a package of saltines.
I use an Uplula to load my 9mm magazines. It’s rare that I carry one of my favorite .45 1911s anymore. I can still rack the slide on a P229, G3, or an M&P, but sometimes it’s a Taurus 856 UL I stick in my pocket when we leave the house. Its arthritis is accompanied by bursitis.
Lots of us have that, but we don’t want to give up carrying a gun, so we make adjustments. I’ve written articles about shooting with hurting hands. But a .22? I didn’t think so, but the thought of carrying a .22 Magnum for defense is starting to sound like an option, especially if it has a large-capacity magazine.
Back when my son and I ran a gun store, I came in one day and noticed my son working behind the counter with a Kel-Tec PMR-30 .22 Magnum in his holster. Later, when we were in the office counting our sales for the day, I asked him about it. He said, “Dad, when you wear it all day you don’t even notice this lightweight gun. And I figure, it’s loud and has 31 rounds of magnum hollow points in it. No one is going to stick around to fight me in a gunfight when I’m shooting at him with that fire-breathing, loud gun that just keeps on shooting.”
Nothing in this article should be construed as this pistol instructor recommending that you carry a rimfire handgun for self-defense. I’m just giving you some things to think about if you start having physical issues that challenge your ability to shoot a 9mm, .40, or .45. What’s that old saying, “When life deals you a lemon, shoot it full of holes with a .22 Magnum,” or something like that.
Have you carried a .22 Magnum for self-defense? What is the minimum caliber you would recommend and why? Do you have a personal review of the Rock Island XTM-22? Share your answers in the comment section.
Although the disassembly and reassembly instructions in the manual don’t say to remove the recoil spring plug, the author found it much easier to remove it to overcome the strong recoil spring during slide removal and reinstallation. The classic lines of a Rock Island 1911 are evident in the XTM 22 Magnum. The author and his family went through all the ammo types shown here and the XTM 22 handled them all equally. The XTM 22 Magnum along with some ammo and plinkin’ targets is a great way to spend some quality time with friends and family. A close look at the barrel and shroud components is all it takes to see how they go together. Notice the recoil spring plug is threaded with a screwdriver slot for removal and reinstallation. 
Disassembly is almost classic 1911 but with few extra parts. The barrel and barrel shroud replace the front part of a standard 1911 slide. The gap between the barrel and shroud is to release some of the gas pressure to facilitate cycling the action. The breech face needs to be clean and dry for flawless function. 
The hammer, trigger, cocking serrations, thumb safety, grip safety, and mag release are reminiscent of GI 1911A1 handguns. Familiar controls make shooting the XTM 22 Magnum a pleasure for 1911 fans.
@ZAC you can find the magazine for this on gun broker if you search around
I want to replace the grips on my XT- Magnum. Does anyone know if standard 1911 grips fit this gun? Any suggestions on where to shop for them?
I have one of the RIA 1911 22mags and it came with a 15 round mag and I have been trouble finding extras and if there is a even higher capacity magazine for it and if so can someone point me in the right direction as where to find spare mags and a higher capacity one (if it exists)?
Please let me know,
Thanks
I’ve owned mine for about 3 years and have run about 30 rounds per week through my fire breathing noisy girl. That’s about 4k rounds and except for the time the recoil spring plug backed itself out and got lost in an indoor range there’s been no problems with it. There’s no easy way to tighten that plug and there’s no tool that I’ve found to tighten it evenly. Still it’s a wonderful weapon for personal defense!
Where do I go to get one and what do they cost
We are already sold out, but get them in regularly, check back soon. ~Dave
Years ago I had a Ruger MKI Standard .22LR for home defense and I was glad I had it. It was all I could afford. How do they say it? The best gun for self-defense is the one you have with you? I personally think a high-cap .22Mag would be pretty good for self-defense if you could find one that reliably feeds from the magazine. Mine does not.
Years ago, the .22LR was a favorite of mob hitmen. Quiet and easy to shoot, it proved that a solid hit from a small caliber pistol is better than a miss from a .45 ACP. However, wonder how a ,22 WMR compares to the 5.7×28 in the same length barrels.
I would prefer to use a revolver, with interchangeable cylinders (,22LR & .22 WMR) so that I can practice with .22LR, and then switch to the.22 WMR for EDC. IF only the XTM-22 was available with two slide/barrel assemblies, one ,22LR and the other in .22 WMR, then RIA would have a winner.
P.S. – Unlike modern “gang-bangers”, the mob hitmen of yesterday didn’t make a “show” of shooting their victims, and didn’t have the advantage of the current crop of high performance bullets. Hense their widespread use of .22LR.
there are ammo options when carrying a 22mag for protection. check out federal punch or speer for short barrels in 22mag
I have one of these and found it to be a nice range 1911 trainer and just fun to shoot. Mine is most accurate with CCI and Armscore ammunition. The only downside is locating extra magazines.
I have one of the first of these. I am a .22 mag fan and was skeptical when this came out but wanted to try one. I will say I am very impressed with mine! Absolutely runs without fail,feeds any type of ammo I put in the very good magazines. Sights are excellent and of course all your 45 grips fit as well as holsters. Is it the best defense round?? Probably not but I guarantee it will change a bad guys mind about what was going to do.
Can it shoot .22LR?
I can understand the issues with getting older and finding that pinpoint instant accuracy slowly fading. I have SSc which is similar in affects to Rheumatoid Arthritis in many ways. The slow curling of the fingers inward (Scleradactyli) makes me have to concentrate on safety much more each year which isn’t a bad thing in that respect.
I’ve been in the Gun game for decades , building, carrying and practicing with a fascination on the mechanics and function of them.
I still carry nines, tens and on occasion 5.7 as of late but on harder days I’ll grab a 380 and be fine with it.
I know from experience that a .380 will drop a would be attacker/jacket. I know when your shot the body takes a couple moments to tell the brain of this fact and the brain closing up shop and going into shock is expected.
My point is simple, .22lr,22wm,25acp,.32acp,.380acp it all works. If you put rounds in the torso or head then your threat is halted in their tracks. The main issues with most these smaller pills is accurately putting rounds where intended. This means close up shots which allows perps to get dangerously close and this is where reaction time training is needed.
My abilities are hindered on reactive shots because of more caution on my part as to not have a negligent misfire. So we are creating new ways for disabled or “uniquely abled” law abiding folks to safely protect themselves with less effort.
So, if you carry any chamberings, it’s better than nothing in all respects and if some clown wants to hurt you then a chest full of 22’s will definitely upset his intentions but aid him in winning the asphalt temperature challenge.
Trust in this.