How many different options are there from the factory? I am looking to get a m&p 15-22. I plan on dropping in a decent trigger, and I want a match grade barrel. Do they all have match grade barrels or do I have to jump up to the preformance center model? Do the MOE models have match grade barrels? I hate to pay the extra for the pro model because I think it has a bit of an upgraded trigger but I don't think even it is close to a better drop in brand. Any info is appreciated.

Thanks

The performance center comes with a Rock River Arms 2-stage National Match trigger. Not a bad trigger at all. I love the one I put in my AR15.

The MOE does not come with a different barrel than the basic model, it just comes with a bunch of Magpul Goodies already installed. I am not sure if the Performance model comes with a nicer barrel or not.

Have you shot a base model yet, or are you just assuming you need to upgrade?

From all the posts I have read here, the consensus seems to be that the barrel in the PC model is little better than the standard barrel. The trigger, however, is much better.

FWIW, it you are looking for a tack-driver, look elsewhere. 3-4 MOA at 100 yards seems to be considered top accuracy for the 15-22.

I have fired 2 different base models and was not happy with the trigger. I prefer a match grade barrel if it is available. Main purpose will be for fun work out to 50 yards or so, and some steel fun matches when they come around.

S&W calls the PC barrel match grade, but it doesn't, in reality, appear to be any better than the standard.

FCGs can be replaced with match versions. I don't think there are any after-market match grade barrels, though. Personally a match grade barrel on a rifle with polymer receivers is something of a waste of money.

Sounds like you want a bushmaster predator in 22lr? At 50 yards I guess I'm ignorant, I don't see any obvious advantage to a match barrel or upgraded trigger

@ RunninKurt I don't like the standard trigger I am a bit spoiled in that aspect. I was trying to figure out if I could get a model that had the match barrel without the upgraded trigger, so I didn't have to pay for the PC upgrades and change out the trigger. If the PC model has a good trigger than that is the way I will go. I just didn't wanna pay to get both a trigger and match barrel if I was going to change the trigger anyway. As far as the yardage I use it at is worth the extra to me to pay the difference for a match grade barrel and decent trigger, if I am shooting at 25 yards or 125 yards. At this price point I want and expect all the accuracy I can get. If another $100 for the PC model is what I have to do to get it than guess that is a personal choice on my part. Thanks for the input. Just need to get both in models in my hand and see the difference in the triggers.

With all due respect, I don't think you are reading what is being posted; at best the 15-22 is a 3-4 MOA rifle at 100 yards. This is not match-grade, no matter how you look at it. With polymer (plastic) upper and lower receivers there simply isn't the rigidity for anything close to MOA accuracy.

But, it's your money and your choice. I just hope you aren't too disappointed

Who makes match grade quality 22lr ammo?

wolf, cci, and probably every other major company, expect to pay 2-3x normal price

and on the earlier stuff at one point i seem to remember (a little over a year ago) S&W advertising that all the 15-22 models (at that time) had match grade barrels.

CCI
Aquila
RWS and a half-dozen (or more) other companies.

That said, match grade ammo in the 15-22 is a waste. You need a match-grade firearm to notice any significant difference over standard velocity, plain vanilla .22 ammo.

I have three match-grade firearms - a glass-bedded, accurized 77/22, an accurized MkII and a High Standard Trophy Supramatic. The 77/22 goes sub-MOA at 50 yards and both pistols keep 10 rounds inside 1/2" at 25 with CCI Green Tag.

Sweet, gotcha.

Greetings,

I previously owned(note owned) a PC model. I was very discouraged with the lack of a noticeable increase in accuracy over my MOE version. Plus, the trigger although a RRA 2 stage, came in at about 7lbs stock. I tried many different types of ammo through it and finally sent it back to S&W for accuracy issues. They had it for a month but when I got it back I found that they had replaced the entire upper and apparently worked on the FCG also as it then broke at 5lbs. However, it still wasn't a tack driver so I sold it and bought the S&W AR-15 Sporter. I never have regretted the move.

BTW, the difference in the barrel is it's fluted, has a tighter chamber(Laney), and has a threaded barrel end but no flash hider.

Hobie

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Just a few rounds laying about. Sorry the pic's blurry something to do with having to shrink it down to fit.

There's about 11,000 rounds all total there but much less left after several months of shooting.

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you got me by a few Thou... I'm catching up fast tho...


2012-01-18_23-18-11_935 by thacheese, on Flickr

The 18" barrel of the PC model "should" shoot tighter groups than the standard 16" barrel models but I have no definite info based on mine. Regardless of how "good the PC models RRA two stage trigger is it still benefits greatly from a set of the JP "yellow" springs to get the pull down to a more reasonable 3-3.5#. The accuracy is no where near my custom built Rem 597 VTR tactical model that has a Volquertsen carbon-fiber sleeved bull barrel and a Jard 1.5# precision trigger. That gun off the rest will put a ten round mag through one clean hole at 25 yards (basically a .010 group size) using CCI-SV and a slightly more ragged hole at 50 yards (average group about .2 or less), conditions permitting of course. However I originally built the 597 as a speed steel gun for Steel Challenge and it was too accurate and occasionally tempermental. The 15-22 PC model on the otherhand is flawless in operation and plenty accurate for shooting steel at 50 yards and under. I generally run either CCI-Tactical or Win M-22 but in a pinch it works just as fine shooting CCI-MM or Fed. AutoMatch.
Someone asked about the replacement barrel issue. As a competition shooter who is in tight with a few makers (VQ and TS mainly) I can say that both will eventually produce barrels for the AR15-22 but I have no idea when. The only company so far to make a barrel for the gun is Lothar-Walther. That one was a bull barrel for the AR15-22 used by Jerry Miculek for demos and exhibitions (recently on MidwayUSA's Wednesday Night at the Range shows). I don't know if they are making them for sale or not. Might cost near as much as the gun. I would love to see a lightweight or bull barrel from VQ or TS.
If you want to try making your current setup more accurate invest in a Limbsaver Barrel De-Resonator, the sporter model ($10), and slip in on and tune it for your favorite ammo. After testing, all my 597s have them mounted and tuned, even the one with the VQ CF barrel. And shoot standard velocity ammo, it is always shoots tighter groups than anything else due to the peculiarities of 22LR ammo being just around the sound barrier in velocity.