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Recently, when doing some outdoor range work – something the recent viral unpleasantness hasn’t affected – I took along a gun I’d examined back in January and used for practice since: the S&W M&P22 Compact.
It’s like a full-size M&P, but 15% smaller in relevant dimensions – more like a Shield. Like the EZ line, the M&P22 Compact is hammer-fired – but with an aluminum slide and a fixed barrel. It’s a straight blowback gun, not a delayed recoil operated system. Supplied with a pair of 10-round magazines, it has adjustable sights, a manual thumb safety (that can be locked in the “on” position with the provided keys) and a magazine disconnect feature. It is slightly lighter than the Shield.
As I’d last fired it for accuracy in the midst of winter, I thought I’d take the well-used piece to the bench while working with other guns. I wanted to try the recently released Winchester Wildcat “Super Speed” ammo, along with some elderly Winchester 36gr. “555” packed 22 LR, and reshoot the CCI Clean-22 and Remington Golden Bullet offerings.
I’m glad I did. The slight difference in weather from January to September, the fact that I’ve shot more from January to September than I had from October through December of last year and the gun having consumed around 700 rounds of ammo by now seems to have contributed to improvement.
The new Winchester Wildcat put five rounds into 1 ¾” from 25 yards. The CCI Clean-22 was nearly as tight at two-inches and Golden Bullet was only slightly more dispersed at 2 ¼” for five hits. That’s dandy shooting.
The elderly, indifferently stored Winchester 555 was indifferent from this gun, posting a four-inch group. That’s still not terrible from a lightweight, compact gun at that distance.
And I know the ammo’s not bad – it had recently placed four hits into 3/8” from a rifle at that same distance! It’s just the finicky nature of the 22 rimfire family.
The gun? I highly recommend it. If you have the responsibility to teach someone to shoot a pistol – or if you’re trying to learn yourself.
Gun Digest Media photo.
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Meanwhile, the release dropped yesterday and I got the book earlier this week: friend and mentor Massad Ayoob penned yet another book. This one, The Gun Digest Book of Combat Handgunnery, 7th Edition has a history.
This line of texts started as a compilation of features edited by Jack Lewis and Jack Mitchell. Chuck Karwan wrote the second and third editions, while maestro Chuck Taylor wrote the fourth.
The latest three editions? Mas wrote them all, overachiever that he is.
He’s been the handgun editor for GUNS Magazine for forty years and has likewise penned for many other publications. The proprietor of Lethal Force Institute and then the Massad Ayoob Group, he’s maintained a teaching and writing schedule for decades in addition to duties as a part time police officer and an expert witness in criminal and civil trials.
Mas got me started with Law and Order Magazine back in the days of Bruce Cameron as the editor – and teacher of writing for publication. A short year later, he said “You ready to go national?” – and he introduced me to Harry Kane at Combat Handguns. He also got me to teaching cops on a national level and introduced me to James Lindell at the National Law Enforcement Training Center, Kansas City, Mo.
What I’m saying is, he’s my friend and I owe it all to him. So, if I appear biased, you may conclude that’s why. You’d be wrong, but you could reach that conclusion.
As I read this, I recalled the writing that drew me into police work in the 1970s, got me into agency firearms instruction in 1983 and kept me learning guns and shooting through the mid-1990s. He still has the ‘touch,’ that way of explaining, of well-crafted narration, resulting in the ability to keep your interest. I’d just written a piece on books for first time gun owners and he got a lot of mention there.
He's known for tips - and illustrating his reasoning. Here, he shows how to cool off indoors by removing the cover garment, but draping it around the holstered handgun -- so as "not to frighten the horses."
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Is this book more for mildly experienced gun owners, people with a little training under their belts? No- this would actually be a good deal for folks to learn the practical differences between double action revolvers and semi-auto pistols, between single-action, double action and striker fired autos, a discussion of calibers (you don’t want me there) and much more.
It’s truly the golden age of handguns – and firearms education. Study The Gun Digest Book of Combat Handgunnery, 7th Edition. You’ll be better for it.
-- Rich Grassi