Smith Wesson M&P 22 Magnum 22 WMR 4 35 IN 2X10RD

About this product

The Smith & Wesson M&P 22 Magnum is a gas-operated, locked-breech semi-auto pistol chambered in .22 WMR, a cartridge choice that sets it apart from the blowback-action rimfire pistols that dominate most of the .22 handgun market. This configuration runs a 4.35-inch stainless barrel, an optics-ready slide, and a manual safety, positioning it as a higher-performance rimfire option built on M&P-family ergonomics.

Why does the M&P 22 Magnum use a locked-breech, gas-operated action?

.22 WMR generates more pressure and velocity than .22 LR, and a simple blowback action scaled for that pressure would need to be heavier than most shooters want in a rimfire pistol. Smith & Wesson instead built the M&P 22 Magnum around a gas-operated, locked-breech system similar in principle to what's used in many centerfire pistols, which lets the gun stay lighter while safely managing the more energetic cartridge.

Is it optics-ready?

Yes, the slide includes a factory optics cut, and it comes with a fiber-optic post front sight and a dovetailed, square-notch rear sight for use with iron sights alone. A manual safety is also standard, which is less common on modern striker-fired pistols but consistent with S&W's approach on this specific model.

What's the magazine capacity, and how does California's magazine law apply?

This model ships with two 30-round magazines. California limits detachable magazines to 10 rounds for sale and possession in the state, so the factory 30-round magazines exceed that limit substantially. California also maintains its own roster of approved handguns for retail sale. Confirm compliant magazine options and current roster status directly with your FFL — this is one of the larger capacity gaps to resolve among rimfire pistols on the market.

How does delivery work?

As a firearm, the M&P 22 Magnum ships to a licensed FFL dealer for pickup, not to your home address, where you'll complete a background check and the standard transfer paperwork.

At about 22 ounces unloaded, the M&P 22 Magnum stays light despite the more robust action, and the polymer frame keeps the overall package close in weight to a typical blowback .22 LR pistol. For shooters who want more downrange energy than .22 LR provides without stepping up to a centerfire handgun's cost per round and recoil, the M&P 22 Magnum is a distinct option in the rimfire category — though the substantial gap between its factory magazine capacity and California's 10-round limit makes it one of the more involved compliance conversations to have with your FFL before ordering.

The optics-ready cut on this model is a meaningful addition for a rimfire pistol, since mounting a red dot on a .22 WMR gun helps take fuller advantage of the cartridge's extended practical range compared to standard .22 LR, where iron sights alone are usually sufficient given the shorter effective distances most shooters use it at. The manual safety is worth noting for shooters coming from safety-free striker-fired 9mms, since it adds a step to the draw-to-fire sequence that's worth practicing deliberately if this pistol will see any defensive role. Recoil, even with the more energetic .22 WMR round, remains mild compared to any centerfire defensive caliber, which keeps this pistol approachable for shooters sensitive to recoil while still delivering more downrange performance than a standard rimfire pistol. That combination of mild recoil and real downrange energy is the core reason this model draws interest from shooters who find standard .22 LR underpowered but still want a genuinely affordable, low-recoil training and range platform.