15-22 Opinions

[GypsmJim]

Probably the wrong forum to ask this (being a S&W forum) but I'll ask anyway. I have a dozen or so S&W revolvers and appreciate the quality. Just need some info on the long guns.

A year ago I bought a brand XXX Tactical 22 mainly because of price. I'm used to hitting golf balls at 50 yards - well this piecocrap can't hit a basketball at 15 yards. And that's an improvement since it came back from the factory repair shop the second time. I admit I didn't research well enough - didn't know it was foreign made. But the icing on the cake was when i found that the service center was in a mexican border town, manned by people with a poor command of the English language. Anyway, I digress.

I just got rid of that thing and am now looking for a replacement. I admit I haven't read thru all of the threads on this forum. My question is......what is the general concensus regarding the 15-22, regarding functional performance and accuracy? Any latent problems? If I'm going to spend double what the XXX cost I want to be sure I'm getting my money's worth.

TIA for any and all comments.

 

[dahur]

So far I'm not real happy with mine. I didn't know it apparently doesn't like Winchester 36g hollow points, and maybe I can attribute the FTF, and FTE's to that. We'll see. However the out of battery detonation concerns me. I have it packaged up and am waiting for the shipping label to get here, so I can send it back to S&W. If I have the same luck others have had getting theirs repaired, I will be very happy. When it was shooting right, (which was most of the time), it was fun. I've only shot maybe 300 or so rounds through it, and I wasn't expecting any hiccups like this. I'm cautiously optimistic.

 

[ironfist1]

I'm afraid to even shoot mine. Check out all the fff, ffe's and firing out of battery's. Youtube has vids on it, I linked them on a thread here somewhere. Sorry I can't be more positive but this is my consensus. Once word gets around their resale value will probably plummett as well.

 

[dentkiller]

mine loves CCI mini mags. not one problem.

 

[JM4151]

S & W 15-22

I have had mine for almost 11 months. I have fired over 5,000 rounds out of it. I bought 12 twenty five round magazines, I load them up while I am watching TV and don't have to reload much when I go to the range. It likes CCI std vel ammo the best followed by the bulk packed Federal. Remington ammo is junk, dirty and the priming mixture doesn't always get comppletely around the rim, causing misfires. I have a red dot scope on mine and at 50 yards its extremely accurite. A great gun and one of my favorites!
John Murphy

 

[Majorlk]

I've only had mine for three weeks, but there hasn't been a bobble of any kind in over 1k of Federal Champions. I have had several .22s over the years and currently have a Ruger 10/22 and a 77/22. My 15-22 is at least as accurate as any other .22 I have had except the 77/22 (it has been glass bedded and accurized). I have no problem with keeping 10 rounds in less than 1.5" at 50 yards from a rest using a scope.

 

[Low_Down]

I lost count of rounds on mine, I just shoot till I can go anymore. I'd buy a dozen more if I could. It's hard to beat what this gun offers.

 

[06x]

I've put well over 2500 rounds through mine with mostly problems that can be attributed to the .22LR ammunition, and only had a handful of those.

Only had a few (I'd say less than 10) fail to feeds. I'd say the cartridges that fail to fire are the ammo (mostly Winchester Bulk, but had awesome results with the M22 ammo and Federal Bulk). I don't know that I've ever had a cartridge that fired FTE. Never had an out of battery discharge. I've had a fairly low amount of malfunctions (stove pipe, double feed, etc.) for the amount of rounds I've put through the 15-22.

As far as accuracy, there are more accurate .22's out there, I suppose, but I have no complaints about the 15-22. I was getting consistent 1.5" to 2" at 100 yrds with a scope. Switched to a non-magnified red dot, and do most of my shooting inside 65 yrds now, still happy with the accuracy.

I also like the fact that this rifle functions almost identically to a "real" AR-15, as far as the charge handle, safety, bolt catch, and magazine release. Another high point is the 15-22 excepts most Ar accessories (triggers, pistol grips, butt stocks, and anything that mounts to a 1913 rail) .

Overall, I'm very happy with the 15-22 rifle, and would recommend it to anyone.

 

[ironfist1]

Lol so you haven't had any issues with yours, but because of YouTube videos, you are hesitant to shoot?

I had alot of FFF & FFE's. I have a documented history on these threads of range reports. I mention video's to the OP for proof of it happening because that's about the best evidence you can have. Seeing is believing.

 

[Dead eye 22]

I find mine to be extremely reliable and very accurate. As with any two piece stocked rifle, and I suppose more so with a polymer one, consistently positioning your supporting hand at the same location is important for consistent accuracy. Mine serves me very well popping squirrels. At 50 yds. I get 3 shot groups around 1/2 inch, sometimes less.
Their were some issues with the rifles at first, but S&W made some changes and the probs. seem to be a thing of the past.

 

[InfiniteMotors]

The 15-22 comes with an instruction manual. There is a list of "do not use" ammo in this book.

Many of the complaints you're hearing about were caused by using "do not use" ammo.

Follow those simple guidelines and enjoy a well made machine.



For the record this is the first thread with irritating responses I've read on this forum.

 

[tacticaledge]

great gun

I looked at gsg, colt, some austrian thing and the mossberg after research the smith was more customisable and shot very nicely out of the box very pleased.....

 

[tacticaledge]

great gun

Ive had mine 3 weeks and have put 2000 rounds though it and only had 4 ftf with remington ammo (had some left over ) will not ever use it again...ever, no probs with federal bulk pack and cci ammo. Its fun to shoot and accurate I knocked out the center of my target @ 50 yards no prob with a crappy $35.00 halographic great gun gonna buy the .223 version m&p 15

 

[pb803]

I've put 2000 + rounds thru mine since Christmas without 1 problem. CCI Blazers are great...!

 

[BillyJack2012]

Love the Barrett Jackson turn that this thread is taking. After a lot of research, I picked up my 15-22 2 days after Christmas. I probably have about 700 rounds through it. It's not as accurate as my son's single shot Savage but that could just be me trying to get used to the iron sights. My groups are getting better and this is my first AR style gun. Also, I don't own anything that's as accurate as the Savage and continue to be amazed everytime it's shot.

The 15-22 has been extremely reliable so far and I absolutely love it. My only regret is that I didn't get the MOE version. Fold down sights out of the box would have been really nice. Other than that, I wouldn't change a thing and would buy another one in a heart beat.

 

[Sleddog30]

It's possible you got a lemon. It can happen. Send it back and have the factory look at it.

My 15-22 has had no issues except feeding from a very dirty magazine. I cleaned the mag and no more issues.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Gentlemen,

The OP asked for opinions about the rifle, not your opinion about other S&W Forum members.

I've deleted and edited some posts here. Some over the line, some not, as well as the Barrett Jackson theme (nice reference, BillyJack ). Let's try to get back on track.

 

[C-Fish]

I have owned my MOE version for 16 months now. Had a dedicated .22lr top end for the AR15 prior.

+5000 rounds, not one issue.

Accuracy is on par with other semi auto .22lr rifles, if not better.

This is not a silhouette gun. It is a fast moving, lightweight, ammo eating fun gun...

I use it for steel competition and plinking. Just sold off my 10-22 as it was not getting used...

 

[CrazyFingers]

I bought my 15-22 in October 2010, first range trip 10-9-2010. It had problems with stovepipes, so I sent it to S&W in mid November 2010 and got it back about 3 weeks later. Since then it has functioned normally and has a round count of 8869, with the occasional (1 round in 300-400) failure to fire. This is with a good primer strike and equates to 1 bad round out of a box of 550 Federal bulk, which I think is completely acceptable for bulk .22.
The 15-22 is NOT a target rifle. If you want a 100m tack driver, you will be disappointed with this rifle.
The 15-22 is NOT a Delta Force Marine Corps SEAL Team machine gun for killing Al Qaeda Taliban zombies. If you need a defensive firearm, you will be sorely under-served by this rifle.
If you want a fun range toy/small game rifle that follows the AR-15 manual of arms very closely, this is the rifle for you.

As with all things, know what you're buying and why before you lay your money down.

 

[pb803]

Ok Phil.......geeeez...you must be a Clemson fan....we were just having a 'lil fun.

to GypsmJim.....on the accuracy.....

I put an inexpensive TruGlo red dot sight on mine...($39). I didn't expect too much from it..but...I am highly impressed with it. I have not even used the iron sights by themselves. After sighting in the reddot, my wife and a friends 12 year old grand daughter, (who had never shot a rifle of any kind)....were shooting clays and pieces of clays at 75 and 100 yds.

Right out of the box, I changed and added a few things.
First of all, I didn't like the stock handgrip and replaced it with a Hogue grip....much better, also, I added a foregrip / tripod (Sportsmans Guide), and the Truglo Reddot.

This little gun is very accurate, and if you were going to purchase a 22 cal in an AR frame, of any kind, you would be hard pressed to find a better one.