Guide · Trigger guns and short guns
Short pressure washer gun vs gun and wand
A short gun takes nozzles close to the hand, so its outlet must match your nozzles. A gun with an M22 or bayonet outlet needs a wand first.
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Short answer
A short gun takes nozzles or attachments close to your hand, so its outlet must be the connection your nozzles use, which in the parts we read is a 1/4 in quick-connect. A gun with an M22 or brand bayonet outlet needs a wand first, and the nozzle goes on the wand. Check the gun's outlet before you buy nozzles, a foam cannon or a wand.
Two layouts
- Gun and wand: hose, then gun, then a wand (or lance), then the nozzle. The gun's outlet joins the wand, often by M22.
- Short gun: hose, then gun, then the nozzle or attachment directly. The short gun's outlet is the nozzle connection.
Neither layout changes the rule for ratings: every part must be rated for your machine.
Short guns with a nozzle outlet
- McKillans swivel gun: a maximum recommended 3,000 PSI and 2.6 GPM, with a 3/8 in male inlet and a 1/4 in female quick-connect outlet.[1] Nozzles and attachments with a 1/4 in plug clip straight in.
- MTM Hydro SGS28: a 3/8 in FPT inlet with a live swivel and a 1/4 in FPT outlet.[2] The outlet is a pipe thread, so it needs a 1/4 in quick-connect coupler (or a wand) screwed in before a nozzle can clip on.
Guns that need a wand
- Kärcher VersaGRIP and Standard M22: Kärcher says a nozzle cannot be connected directly to either gun; a spray wand goes on the gun first and the nozzle goes on the wand.[3] Kärcher adds that some accessories, such as brushes, attach directly to the gun.
- DEWALT DXPA45SG: an M22 wand outlet.[4] DEWALT's DXPA31SW is a 31 in wand rated up to 4,500 PSI that fits M22 spray-gun connections and has a 1/4 in quick-connect outlet for tips.[5]
- SIMPSON MSH3125: the parts list shows a 16 in lance with a 1/4 in quick-connect outlet and an M22 male end.[6]
- Champion 100386 and 100384: on both, the wand attaches to the trigger gun with an M22 coupler.[7][8]
| Gun | Outlet | Nozzle goes on | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| McKillans swivel gun | 1/4 in female QC | The gun | McKillans |
| MTM Hydro SGS28 | 1/4 in FPT | A QC fitting or wand first | MTM Hydro |
| Kärcher VersaGRIP / Standard M22 | Wand connection | The wand | Kärcher |
| DEWALT DXPA45SG | M22 | The wand (e.g. DXPA31SW, 1/4 in QC) | DEWALT |
| SIMPSON MSH3125 OEM | M22 female | The 16 in lance (1/4 in QC) | SIMPSON |
Kits that settle it for you
RYOBI's RY31036K trigger handle kit includes a metal wand with four quick-connect nozzles and is listed for washers up to 3,600 PSI.[9] Buying the gun and wand as a kit avoids a mismatch at the gun outlet, though you still need to match the handle's inlet to your hose; RYOBI's page did not state it.
Westinghouse's PWEXT kit is another example: its manual lists a male M22-14 inlet, a 3/8 in quick plug on the gun inlet and a 1/4 in quick-connect outlet for nozzles.[10] Westinghouse lists the kit with a metal gun, a gutter wand, a 30-degree angle wand and five quick-connect nozzles, and gives a 4,000 PSI maximum.[11]
Reach and attachments
A short gun puts the nozzle closer to you, and a wand moves it farther away. Choose by the job, and keep the nozzle pointed away from people and animals. For longer reach, see extension wands and lances. For foam cannons, the connection on the cannon must match the outlet it clips into: see foam cannon connections.
Wands and gun kits
Picks that fit3 products
If your gun has an M22 outlet and your nozzles are 1/4 in quick-connect, read the gun end, nozzle end and rating of the SIMPSON 80479 (31 in) or 80149 (16 in) on SIMPSON's page and choose the length you want; we found no verified figures for these model numbers.
More on choosing
Choose the Westinghouse PWEXT kit only if Westinghouse lists your machine: its manual states an M22-14 inlet, a 1/4 in quick-connect outlet and a 4,000 PSI maximum. On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' shows Amazon.com or the brand.
SIMPSON 16 in replacement wand
SIMPSON 80149 universal 16 in pressure washer wand, 3,600 PSI, M22 x 1/4 in QC
Extension wand kit with a published model list
Westinghouse PWEXT extension wand kit for pressure washers, 4,000 PSI, 4 GPM
Next
Questions
Can I put a foam cannon on a short gun?
Only if the gun's outlet is the connection the foam cannon uses, usually a 1/4 in quick-connect. McKillans' swivel gun has a 1/4 in female quick-connect outlet; a gun with an M22 outlet needs a wand or an adapter named for both ends first.[1]