The Gun Counter

Around the Water Cooler: S&W
by Rich Grassi


Owasso OK, August 19, 2009: Publisher Jim Shepherd and I have been luxuriating in the monsoon inundating NE Oklahoma at the U.S. Shooting Academy with Smith & Wesson and distinguished members of the outdoor press.

Out of all the hits with this august crew, the M&P15-22 is the stand-out. For me personally, the new S&W 1911 Models - including the Pro Series Compact and the 1911 ES - were real favorites, as well as the production modernized Bodyguard 438. In the current environment though it's the M&P15-22 that's the real star.

It's not like the rimfire M&P carbine is the only dedicated AR-looking .22 Long Rifle on the market. Not having had experience with other dedicated AR-type rimfires, I can't speak to their utility. After a couple of days and lots of .22 LR downrange, I can speak to the M&P15-22's utility: it's really something!

The S&W entry into the field works like an AR rifle in terms of the manual of arms. The charging handled, magazine release button and safety selector work like the more potent members of the line. In fact, an aftermarket AR trigger is said to work on the M&P15-22. The magazine is unique - 25 rounds in standard and 10 rounds soon available.

The polymer upper is of the A3 flat top type. Along with the quad rail handguard, various sighting options as well as white lights, aiming lasers and vertical foregrips are easily mounted.

The adjustable (and removable) front and rear sights, the match grade barrel and the standard 6-position collapsible stock make the gun useful, accurate and adjustable for shooters small and large.

The photo shows me shooting a sample at USSA. The optic is the Trijicon Reflex. Impressions?

Fun. Reliable, more so than any .22 LR semiauto rifle of my recent experience. Accurate.

For vermin eradication, for low cost patrol rifle practice and for plain old fun shooting, the only issue is the gun's cost. The MSRP (usually runs higher than street prices) is $499. In this era of tight training budgets, agencies should be looking at purchase of this carbine to supplement their patrol rifle training. While .22LR isn't good for all training issues: recovery shot-to-shot and speed reloads are a couple of issues I wouldn't pick the .22 for -- transitions and trigger control drills are a couple I would pick the .22 for. You definitely want a rimfire lookalike that is operated like the 5.56 carbine and S&W provides that.

The M&P15-22 is shipping now in the standard version. A version for states with gun bans will be available soon.

S&W has another in a long line of hits on their hands. I'm glad I was there to see it.