So I've now been to the range three times with my new M&P .22. Figured it was time for a small review:
1.) The gun has a nice feel to it. You know what to expect if you've used a "regular" M&P. The slide is aluminum, and it sounds it. Using the slide-stop to release the slide results in a rather high-pitched, tinny sound.
NB: Be CAREFUL with the slide if you don't want to scratch it. It scratches very, VERY easily.
2.) Takedown is an absolute nightmare unless you've shot it at least once. I struggled to pull the slide-stop out, to the point where my fingers were sore from pulling and pulling. Normally I always clean a new gun up before shooting it, but this is one instance where, if you're not strong enough or able to get enough of a grip - you'll really find it a lot easier after shooting it the first time. Now that it's been shot on three separate occasions (cleaning after each), it's quite easy to remove the slide stop for a field strip and clean.
3.) The trigger is leagues better than the center-fire M&Ps. It lacks a lot of the grit and the harsh break of the M&P, even compared to my old M&P9 Pro trigger. Gotta love hammer-fire, single-action triggers!
4.) The safeties are a joke. There's just too many of them and they get in the way. The thumb safeties were removed after my first range session. They were constantly in the way of my man hands (mands?), and either riding my fingers below or on top of them, I was always frustrated because the safety would rub my hand the wrong way - even with as little recoil as a .22 LR.
The trigger safety is also frustrating. That little trigger spring is a noisy little thing (and causes inconsistencies in the trigger), and I don't like how the shape of the trigger essentially changes as you pull it. I tend to pull this type of trigger downward when I shoot, so, yes - I have a tendency with the M&P line to shoot low. This is not an issue with a solid trigger like with my CZs.
5.) The 12-round factory magazine seem to be top notch. I picked up another 5 magazines which arrived this morning, and all 5 (+1 the M&P .22 came with) shoot perfectly. 12-rounds = nicer than 10 rounds!
6.) Out of the box (after a clean), I had 99% success rate. I had a few short strokes from Federal bulk ammo. The round would go off but the slide didn't get enough pressure to blow back and strip the next round off the magazine. I chalk that up to some inconsistent Federal ammo and that the gun wasn't broken in. In that first range session, though, my CCI Blazer bulk ammo cycled 100% perfectly.
After that first range session, I've had no failures of any sort with the Federal or the CCI, and field stripping is much easier when it comes to that slide stop...
7.) The sights aren't great out of the box. The front sight is the largest travesty, being not bold enough of a dot. The rear sight is... not great, but it has elevation, which is nice! I picked up some Dawson Precision front/rear fiber optic sights, but I'm going to stick with just the front fiber optic since the rear is a little busy for my liking, and my POI is a little high with the Dawsons and there's no adjustment... So for me, it will be Dawson front sight, S&W stock rear sight.
Now, is this gun fun? OH yes it is. I burned through a TON of ammo today (over a 550-round box), and the M&P .22 is just a champion. It just goes and goes. Great fun, and because the trigger isn't perfect (though again - better than the centerfire models), it really teaches you to be careful how you pull the trigger. You can EASILY dip the muzzle down as you pull the trigger, easily pull the gun left (if you're a right-hander) or right (if you're a left-hander).
Is it the best .22 pistol out there? Well, probably not. I still think the Browning Buck Mark Camper (or equivalent) is the best. It comes with an excellent rear sight with elevation adjustment, an excellent fiber optic sight, a really excellent trigger, a safety that isn't a total joke, and you get the benefit of an easy magazine loader (The Ultimate Clip loader). The M&P .22 doesn't have a 2-second-per-magazine loading tool that you can buy, sadly.... And that Buck Mark model costs just about the same as the M&P .22.
What you do get with the M&P .22 is a little more of a traditional design and feel, and a huge amount of reliable fun. I certainly prefer the "normal" slide design, and ease of field strip. The Buck Mark requires an allen key and removal of the rear sight to field strip, which I have always, always despised.
Overall, the M&P .22 is a winner. It's a really, really fun gun. It points well, shoots well, and so far has been superbly reliable after over 1,000 rounds. Well done, S&W/Walther. Good job!
1.) The gun has a nice feel to it. You know what to expect if you've used a "regular" M&P. The slide is aluminum, and it sounds it. Using the slide-stop to release the slide results in a rather high-pitched, tinny sound.
NB: Be CAREFUL with the slide if you don't want to scratch it. It scratches very, VERY easily.
2.) Takedown is an absolute nightmare unless you've shot it at least once. I struggled to pull the slide-stop out, to the point where my fingers were sore from pulling and pulling. Normally I always clean a new gun up before shooting it, but this is one instance where, if you're not strong enough or able to get enough of a grip - you'll really find it a lot easier after shooting it the first time. Now that it's been shot on three separate occasions (cleaning after each), it's quite easy to remove the slide stop for a field strip and clean.
3.) The trigger is leagues better than the center-fire M&Ps. It lacks a lot of the grit and the harsh break of the M&P, even compared to my old M&P9 Pro trigger. Gotta love hammer-fire, single-action triggers!
4.) The safeties are a joke. There's just too many of them and they get in the way. The thumb safeties were removed after my first range session. They were constantly in the way of my man hands (mands?), and either riding my fingers below or on top of them, I was always frustrated because the safety would rub my hand the wrong way - even with as little recoil as a .22 LR.
The trigger safety is also frustrating. That little trigger spring is a noisy little thing (and causes inconsistencies in the trigger), and I don't like how the shape of the trigger essentially changes as you pull it. I tend to pull this type of trigger downward when I shoot, so, yes - I have a tendency with the M&P line to shoot low. This is not an issue with a solid trigger like with my CZs.
5.) The 12-round factory magazine seem to be top notch. I picked up another 5 magazines which arrived this morning, and all 5 (+1 the M&P .22 came with) shoot perfectly. 12-rounds = nicer than 10 rounds!
6.) Out of the box (after a clean), I had 99% success rate. I had a few short strokes from Federal bulk ammo. The round would go off but the slide didn't get enough pressure to blow back and strip the next round off the magazine. I chalk that up to some inconsistent Federal ammo and that the gun wasn't broken in. In that first range session, though, my CCI Blazer bulk ammo cycled 100% perfectly.
After that first range session, I've had no failures of any sort with the Federal or the CCI, and field stripping is much easier when it comes to that slide stop...
7.) The sights aren't great out of the box. The front sight is the largest travesty, being not bold enough of a dot. The rear sight is... not great, but it has elevation, which is nice! I picked up some Dawson Precision front/rear fiber optic sights, but I'm going to stick with just the front fiber optic since the rear is a little busy for my liking, and my POI is a little high with the Dawsons and there's no adjustment... So for me, it will be Dawson front sight, S&W stock rear sight.
Now, is this gun fun? OH yes it is. I burned through a TON of ammo today (over a 550-round box), and the M&P .22 is just a champion. It just goes and goes. Great fun, and because the trigger isn't perfect (though again - better than the centerfire models), it really teaches you to be careful how you pull the trigger. You can EASILY dip the muzzle down as you pull the trigger, easily pull the gun left (if you're a right-hander) or right (if you're a left-hander).
Is it the best .22 pistol out there? Well, probably not. I still think the Browning Buck Mark Camper (or equivalent) is the best. It comes with an excellent rear sight with elevation adjustment, an excellent fiber optic sight, a really excellent trigger, a safety that isn't a total joke, and you get the benefit of an easy magazine loader (The Ultimate Clip loader). The M&P .22 doesn't have a 2-second-per-magazine loading tool that you can buy, sadly.... And that Buck Mark model costs just about the same as the M&P .22.
What you do get with the M&P .22 is a little more of a traditional design and feel, and a huge amount of reliable fun. I certainly prefer the "normal" slide design, and ease of field strip. The Buck Mark requires an allen key and removal of the rear sight to field strip, which I have always, always despised.
Overall, the M&P .22 is a winner. It's a really, really fun gun. It points well, shoots well, and so far has been superbly reliable after over 1,000 rounds. Well done, S&W/Walther. Good job!
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