Hi folks. I just ordered an M&P .22 Compact, and have not received it yet. I've been a revolver guy all of my life, actually a pre-1980 S&W revolver guy, so this is my first semi-auto.

As I check out videos & articles about the compact, I notice that some people say do not dry fire it, and others say it is ok to dry fire it to help break it in. Maybe the instructions will say whether or not dry firing is ok, but at this point, I thought I'd see what the knowledgeable group of S&W enthusiasts here have to say.

So that is my question - To dry fire, or not to dry fire the M&P .22LR Compact.

Also, if you have one of these, please let me know how well you like it, and if there are any desirable accessories for it.

Thanks, JT

Copied this from my owners manual: WARNING: NEVER DRY-FIRE YOUR M&P22 COMPACT PISTOL, DAMAGE WILL RESULT.

That said, I adore this little pistol and have had no problems whatsoever with mine.


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Hi OP, correct do not dry fire that one. Note you can go on the SW website and download owners manuals if you want to read up on it before it delivers.
I had a Compact 22 for awhile, it proved to be a very reliable little plinker and i ran over 1000 rounds thru it with zero ammo issues. That does not always happen with 22’s, having perfect ammo usage. It would be fine with Fed Champ as well as various Cci mini mags; i just mostly ran mini mags as thats what my other 22’s preferred. Note you may find you’ll end up trying several types to see what ammo works best in yours.
I found my Compact to be fun and accurate enough at shorter distances; I just didnt use it enough to keep over my Victory and Buckmark 22’s. But for plinking, new shooters, and even some practice as its close to the Shield in sizing, I would still recommend the Compact.
Enjoy it!

The only time I dry fire this or any .22 is to get the hammer down before putting it back on the shelf.

Dry fire to "break in?" There is not much to break in, mine was 100% with Minimags from the start. The only break in was enough to let it shoot several different sorts of cheaper ammo.

And people are complaining about their Glock 44 needing decent ammo.

There are several places that sell dummy rounds in .22 caliber that you can use if you absolutely feel the need to dry fire it.

A-ZOOM Action Proving Dummy Round 22 Long Rifle Aluminum Pack of 12

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=dummy+rou...c-pltr-v2_8_10

Keep in mind that the .22's seem to really chew up the rims of the dummy rounds, and they need to be replaced fairly often.
The firing pin strikes the cartridge rim very hard, and if there's no round in the chamber, the firing pin will strike the hard steel of the chamber wall instead of the softer cartridge rim. That's why S&W warns against dry firing in that pistol.

I think dry-firing is an excellent way to practice trigger control and maintaining a sight picture. Just be sure to always make sure you have no ammo in the area, and always use a dummy round. Rotate them in the chamber every few shots to make sure there is a good rim to strike, and replace them often. They're cheap insurance.

We have a M&M22c and really enjoy shooting it. We have good luck with Remington Golden Bullets, and any of the more premium ammo.

Thanks folks. I just downloaded the owners manual from the S&W website.

I will pick up some of the dummy rounds. I've gotten them for other guns before. I agree - cheap insurance, now that I know that this model is not to be dry fired.

Never dry fire a .22 - in contrast to the newer center fire cartridges of more powerful calibers.

Go on Amazon and get


It’s less than $6 and they make perfect dummy rounds. They even feed from the mags
Ben using these to dry fire my compact, and to drop the hammer when storing it, so one of these sits in the chamber

jamppp, that is amazing that you even thought to try those, and that they work that well.

I was wondering about de-cocking for storage, because reading the manual last night, I didn't see any mention of a de-cocker on the firearm.

I don't have amazon, but just found them on the bay for $7.13 per 100 and free shipping, and am going to order them now.

Thanks a million for the tip.

Mine has had no ammo issues yet and is quite accurate out to 50’ or so.
I haven’t pressed it much farther yet.
I got a crossdraw holster and it rides on the tractor with me. Weighs nothing so it’s no problem to carry all day.
It does provide similar training with my M&P9 compact too.
I think you’ll like it.

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Where did you find the holster, and which one did you get? I'll likely also want one at some point.

Your google-foo is weak

First hit on google was Cross Breed - with a wealth of IWB/OWB options. Other makers pop up on Amazon - Federal, Desantis, they are out there.

Mine is from active progear.com
It’s an inexpensive, comfortable, light kick around holster
Forgot to mention that it has snaps so you don’t have to undo the belt for on and off.

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“Look life in its iron face”

I've got 1000+ rounds thru mine. Very reliable and not picky about ammo at all but @ 16 ounces it requires a LOT of concentration to shoot accurately; but it can be done. Trigger takes some getting used to. Mine does better when I pull straight thru, rather than trying to stage it.

Mine rides with me on the 4 wheeler, tractor, etc... Usually in a Fobus Kydex holster.

I needed a bit more grip traction and got a Hogue rubber grip cover for mine, which I like.

Hope you enjoy yours.

I can't claim original thought - picked it up on RimfireCentral

If you go to my safe, every .22 in there will spit out one of these yellow guys if you check the chamber. They're cheap, fit perfectly (they even feed from the magazine on my M&P22 Compacts), and last a long time. And if you lose them, you're not out much.

I just got mine in the mail yesterday, and you are correct - they work quite well. Thanks again for the tip.

...but you need a better pic, maybe alongside some real .22 rounds. When I first saw that photo come up, I thought it was a ribbed condom or a marital aid.

Hello, I have a MP 22 full size and the compact, both are great guns. Buuuut you should keep an eye on your rear sight, I received sight parts yesterday from SW, everything but the sight base was missing my last shooting session, called CS and got the replacement parts within a week, @ no charge to boot. Great service.
Semper paratus

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CPO

No, you need a better thought train

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“Look life in its iron face”

What happened? Did a screw back out?
Glad to hear they covered it no problem.

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“Look life in its iron face”

I have read about the sight screw coming loose in the many reviews I looked at before purchasing. Seems like a good idea to put some blue Loctite on that.

Also, blue Loctite comes in a stick, something like Chapstik, and I've had better luck with it than the liquid, as it is easier to apply and have it stay where you want it while assembling.

Actually the new Glock 44 (.22 caliber semi-auto) can be dry fired. Some people are having problems with lighter grain weight ammo with that but most say it will shoot pretty much anything.

I had a terrible time with my S&W M&P 22 compact with ammo and had to send it back to S&W. They repaired it at no cost and now it shoots cheap bulk ammo very reliably. I have never heard of a .22 that would not shoot mini mags so that is not a real recommendation as far as I'm concerned. I want one that shoots the less expensive bulk .22 ammo.

This is also true of Ruger 22s. From the FAQ on the Ruger site:

"Can I dry fire my Ruger® P-Series and .22 pistols?
Yes. All Ruger® pistols can be dry fired without damage, and dry firing can be useful to familiarize the owner with the firearm. However, be sure any firearm is completely unloaded before dry firing!"

My 22 compact has been as reliable as a 22 pistol can be. It is much harder to shoot accurately than a larger target style 22 like my model 41 but is not the least bit finicky about ammo. I sometimes think about trying a Ruger Mark IV to see if I can get most of the accuracy of the 41 with the reliability of my 22 compact.

My son really likes his .22 compact. Any ideas or leads on magazine holders for the belt on these? I’ve ordered a couple of amazon that say they work for .22 magazines and they do not.