M&P 15-22 or Ruger 10/22?

[Majorlk]

My grandson is eight and has shot all my .22s, rifles and pistols both. He outgrew the Cricket I got him rather quickly after he got his hands on my 15-22. He much prefers it to my 10/22, so as a result, he will be getting his own 15-22 for Christmas.

 

[GMC man]

I have a 15-22 and the only problem I had was the barrel nut came loose which is a easy fix and tacticool22 sells a ambidextrous safety for the 15-22

 

[Gopher Slayer]

I'm a left handed shooter.

The 15-22 is much nicer for a lefty IMO. The main reason is the charging handle is in the back instead of stuck on the right side of the rifle. You can buy an ambi charging handle like I did and make it very easy to manipulate. You can also get the BAD ambi safety selector which is a must for left handed shooters.

With the 10-22 I always got shells down my shirt. With the 15-22 I get them on my forearm. The shells hitting my forearm bothers me a lot less, and not at all when I wear a long sleeve. They wouldn't hit me at all if I didn't hold the handguard at the end towards the muzzle.

Next for me is a Norgon ambi catch.

 

[Prof_Fate]

The 15-22 is a great gun. Perfect? Perhaps not, but none are completely perfect, are they?

I got a 15-22 for my son as he was using the club's anschutz (iron sights) or my old glenfield bolt action (found a youth stock for it) with a scope. He would prefer a modern weapon (aka no wood on it) so I looked a a few - the mossberg is cheap but IMO junk, well, close to it. Several kids on the jr team have them and misfires and moving POI issues are way way too common. And the mag well is 22 size as opposed to the 223 sized one in the 15-22.

The short mags are needed for prone shooting. We've shot all sorts of ammo through ours with not one misfeed and some of ammo is 25 years old, some of it is on SW's 'do not use' list and still no issues.

My son (age 11) has gotten 1.2" 10 shots groups at 50 yards with cci stingers.

The adjustable stock is great he can shoot it and so can I. And it's alot of fun to shoot. and shoot..and shoot.

The only issue I've noticed is being all plastic it 'bends'. Not a lot but you can move the POI from bench to standing and then with a sling. I'm gonna add an alum AR picatinny riser to see if that strengthens it.

 

[w0ady]

^have you free floated the barrel? aka removed the handguard cap.

 

[DZH]

Get the kid what he wants or he wont be happy. You want the 10/22 he wants AR 22.
Then by the 10/22 and the Troy T 22 kit.
http://troyind.com/ /weapon-upgrade...t-22-chassis-upgrades/troy-chassis-t-22-sport

Or do it the easy way M&P 15-22


Zack
Using Tapatalk

 

[rraisley]

I assume you are also asking this question on the Ruger forums, to get balanced responses?

As most have said, they're both great guns. I think there's a decent chance, with both of you interested in guns, that you'll end up with both. While we all anguish over what gun to get (next), it probably won't be our last, so as long as it's a decent choice, the money's not wasted and you can get a different one next time.

So why not get your son the one he thinks he likes best first (15-22), and it's a pound or so lighter, meaning it'll be easier for him to handle? Heck, the light weight is one of the reasons I like the gun, and I'm an old fart.

 

[speedyquad]

just throwing this into the mix as i just purchased one of these last week. the mossberg tactical .22(model 715t). my friend has put over 2000 rds through his since may with no issues. i've got 100 through mine and it is fun. i bought it over the 15-22 because of the price. it's around $300. i got the the laser and flashlight from ebay for 80 and the foregrip from amazon for a whopping $9. the mossberg has a quad rail, adjustable stock and where permitted, a 25 rd magazine.

 

[ral2ooo]

That was another one of my concerns. I have talked to a few friends of mine that shoot lefty, and a few of them say it's no issue, another made a brass deflector out of some clear plascit that deflects the empty brass down. I have been thinking and wondering about all of these things over the last month or so. I am seriously walking a fine line here with having my son actually want to go out shooting with me, or him getting discouraged and not wanting anything to do with shooting or hunting. I don't want to kill his spirit now when he wants to go hunting and shooting with me. I figure let him have his fun now, and when he is old enough to hunt along side me with his own gun, I want him there, not at home playing video games.

I am not a big fan of semi autos for very young shooters. While it does supply the instant gratification, that has become too ingrained in our culture, it does not encourage building marksmanship skills.
You mention video games, a bane of modern parenthood, and I agree that kids these days NEED to be PULLED away from them. I will not belabor that point. Your son is lucky his dad is actually interested in being a dad.
Here is what I would think about getting for him Henry Repeating Arms | Fine Rifles Made in America and Priced Right

Cool enough to perk his interest, works well for a lefty and not prone to developing the spray fire mindset.


RAL

 

[kbm6893]

I am not a big fan of semi autos for very young shooters. While it does supply the instant gratification, that has become too ingrained in our culture, it does not encourage building marksmanship skills.
You mention video games, a bane of modern parenthood, and I agree that kids these days NEED to be PULLED away from them. I will not belabor that point. Your son is lucky his dad is actually interested in being a dad.
Here is what I would think about getting for him Henry Repeating Arms | Fine Rifles Made in America and Priced Right

Cool enough to perk his interest, works well for a lefty and not prone to developing the spray fire mindset.


RAL

I agree. In my opinion, the allure of the M&P22 and other tactical looking rimfiers is they make the owners feel like their some Navy SEAL. I saw an H&K .22 with what looks like a suppressor on it. Suppressor is cosmetic only and has no function. Kind of like bringing the Call of Duty game to life. Some people use them as low cost trainers for AR's, but many do not. Kids are especially susceptible to the fantasy. My 13 year old nephew was not interested in my 10/22 when it was stock with the factory flush 10 round mag, but now that is has a Tapco collapsible stock and curved 25 round mags, he's interested. Why? cause it looks different? The OP didn't say how old his son was, but for ME, I would not get a semi auto rifle for a child under 15. He's gonna do what kids do and spray. Betcha he asks for a red dot with it, too. What ever happened to learning iron sights? The henry rifle is exactly what I would get my son.

 

[w0ady]

^so you're blaming the type of gun for the type of shooting? guess we better ban the 15-22.

they're kids, buy them what makes them happy and teach them how to use it properly. forcing them into a choice that makes you happy is just wrong.

 

[mn_doggie]

I agree. In my opinion, the allure of the M&P22 and other tactical looking rimfiers is they make the owners feel like their some Navy SEAL. I saw an H&K .22 with what looks like a suppressor on it. Suppressor is cosmetic only and has no function. Kind of like bringing the Call of Duty game to life. Some people use them as low cost trainers for AR's, but many do not. Kids are especially susceptible to the fantasy. My 13 year old nephew was not interested in my 10/22 when it was stock with the factory flush 10 round mag, but now that is has a Tapco collapsible stock and curved 25 round mags, he's interested. Why? cause it looks different? The OP didn't say how old his son was, but for ME, I would not get a semi auto rifle for a child under 15. He's gonna do what kids do and spray. Betcha he asks for a red dot with it, too. What ever happened to learning iron sights? The henry rifle is exactly what I would get my son.

As near as I can tell, it appears that you don't have a 15-22. The OP asked for opinions from those who have both.

It appears that those who have both recommend the 15-22 over the 10/22.

I would recommend at 15-22 (I'm letting the OP know up front that I do not have a 10/22) so my opinion is tainted/biased.

BTW, all of my rifles with Red Dots ALSO have functioning iron sights that get used.

 

[WVleo]

^so you're blaming the type of gun for the type of shooting? guess we better ban the 15-22.

they're kids, buy them what makes them happy and teach them how to use it properly. forcing them into a choice that makes you happy is just wrong.

I agree ! This ain't the 1950's anymore, not even the 1990's ! I have 3 .22lr long guns so I can shoot with the 2 grandkids . A new to Me MP15-22, a 1967 Ruger 10-22 ( 2.8lb trigger job ) and a CZ American ( 2 .5 lb trigger ) . My 8y/o Grandson shoot lefty so I will have Him on the S&W with the iron sights, 6 y/o granddaughter will be using the ruger ( Mags only loaded with 1 round each ) and Papa will be plinking Our paper and spinners @ 50yards with the CZ. Safety, proper use of the firearm and experience shooting the firearm at this age by adding fun into the mix is how my grandkids will learn to be responsible with firearms. ...wvleo

 

[DialTone301]

Another one here with both. We have stock 15-22 and a fully custom 10/22 (not a Ruger part on it). I would say hands down I enjoy shooting the 15-22 the most. Yes the 10/22 is super nice and ours is just as reliable but the 15-22 is more fun for me. I think part of it is that I feel like I am gaining muscle memory for when I shoot my AR's.

You won't go wrong with either one.

 

[BAM-BAM]

As the owner of several 10/22s, one 15-22, a number of bolt action .22s, a former NRA rifle instructor (who spent 4 years teaching 8-15 year olds at summer camps), and shooting with my own 15 and 12 year old boys for several years. Some thoughts FWIW.

I would not recomend going from a single shot to a 10 or 25 round semi. Kids(99%) do not have the level of self control to not "shoot fast". They want to have fun and Video games/ TV have given them a false sense of shooting. Guns are not point and shoot...you know that..... they have to learn it.

My boys both started with a single shot "CZ Scout" and iron sights at age 10 off a bench w/ a sand bag. They spent the first summer learning the basics of sight picture,trigger control and breathing.

My 15 year old got a youth model 10/22(short stock 11inch LOP) at 12 with 5-round Ruger mags. and Williams peep sights. Started out only loading 2-3 in the 5 round mag

This summer at 14 he started to shoot the 15-22 with red dot and the short 10 rd mags. And my scoped CZ/FS.

My advice is to keep him shooting a good bolt gun to become the best shooter he can be. I jokingly called it "Sniper school". They both bought into the concept.

But, I try to divide up each shooting session into 2 parts the first; to work on basic shooting skills with the bolt action(Sniper School); the second is some fun shooting; clays, spinners and Zombie targets w/ some movement (14/15 year old only)with the 10/22(5rd.loaded) or 15-22(10 rds loaded). With me as a one on one range/safty officer......

Every year is something new ...more rounds fired..my 15 year old loves the 15-22 trigger time(the 10/22 hasn't even gone to the range this year)......they are having a blast

Edit: OP, CZ makes left-handed .22s not the Short butt( 11 or 12 inch LOP) "Scout" but I think both the Trainer and American can be gotten with a backwards bolt.LOL CZs are also "lifetime" guns worth the investment! The best of the breed I think is the 452Trainer w/ its rear sight and a (J&P) peep ring blade added. But the stock may be too long for your 8 year old!

 

[w0ady]

just because the 15-22 comes with a 10 or 25 rd mag, doesnt mean you have to load it all the way.

everything ive read shows that they both are reliable and accurate for range needs. the 10/22 has more overall configurations but the 15-22 is "rock-n-roll" ready from the box. they both can use similar add-ons.

again buy what THEY like, load what they can handle and teach them proper skills. there are numerous styles of guns that operate differently so whatever they learn wont always carry over to another platform.

hell buy em both!

 

[Kayback]

What's the difference between running 5 rounds and 25 rounds in a mag for a semi auto?

I get the idea behind using single shot or bolt actions for real beginners and for training, but once you start semi auto how does downloading the mags help with anything?

And for that why NOT use a RDS? They are the wave of the future. An Aimpoint H1 has a batter life of 5 years. It is as close to indestructible as you can get. Nothing on a flat range should break it. Trigger control? Sure. Breathing? Sure. I get those. Iron sight picture? Meh. I don't see much point in hammering that in. A brief mention and make sure they have the basics of it, sure if you need to.

If you are worried about EMP (honestly?) then get a dual illumination device like the RMR's.

KBK

 

[BAM-BAM]

wOady, you are correct you don't have to "load it all the way" but I can tell you they will try..........LOL You tell them to load 3-5 (to shoot a group) without moving off a rest......sometimes they will load 4,5,6.

If they are having fun.......they don't concentrate and "one" will at some point make a safety mistake. While working at summer camps I must have trained a couple thousand kids.....they can do dumb things. Other counslers told me I had an easy job......I was beat at the end of the day.....you could not relax for one minute if you had campers on the range!!!!!

"....buy them what they like"........ they "like" full mags. The biggest grin I got from my then 14 year old was after his first 10 round mag dump with the 15-22. (He doesn't even know about the 25 rounders yet..LOL..maybe next year!)

I'm not saying you are wrong ....... it's just easier, to control and run a safe range. My experience is they will pester you, to the point you just want to go home, to load it UP.

Kayback, kids having fun lose their concentration...and their ability to count....forget about a squib or jam. Unless you don't shoot and do one on one supervision........it's a problem that will happen. With a bolt gun a quick look from 10-20 feet will tell you if the bolt is open or closed

In the words of Dirty Harry...."did I fire 5 or was it 6?"

 

[Kayback]

Safe the weapon. Take out the mag and work the action.

It's something you'd need to do on a range to go forwards anyway, unload and show clear, insert chamber flag.

It isn't rocket science. They do need to learn to stop shooting, even when there is ammo in the gun.

KBK

 

[BAM-BAM]

Kayback correct on all points........

As I said in my first post "FWIW",all kids are different, you be the judge of yours....... just saying what has worked for me!

FYI I moved the boys to scopes and longer ranges 50 & 100 yds after the first summer.I think learning how to use iron/peep sights is important.... and it gives you the ability to introduce "new" things for birthdays and Christmas

My Dad(a competitive Pistol shooter) had me shooting at about 8 (God; 50 years) and I was hiking around the mountains with my single shot Stevens Favorite at 10; and my first new gun, a 5 shot Remington 511-x with scope at 11!!!! How the world has changed!

One last suggestion.....If you can afford them "electronic ear protection/muffs".... your kids can hear all range commands and instructions.....When a Kid turns his head to ask "WHAT? what did you say?" that muzzle goes everywhere!!!