Intratec TEC-22
{{Infobox weapon
|name=TEC-22 / Scorpion
|image=Intratec TEC-22.jpg
| image_size = 300
|caption= Intratec TEC-22 with threaded barrel & original magazine
|origin=United States
|type=Semi-automatic pistol
|is_ranged=yes
|service=
|used_by=
|wars=
|designer= George Kellgren
|design_date=
|manufacturer=Intratec
|unit_cost=
|production_date=Circa 1988 to 1994 (TEC-22), 1994-2000 (Sport-22)
|number=
|variants= * TEC-22TK{{cite book|page=165|title=The Gun Digest Book of Modern Gun Values: The Shooter's Guide to Guns 1900-Present|author=Dan Shideler|isbn=0896898245|publisher=Gun Digest Books|year=2009}}
- TEC-25 (.25ACP){{cite book|title=Pistols of the World|author=Ian Hogg|author-link=Ian V. Hogg|publisher=Krause|isbn=0873494601|page=176|year=2004}}
- Sport-22 {{cite book|title=Cartridges and Firearm Identification|author=Robert E. Walker|pages=250–251|year=2013|isbn=1466502061|publisher=CRC Press}}
|spec_label=
|weight=0.822 kg
|length=284 mm
|width=41 mm
|height=157 mm
|cartridge=.22 Long Rifle{{cite book|title=Intratec Tec-22 Scorpion Manual|publisher=Interatec|pages=1, 6|url=https://archive.org/details/intratec-tec-22-manual-all-models/page/n5/mode/2up}}
|caliber=
|action=Blowback-operated, semi-automatic
|rate=
|velocity=1000 ft/s (305 m/s)
|range=
|max_range=
|feed=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.{{cite book|title=Gun Digest Buyer's Guide To Assault Weapons|author=Phillip Peterson|page=139|isbn=0896896803|publisher=Gun Digest Books|year=2008}} It was also marketed as the Scorpion and Sport-22. The TEC-22 operates using a straight blow-back action.{{cite book|last = Hogg| first = Ian| title = Jane's Infantry Weapons 1989-90, 15th Edition | publisher = Jane's Information Group| year = 1989| isbn =0-7106-0889-6| page =71}}
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.{{cite book|page=89|title=Gun Digest Buyer's Guide to Tactical Rifles|author=Phillip Peterson|year=2010|isbn=1440214468|publisher=Gun Digest Books}}
Design
Image:Intratec tec-22 internals.jpg
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.{{cite book|title=The Gun Digest Book of Exploded Gun Drawings: 975 Isometric Views|author=Harold Murtz|isbn=0896891410|page=216|year=2005|publisher=Gun Digest Books}} 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.
A small, ambidextrous switch on the frame actuates a trigger block safety. 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.firearmsid.com/Recalls/FA_Recalls%203.htm|title=Firearm Recalls & Warnings Index|accessdate=2014-02-12}}
Variants
= Original =
The original TEC-22 variant featured a threaded barrel{{cite book|title=Silencer: History and Performance, Volume 1: Sporting and Tactical Silencers|author=Alan C. Paulson|page=102|isbn=0873649095|publisher=Paladin Press|year=1996}} and a 30-round magazine. The barrel threading is {{frac|1|2}}–20 and allows a barrel extension or suppressor to be attached. A small, knurled nut threads onto the barrel to protect the threading.
= TEC-22TK =
= 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. 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 to comply with the now expired 1994 U.S. firearms legislation which forbade the sale of the original TEC-22 model.{{cite book|title=The Second Amendment Controversy-Explained|author=Theodore Johnson|page=538|ISBN=0595241883|publisher=iUniverse|year=2002}}