Intratec TEC-22

TEC-22 / Scorpion
TEC-22 / Scorpion
	TEC-22 (unloaded)
Type	Semi-automatic pistol
Place of origin	United States
Production history
Designer	George Kellgren
Manufacturer	Intratec
Produced	Circa 1988 to 1994 (TEC-22), 1994-2000 (Sport-22)
Variants	TEC-22TK; TEC-25 (.25ACP); Sport-22 ;
Specifications
Mass	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	10/22 magazine; (Proprietary magazines also exist)
Sights	Notch and post

The Intratec TEC-22 is a semi-automatic handgun chambered in .22 Long Rifle.^[1] It was also marketed as the Scorpion and Sport-22. The TEC-22 operates using a straight blow-back action.^[6]

The TEC-22 is constructed largely from molded plastic and stamped metal parts. The materials used, along with its extremely simple design allowed the gun to be made and marketed inexpensively. The TEC-22 is designed to use magazines and drums made for the popular Ruger 10/22 rifle.^[7]

Design

The single-piece frame/receiver is molded from ABS plastic and largely unmachined 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.^[8] Although the TEC-22 is compatible with 10/22 magazines, Intratec manufactured and sold their own brand of 15- and 30-round double stack magazines for the pistol.^{[citation needed]}

A small, ambidextrous^[6] switch on the frame actuates a trigger block safety.^[5] A hinged door at the bottom of the grip provides a small storage compartment.

Over its production run, the TEC-22 suffered from various quality control issues. For example, some were recalled because they were firing automatic bursts.^[9]

Variants

Original

The original TEC-22 variant featured a threaded barrel^[5]^[10] and a 30-round magazine. The barrel threading is 1⁄2–20 and allows a barrel extension or suppressor^[10] to be attached. A small, knurled nut threads onto the barrel to protect the threading.^{[citation needed]}

TEC-22TK

A small number of pistols were made with the Tec-Kote rust-resistant finish in 1988. Other than the finish, there is no difference between models.^[2]

TEC-25

In 1986 a small number of the TEC-25 variant were made. The pistol was similar to the standard TEC-22, but was chambered in .25 ACP.^[3] The TEC-25 is completely unrelated to the Intratec Protec-25 pistol.

Sport-22

The Sport-22 featured a non-threaded barrel and a 10-round rotary magazine^[2] to comply with the now expired 1994 U.S. firearms legislation which forbade the sale of the original TEC-22 model.^[11]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Phillip Peterson (2008). Gun Digest Buyer's Guide To Assault Weapons. Gun Digest Books. p. 139. ISBN 0896896803.
^ ^a ^b ^c Dan Shideler (2009). The Gun Digest Book of Modern Gun Values: The Shooter's Guide to Guns 1900-Present. Gun Digest Books. p. 165. ISBN 0896898245.
^ ^a ^b Ian Hogg (2004). Pistols of the World. Krause. p. 176. ISBN 0873494601.
^ Robert E. Walker (2013). Cartridges and Firearm Identification. CRC Press. pp. 250–251. ISBN 1466502061.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Intratec Tec-22 Scorpion Manual. Interatec. p. 1.
^ ^a ^b Hogg, Ian (1989). Jane's Infantry Weapons 1989-90, 15th Edition. Jane's Information Group. p. 71. ISBN 0-7106-0889-6.
^ Phillip Peterson (2010). Gun Digest Buyer's Guide to Tactical Rifles. Gun Digest Books. p. 89. ISBN 1440214468.
^ Harold Murtz (2005). The Gun Digest Book of Exploded Gun Drawings: 975 Isometric Views. Gun Digest Books. p. 216. ISBN 0896891410.
^ "Firearm Recalls & Warnings Index". Retrieved 2014-02-12.
^ ^a ^b Alan C. Paulson (1996). Silencer: History and Performance, Volume 1: Sporting and Tactical Silencers. Paladin Press. p. 102. ISBN 0873649095.
^ Theodore Johnson (2002). The Second Amendment Controversy-Explained. iUniverse. p. 538. ISBN 0595241883.