Rimfire pistol test: Tanfoglio Force 22 L, the .22 LR trainer

The first visual impression of the Tanfoglio Force 22 L was: "It looks nicer in person than in the pictures." The first haptic impression was: "Fits like a glove!" The grip size and design are almost ideal for medium-sized hands. This is a good thing, as there are no different sized backstrap adapters or side panels for the Tanfoglio Force grip. Despite weighing just under 700 g, the hand position nevertheless conveys a certain muzzle weight. This feeling is caused less by the synthetic frame than by the aluminum slide sitting on it, weighing around 170 g, and the barrel inside it, weighing around 160 g. If you don't look at the bad end straight away, the Tanfoglio Force looks like a centerfire pistol at first glance.

The Tanfoglio Force 22 L in detail

The removable barrel is an unusual concept for rimfire pistols. Despite this, there is no locking mechanism and it sits firmly in the slide. The sights would look good on many a centerfire sport pistol. There is nothing better to wish for, because there is nothing better on the market. The three protrusions on each side of the slide end, which serve as racking aids, take some getting used to, both visually and haptically. However, given the low resistance of the recoil spring, they fully fulfil their purpose. The same applies to the three controls: slide stop, magazine release and safety. All are easy to operate and the detents are clearly defined. The trigger also has very good characteristics. After overcoming the wall, the hammer snaps absolutely cleanly and the adjustable trigger stop prevents the trigger from being pulled further. Thanks to the excellent characteristics, the trigger pull weight is subjectively less significant than the scales indicate. The Picatinny rail causes the duster cover to be angular. In countries where the attachment of lights or lasers is not permitted, the rail can also be used for a barrel weight, for example.

The Tanfoglio Force could actually do with a little more mass, namely at the magazine base plate. This is actually not there at all, because if you turn the magazine upside down, you can actually see the inside of it. Who would think of something like that? Probably only a designer who has never changed a magazine on an outdoor shooting range with a sand floor. Especially as empty magazines usually hit the ground. The fact that magazines can also collect dirt through witness holes or slots only partially applies. This is because after the impact, the magazine tumbles not only to the side, but often also lengthways. The chances of magazines with a closed base absorbing little or no sand are not that small.

The Tanfoglio Force 22 L on the shooting range

The more it was shot, the more fun it became. The testers found the hand position, sights and trigger characteristics to be flawless. The functional reliability was also impressive. The ammo benchmark: the RWS Pistol Match SR, which stands for "Soft Recoil". It's clear that the reduced recoil at the same bullet weight inevitably results in reduced power. Despite the reduced "power," this cartridge performed well even when fired with a limp wrist. There were no malfunctions or anomalies to report.

Tanfoglio Force 22 L technical specifications

Conclusion: Tanfoglio Force 22 L – a recommendation to buy?

The Tanfoglio Force 22 L definitely deserves a purchase recommendation. The shooter gets a visually and technically appealing rimfire pistol with features that some centerfire sport pistols do not have. There is still the matter of the open magazine base. This is certainly not a problem in shooting ranges. If you are shooting on sandy ground and have to change magazines there, you can use a suitably cut piece of red adhesive tape on the magazine base not only to prevent dirt from getting in, but also to add a colorful accent.

Further information on Tanfoglio firearms is available from the manufacturer.