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I’ve shot a lot of .22 pistols over the years, and most of them tend to fall into one of two categories. They’re either serious target pistols built around precision shooting, or they’re inexpensive plinkers that are fun enough but don’t leave much of an impression. The Smith & Wesson M&P 22X sits somewhere in the middle.

This is not your grandfather’s .22 LR pistol.

What intrigued me about the M&P 22X was the fact that Smith & Wesson designed it with all of the features shooters actually want today. It comes optics-ready,  carries an impressive capacity, has a crisp flat-face trigger, and can host a suppressor. There isn’t much more you can ask for in a pistol, especially under $400.

I’ve put just over 600 rounds through it, suppressed and unsuppressed, and it now joins me on almost every range trip. Continue reading to see why it does and to determine if an M&P 22X should join your collection. 

First Look

The main complaint I’ve had with my M&P 22 Compact over the years has been its capacity. So, with the M&P 22X doubling the capacity and coming with 20-round magazines, it’s already off to a great start out of the box. Also in the box, you’ll find a set of HIVIZ fiber-optic pipes, which was a nice surprise.

You can swap out the fiber-optic pipes with various colors if you wish. 

Picking it up, the grip fills the hand nicely without feeling oversized, and the pistol is lighter than you’d expect, even with a full magazine. The controls are laid out well, and the slide is easy to manipulate, making the ergonomics stand out right away.

Modern Features

Comparing the M&P 22X to my M&P 22 Compact shows how much S&W listens to consumers and wants to deliver all the modern features we like. 

The magazines have a useful recess to help rip the magazine from the pistol if need be. 

The best feature, in my opinion, is the improved capacity. You get two 20-round magazines with the pistol, which feature load-assist tabs making them very easy to load. The prior model’s 10-round magazines leave a lot to be desired in the capacity department!

SALE Smith & Wesson M&P 22X, FPC .22LR 20 Round Magazine (2 Pack)
Smith & Wesson M&P 22X, FPC .22LR 20 Round Magazine (2 Pack)
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Next up you have the optics-ready slide. My Vortex Defender-CCW mounted directly on the slide with no problems, but you do have to remove the rear sights, which is one of my only complaints about the pistol. I always like to have backup sights in case your optic fails, but at least with this particular pistol, there are no plans for it to fill a defensive role, so it’s not a huge deal. 

The thumb safety is on the smaller side, which can be a pro or a con depending on how you think of it.

If you’re like me and enjoy shooting suppressed, the 22X comes with a threaded barrel adaptor that lets you easily add a suppressor. I wound up running a BANISH 45 on the pistol for a lot of my range time and really appreciate that S&W included the adapter. 

The flat-face trigger was better than I expected. It’s a match-grade trigger or anything, but it’s very clean. It features a light pull with an easy-to-predict break, and the reset, while a bit long, is consistent. It’s simply a good trigger for what this pistol is designed to do. You’ll also notice there is a slight trigger guard undercut. That, along with wrap-around grip texture allow you to get a really solid purchase on the pistol.

The accessories cost more than the pistol.

You can tell attention was paid to the smaller details too, as you’ll find an ambidextrous thumb safety, a reversible mag release, and of course, an accessory rail to mount your lights or lasers. 

At the Range

The real test for any rimfire handgun starts once the magazines are loaded, since they are notoriously picky with ammo. 

You have to shoot it suppressed to maximize the fun!

Thankfully, the only ammo so far that I’ve had serious issues with is 40-grain Aguila Hi-Velocity SPs, which I can’t get to run more than a couple at a time with a malfunction. However, all of the following performed much better and I plan to continue shooting through it: 

I’m not a benchrest shooter, and I generally shoot standing and unsupported, which is extremely easy with the low recoil of the 22X. Between the low recoil and full-size grip, controlling the pistol is as easy as it gets, and its accuracy reflects that. At 7 to 25 yards, my groupings remained tight and even out to 50 yards; I had no problem ringing the smaller steel targets I had set up. 

Pros & Cons

Pros: 

  • Optics-ready slide and fiber optic front sight
  • 20+1 capacity
  • Clean and crisp flat-face trigger
  • Threaded barrel adaptor included (solid suppressor host)
  • Great ergonomics and low recoil
  • Accurate out of the box

Cons: 

  • To mount an optic, the rear sight needs to be removed
  • No front slide serrations

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, I can see the M&P 22X being on almost every “best of” list when it comes to rimfire pistols moving forward. Between the impressive feature set, superior ergonomics, and attractive price point, it’s one of the pistols that just makes sense to add to your collection. Especially with ammo prices fluctuating so much lately, having a .22 LR pistol allows you to have hours and hours of range time without stressing about emptying your wallet. 

Whether you’re looking to teach new shooters, keep varmints at bay, or simply have fun at the range, I think the Smith & Wesson M&P 22X is well worth checking out for yourself.

As always, stay safe, train hard, and have fun.

 

 

Ryan Domke
Ryan Domke
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