Greetings All,

I recently purchased a M&P 15-22 rifle and absolutely love it. I have found that I can have a lot of fun shooting in the .22 platform because I am not so worried about the cost of unloading several mags during an afternoon. This got me thinking...maybe I should consider looking into .22 cal handguns for range shooting as well. I do own a Glock 19 but an hour of shooting costs me over $80 for 150 rounds of target load. Not a lot of bang for my buck...literally. I am very happy with the function of my 15-22, it's a great gun. I have been looking at the M&P .22 with 12rnd capacity as well as some sigs in the .22 platform. Any thoughts, suggestions and input would be greatly appreciated.

Also...the S&W website says the M&P .22 is purposes for home defense and personal protection. How accurate is their claim?

Thx...Brian

I have a M&P15.223 and the 15-22 also. I have carried the 9c for the past two years and bought the Shield last month, two weeks later the M&P.22 to save on ammo and $$ also. Walther made a very nice .22 that feels like a larger caliber which is great for training (and a heck of a lot of fun to shoot) You will save money and 9mm ammo (if that is what you carry) in the long run having the .22 version. It shoots great, very accurate and reliable.

Hmmm...I hadn't really considered the Walther. Guess I will add that to the research list...thx

Walther makes the M&P.22 for S&W. The mags are also German made. I am sorry, I didn't make it clear that Walter made the M&P.22 in my first post.

Oh...forgot to mention...I'm a south paw so something with an ambidextrous safety is preferred.

It has an ambi thumb safety, but I don't use it.

Same here. I own a Glock 19. When I practice, I don't use target load. I use inexpensive 115gr FMJ's, either Federal Champion or TulAmmo. ~$33 for 150 rounds.

It still adds up.

I used to own a Sig Mosquito. This is the only picture left I have of it.



Mine was a jam-o-matic. It went back twice to Sig, and never came back improved or fixed. The trigger is god awful. The sights even worse. The only good thing I can say about the Mosquito is that it taught me how to properly clear every possible failure a semi-auto can experience.

Some Mosquito owners have no issues whatsoever, and swear by it.

One of the .22lr pistols I own is a M&P 22.



It has been flawless over the two bricks of bulk ammo I've put through it, and the couple hundred CCI min-mag.

From your post you stated that you use 9mm target load. That leads me to assume that you're bullseye shooting and/or trying to gain some longer distance accuracy. What are you looking to get out of a M&P 22?

The M&P 22 isn't what I consider to be a target .22. In my hands, the M&P 22 holds a 2" group at 30 ft. My Ruger 22/45 can put rounds almost on top of each other at 30 ft.

What the M&P 22 excels at is being a training analog to a M&P 9/40 full size, even more so with the frame safety models.



The exterior dimensions are exactly the same. The trigger feel is almost exactly the same. Sighting is similar, but the sights are different. 3-dot on the major caliber M&P, front dot & notch on the M&P 22.

I purchased a M&P 9 full size first. The M&P 22 second. I put out a roughly 3" square piece of cardboard, affix a 2" round dot sticker, and put it out to 25 ft.

M&P 9 target before the M&P 22. One group.



M&P 9 target after putting a few hundred rounds through a M&P 22. Two groups, top & bottom.



While I love my Ruger 22/45 which is superbly accurate, I find I have more fun shooting the M&P 22.

This is a loaded, polarizing question.

The bottom line is that shot placement counts as much as caliber. With a small .22lr, shot placement is key. While a .22lr firearm is not my first choice for home/personal defense, I wouldn't feel uncomfortable using one.

-John

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-John

Brian,

Forgot to add, don't go shoot a standard M&P 9 full size. It will make you seriously consider selling/trading your Glock 19 for a M&P 9.

If you want to get a training analog for your Glock 19, take a look at the ISSC M22. I've held one, but never shot it. It's the most Glock-ish in feel of any .22lr semi-auto. I can not comment on function or trigger feel.

ISSC M22 KALIBER .22.LR



-John

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-John

I've owned the M&P .22 for a couple of months and several hundred rounds and cannot say enough good things about it. Accuracy is spot on and there has never been a single failure w/any ammo I put through it. Buy one, you will not b disappointed.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

I have a Sig Mosquito as well and I had multiple problems with feed issues until I switched to CCI mini mags ammo. Called Sig and this is what they recommended. They cost a little more (relatively speaking), but is well worth it vs. the hassle and frustration of feed problems.

Since I starting shooting my K22 and 617, I have not shot the Sig once. Sorry that's another forum.

Not ambi but I love my new Ruger 22 Pistol. Like the Sig, M&P, and Walther it operates as a standard semi but it is DA first shot and SA after. Full steel barrel is a + instead of the alloys of the others. I still would like to try the M&P though. No feed issues and has run all the ammo I have put through it flawlessly. Walmart Federal 550 are what I normally use.

Thx for the helpful info!

My Glock is used mainly for home defense. I have a carry permit but can't remember the last time I actually exercised that right. My Glock is equips with a crimson trace laser adjusted for around 15ft. I shoot shorter distances at the range for home defense situations.

I see me using a .22 at a bit longer distances and for general plinking. I find it a bit more enjoyable to shoot at cans, etc. then plain targets sometimes. Also, something my son can start with in a couple of years.

So you got me thinking...I guess I'm not looking for a "trainer" partner gun for my Glock. Rather, a new gun with a different purpose and a different shooting experience.

BTW...I have read the same about the mosquito. Seems like a very high percentage of lemons.

Thx!

Do yourself a favor and buy a 41. You won't be sorry! They are a great gun.

41 is beautiful...just a little more then my budget will allow.

Buy the best you can afford that feels right in your hands. If serious target shooting is your goal, then look at serious target guns. If just a good plinker, your options open up considerably.

I own the following .22's handguns or handguns converted to .22lr: SIG P226, Beretta 92FS, S&W M&P22 & SIG 1911-22. As you can see I tend to lean towards a service size / style sidearm.

Good luck in your quest.

LTC

Here is what I use for rimfire target fun:

Then I highly suggest that if there is a range near you that rents guns and if they have one you should try a Ruger 22/45RP Target.



It has an adjustable rear sight. The front sight can be replaced with a Hi-Viz fiber op for $30. The upper receiver comes tapped for the Ruger mounting rail.

Add a McFadden Ultimate Clip Loader, and you'll be set. This loader will load a mag in under 5 seconds.



If you want a whole different experience away from semi-auto, the Ruger Single Six Convertible is a nice way to go. It comes with two cylinders: .22lr & .22 Mag.

Ruger® New Model Single-Six® Convertible Single-Action Revolver Models

I inherited mine from my mother. Back in the early 1970's they were called the Ruger Super Single Six.




It's in perfect condition, and is dead-on-nuts accurate.

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-John

Yup the safety is ambi on the M&P 22 and the mag release is swappable also. My daughter shoots south paw and I moved the mag release for her on her M&P.

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14/30/67/317/438/9c

Update...I went to Gander Mountain today hoping to put my hands on a few .22 handguns. They had a M&P22 and it felt great. I was very surprised at how smooth the action was on it...like butter. I am used to muscling the slide on my Glock 19 back but the M&P seemed effortless.

Enter the Sig 226 in .22. They had one as well. Felt nice but I learned that Sig actually produced this gun to be "up-converted" to a 9 or 40 cal. They even give you a $300 rebate towards the conversion kit at the time of purchase. To be honest, I am not sure if this is a pretty good deal or a marketing stunt on Sig's part. On one hand I like the idea of shelling out some extra cash for a fire arm that may serve two purposes. On the other hand, I like the idea of buying something that does one thing really well.

And...go!