Taurus TX-22 or M&P22 Compact

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wbw

New member
Hey folks,
I've got the itch to get a new .22 pistol and am liking the new TX-22 and the M&P22 Compact. Both are light weight plastic pistols with the Taurus holding 16 rounds and the M&P22 holding 10 rounds. I believe the TX-22 is striker fired and I believe the M&P is hammer fired but not certain. I believe that the Taurus is made in the US and I'm pretty sure that the M&P22 Compact is made here also. The slides of both are made of Aluminum alloy, not pot metal. Both are easy to take down, which is a big plus for me. I can get the TX-22 for $331 out the door and the M&P22 Compact in FDE (which I'm liking a lot) for $375 OTD. Those are the facts as I know them.

The subjective elements are hard to pin down. I saw the TX-22 at a gun show so there was a zip tie through the barrel so I couldn't really play with the slide or trigger. I've read good things about the Taurus trigger. Not sure about the M&P trigger. I'm feeling like the TX-22 trigger would be the better of the two. But my gut is telling me that the M&P is probably better built. The Taurus is very new on the market so not a lot of history there, but reviews so far have been very good. Reviews of the M&P are very good also. So I'm not sure which way to go.

Any input from you folks would be appreciated. And don't tell me to get both of them. The wife would shoot me :)
 
PLINKING

I'm fairly fussy about the trigger for a plinking pistol.

I would buy the one with the best trigger.
 
Can’t speak to the TX22, but my m&p22 Compact is sensational. Good trigger, great sights, and is reliable as the day is long. High recommend.
 
The Taurus TX-22 looks to be quite a bit bigger than the M&P 22 Compact from what I can see so that may make a difference in how it fits one's hands and trigger reach. I have the M&P 22 Compact and it is really nice though a little small for me but I bought it primarily for wife and daughter. The trigger on my M&P 22 Compact is pretty nice and it has an internal hammer. If I was looking for a more full size combat style .22 pistol I would probably get the Walther PPQ 22.

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I have no experience with the TX-22. I have the M&P 22 compact. The slide is easy to manipulate and the mags are easy to load. The M&P is smallish, but I get a full grip on it. It feels good in my hand and I shoot it well. It's light and felt strange at 1st, but I got used to the weight quickly. It is crazy reliable. I had a minor issue with my adjustable sight. S&W sent me what I needed without much hassle. If you plan to use a suppressor, know that there are 2 different versions of the M&P. Both have threaded barrels, but one is suppressor ready and the other would require the purchase of the thread adaptor.
 
I have both, but cannot recommend one over the other. They are sufficiently dissimilar to make direct comparison difficult. I suggest you fondle them both and pick which fits your needs best.

BOARHUNTER
 
TX22 for the Win

I have both, plus the SR22 and a half dozen other 22's autos. If you are looking for a realistic 22 plinker/trainer/range fun gun, I don't think you can do better than the TX. Its size, capacity, accuracy and function make it a great trainer/understudy for larger arms. The only down side is that the trigger is SO GOOD it may spoil you, making your other guns feel lame. The M&P 22 Compact is a nice gun, reliable and accurate, but it is rather small, with lower capacity and the trigger is average at best.
 
Rangegod is spot on the money!
I have had my TX22 for about a month now. I have never had so much fun & enjoyed shooting a handgun as much as the Taurus. It eats every brand or quality of 22 I throw at it. I can't remember the last time it failed to do anything but run flawlessly. I must have well over 3000 rds fired & it just keeps running better & better. It is very accurate and soooo easy to control while shooting. I have shot a lot of 22's but the TX22 has been the easiest to shoot accurately. It's rivals my PPQ's trigger to the point where I might favor the Taurus's trigger. Mags are available from Taurus online for $22 each, so no breaking the bank there. (Ive already purchased two more) If your looking for a really fun 22 check one out.
 
triplebike said "If your looking for a really fun 22 check one out."

I have and I've ordered one. Thanks for the review.
 
Unless the Taurus really blows away the S&W M&P 22 Compact then it comes down to the company's. themselves..
Which Company do you want to be with?

S&W or Taurus?
I think that answer is easy.....
 
My M&P Compact is a sweetheart of a pistol for plinking fun, just the right size and weight for something to carry on the trail yet offers a great deal of firepower. Although not match accuracy the pistol is accurate for all needs in the woods or plinking at the range or backyard.
My experience with Taurus would not let me consider another.
 
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My daughter had a Taurus TCP that didn't survive its first range visit and had to go back to Taurus. Customer service was horrible and they had the gun for 16 weeks !! I'll never buy another Taurus because of it. Their new .22 might be a great gun, but good luck if you ever need to send it back, you won't see your gun for months. !!
 
I've got a couple SR22's and they are great, I can bump the mags to 17 rounds, but after shooting the M&P there is definitely one in the near future for me - both reliability and the trigger I feel beat the SR22 (ie the M&P will run junk ammo).. Hopefully they will get popular enough where we will see support for extended capacity products.

Taurus - not a big fan, certainly not when the "expensive" gun that Taurus makes a cheaper version of is < $500 anyway.
 
I have the M&P 22 Full sized and its a nice pistol. It does get picky with any ammo that is less then 1050 FPS. But that's just physics...need a little more juice to cycle the slide. I will be doing some polishing etc to see if I can smooth things out a bit more otherwise it will keep the groups in 2" circle at 25 ft easy. Put a little laser on it and it makes it like cheat code.
The TX22 is a step in the right direction for Tarus. They have been the butt of many jokes for years but honestly their quality has begun to trend upwards. That little pistol is very very solid and I would purchase it with confidence.
 
Taurus has really been upping their game. A lot of nice products that seem to be doing well. From all accounts the new TX 22 is looking like a rising star. In the meantime, Ruger appears to be asleep at the wheel.
 
I think the 2 strongest things going for the Tarus are the trigger and the fact it is a striker fire which aids in training. I went with the M&P because the long game is my daughter wants to learn and she likes the M&P line for when she is ready for 9mm. For now she has a very similar platform she is practicing on that she can afford to feed ( college student on a budget that insists she will carry her own weight and not let me pay for everything anymore...I know I have no idea what I put in her water but I have a team of scientists working around the clock)
 
Was able to handle the TS22 today. No where near as big as it looks on paper. Felt very nice, light weight, well balanced. A whole of very positive reviews of this gun. I want one. Bravo to Taurus on this one. It appears they have a big winner!
 
The S&W “Compact” is a completely different pistol than the foreign made full size pistol and ten times more ergonomic and reliable gobbling up all kinds of bulk ammo and the price of the Compact places it in a very competitive light.
 
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