Derya Arms TM22 Flash 18
- Graham Baates
- 12 hours ago
- 6 min read
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This was an unexpected one, and to be frank I wasn't quite sure what to expect. When I first wrapped my head around "Turkish .22lr rifle" I wrongly assumed it would be another 10/22 clone. It also took me a second to remember that Derya was the manufacturer of Rock Island's popular TM22 line of rifles. With that in mind I looked forward to trying out the new TM22 Flash 18.
What is it? The Derya TM22 Flash 18 is a .22lr rifle with AR-like feel. The controls are different and yet practically instinctive. The barrel has a somewhat heavy profile and handguard reminiscent of when thicker-diameter handguards were popular, although I think Daniel Defense is bringing that style back. A rather fancy collapsable stock provides length of pull adjustment and adjustable cheek riser means most common optic heights are still comfortable to use.
Who's it For? .22lr is one of those calibers that is both fun for adults and for youth learning to shoot. Derya Arms smartly kept the TM22 Flash 18 lightweight with an adjustable stock, and plenty of rail space for any type of optic. The thicker-diameter handguard is easy to handle, and spot of pic rail under the end of it suggests installing a bipod. I feel this could be a fun plinker, an educational tool, or a casual bench gun.
Take a Look at the Derya Arms TM22 Flash 18 in the tabletop video below. Rumble Link
That tabletop video had to be a little different because, as you saw in the manual, field striping the TM 22 Flash 18 is more of a disassembly than a "field strip" and I feared YouTube would strike the channel again for "gunsmithing" once I started removing major components.
Specifications and Features:
Caliber: .22 Long Rifle (.22 LR)
Action: Semi-automatic, blowback operated
Barrel Length: 18 inches, threaded (1/2 x 28 UNEF) for muzzle devices/suppressors
Barrel Twist: 1:16" right-hand, 6 grooves
Receiver & Furniture: Premium polymer construction
Handguard: Polymer M-LOK with full-length top Picatinny rail
Stock: Adjustable with cheek riser, commercial AR-compatible buffer tube
Overall Length: Approximately 34-36 inches (depending on stock adjustment)
Weight: 4.7 lbs unloaded
Capacity: Comes with two 10-round detachable polymer magazines; compatible with 15-round and 25-round extended options
Sights: Flip-up iron sights included (full top rail for optics as well)
Finish: Black polymer and aluminum parts; steel components Melonite-treated for corrosion resistance
Other Features: Left-side charging handle, AR-style ergonomics, highly modular
MSRP: $249
Prices around the web as of
Click links for current pricing
List will be updated as the TM22 Flash 18 makes its way to retailers. Check back for updates.
In the meantime please visit Derya.us for dealer locating
The design is funky at first glance. A little tiny action built out to have AR-like proportions, a hanguard thicker in diameter than the receiver, safety lever in an odd place, AR-style pistol grip, but mounting at an angle that suggests the grip would have too much rake on a true AR, magazines that must curve for the rimmed cartridge but feed straight into the magazine well, and yet all of it somehow works. With the rifle shouldered there's nigh a thought of any of that. It feels like a proper rifle, and when the thumb reaches for the safety it feels right. I was curious to get to the range with the TM22 Flash 18 to see how it felt and functioned on the range, and to see how the magazines load without a helper lever. One thing that can ruin a .22lr experience quickly for me are finicky magazines. Another curiosity with any rimfire is what ammunition will run it? I have an old Remington (pre bankruptcy and rebrand) Bucket O' Bullets that is old because that ammunition rarely runs in semi autos.
To be fair, the TM22 Flash 18 was subjected to the standard GBGuns Range Protocol for the range session:
Cold Shots: Truly my first shots through the gun.
Full Magazine +1: Suprisingly some modern guns still struggle with this. It's a test of how much play is in the magazine as well as how the slide cycles with pressure. This is also when I do my best to learn the trigger.
What's For Dinnerâ„¢: A test to see what ammunition the gun will eat. Does the gun feed the round from slide lock, will it cycle and feed another round of the same type, does the slide lock to the rear on empty, and is there any notable point of impact change with different loads.
36gr Remington Viper $5.58 / 50 at Classic Firearms
33gr Remington Yellow Jacket $5.96 /50 at Classic Firearms
38gr American Eagle $3.90 /50 at Global Ordnance
40gr CCI Mini-Mag RN $9.99 / 100 at GrabaGun
40gr CCI Mini-Mag SHP $10.44 / 100 at Classic Firearms
40gr Aguila Super Extra CP $32.75 / 500 at Classic Firearms
40gr Federal Game Shok $4.66 / 50 at Classic Firearms
40gr SK Semi-auto Rifle $8.39 / 50 at Optics Planet
40gr SK Longe Range Match $12.99 / 50 at Brownell's
40gr SK Rifle Match $11.99 / 50 at Brownell's
Standard range ammunition was 36gr Remington Golden Bullet $99.62 / 1400 at Global Ordnance
Sights & Trigger Control: on a 6" spinner target at a distance of 12-ish yards. We got this from Titan Great Outdoors and use it to gauge how learnable the trigger is and usable the sights are for forced, timed, precise shots.
Practical Accuracy: Five shots from a distance of seven yards at a one inch target. This isn't so much about printing a tight group as it is a culmination of the shooting experience and time for to collect thoughts prior to making a conclusion.
After Shots: Final impressions and reflections from the range session.
You can watch the process in the Shooting Impressions video below. Rumble Link.
I had to effectively bottom out the front sight post to hit at 7 yards, but accuracy looked very promising at that distance and the 12" plate at 20 yards was easy as well. I plan on returning to the range with an optic to put some more distance on the gun and see which loads the rifle likes, but for the sake of the shooting impressions video the point was simply to see what ran in the TM22 Flash 18. I was pleased that I now have a rifle that can eat the 36gr Remington Golden Bullet load too weak for so many other rifles. I was also really impressed with the magazines. They are easier to load than most 22lr magazines and caused no hiccups in my session. Additional magazines are available in 10, 15, and 25 round capacities for $19.99-$29.99 direct from Derya USA
Magazines are something easily overlooked, but are responsible for most of a firearm's reliability. With rimfire cartridges firearms seem even less forgiving about magazines. The design used by Derya is a smart one. The magazine needs to curve to handle the rimmed case, single-stack design keeps things simple, and a squared-off block at the top of the magazine makes insertion into a magazine well easy, with a over-travel stop to protect the magazine and firearm from over-insertion or Tactical Timmy magazine slaps. The lack of a sliding helper like on most 22lr magazines had me worried these would be tough to load, but the high quality polymer follower and body minimized friction, and the lack of a helper lever also means the inside of the magazine will stay cleaner if dropped in the dirt.
From my experiences so far, the Derya Arms TM22 Flash 18 is a fun rifle that could serve multiple roles for those not afraid of something a little different. It is a little disappointing that a field strip requires tools, especially since I know 22lr shooters like to keep their guns clean. I suppose another way of look at the TM22 Flash 18 is that it's a gun you'll get to know. Aside from my carry guns I only clean guns if they've been in the rain or when they start malfunctioning, and it's easy enough to get a bore snake through the TM22 Flash 18.