By R.K. Campbell | Contributing Editor
I test fire a lot of firearms in the course of my work.
About half are run of the mill, credible, useful, and affordable. Then there are the better types and the below average types. But then some are exceptional. The Smith & Wesson Folding Pistol Caliber carbine .22 is one of the exceptional firearms.
The FPC .22 is a practically identical in dimensions to the FPC 9mm carbine. The 9mm version has been a trusted companion for several years and among my favorite home defense firearms. I was very interested to have the opportunity to test and evaluate the rimfire version.
While the FPC .22 is a good understudy and trainer for the 9mm version, the FPC .22 is also a fine choice as a stand-alone rifle for recreational shooting and even small game hunting. Unlike some recreational .22-caliber firearms, the FPC is plenty accurate for small game and target use; more so than I expected. If, like myself, you own the 9mm version, the .22 is irresistible. If you don’t there are many good reasons for choosing this .22. It is that good.
For the shooter who fancies a .22 for all around use including home defense the FPC .22 is as good as it gets. At present, 325 rounds of .22 Long Rifle Federal AutoMatch are available for $24.00 at most outlets. That is inexpensive shooting for practice training and recreation.
Design Particulars
The FPC is a straight blowback operation rifle. The bolt is racked by means of an ambidextrous cocking handle behind the receiver running along the stock tube.
The stock features an excellent design, comfortable for most shooters, with a butt pad that ensures the stock stays rigidly into the shoulder. The polymer receiver is light and compact, and the handle is the same as te one found on the Smith & Wesson Military & Police 9mm compact.
Several grip inserts are provided with the FPC to tailor hand fit to the individual shooter. The trigger is a flat type with a safety lever that must be pressed in order to release the trigger and fire the rifle. There is a crossbolt safety that is positive in operation.
Sporting a 16.25-inch carbine length barrel with threaded muzzle, the FPC’s forend has M LOK attachment options for mounting lights or lasers. There are no fixed sights. The receiver features a rail for mounting optics.
FPC magazines are well designed polymer types with a 20-round capacity. Be certain to press the follower down with the thumb piece when loading and load one cartridge at a time, tap the back of the magazine every few rounds, and proceed until the magazine is loaded. This ensures feed reliability.
If you simply dump cartridges into the magazine with the follower pressed to the bottom of the magazine the cartridges will not be staggered properly. This is in common with the SIG P322 pistol magazine. If you take care to load the magazine properly and use quality ammunition the FPC .22 is among the most reliable self-loading rimfire firearms.
Folding the FPC
The folding mechanism is a rugged and reliable design. Press the latch down and the barrel/forend assembly folds to the side of the receiver. If it folded end over end you would not be able to fold the rifle with an optic mounted. The system works well.
As a bonus the FPC .22 will store two magazines in the butt stock making for a total of 60 rounds on board. Magazines are held securely by a paddle type latch. Unloaded, the FPC .22 weighs just a little over four pounds.
For evaluation purposes I mounted a TruGlo Prism PR1 sight. I have used several examples of this sight with excellent results, including on AR 15 rifles. The reticle is visible whether or not the sight is turned on making the reticle its own backup sight. A flip of a dial illuminates the reticle. A minimum of ammunition was used in sighting in the FPC. Before firing, I lubricated the bolt, standard operating procedure for a rimfire rifle.
Firing the SW FPC .22 was a joy. To fast forward at this point there are more than 1,100 cartridges fired in the rifle. The only malfunctions were when I improperly loaded a magazine.
Like all .22 rimfire firearms the FPC .22 should be cleaned every 300 rounds for reliability. At a high round count the FPC .22 simply became sluggish.
That said, the FPC .22 handles well in fast shooting. It is a great understudy rifle. As for small game hunting, yes, this is a viable rifle. In firing from a solid benchrest firing position at 25 yards, I was able to fire several five-shot groups measuring under one inch.
I have tested the rifle at 50 yards in a couple of range outings. I was hoping to find a load that beat an already impressive 2.5 inch group at the 150 foot distance. I found this load working with the Federal Hunter Match. This load put five shots into 2.1 inches at 50 yards.
The construction of the rifle and its good fit and well-cut rifling add up to an accurate combination. Accuracy is interesting enough but the main virtue of the FPC .22 is its operation as a training rifle or for recreational use. I am certain the FPC .22 has a bright future.
Smith & Wesson FPC .22 Specifications
SKU: 14171
length 30.4 in
height 8 in
weight 65.2 oz
CALIBER 22 LR
CAPACITY 20
BBL 16.25 Inches
