Gun Show Score-M&P 22 Compact

[MyDads38]

So, went to the Muncie, IN gun show today. Plan was to sell or trade a new Marlin model 60 22 rifle that had 50 rounds fired through it in the past 12 months. I was able to recoup 75% of what I paid for the rifle Sept. 2014.

So, I'm walking around, looking at the tables. The dealer that I had bought both my Shields from was there with plenty to browse through. At the end of one table-a S&W M&P 22 Compact priced at $339. He saw me looking and said the price was supposed to be $299. I asked if he could do $300 OTD, but no luck. So I walked around a bit more and returned. To my surprise he offered it to me for $315 OTD. What else could I say except "well, okay". So now I have a New M&P 22 Compact to clean, lube and take to the range!

This LGS is gonna have to give me a break! 2 Shields and the 22 Compact in 8 weeks-ouch, my wallet hurts!

I was originally looking for the FS 22 made by Walther (still probably get one, well just because), but the Compact has the 3 dot sights I have/like on all my other M&P's. Looking forward to putting some rounds down range-hopefully tomorrow.

 

[miniSQ]

nice gun...i picked up 2 of them a couple weeks ago at a LGS having a S&W 20% off one day sale for $304 each OTD...and i also got 1 goody bag foe each gun that were valued at $100 per. Now i am looking to score a similar deal on a shield...but they don't seem to be as plentiful

 

[1911 45]

You are going to like it they are a great 22 pistol. I recently bought one a few weeks ago and have been shooting the **** out of it. I have had 0 problems with mine well over 1200 rds now.

 

[capx28]

any difference in quality between the compact a fs m&p.22? Girlfriend wants one and it will keep her off my 9fs and ill have a .22 pistol when shes not around double score!!
Good score BTW!!

 

[plinker 22]

Hope you like it as much as I do, so much that I have two!

I bought my first one last Nov at a show. A dealer was giving up his FFL and unloading inventory, mostly Kimbers, and had 1 Compact 22 for $249. I passed on it because I was thinking they normally sold for that. After getting home, I gave it some more thought and priced them on line, my eyes went .
I went back to the show,(1 mile from my house) and walked out with it for $264.

I bought my second from Palmetto State Armory when they were closing them out. $259 for the std compact, $269 for the threaded barrel version.
I went for the threaded along with a 22A that was also on closeout for $199.

 

[MyDads38]

First range trip 9-20-2015

Well, usually my first range trip with a new gun, I'm gushing because of how well it does it's first time out. Well, not this time :-(

My thought today was to take all the high velocity, plated/jacketed 22 ammo I had to break in the M&P 22 Compact. First up, Winchester Super-X 38 gr. hollow points. first mag, 2nd round didn't fire-no noticeable firing pin indent. Back into mag and fired on 2nd try. 2nd mag, same thing, but this time the round wouldn't chamber into the gun for 2nd try-set it aside. First 10 round group was nicely clustered but 2" low and right @ 10 yards; 2nd group looked like buck shot.

On to American Eagle (AE22), same load as above-38 gr. H.P. First 2 mags no issues and nice groups. Next up, Federal Game Shok (712) 38 gr. H.P. Again with this ammo, 1 Fail to Fire in first mag, but not the second round as before. Otherwise, remaining 19 rounds, no issues.

Back to the Winchester, 10 more rounds without issues and the 1 round that wouldn't feed before, chambered and fired-WTH? 2 more mags of AE22 with no issues and 30 more rounds Fed 712, no issues. Another 10 rounds Win. Super-X with no issues.

Totals: 50 rounds Federal 712, 40 rounds AE 22 and 40 rounds Win Super-X = 130 rounds total. 3 rounds Fail to Fire first strike, but all fired on 2nd strike. 1 Fail to Feed from Win Super-X.

Guess since all my center fire pistols have had no issues (7), I was expecting same from the 22 Compact. I adjusted elevation and groups are now hitting center (close to center-I'm pulling a little right, but it was better by the end). Since I left the Thunderbolts and Fed 510 ammo at home, I was expecting "flawless" with the High Velocity fodder. Disappointed, yeah a little. Gonna ditch the new, poly, piece of junk of a 22? Not on you're life! The M&P 22 Compact is as comfy as my Shields, easy to shoot and with the right ammo, groups well enough for a fun plinker/range gun. Was expecting better results from what I consider "better quality" ammo, 2% failure in 130 rounds of 22 rimfire ammo; maybe no so bad? Thunderbolts going on next trip-my Buck Mark eats them like candy!

 

[Grjfer]

My wife got me one for my birthday. Cleaned it up and took it to the range today. I must say it is a fun little shooter. Sized about like my Shield so it will make a great trainer.

Put 165 rounds of CCI blazer old stock through without and issue.

 

[plinker 22]

First range trip 9-20-2014

Well, usually my first range trip with a new gun, I'm gushing because of how well it does it's first time out. Well, not this time :-(

Sorry to hear your results. I have only shot 40 gr ammo in mine.

I do have one question.
Where did you buy the time machine?

 

[MyDads38]

Sorry to hear your results. I have only shot 40 gr ammo in mine.

I do have one question.
Where did you buy the time machine?

Plinker, thanks for the catch! I fixed it

Guess I thought 38 grs. was close enough to 40 grs. that it wouldn't make a difference; at least with the American Eagle AE22, it didn't. I've got 2-3 more types of ammo to run through the gun, mostly 40 grain solids; so we'll see if that makes a difference. Really like the pistol otherwise.

 

[MyDads38]

Range trip 9-23-2015

Another 160 rounds through the M&P 22 Compact.

Finished the 60 rounds of Winchester Super-X, out of the 60 rounds had 2-Fail to Fire on first strike; only 1 would fire on 2nd strike-so 1 round just would not fire. Accuracy with the Super-X was all over the place, so not a good choice with the 22c.

50 rounds Federal 510 with 40 grain solid lead bullet. This ammo fed/fired/functioned flawlessly through the 22c. Accuracy was very good/consistent at 10 yards.

50 rounds American Eagle AE5022 40 grain solid lead bullet. Accuracy was virtually the same as the Fed 510; very good/consistent. I did have 1 Fail to Feed from the mag and also 1 Fail to Lock the Slide on last round with this ammo. The Fail to Feed was in the 4th mag full and the Fail to Lock Slide was in 5th/last mag full. I didn't clean the pistol from my first outing, so that may have contributed to the last failures, since the pistol had already fired 140 rounds from first shooting plus an add'l. 140 rounds this trip. 300 rounds is nothing for my center fire pistols, but 22 ammo is a bit dirtier. So before I take the 22c out again, it will be taken down and cleaned.

I really like the 22c, it feels good in the hand and is accurate enough (for me) as a range/plinker. So far, it's not even close to my Browning Buck Mark, but that's kind of apples-oranges anyway. I am disappointed with the functioning, but part of that is ammo related, IMO (Super-X). Another percentage may be that I didn't do a "good enough" first cleaning before shooting the first time out. Another cleaning and more rounds down range and we'll see what happens. I'm still glad to have the 22c in my collection.

 

[MyDads38]

Range trip & update 9-27-2015

Broke the 22c down this afternoon and cleaned it again. After 300 rounds wasn't really that dirty, but didn't want to take any chances-cleaned/lubed and ready to go. Ammo today: another 50 rounds of Federal 510, 40 grain solid lead and Remington 525 bulk pack 36 grain brass plated H.P.

First up-Fed. 510: No issues at all with feeding/firing/functioning! I was pleasantly surprised I wasn't as concerned with accuracy at this point, as I was with functioning of the 22c. But at 10 yards and not trying to be accurate; it did okay.

Next up-Remington 36 gr. plated H.P.: First 30 rounds, no issues at all; thought I was gonna have a big smile on my way home; unfortunately not. I honestly don't know what to think, 5th round out of the mag jammed up the gun-Failure to Feed it appeared. When I cleared the gun, there was unburned powder all over the inside of the gun! So much so that it felt like sand in the slide/frame. When I looked at the shooting bench, I found the unfired cartridge case-no powder, no bullet. Since there were other shooters on the line, I couldn't break the gun down; so I locked the slide open, collected my things and came home. My first thought was there was a bullet stuck in the bore. After returning home, I broke the gun down to find no obstruction in the barrel.

My question, has anyone else had a round come apart inside the gun? Bullet coming out of the cartridge and leaving powder to jam up the workings? In all my years of shooting, I've never had/seen this happen. Is 22 ammo really this bad? Questioning the purchase of this bulk pack.

 

[MyDads38]

Wow, has it been that long since I've been to the range? My life has been turned upside down the past few months; so I guess it's been that long :-(

Range trip today 11-7-2015 to indoor range.

40 rounds of American Eagle AE22/38 gr. JHP. All 40 rounds fired/functioned flawlessly today. It was the only ammo I took, since I had limited range time. Gives me new hope for the 22c though!

Will have to calculate where I am on round count and get back to you...

Appears to be 414 rounds to this point.

 

[Deadbug]

First range trip 9-20-2015
....Well, usually my first range trip with a new gun, I'm gushing because of how well it does it's first time out. Well, not this time :-(

Was expecting better results from what I consider "better quality" ammo, 2% failure in 130 rounds of 22 rimfire ammo; maybe no so bad?....

Get your hands on some CCI 40gr RN MiniMags and run those through your new MP 22 compact. You shouldn't have any problems. If you still do, something on your pistol needs adjustment, cleaning or a longer break-in.

I have a Ruger SR22P and it ran flawlessly on MiniMags--anything else was a crapshoot. Federal Automatch was the absolute worst.

Have fun, I'm starting to lust after an MP 22 compact myself ;-)

 

[MyDads38]

Range Trip 11-15-2015

Probably the last nice day we'll have here for a while, so off to the range this afternoon. Another 50 rounds of Federal #510 and 18 rounds of Winchester M22 that another shooter gave me to try. All 68 rounds fired without issue today. I'm hoping this becomes the norm and not the exception for the 22c. Met a couple of other shooters at the range and we all did more talking than shooting! A beautiful day, some rounds down range and good conversation; what a way to spend a Sunday afternoon Total round count 482

 

[MyDads38]

Range trip 11-20-2015

Quick trip to the Conservation Club before it got dark. 50 rounds of the Federal #510, 40 gr. lead solid. All 50 rounds fired without issue. Starting to get comfortable with the 22c; it is a fun little gun to take to the range!

Total round count 532

 

[Mr_9mm]

I hope this turns out to be the norm for you. I had several FS M&P .22's and never was satisfied with how they cycled. Once I held the .22 Compact I knew I was going to have to buy one. I finally found a decent deal late last spring and have almost 1500 rounds (mostly Federal AutoMatch, Winchester bulk, and Aquila Super Extra 40) thru it now. I had maybe five cycling issues in the first 150 rounds, but since then the gun has run flawlessly - couldn't be more pleased. In fact, I just ordered a 2nd one earlier this evening from Centerfire Systems for $257 delivered!

 

[PassTheDutchie]

I read a lot of complaint about not cycled well on the slide or stovepipe issues. But I never read that people greased their gun right, or maintained it? Always it's depending on the gun or the ammo, while those FS or FC should shoot every kinds of ammo.

Did someone tried Strike-Hold before? A lot of poor cycle issues are gone then!

 

[Smitty357]

I have the suppressor ready version of the .22 compact. I've had it since around March or so of last year. Ive yet to have any problems with it. Of course im always running it suppressed aslo. So maybe that has some to do with it. And i keep it clean, as i do all my weapons.

 

[Franklin]

I purchased the .22C back in August and made the mistake of letting the wife shoot MY gun.............. it's now HER gun!

 

[MyDads38]

Range trip 2-20-2016

Wow, 3 months since I've been to the range-no wonder my groups looked so bad!! LOL

Had 70 rounds of CCI Standard Velocity 40 gr. lead solid left over from Bullseye competition, so thought I'd try those today. The 22c ran flawlessly and accuracy was very good at 10 yards. Went to Walmart today and they had 50 round boxes of CCI Mini Mags @ $6.47/box, so I bought my 3 box limit. Will have to give these a try next time out.

Really liking the little 22c, fun to shoot. Maybe my functioning issues are behind me now-I hope so.

Total round count now 602