Smith and Wesson: M&P-22 Compact Semiautomatic

Despite .22 caliber ammunition being in short supply, Smith & Wesson has launched their newest rimfire pistol, a semiautomatic streamlined for concealed carry.

The new pistol weights under one pound, 15.3 ounces, and is a polymer pistol that Glock has made popular. The dimensions remain similar to the M&P 9 and M&P 40 compacts, just a minute smaller in overall length. It is a way of providing a compact firearm that is cheaper to practice with than the larger one and directed towards women who want to conceal carry without the big kick of higher caliber firearms. Only drawback is that .22 ammunition is on back order, for the most part, but S&W has thought about that.

So, due to the shortage of rimfire ammunition and aiming to please their customers and get them started with the new model, Smith & Wesson is offering 222 rounds of Winchester .22LR ammunition with each purchase of an M&P-22 Compact until December 2014.

The pistol comes with two 10-round magazines and has a 10+1 capacity (ten in magazine, one in chamber). It will please both right- and left-hand shooters with its full ambidextrous thumb safety and a reversible magazine catch.

The pistol is a straight blow-back action with an internal hammer and fixed barrel that allegedly provides a tight grouping. The barrel is cut with a 3/8-inch x 24 thread, so it is ready for a suppressor – becoming popular with firearms these days despite the $200 federal stamp and extra paperwork involved.

The M&P-22 has a white-dot front sight and two-dot rear sight, another popular feature for quick target acquisition and low-light firing conditions. The rear sigh is fully adjustable for windage and elevation. It has a front Picatinny rail under the barrel for easy accessory attachment like laser sights or small flashlight configuration. The MSRP is $389.

It is a good Christmas gift for a son or daughter as their first pistol, affordable to shoot at the range - while ammunition supplies last. 

For those who want larger capacity magazines, this video is for you ....