Got my new M&P 15-22 last week and finally made it to the range. Suffice to say, my very first impression is it's probably the most fun I've had in a while! I chose the 15-22 because I have a pacemaker and was warned a while back about anything with a significant recoil resting on my shoulder (don't want to break a wire, which has happened to me in the past for different reasons...) so I had been sticking to pistols for the last 20 years. My friend recently purchased one and I threw caution to the wind and tried it out and was hooked immediately, not only from the aspect of the nearly non-existent recoil but just from the sheer fun-factor.

The model I got is the basic "Sport" with flip-up sights (no optics). It was difficult enough to find almost ANY model in stock ANYWHERE and I snagged this one at Bass Pro online in the approximately 23 seconds it was listed as available on their web page. When I got it home I combed through the manual and watched a few YouTube vids so I was able to strip it down, clean off the protectant and lube it up without any difficulties. This is my first AR-style weapon and is probably one of the simplest firearms I own to field strip and reassemble.

I loaded the very first magazine with cheap Thunderbolt ammo (not very much selection or availability in the ammunition department here lately), went to the range and sent a target down to the 50' mark just to see what would happen. I made no adjustments to anything other then extending the stock, slow-fired an entire magazine downrange - and could barely see a thing on the paper. I reeled it back in and only then did I notice that I had, on my first attempt with no adjustments and no practice, kept a nice 2" group dead center. That started my afternoon of fun, except now I figured out I also need new glasses...

I spent around 200 rounds and loved every moment of it.

A few down sides perhaps:
1. For some odd reason I can only get 23 rounds into the factory 25-round mags (I bought 2 extras for a total of 3 mags, all S&W). The 24th round can be pushed in but won't seat properly, and there is no room for a 25th at all. It might be because the springs are still tight so I'll leave them loaded for a few days just to see if anything changes; and
2. On average I had 1-2 FTE's with every magazine. For now I'm writing this off as a combination of a brand-new gun, possibly not enough lube, and cheap ammo so I will keep an eye on this issue over time.

Yes, I will be adding a few items over time. I decided that I have to have a better stock so that will be first, and then possibly a bipod if I can find one I like. Overall, this was an EXCELLENT purchase!

Glad you have been able to latch onto one of these,I have one on order since may. These guns are are hard to find, dealers in my area have them on backorder.

Check your manual about ammo. I have had my 15-22 for 7 years. In the manual it states thunderbolt are not reliable in it. With ammo shortage you just have to go with what you can get. I bought a bipod for mine and use it a lot from the range table. Had to get a couple of ten round mags to use it that way. Fun!!!!

You are certainly right about having to go with what you can get for ammo! I've been warned about Thunderbolts, but in this market beggars can't be choosers. I'm saving the CCI Mini-mags I got for when I become more proficient.

Several other folks have mentioned the same thing, but I've been through my manual several times now and the only brand-name even remotely mentioned in it is a warning against using CCI Stingers in the Performance Center version of the rifle. Other than that, the only other recommendations are to use only SAAMI-certified ammo and not to use handloads. The manual I received is dated 2019 so I'm guessing that there have been some changes in wording over the years.

I love mine, but it’s more picky about ammo than a 10/22. Try Mini-Mags when you can find them, mine prefers those over the Federal Auto Match that runs fine in almost all my autoloaders.

This thread needs pictures...

My two M&P 15-22's

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These are definitely a lot of fun!

__________________
Dave Brown
SWCA #3279

The original manual (before 2016 I believe) had the ammo recommendations. It was removed with the newer revisions and only mentions the Stingers in Performance Center version due to shorter match chamber now.

For those who might be interested here are the two pages from my 15-22 manual copyright 2010. Perhaps the ammo companies put pressure on S&W to take that out of the manual or maybe the newer 15-22's aren't as ammo sensitive as the older ones. (The pictures will be proper orientation when you open them.)

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The older ones were more sensitive. S&W made changes to springs over the years. If I remember correctly, they went from yellow marked springs to blue ones. With the changes to the springs, most of the ammo related issues went away. Mine eats anything.

I agree that my first opinion about the FTE's is the ammo. Not sure what the Thunderbolts are, but I also have had bad experience with those Remingtons (maybe they are one in the same). They just have a lot of goop on them and if any my friends can't get their semi auto pistols to run right, the first thing I say is go get some mini-mags. All ammo is expensive right now, but luckily there is a fair amount of CCI mini-mag out there. Think about how much fun you had this time and a few more pennies will be a good investment to keep having the same fun. Enjoy!

Hi, I use a lot of Agela 22lr in my 15-22, it has run reliably and performed well, also during normal times the cost is less than others.

I registered just to post a reply.

I also got mine a couple of weeks ago at BassPro after getting my order cancelled once due to no inventory. The second time around, I managed to snag one in time before it went out of stock minutes later. Exact same model as you got.

I Have not been able to take it to the range yet since I just managed to snag two bricks of Thunderbolts only yesterday and I have two extra mags arriving today. My mag was able to take 25 rounds. Make sure your mag spring is sitting correctly on the top red plastic piece. It should be going around the red plastic about 1/4 inch or so.

Here’s mine

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I hope that you have as much fun with yours as I'm having with mine! I've had it out a few times now and am enjoying it just as much each time as my first. I've got a few accessories installed or on their way so as soon as the last one comes in I will post a picture.

The most fun thing so far has been the inexpensive green laser. I sight the gun in using the fixed sights, then match the laser to the sights - then it is just automatic from there!

I finely nailed one, should have it in about 10 days!

Now that I've had my 15-22 to the range a few times and added a few things to it I've decided to post some pictures. I wasn't looking to spend (too) much money so nothing costs more than the new stock at $37. I added the stock, an inexpensive laser on an offset mount (great fun!), the bipod and an angled foregrip.

Unfortunately for me the new stock was significantly lighter in color than it appeared on every website that I saw it on (I thought it was going to be a much closer color match to the new foregrip - a darker gray), but I'm not disappointed in it enough to bother sending it back.

The bipod was on sale for $32 and I like it because it doesn't have a large mounting bracket with springs and it uses M-Lok which is compatible with the factory front hand guard so it doesn't add much weight or stick out like many others I looked at. With the pivots all the way up like they are it folds up very compactly and doesn't get in the way.

The laser is a LOT of fun - it's amazing what only $15 will get you these days. And with the low recoil of the .22LR rounds it stays locked in and never needs to be re-centered even after a few hundred rounds.

Overall, a great purchase!

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