Yes, Smith & Wesson already makes the M&P22, only they really don’t. The full-size M&P22 is made for Smith in Germany, a vestige of their one-time relationship with Walther. And the M&P22 is a full-size pistol. Which means Smith doesn’t really have anything to go up against “tactical rimfire” guns like Walther’s P22, SIG’s Mosquito or, most importantly, Ruger’s SR22. Until now. Today, S&W is introducing the new Smith-made M&P22 Compact. A hammer-fired single action, 3.6” threaded barrel, 10+1, two mags, ambi safety, fully-adjustable rear sight and an MSRP of $389. Press release after the jump . . .
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (August 12, 2014) — Smith & Wesson Corp. announced today that it has added a new model to the company’s flagship line of M&P® polymer pistols with the introduction of the M&P22 Compact. Engineered to professional standards, the new tactical rimfire pistol incorporates a variety of features inherent to the design of the full size M&P centerfire pistol in a new, smaller scale version. Manufactured entirely in the United States by Smith & Wesson, the .22 LR pistol provides shooting enthusiasts with M&P accuracy and reliability in a new fun-to-shoot, compact profile. To round out the shooting experience, from now through December 31, 2014, Smith & Wesson will ship 222 rounds of Winchester .22LR ammunition to each M&P22 Compact consumer who redeems the promotional coupon.
James Debney, President and CEO of Smith & Wesson, said, “The new M&P22 Compact gives consumers the opportunity to own and experience a unique tactical sporting pistol engineered with premium features that have made the M&P line of handguns a leading standard in the shooting sports. Target shooters, recreational shooting enthusiasts or anyone looking to add more excitement to their shooting experience can now enjoy a compact .22 LR semi-automatic pistol with all the adaptability and versatility that are synonymous with the M&P brand.”
Designed to be 15% smaller than the full-size M&P 9/40, the new M&P22 Compact is lightweight, comfortable in the hand and conveniently carried. Like its centerfire sibling, the M&P22 Compact accommodates the needs of both left and right-handed shooters with its ambidextrous manual safety and reversible magazine release. Its Picatinny-style accessory rail underneath the barrel easily accommodates after-market lights and laser sights when using in various light conditions and sporting activities. This pistol is suppressor friendly and is standard with a 3/8 inch x 24 threaded barrel with muzzle cap for easy accessorizing. Shooters of all experience levels will appreciate the crisp, 5.8-pound trigger pull with reset which makes shooting the M&P22 Compact easy and fun.
The M&P22 Compact began shipping to select partners in mid-July and is available now for immediate shipment to dealers. In addition, a variety of high quality accessories are immediately available from the industry’s top holster, laser and after-market sight manufacturers. Buyers can instantly personalize their M&P22 Compact with high quality accessories from companies including Crimson Trace®, DeSantis®, Laserlyte®, LaserMax®, Streamlight®, Triple K®, and UM Tactical®.
The M&P22 Compact has an MSRP of $389 and ships complete with two 10-round capacity magazines.
For more information on the new M&P22 Compact and its accessories, visit www.smith-wesson.com/mp22compact or http://www.youtube.com/user/SmithWessonCorp for exciting new videos on all of the latest products.
M&P22 Compact Specifications:
- Barrel Length: 3.56″
- Overall Length: 6.65″
- Overall Width: 1.48″
- Weight: 15.3 oz.
- Barrel Material: Carbon Steel
- Slide Material: Aluminum Alloy
- Frame Material: Polymer
- Front Sight: White Dot
- Rear Sight: White 2-Dot – Screw Adjustable for Windage & Elevation
- Capacity: 10+1
I still don’t see the appeal of “tactical” looking .22s. By comparison with a Ruger MK-III, a Browning Buckmark, or any number of used High Standards or the like, in exchange for the badass appearance you’re giving up accuracy, a good trigger, superior sights, and major aftermarket support (especially for the Ruger). I suppose they are useful if you own the centerfire equivalent and want to use the rimfire for practice, but I’d bet most of these are sold on image alone.
Hypothetically you could carry one of the tacticool ones in a shoulder or IWB rig, whereas the target pistols have too long of a barrel to be easily concealed. At least, that’s what I was looking for: .22 pistol for CC and as a fun plinking gun.
Why would you carry a .22 (that costs as much as a centerfire) for self defense?
There are some women whose hands are to weak they can’t handle a .380 or .38. A .22 is better than nothing.
Cheap ammo and low recoil for fast follow up shots.
Rob,
If a person cannot handle the action of a larger auto loader, I would suggest a small frame lightweight revolver, several of which are on the market.
I can readily find .22LR for 8 – 10 cents a round. Where are you finding centerfire ammo for that low?
Many people have already stated this, but for me, .22 ammo is cheap, .22s are easier to handle (I have arthritis) and .22s are better than nothing.
Might check out my local shop and see how it feels!
Why wouldn’t I? Personally, I carry a Beretta 70s and a NAA sidewinder because .22 is effective if you can place shots, I can afford to practice with them everyday, and with its mild report, my neighbors don’t mind if I practice with it everyday.
How about I shoot ya’ 10 times with one and then you tell me?
Well in an ideal world it is the same size and manual of arms as your carry pistol, but much less expensive to shoot.
The ammo is cheaper and it still looks scary?
They are appealing because they make excellent low cost training weapons. The have the same feel and sight picture of the more powerful model. I bought a 1911-22 because even at 10 cents a round I can shoot many more rounds than either my 45 or 10mm. I wish Beretta and Springfield made 22lr versions of the M-9 and XD series so I could lower my training cost even more.
Chiappa M9-22 might be what you’re looking for in a practice M9. It’s only drawback is that it’s a Chiappa, but the youTube reviewer had good things to say about it’s actual firing reliability.
http://www.chiappafirearms.com/product/2462
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YREreLOlrg4
Weight is another big factor. When I took my mother to the range, she struggled to handle some of the heavier guns. The M&P22 was light and easy for her to handle. Definitely the gun she enjoyed shooting the most.
I have an M&P9 and the full size M&P 22. The .22 is extremely easy to pull the slide on and the recoil is minimal. It already fits in my OWB holster so for plinking at the range and for training a new shooter it is a great gun. I purchased mine on sale and it was around $340 out the door.
Agreed. And it allows my boys to train and learn on a FA that has operational controls and ergonomics that match the full-sized M&P9. As opposed to my Ruger MKIII (which has a drastically different grip angle) or my P22, which was great when they were 6, as it had the proper ergonomics and fit their small hands,but that odd Walter trigger guard mag release is not kosher (no other pistols in the house share that feature).
I think the desire to have a “tactical” .22 pistol is because it looks, feels, and functions like an ordinary pistol that you’d carry. That way you can train with cheaper ammo (assuming you can find .22 lr) and only have a slightly different trigger pull and more recoil to worry about.
I can’t wait for a review! This sounds interesting…
THE JUMP!!!!
XANAX!!!
$389 for 222 rounds of. 22LR? Not a bad deal, and you get a free gun, too!
Hahaha. Yeah, including some ammo was a good idea considering how many areas in the country are still pretty dang dry on .22 LR. And I like that Winchester bulk stuff, actually.
Hmm, wonder if Cabela’s here in Texas has one yet? I might have to go have a look!
I still prefer the Ruger single six. I find it far more comfortable for my hand.
Why buy any 22 cal. when 22lr ammo is practically non-existent these days?
I found a brick for locally you can start to find it now…
I got a box of 100 at Walmart last week.$8.95. I mean a brick. I have a m&please 9.I love it. Also my sig. P250 is fun to shoot. My 380 I found the pull is extremely long. Oh well. .I enjoyed the talk. Safe shooting. Jj Vietnam War Vet.
I hasn’t been super available but I have been able to find bricks here and there. Enough now that I can shoot as much as I feel like and not worry about running out. I check stores often which helps me get there before the armslist sellers get there.
This is the exact handgun I’ve been waiting for from S&W.
I’m ordering one in the next five minutes.
Thanks S&W!!!
Anyone know if the 12 round mags from the M&P 22 (walther) will fit this new compact?
no the 12 rounder will not fit the compact it is 10 round but it may fit the full size one it has a 12 round mag and are very similar!!!
Why build a gun/buy when the ammo cannot be found available in stores?
It’s single action and hammer fired? Is it an internal hammer, or is it striker fired? That trigger looks more like a double action. I’m not saying you’re wrong, it just appears to be double action and striker fired.
I was about to say the exact same thing.
The trigger is hinged as a safety feature.
The gun is single action the way a 1911 is a single action AND hammer fired.
You are correct it is double action and stryker fired. The hammer is interal.
It is single-action just like an M1911, but with an internal hammer. It is not double action nor is it striker-fired. With a manual safety the hinged trigger is redundant, and I wish somebody would offer a non-hinged replacement trigger.
I can vouch for the reg’lar M&P 22.
It eats ***EVERYTHING***
The trigger is very nice and the gun is a ton of fun.
The only thing with it is that after my second trip to the range, I noticed the set screw that goes through the top of the front sight was missing. The sight was sitting tight but I needed to drift it a bit.
Tech support was responsive but because the gun is made in Germany, the screw was “back ordered” without an ETA.
I got them to send me a screw that was supposed to work, but that turned out to be to big and started to strip the threading on the sight post.
I just sent the gun to MA and hope to get it back in 2 weeks….
Why carry a .22 for self defense?
1. Cheaper ammo
2. Cheaper gun (usually)
3. You are not out as much if the cops decide to confiscate it for some flimsy reason
4. If you practice with it more than your centerfire, you will be more proficient using it
5. Less recoil equates to greater follow-up shot accuracy, depending on skill level
6. Lighter and smaller than most CF guns – better for concealed carry
7. I’d rather wound than kill – don’t want a killing on my conscience
8. If shot with a .22, the perp will end up at the hospital eventually and arrested there
9. If the mere sight of a gun stops an attack, a .22 will accomplish that
10. Great gun for introducing newbies to shooting
Jim,
Excellent job listing all the advantages of a concealed carry handgun in .22 L.R.
You illustrated why there is no single “right” caliber.
Thank you. I know other people will disagree, but I respect their rationale for carrying a centerfire weapon. They each have their advantages and disadvantages.
I wish S&W would make an M&P 9 in that size. The bbl on this is slightly longer, and the grip substantially longer, but not as long as the full size M&P. I also wish S&W would use the replaceable back straps on their .22’s as well. Not perfect, but the M&P’s come close for me.
Huh? M&P 9 Compact, 3.5″ barrel, has been around for a while.
Looking at this side by side with the m&p shield they are incredibly close in size and weight. I found them to be similar that I accidentally switched them on the display when busy.
Sorry, Dan, this gun just got reviewed by 22plinkster. And it is striker fired, not hammer fired.
Sorry, but 22Plinkster was wrong. I checked one at the LGS about four hours ago, and it is hammer fired just like the original M&P 22 which I’ve had for about two years. The hammer is hidden under the rear of the slide. I saw the same video, and now I have to wonder how much time Plinkster actually spent with the gun and how much he was compensated by S&W for the video.
If it is as good as the original M&P 22, it should be great. Mine shoots anything and is very accurate.
If it’s anything like the full sized M&P 22….then count me out. Problems with the slide staying locked back with an empty mag, shooting patterns instead of groups, failure to feeds no matter what kind of ammo/bullet I use. I keep it well cleaned and lubed too. Nope! I’ll stick with Ruger or a Buckmark! Hopefully the compact will be better since it’s made by S&W
I recently bought the M&P 22 compact and I have to say it is the best 22lr pistol I have owned to date. I took it home gave it a light cleaning and lubed it with rem oil. Fired every single time with zero issues put around 500 through it without cleaning it. Accuracy was quite good for a 22 pistol as well my groups were fairly tight at 25yards. less than 2inches and im not great with a pistol due to no practice but since 22 is cheap even at 10cents a round compared to centerfire Im good to go to practice alot more =)
I might order one, just to see if it is quieter than it’s big brother when suppressed.
Was this the super-top-secret-have-to-keep-under-wraps gun that you guys referred to when you toured the S&W factory?
I bought my M&P compact 22 about 2 weeks ago and I love it! It feels great in my hand, is cheap to fire, and fun! As far as finding ammo, I find it online if I cannot find it locally! It helps with my practicing. I own a glock .40, a 38 revolver, and a compact smith 380 that I carry for protection, but I have no trouble hitting a headsize target with 10 rapid fire shots from 5 to 30 yards with this 22. oh…..Did I mention 222 rounds of free ammo?
Hmmm……I was thinking about buying the Ruger SR22, but might have to look at this first. I’m just more a Smith & Wesson fan at heart.
I have the new s&w 22 I like it going to the range this week end to try it out with my other gun
Great handgun and a blast to shoot. 6 inch grouping of all 10 rounds rapid fire at 40 feet is easy to master. Cheap ammo and a great warm up gun for everyone. It has really helped me to improve with my M&P 40 compact. Wonderful for someone to learn and build confidence (the little woman). And yes, if needed, 10 rounds of a .22 in the right place should get someone’s full attention!
After owning an M&P Shield 9mm (my CC) and a full size M&P Core 9mm, I just had to check one of these out, which I did today, after my LGS got one in…I went ahead and bought it. It has that wonderful M&P feel, quality, and looks I have come to love. Haven’t shot it yet, but I’m confident I will be very satisfied. Nice work Smith and Wesson!
Have a S&W M&P .9mm Shield,a S&W M&P Shield in .40 Caliber and the M&P Bodygaurd in .380 Caliber. NO complaints with any of these. This M&P in .22LR will be a nice addition. Suspect I can pick one up fairly reasonable with a 10% LE discount. I missed out on the 222 rounds of FREE .22LR ammunition offer, but 1,400 round Bucket O’ Bullets are fairly easy to score where I live. Mind you they are $70.00 a bucket, but that is a lot of range time for the cost. I also have two “Colt” 1911’s in .22LR made by Walther. They are based on the look and feel of the original 1911 in .45 Caliber. So, for S&W to be building this in the U.S.A. rather than a Walther made import could go either way. My Walther made “Colt” 1911’s in .22LR are pretty well made.
I went and shot my M&P compact 22 today (had it on layaway for a few weeks)..It is a great little shooter. I honestly love this gun, and I am glad I bought it. I shot about 100 rounds of CCI ammo with zero problems. She goes bang every time!
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