Opinions on M&P compact 22

[Rockdoc16]

Asking for my daughter-in-law who has absolutely no experience with guns. I have Many pistols but all in larger calibers that I don't think she should start with. She want to eventually take the CHL course and get her license. Any owner opinions out there?

 

[Old cop]

I purchased the M&P .22 Compact a couple of weeks ago and really like it. It feeds everything I put in it absent any problems. Recoil is almost nonexistent and accuracy is excellent. If she has no experience w/firearms the .22 is a good place to start and could be an okay self defense gun if necessary.

 

[H Richard]

I would let her start with a 22 if possible, and/or loaded down target loads in a 38 or 9mm, If you had a 32 Long it would be the best of both worlds. A gun that doesn't beat her up or is difficult to control, but still not a little 22. Approach it slowly so she gets the feel of shooting and give her a good half hour to hour explanation of how the gun works, safety lecture, and pep talk before putting her on the range.

 

[DocB]

A very hard question to answer. Of course, you start her out with a 22 revolver. . .an auto would be OK too but requires a little more diligence. From there I would go to a Smith revolver in 38 special using wad cutters. If she adapts to that nicely, it can serve as a self-defense gun even with the wad cutters. If she must have an auto, a Glock is the only one I would go with. . .dependability and a trigger that stages consistently and well. My daughter who rarely ever shoots anything can pick up my 40 caliber Glock and outshoot me all day long. I really don't know how she does it. I guess it depends on the person. I've seen LE trainees (who have never fired a gun of any kind) mandate and shoot in the high 90's finishing at the top of their class.

 

[BigDog48]

I purchased the M&P .22 Compact a couple of weeks ago and really like it. It feeds everything I put in it absent any problems. Recoil is almost nonexistent and accuracy is excellent. If she has no experience w/firearms the .22 is a good place to start and could be an okay self defense gun if necessary.

agree...flinch and fear are the enemies of learning firearm use. Start her on a 22 and move her up when she is curious (gets the fever). I have an M&P 22 compact coming for the same purpose.

 

[Sconnie]

There was a recent thread that I noticed on this same gun. The folks with one seem to like it and recommend it. I strongly agree that starting with a .22LR is the way to go.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-m-p-pistols/458303-s-w-m-p-compact-22-a.html

 

[pushpullpete]

Sorry but, do any of you actually have a compact M&P 22 that you can
give the OP the advice he is looking for. Sconnie, nice, very nice.

 

[bobknn]

When my wife decided she wanted to learn to shoot we got her an M&P 22 compact. Good place to start as she had never even held a gun before. It fit her hand well and she liked the light weight feel of it. With less recoil and noise she quickly became quite proficient. Once she was comfortable with it's use and maintenance she started shooting 9mm rentals. She recently bought a Glock 17. She really likes that 17. The 22 still gets plenty of range time between the two of us.
We have never had any type of malfunction with the 22 compact and it eats any kind of ammo we throw at it. We both give it a thumbs up.