Estimated reading time: 12 minutes
Smith & Wesson’s M&P22X brings full-size ergonomics, a crisp 3.5-pound trigger, 20+1 capacity, and suppressor-ready convenience to the .22 LR lane. We ran it with irons, a red dot, and a can to see if this rimfire really shoots laser flat and stays reliable.
Big-Gun Feel, Rimfire Costs, Real Training Payoff
The Smith & Wesson M&P22X brings full-size ergonomics, a 20-round magazine, a threaded barrel, and optic ready slide to the rimfire space. This makes it a strong option for training, recreational shooting, and varmint control. Chambered in .22 LR, the 22X keeps shooting costs low while offering a familiar manual of arms for shooters already invested in the M&P ecosystem.
Table of contents
- Big-Gun Feel, Rimfire Costs, Real Training Payoff
- Out Of The Box: Everything You Need To Shoot Today
- Design And Ergonomics: Full-Size Control, Rimfire Lightness
- Trigger Performance: Clean Wall, Positive Reset
- Sights And Optics: Ready For Irons Or Micro Red Dots
- Magazine Design: Real 20+1 Capacity With Minor Quirks
- Accessories And Rail: Build A Night Friendly Rimfire
- Range Results: Ammo, Groups, And 100 Yard Steel
- Suppressed Shooting: Quiet, Fun, And Predictably Dirty
- Price And Value: Optic Ready, Suppressor Ready, Priced Right
- Smith & Wesson M&P22X Specifications
- Pros And Cons
- Related Reads from GunsAmerica Digest
Out Of The Box: Everything You Need To Shoot Today
The Smith & Wesson M&P22X ships with everything needed to get up and running. Inside the box are the pistol, two 20-round magazines, an optics cover plate installed on the slide, and a threaded barrel adapter for mounting suppressors using standard 1/2×28 threads. A wrench is included to install or remove the adapter, allowing the pistol to be configured quickly for suppressed or unsuppressed use.
Also included are the owner’s manual and standard safety lock. The overall presentation is straightforward and functional, with all the important components. Considering the optic-ready slide and threaded barrel system, it’s great to see Smith & Wesson include the suppressor adapter rather than making it an extra purchase.
Design And Ergonomics: Full-Size Control, Rimfire Lightness
The M&P22X uses a polymer frame with a slim, full-size grip that closely mirrors the feel of centerfire full-sized pistols. The grip is slightly thinner than the M&P M2.0 series, but still provides nearly full-size grip length. That allows for a consistent, repeatable firing grip and makes the pistol an excellent training tool.
Grip texture is medium aggressive and strikes a good balance between control and comfort. It secures the pistol in my hand without becoming abrasive during longer range sessions. Combined with the lightweight aluminum slide, the pistol shoots extremely flat and has almost no felt recoil.
Controls are intuitive and well placed. The ambidextrous thumb safety is positive without being overly stiff, and the reversible magazine catch works equally well for left or right-handed shooters. Overall, the ergonomics are great and feel very familiar.
A particularly clever feature is the threaded barrel design. Instead of extending threads past the front of the slide, Smith & Wesson conceals the threads under a bushing and includes a 1/2×28 adapter. Without the adapter installed, the pistol looks like a standard non-threaded handgun. When you want to run a suppressor, the adapter installs securely and holds up perfectly through hundreds of rounds. It is a smart design that works especially well on a .22 LR platform.
Trigger Performance: Clean Wall, Positive Reset
The trigger on the M&P22X is above average for a rimfire pistol. Take-up is smooth, the wall is well defined, and the break is clean with no felt creep. Reset is positive, tactile, and lands right back on the wall, making fast follow-up shots easy. This pistol uses an internal hammer-fired operating system, which contributes to the crisp trigger feel while keeping the slide profile clean and streamlined.
Trigger pull weight was measured consistently at 3.5 pounds. I think this is better than any of the other M&P centerfire pistols I own, and it helps me squeeze out every bit of accuracy I can from this system.
Sights And Optics: Ready For Irons Or Micro Red Dots
Out of the box, the M&P22X comes equipped with a blacked-out, serrated square-notch rear sight and a bright green Hiviz LiteWave H3 fiber optic front sight. This is an ideal iron sight configuration in my eyes. The rear minimizes glare and distraction, while the front fiber optic is easy to pick up in a wide range of lighting conditions.
The pistol is optic-ready and compatible with the most popular micro red dots. One unique aspect of the design is that the rear sight is retained by a screw from the underside of the slide. To mount an optic, both the optic plate cover and the rear sight must be removed. This is not a problem, but it is something to be aware of when starting the install.
The optic cut itself is not particularly deep, but it paired extremely well with a Vortex Defender CCW. The fit allowed the front fiber optic sight to remain visible through the cutout in the optic housing. While not as forgiving as traditional co-witnessed irons, it would absolutely work as an emergency aiming reference if needed.
For shooters who prefer irons or are still saving up for a red dot, the factory sights work very well and do not feel like an afterthought.
Magazine Design: Real 20+1 Capacity With Minor Quirks
One of the biggest advantages of the M&P22X is its 20-round magazine capacity. In a market where many .22 LR pistols are still limited to 10 rounds, having up to 20+1 on tap keeps shooting sessions moving. It is also nearly always better to have more rounds loaded and ready to go. The magazines feature slit sides, making it easy to visually confirm and count how many rounds are loaded at a glance.
There are a couple of quirks worth noting. Initially, the magazines did not drop for free at all. As the pistol wore in, empty magazines would eventually drop free on their own. However, when loaded, magazines still need to be manually pulled from the gun. Also, loading 19 rounds into the magazine was easy, but getting all 20 rounds in consistently required the stack to stagger just right and did not always cooperate. These are minor inconveniences rather than dealbreakers, but they are worth mentioning.
Accessories And Rail: Build A Night Friendly Rimfire
The Picatinny rail adds versatility to the M&P22X. I configured mine with a Streamlight TLR VIR II, which turned the pistol into an excellent nighttime varmint setup. Between the suppressor, weapon light, and optic-ready slide, the 22X is easy to configure for low-light or night use around my farm. For shooters looking for a rimfire pistol that can realistically serve as a nighttime pest control or training tool, this rail adds meaningful value.
Range Results: Ammo, Groups, And 100 Yard Steel
Throughout this review, I put hundreds of rounds through the M&P22X. The majority of the ammunition used was 38-grain Aguila Super Extra supplied by AmmunitionToGo.com. They are the official ammo sponsor for this review and offer a wide selection of competitively priced ammunition. Ordering was straightforward, shipping was fast, and the ammo arrived at my door within the week. For those interested, they wrote an article on 22LR ballistics, which can be found using the link.
The pistol ran well overall, particularly with the Aguila ammunition I was using. Accuracy was impressive for a rimfire pistol, with five-round groups at 10 yards consistently hovering around the one-inch mark depending on ammunition. I believe the great trigger really helped me keep these groups tight, where most pistols make this hard. Results shown in the table below:
| Ammunition Type | Average Velocity (FPS) | Group Size (inches) |
| Aguila 38gr Super Extra | 1036.8 | 1.17″ |
| CCI 40gr Pistol Match | 906.6 | 1.81″ |
| Cascade 50gr Subsonic | 822.2 | 5.07″ |
| Lapua Center-X | 882.8 | 0.83″ |
| SK Rifle Match | 883.7 | 0.97″ |
The trigger, grip, and extremely flat recoil impulse make the pistol easy to shoot well. I was also able to achieve fairly consistent hits at 100 yards on a C zone steel silhouette, which speaks to both the mechanical accuracy and shootability of the platform.
Suppressed Shooting: Quiet, Fun, And Predictably Dirty
The M&P22X was shot extensively with a SilencerCo Sparrow suppressor. Suppressed performance was very good overall, and the pistol is absolutely hearing safe when shot suppressed. Many loads that are typically supersonic ended up shooting subsonic through the short 4.1-inch barrel.
One thing that was impossible to ignore was the amount of unburnt powder. I was constantly getting hit in the face with debris when shooting suppressed. While this is common with suppressed .22 LR pistols, I do not recommend shooting the M&P22X suppressed without eye protection.
Around the 250-round mark of suppressed shooting, the pistol began to gum up and experience occasional malfunctions. After a quick wipe down, it returned to running well for the remainder of the session. This behavior is typical for suppressed rimfire pistols, and the M&P22X appears to be no exception.
Price And Value: Optic Ready, Suppressor Ready, Priced Right
The Smith & Wesson M&P22X is a well-executed, feature-rich rimfire pistol that excels as a training gun and suppressed varmint option. Full-size ergonomics, a genuinely good trigger, 20-round magazines, and strong accuracy make it an easy recommendation for shooters who want more than a basic plinker.
While it can be used for competition, quirks such as magazines not dropping free when loaded, difficulty consistently loading the full 20 rounds, suppressed fouling, and the reciprocating slide make it less than ideal for match-focused use.
With an MSRP around $499 and street prices dipping as low as $400, the M&P22X is priced reasonably for what it offers. An optic-ready slide, threaded barrel system, ambidextrous controls, and a standout trigger give it solid value in today’s rimfire market. At its current street price, it feels purpose-built, shoots extremely well, and delivers exactly what most shooters want from a modern .22 LR pistol. Affordable to shoot, easy to run well, and simply fun.
Smith & Wesson M&P22X Specifications
| Model | Smith & Wesson M&P22X |
|---|---|
| Caliber | .22 LR |
| Barrel Length | 4.1 in |
| Overall Length | N/A |
| Weight | N/A |
| Capacity | 20+1 |
| MSRP | $499 |
Pros And Cons
- Pros: Full-size ergonomics, 3.5-pound crisp trigger, 20+1 capacity, optic-ready, threaded barrel with included 1/2×28 adapter, very flat shooting, strong accuracy, great factory sights.
- Cons: Magazines may not drop free when loaded, the last round can be tight to load, suppressed shooting gets dirty fast, and occasional fouling-related hiccups around 250 rounds.
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Mitchell Graf is a dedicated hunter, competitive shooter, and firearms enthusiast. As a former instructor and president of Oklahoma State’s Practical Shooting Team, he has a strong foundation in marksmanship and competition shooting. These days, he spends as much time as possible chasing pigs and coyotes with night vision and thermal optics.
When he’s not in the field or on the range, Mitchell works as a full-time Mechanical Engineer in the Aerospace and Defense industry and manages a part-time farming operation. Whether he’s behind a rifle, designing parts, or working the land, his drive for precision and performance remains the same.
Experience:
– Mechanical Engineer – Full-time professional in the Aerospace/Defense industry.
– Competitive Shooter & Instructor – Former President and Instructor of Oklahoma State’s Practical Shooting Team.
– Night Vision & Thermal Hunter – Passionate about night time predator and hog hunting.
– Part-Time Farmer – Working to provide for my family, and raise food for this great nation.