I am looking to buy a 22 for use as a training tool for friends and family, and myself. I am down to the M&P Compact (3.5”) and the Full-size (4”). I held a compact at the LGS and all my fingers fit on the grip, but I have small hands. If anyone has used both, do you find any advantages of one over the other?

Hello, I have both, and would say the compact is similar to my mp 9 and 40 compacts. I don’t have a full size m&p to compare.
Btw my wife took the compact as her carry piece. It’s the only gun she will carry. Go figure
Semper paratus

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I am teaching my wife to shoot with my 22c, she is doing very well and I'm very proud of her. The 22c in comparable to the Shield, IMO. I'd still like a FS 22, but I'm in no hurry. If you have the chance to shoot both, I would to see the differences. Enjoy :-)

Thank you Grip and Dad. This is what I was looking for.

I prefer the full size 4”. It is more of a true trainer pistol to me. The Walter PPQ 22 is the same gun with some cosmetic changes. I have 2 full size 22’s and 2 of the PPQ 22’s. All 4 are excellent. I use them to teach fundamentals all the time.


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As I've mentioned in other threads, I provide M&P 22 Compacts for the NRA Basics of Pistol Shooting courses I teach, to students of all shapes, sizes, and ages. Never had anyone complain about the size. It seems perfect to me.

Thanks. Do you know if the 12 round mag will fit in the compact?

It does not


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The one thing that rubs me the wrong way.


If they could have figured out a way for the magazines to be interchangeable, I would have loved to mix in a few "full size" M&P 22's, but the logistics train of another set of magazines is too much for me. Not to mention the mags look identical, and the problems that would inevitably cause at range time.

You think those mags look close. The PPQ mags and M&P mags are nearly identical. Base plates are slightly different and the mag catch is off by like a mm to keep them from working.


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My son is an electrical engineer at an auto company, and I asked him why parts on different models are not interchangeable, and he said, each model has it own engineering team, and they don't talk to each other.

Well, even worse--in the case of the M&P22 and the M&P22 Compact, they're made at different factories by different companies.

I had the M&P 22 full size and now own the compact version. No contest, the compact in my opinion is far better. It took many many rounds before the full size began to function properly, the compact was perfect out of the box. It shoots everything I have asked it to, even junk bulk ammo. Hope this helps a little. And the compact is made by S&W, not Walther.

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Mine all function great, my one even cycles CCI quiet suppressed. I heard the compacts were hit and miss. I was looking for 2 when I found the PPQ’s so I figured I would try them. Wasn’t a fan of the p22 or dig mosquito. Got rid of both of them. If I can find a compact cheap maybe I will pick one up.


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Actually, this post if the first time I've ever heard Compacts were "hit and [sic] miss." They have quite a reputation for feeding anything right out of the box. (Except ****** Remington 22, I think).



I have 5, and I guess I got all "hits?"

OK, I am convinced. The Compact is the way to go. Thanks all.

Have a Victory, which is great and I shoot it well, but becomes heavy for wife after just three or four magazines. Got her a 22 compact, problem solved. Bit aggravating mags aren’t interchangeable, but that is a small nit to pick with these two great guns.

Has anyone tinkered with the 12 round, to see if it can be changed to fit the compact?

My understanding is that doing the 12 round conversion ends the last round hold open feature. For me, on a rim fire gun, that’s a no go.

I bought my compact to help me with the Shield 9mm. Works fine. Haven't shot the big one.

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

I Love my 22 compact. Very similar to the M&P Shield. Can shoot 100's of rounds through the 22 for the cost of a few 9MM.

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I've only had my compact for a few days. I took it out the day before yesterday and tried several different types of standard velocity ammo with it. It functioned well with all except SK Pistol Match. I tried CCI SV, Aguila Pistol Match, Aguila Target, and Remington Target. It shot fairly accurately with all ammo, while I was getting used to the trigger. I shot at 25 yds. and 15 yds.; with and without the suppressor. At 25 yds. it wasn't grouping terribly well, but much of that was my fault (getting accustomed to the trigger). This particular pistol seems to love CCI Mini-Mag 36 grain hp "Varmint". Most .22 guns do seem to have preferences for different ammo. Next time at the range, I'll do more shooting at 25 yds. The pistol is small enough for my wife's small hands, but also fits my medium hands. The pistol is nice and light and with the suppressor still handles well, IMHO. The sights aren't as finely adjustable as I would like and I hate the tiny allen wrench necessary to adjust windage. There is an advantage having a longer sight radius on a full size, but even with these ancient eyes, the short sight radius wasn't a terrible disadvantage. I think it is a very good pistol overall and would be good for ladies, youngsters and other will smaller hands.

Thanks for everyone's advice. I ordered the compact on Thursday, and I will have it on Tuesday. Will probably have a range report on Thursday.