The Firearm Blog

S&W are now selling a version of the .22 AR-15 patterned M&P15-22 that is compliant with Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey and New York law.

It has been made compliant by fixing the stock so it cannot be adjusted and supplying a 10 round magazine. The MSRP is still $499.

The pistol grip and removable magazine prevent it from being California compliant. .22 Rifles are exempt from California Assault Weapon laws.

The latest addition to the M&P15 family of AR-15 rifles is the M&P15-22. S&W have designed what they call “the ultimate .22LR platform”. From the press release:

“In designing the new M&P15-22, our engineers pulled out all of the stops to develop the ultimate .22LR platform,” said Tom Kelly, Vice President of Marketing for Smith & Wesson. “The rifle’s operating features, functionality and durability are exactly what you would expect from any of Smith & Wesson’s tactical rifles. By remaining true to the standard AR-15 design while offering all of the preferred features found on the M&P Rifle Series, the M&P15-22 is well suited for a variety of recreational shooting applications while also being an extremely viable training firearm for law enforcement and military personnel. Shooters will find the M&P15-22 to be a great firearm for multiple uses with the reduced recoil and economical .22LR caliber ammunition.”

The rifle features:

* A3 style flat top upper receiver
* A2 front post sight
* A2 rear sight
* M4 style collapsible stock
* Quad rail handguard

Specs:

Barrel length: 16″
Magazine capacity: 25 rounds
Barrel twist: 1:15
Upper Receiver: A3
Weight: 5 lbs (unloaded)
Length: 31″ (stock collapsed)

UPDATE: The MSRP is $499 (Matt from S&W PR confirms this),

S&W M&P15-22. Click to expand.

Murdoc has a photo of the rifle posted at GunPundit.

S&W have launched a series of polymer M&P pistols with a thumb safety. The non-thumb safety models are still available.

From the press release:

“Soon after the introduction of the full-size and compact M&P45 pistols, we began receiving requests from law enforcement professionals and recreational shooters asking for a frame mounted thumb safety on other M&P calibers,” said Leland Nichols, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Smith & Wesson. “The optional external safety provides an even broader range of choices to the M&P line, adding flexibility in order to meet the needs of our customers.”

The M&P9 (9mm full size) thumb safety model has an MSRP of $719 and the non-thumb safety is going for $679. That is a $40 premium. I suspect many will pay the premium.

UPDATE: To clarify, I think all the models (calibers) now can be bought with a thumb safety.

In February S&W will launch two new M&P15 (AR-15) models. The M&P15 MOE (Magpul Original Equipment) features, as the name suggests, as many Magpul accessories as they could fit on the rifle.

Click to expand.

Specs:

Model: M&P15 MOE
Barrel Length: 16”
Barrel Twist: 1 in 9”
Front Sight: M4 – A2Post
Rear Sight: Folding Magpul MBUS)
Overall Length: 35 ”Extended / 32” Collapsed
Stock: Magpul MOE
Weight: 6.5 lbs.
Finish: Hard Coat Black Anodized
Other Features: Magpul MOE Grip, Magpul Handguard, Magpul PMAG

Two colors will be available: Black and Flat Dark Earth (what the cool kids call tan these days).

Overall I think this is a compelling package. Instead of buying and AR-15, only to spend more on Magpul accessories you can just get an M&P15 MOE.

No word on pricing.

S&W have just released a press release saying that they are supplying 7500 M&P9 pistols to the Iraq Military and security forces. I don’t know how long they have been using the pistol. I was not aware they had adopted the M&P9 before reading the press release.

Nichols, added, “In addition to the M&P9s currently used in Iraq, Smith & Wesson firearms have also been used in active duty for the last two years with several security forces in Afghanistan including the Afghanistan National Army and Border Patrol as well as the Afghanistan National Police. To date, over 80,000 Smith & Wesson firearms are currently being used in these two countries. Reports from the field continue to indicate that the firearms are exceeding all expectations in the areas of reliability and durability. We are honored to continue delivering firearms that support men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and we remain committed to supplying high-quality small arms to the military and federal government.”

Smith & Wesson M&P9

Full press release here.

Very cool. I am not sure when it will be available. The long slide version is initially only be available in 9mm.

Photo by SMGLee