NRA Gun of the Week: Rock Island Armory XT 22 Pistol

by
posted on October 13, 2018
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
It took a few years, but Rock Island Armory is at full production with the XT 22—a .22 WMR-chambered, M1911-style rimfire pistol that feeds from a single-column magazine and operates via an interesting delayed-blowback system. And with capacity of 15 rounds, the XT 22 provides connoisseurs of the M1911 platform with an inexpensive cross-over training pistol. Check out our NRA Gun of the Week video to learn more about this long-awaited M1911 variant.

Specifications:

Importer: Rock Island Armory
Action Type: delayed-blowback, rimfire semi-automatic pistol
Frame: Parkerized steel
Slide: Parkerized steel
Barrel: 4.75”; six-groove, 1:16” RH twist
Magazine: 14-round detachable box
Sights: dovetailed; fiber-optic post front, low-profile notch rear
Weight: 35 ozs.
MSRP: $598

Additional Reading:
SHOT Show 2018: Rock Island Armory XTM22 Pistol
Tested: The .22 TCM Cartridge
NRA Gun of the Week: Rock Island TCM ROCK Target FS HC Pistol
SHOT Show 2018: Rock Island Armory Big Rock 10 mm








Latest

attack in a back alley
attack in a back alley

Cold Performance: How to Prepare for the Uncertainty of Self-Defense

Defensive gun use is defined by uncertainty. You don’t know when it will happen, how far away the threat will be, how many threats you will face or what position you will be in when it begins.

Derya Goes Silent: The OBone Suppressor

In 2025, Turkish manufacturer Derya Arms opened a new facility in Florida, enabling the company to produce a number of new products domestically, such as its new OBone suppressor.

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 26, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Rifleman Q&A: Understanding a Firearm's Cycle of Operation

The cycle of operation is the mechanical sequence of events that it takes to fire one shot out of a firearm. If one of those steps fails to take place as designed, there is an interruption in the cycle of operation and the gun stops firing.

Review: Sightmark Pinnacle 1-6x24 mm Riflescope

Looking for a performance LPVO without the usual associated cost? The Sightmark Pinnacle 1-6x24 mm might be your answer.

Myths & Misunderstandings About the “Modern Fighting 1911”

The Colt Model 1911 pistol and its derivatives are among the most iconic military handguns ever made. But in 2026, does the M1911 still hold up as a quality defensive arm?

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.