Not only is this one of the cheapest semi-auto 22LR available nationally, but it may be the most accurate budget rimfire. Rock Island Armory (RIA) is best known for producing Philippine made budget priced, reliably built, pistols and revolvers. I’ve heard they produce the most 1911 pistols in the world. Recently they’ve been expanding into shotguns and now the rifles. RIA lent me their TM22 to test out.
The TM22 is 22LR, semi-automatic, blowback rifle is a proprietary design produced by Derya of Turkey. It follows the general shape of an AR pattern rifle. It is compatible with AR-type grips and stocks. The receiver is made of 7075 aircraft grade aluminum. It has an MLok compatible AR handguard and is topped with a receiver length Picatinny rail.
At the rear of the receiver is a castle nut which accepts MilSpec AR buffer tubes. The model I was sent uses a non-standard fixed metal stock affixed to a fluted tube. The TM22’s action is direct blowback with a recoil spring entirely contained in the receiver. It comes in either a 20″ or 18″ barrel that is free floated in an M-Lok handguard which looks similar to an AR but which has a locking bolt on top, which connects it to the upper receiver. Some models are available with more M16A2 style furniture like an A2-esque carry handle, 2-piece round handguard, and A-frame front sight.
The TM22 comes with a pair of 10-round polymer magazines which look similar to CZ-455/457 magazines but are unfortunately proprietary.
The TM22 has a last round hold open which is also its functional bolt hold open. The bolt only stays open with an empty magazine inserted. The rifle has a left side charging handle but no bolt catch other than keeping an empty mag in the magwell. Once the mag is removed, the bolt slides closed. The rifle includes a uniquely designed chamber flag that allows the bolt to be dropped on it after pulling the bolt, to permit function checks and dry firing the trigger.
The trigger is flat faced with a light trigger pull of about 2.5lbs. In live fire testing, we found the rifle easy to shoot and surprisingly accurate. Our testing as conducted at 25yrds and 50yrds proved it shoots 1.5-2inch sized groups at 50yrds with inexpensive Armscor 22LR ammo. We had about a dozen stove pipes and FTF malfunctions were due to the ammo.
It was fun to shoot but I did find some quirks and nitpicks with this rifle. RIA/Derya should have designed it to use more widely available compatible magazines like Ruger, GSG, S&W, or cheap 3rd party magazines were available. There appears to be a new variant of the TM22 at Sportsman’s Warehouse which has have more A2-styling, with an AR buffer tube and a fixed polymer buttstock.
It is also also a bit more complicated and laborious to field strip than it should be. The TM22 requires the removal of its handguard first which would not be necessary if it utilized standard a standard AR style receiver and pins. Moreover, to clean the bolt requires the removal of the Picatinny rail. This would require the removal of any optic, so forget about maintaining zero. Is it too much to ask that a .22LR AR that is as easy to take down as a real AR?
Those nitpicks aside, the biggest selling feature of the TM22 is its low price. Even in notoriously expensive California, a RIA TM22 sells for under $200 at a local Sportsmans Warehouse. With this budget friendly and easy to shoot 22LR, RIA continues to deliver on its reputation for value.
Fieldstrip/Takedown video from High Caliber Haymaker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nM_BykZZEZs
Manufacturer product page https://www.armscor.com/firearms-list/tm22-a-18
AFFILIATE RETAIL LINK
Sportsman’s Warehouse: https://alnk.to/fSgt3YS
Palmetto State Armory: https://alnk.to/1C7EOme
SPECS
| MODEL | TM22-A-18 |
| CALIBER | 22LR |
| MAG CAPACITY | 10 |
| BARREL | 18″ |
| OVERALL LENGTH | 36 INCH / 915 MM |
| OVERALL WIDTH | 3 INCH / 76.2 MM |
| OVERALL HEIGHT | 7.68 INCH / 195 MM |
| GRIPS | AR TYPE |
| FINISH | BLACK ANODIZED |
| ACTION | SEMI-AUTOMATIC Blowback |
