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M&P 15 .22LR

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Bishopn87

Posted: Aug 27th 2010, 01:04 PM

I had a chance to handle one the other day, and I was VERY impressed.

My question: is it enough of an upgrade from a 10/22 to be worth the price tag? My 10/22 - especially now with a brand new barrel and bolt - is in pretty good shape.

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Hemi

Posted: Aug 27th 2010, 08:26 PM

In my opinion, it depends on what you want to use your .22 for. (plinking or supplemental training of an AR)

I personally just built a Spikes Tactical ST-22. I chose to go this route because of high ammunition costs and not being able to shoot as much as I would like. You seem to get the same feel, can mount the same rail, optics, and other accessories as your 5.56 rifle. For me the only real difference is the loud boom and recoil is not the same, but as far as muscle memory and getting the feel for my equipment (eotech, sling, irons) the rifle is ideal.

They are quite a bit of money, but in my opinion... worth every penny. They are a blast to shoot! Now as far as the M&P 15-22 goes, I have not used one but did quite a bit of research on them and saw alot of complaints about ftf's and fte's (could be old-resolved issues). Not to mention they are mostly polymer if I am not mistaken. I have put over 500 rounds of Federal Bulk .22 through my Spikes in the past 2 weeks without a single problem.

They are very fun guns to shoot. But again, justifying spending $500 to $800 on a .22 just depends on how you inend to use it and how often.

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Bishopn87

Posted: Aug 28th 2010, 02:23 PM

Well, I went and did some research on the M&P too.

As far as I can tell, the problems came from (a) using low-velocity ammo and (b) some ejector problems. Guns sold after February seem to have had the ejector problems fixed.

Now, there have been some issues I've heard about that concern me with respect to slam-fires and firing out of battery ... but again, those appear to have been resolved with recent guns.

I pulled the trigger, so to speak, on the M&P 15-22 this morning. Big 5 had them on sale, and I was favorably impressed with the one I handled at a local-ish gun store the other week, so I went ahead and bought one.

In the end, it came down to about three different options for me: The Spike's ST-22 upper, a Ciener conversion kit for my current AR, and the M&P.

I want a scope, so that was a mark against the Ciener. (My current upper is a USGI A1, and I've had bad luck with carry-handle mounts on it.) Also, from what I understand, the 1:12 twist rate on the A1 is really not ideal for .22LR.

As for the Spike's ... it probably would have been pretty good. Higher quality, probably, than the M&P - certainly made of all metal - but ... eh. This way I have a whole new complete gun instead of just an extra upper. :)

I still want to buy a Spike's upper, at some point, but I'll probably just be getting a 5.56 one.

10 days to wait ... then ground squirrels beware!

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Tac56

Posted: Aug 28th 2010, 03:15 PM

Sweet! Let us know how she does... Looking forward to a first hand range report.

-Tac

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Jul 21st 09
AZ US

Bishopn87

Posted: Aug 28th 2010, 03:23 PM

Well, I'm getting a couple new toys right now, so pretty much as soon as I get them a buddy and I are going to take a bunch of stuff to the range and have some playtime. We'll probably go to another friend's ranch and take care of some of his squirrel problems too ... aside from just the fun of shooting the little bastards, they are a safety hazard for the horses, so there's a double batch of benefits to it. Sadly, it's gotta be 22's or 17HMR's there, because .223 and 7.62x54R scare the horses too much. It's a lot of fun to hit squirrels with 7.62 light AP rounds, though. :D

My other new toy is another Mosin-Nagant. (I love them.) Very nice example of a Finn-captured 91/30, in absolutely impeccable condition.

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Hemi

Posted: Aug 28th 2010, 03:42 PM

Thats great! I am also interested on hearing about how it runs for you. I would like to add another M&P to the collection. Its definately understandable wanting a complete rifle over just an upper to swap out. To be honest I was thinking the same thing but fortunately I had an extra Spikes lower sitting in the safe, not to mention I only live an hour from Spikes Tactical and look for any excuse to go to their shop.

Anyway,have fun with your new squirrel slayer!

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Bishopn87

Posted: Aug 30th 2010, 07:05 PM

Just ordered some accessories for it. I was tempted to get the Magpul MBUS sights, so I wouldn't have to mess with the sights too much when adding / removing my scope, but ... eh. I'll stick with the sights that come with it for now. Everything i've read seems to suggest that they're pretty decent, and hold zero well enough when you put them back on.

I took the scope that I'm putting on it - a Barska 10-40x50 varmint scope - over to the store and tested it for fit. I can get a pretty good cheek weld with the rings I already have, so no need to get a riser or anything.

I ordered a bipod, VFG, and sight adjustment tools for A1 and A2. (I needed the A1 tool for, well, my A1.) The bipod should help out with work from the bench, or over a truck bed, that sort of thing.

Damnit, I still have to wait until 9/8 to get this thing.

I'm going to console myself with some squirrel massacre tomorrow with the 10/22, though.

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mac23

Posted: Sep 2nd 2010, 03:25 PM

Congrats on your 15-22. I bought mine last November and paid about $459.00. I have seen some a little cheaper since then. I looked into a dedicated upper (knew I did not want a "conversion" kit), but the good uppers were around $300.00 +. Like a lot of people, I have been buying and shooting .22's a lot more lately, and the S&W is without a doubt the most fun to shoot rifle I own. It is nice to take two complete rifles to the range and have all of the controls be the same. The only issue I have had is when I got sloppy loading the mag. If you hold the Assist button down too far and sorta drop the rounds in, they sometimes will jam a time ot two. I only use high vel ammo, but it feeds every brand, includind HP's. It is nice to spend a few pennies per round Vs. 40 +. Accuracy is very good and the trigger is OK. Because of old and bad eyes, I have mounted a scope, but even with high rings it doesn't quite fit me, so I have added an UTG 1/2" riser mount. I have one extra 25 rd mag, but I have not seen the 10 rounders which would make sighting in easier, but you would run out of ammo way too fast!

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Jul 10th 09
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Bishopn87

Posted: Sep 2nd 2010, 03:46 PM

Thanks!

$459 was what I paid for it at Big 5. Just gotta wait until next Wednesday ... 6 more days ... gaaaah.

The bipod and VFG I bought were from UTG, actually. They appear to be surprisingly high quality - I've never heard anything good about anything from UTG, but figured I'd take a chance on it because I'm just putting it on a .22, and I'm not actually going to be really flogging it. I'm very impressed, though. They seem to be really well made.

Re: magazines: unfortunately it looks like the mag that comes with my gun is a pinned or otherwise neutered 25-rounder. Since I have to live in CA and have 10-round magazines, I'd really just as soon have the short 10-rounder, instead of a neutered full-size one. It's going to be a little long, when I'm using the bipod...

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Bishopn87

Posted: Sep 8th 2010, 02:50 PM

Finally got it in hand!

Brought it home, decked it out with all the tacticool gear.

The scope is a cheapy Barska 10-40x50. I really need to get a riser for it - the front objective is actually rubbing against the upper rail when I adjust the parallax. Bipod and VFG are from UTG. I was hoping that I'd get one of the short 10-round magazines instead of a pinned long one, for use with the bipod. No such luck, though.

Anyway, here's some pictures!

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