Owners of S&W MP 22 Compact Pistols, Well worth it?

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whm1974

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So I'm starting to a have a new interest with firearms again, and if and I will shooting them again(Need to move first, can't have such things in apartment) this handgun seems idea if I also get the S&W MP 9 EZ one as well for protection.

I used to have a S&W 22A that was fun, so how this pistols compare to what I used to own?
 
I bought mine just a couple of months ago. Unfortunately due to Covid I only put a couple of hundred rounds through it before the ranges shut down but here's my thoughts/observations:

So far it's 100% reliable with mixed ammo. Being as light as it is, you have to really focus on the fundamentals to shoot it well but it is accurate, not match grade, obviously. I primarily bought it as a subcaliber trainer. For that I think it will serve excellently for my wife's 380EZ, my Shield, and my Glock 48. It's a dead on match for the EZ, very close to the Glock. The grip is much different from the Shield but the sight radius is close. In addition I think it will serve well as a compact, light belt carry when out roaming in the woods.

I did change out the front sight for a Dawson fiber optic, helps my older eyes.
 
I had one for about 3 years I used it four plinking on my friends farm. We set up months of collected bottles, jars, etc. I only shot CCI Mini Mag RN and HP with it. Never had any problems with failures using that ammo, but there are many reports o f failures using cheap ammo at the 2 S&W forums. However, it is not intended as a target pistol, so if you are shooting for scores I would look at another option. If you want a fun to shoot gun. It fits the desire.
 
Thomas Mayberry said:
I bought mine just a couple of months ago. Unfortunately due to Covid I only put a couple of hundred rounds through it before the ranges shut down but here's my thoughts/observations:

So far it's 100% reliable with mixed ammo. Being as light as it is, you have to really focus on the fundamentals to shoot it well but it is accurate, not match grade, obviously. I primarily bought it as a subcaliber trainer. For that I think it will serve excellently for my wife's 380EZ, my Shield, and my Glock 48. It's a dead on match for the EZ, very close to the Glock. The grip is much different from the Shield but the sight radius is close. In addition I think it will serve well as a compact, light belt carry when out roaming in the woods.

I did change out the front sight for a Dawson fiber optic, helps my older eyes.
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How well does fiber optic sight work out anyway? I always thought that they are merely a marketing gimmick that Airgun Companies put on as a extra(but useless) "feature".

When did manufacturers started putting them on firearms?
 
Don’t get me wrong I like my MP 22 Compact but it in no way it can be compared to the SW22A. It’s a light weight gun built to act like and feel like it’s fellow self defense crowd. It shoots everything you put in it and built to spec’s to do so which dose not put out the kind of accuracy you were use to in your SW22A. It’s a fun and cheap gun for plinking and running self defense drills.
 
whm1974 said:
How well does fiber optic sight work out anyway? I always thought that they are merely a marketing gimmick that Airgun Companies put on as a extra(but useless) "feature".

When did manufacturers started putting them on firearms?
Click to expand...

I don't know when companies started making them standard equipment.

I was slow to come to fiber optic, preferring "standard" sights. In my rather limited use so far (I only have them on two guns and only on the front sight) I feel that the FO really draws the eye. It's quick to get on target but IMO doesn't offer the precision of a square blade black sight picture. If I slow down and focus on the square frame of the sight I can shoot slower but tighter groups. So far I like them.

Hopefully someone better versed in the positives and negatives of FO sights will come along to provide more and hopefully better information.
 
SW351C said:
Don’t get me wrong I like my MP 22 Compact but it in no way it can be compared to the SW22A. It’s a light weight gun built to act like and feel like it’s fellow self defense crowd. It shoots everything you put in it and built to spec’s to do so which dose not put out the kind of accuracy you were use to in your SW22A. It’s a fun and cheap gun for plinking and running self defense drills.
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Well I don't recall my 22A exactly being a tack driver... ~3" groups at best, with paper target like 25 yards away. While every shot was place well inside the Circles, all I could see given the range was the black area on the gray paper. However, every shot ended up in the black...
 
I have a full size S&W M&P22 pistol that I got for cheap practice with my center fire M&P semi-auto pistols. It shoots well and it is fun to plink with. It does help with keeping track of where the various levers and buttons are.

Since I reload, I can shoot centerfire for a similar cost as 22 rimfire so I really do not get much cost benefit from the M&P22 except for 22RF shooting sessions.
 
cfullgraf said:
I have a full size S&W M&P22 pistol that I got for cheap practice with my center fire M&P semi-auto pistols. It shoots well and it is fun to plink with. It does help with keeping track of where the various levers and buttons are.

Since I reload, I can shoot centerfire for a similar cost as 22 rimfire so I really do not get much cost benefit from the M&P22 except for 22RF shooting sessions.
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If I can rightly recall, I think .38 Special cost ~$3 per 50 rounds to reload. Range ammo was something like ~$1.50 for .22 LR. .38 Special at the Olin Range was maybe $6 to $8 or so depending on type...
 
Agree with SW, mine is handy and reliable - 100% on Minimags - but it is light and twitchy, no target pistol. The Victory has a pretty good reputation and shows up at Steel Challenge.
 
Shot a friend's M&P 22 and was impressed by the quality of it. Maybe I was poorly conditioned by my Sig Mosquito, but the M&P 22 felt good, shot better, and burned through ~100 rounds of bulk pack ammo with nary a jam. 22 trainers aren't my thing, but that sucker was fun.
 
cfullgraf said:
Since I reload, I can shoot centerfire for a similar cost as 22 rimfire so I really do not get much cost benefit from the M&P22 except for 22RF shooting sessions.
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I must be doing something wrong then because at current prices .22 rimfire is about 5 cents/round while reloading and already having the brass 9 mm is running about 15 cents/ round and .45 about 20 cents/round.

The main thing I use my M&P 22 Compact for is cheaper training as I also have M&P Compacts in both 9 mm and .45 ACP. There's no doubt in my mind the .22 is substantially cheaper to shoot. Not as much fun though!
 
Mosin Bubba said:
Shot a friend's M&P 22 and was impressed by the quality of it. Maybe I was poorly conditioned by my Sig Mosquito, but the M&P 22 felt good, shot better, and burned through ~100 rounds of bulk pack ammo with nary a jam. 22 trainers aren't my thing, but that sucker was fun.
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I to didn’t own one but used to shoot a friends also and as I recall on a good day 2” and under we’re the average for 25 yds. more often then not.
 
I bought a M&P 22C a year ago as a trainer for youngest granddaughter. I like shooting it and she likes shooting it. No issues with it since I bought it new from Academy. Probably only about 500-750 rounds through it. Seems the M&P 22C was actually built by S&W while the full-sized version was built by Umarex or the like. But I am probably wrong.
 
Pistolpositive said:
I bought a M&P 22C a year ago as a trainer for youngest granddaughter. I like shooting it and she likes shooting it. No issues with it since I bought it new from Academy. Probably only about 500-750 rounds through it. Seems the M&P 22C was actually built by S&W while the full-sized version was built by Umarex or the like. But I am probably wrong.
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I think I realize it now. I was thinking of getting the Walther "equivalent" of the M&P 22c, and discovered it was made by Umarex. I like Walther. I like S&W.
 
Pistolpositive said:
Seems the M&P 22C was actually built by S&W while the full-sized version was built by Umarex or the like. But I am probably wrong.
Click to expand...

The full size M&P 22 WAS built by Walther. Or at least mine was...

I didn't respond to this thread previously since the OP was asking about the Compact version. But I love my full size as it feels and handles almost the same as my M&P 9mm, with pretty much no recoil, of course. It has been flawless with any ammo I have fed it.
 
I have one, it’s been an excellent training pistol. I’ve since added a Hogue Handall since the grip is a bit small for my hands:

TceSlsS.jpg
 
Pistolpositive said:
Seems the M&P 22C was actually built by S&W while the full-sized version was built by Umarex or the like. But I am probably wrong.
Click to expand...

This is correct. S&W and Walther were partners once but they’ve since parted ways and Walther now has their own offices in Arkansas and S&W produces the compact model all in-house here in the USA.
 
The M&P 22 compact is a nice gun, especially if you want a training gun for an M&P Shield or EZ 9. I put a bit over 2,000 rounds thru a used one I bought with zero issues. Traded it in when I bought my Mark IV Target. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another if I had a need.
 
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