Anyone try this mod yet?

Has anyone tried to cut the trigger guard and drill holes to incorporate a Magpul enhanced trigger guard on the 15-22?

If the guard is solid polymer, it should be able to be shaved off, the detents cut and then holes drilled to fit the Magpul (or any other brands) enhanced trigger guard.

Thoughts? Experiences?

I don't understand. What would be the benefit to changing the trigger guard? Is it broken? If not, I can't imagine how one trigger guard could be enough better than another to be worth the effort to replace it. What am I missing here?

I'll go out on a limb and bet that no one has done this. Way too much risk in ruining your lower and having to go with a Stark grip of shame. And I personally don't see any benefit gained.

The Magpul trigger guard helps when shooting with gloves as it is slightly larger.

KBK

I wouldn't.

The 15-22 already has a "winter" trigger guard built in.

One little whack would probably snap the front tabs right at the pin hole.

Gopher Slayer said:

I wouldn't.

The 15-22 already has a "winter" trigger guard built in.

One little whack would probably snap the front tabs right at the pin hole.

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That's why I'm also asking if anyone knows the durability of the existing trigger guard and if it is solid polymer or hollow. If it is hollow, then I wouldn't recommend even attempting the mod, however... If it were solid poly, I would say the pinning of the trigger guard would be just as durable as it is on a Polymer AR.

I understand that the existing trigger guard is built to accommodate cold-weather equipment (gloves)... but my reasoning is more of a "can it be done".

I know the polymer of the 15-22 is stronger than the plastic of an airsoft rifle... and they make a Magpul trigger guard for those.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not asking anyone to perform this... I am simply asking if anyone has already attempted or performed this modification.

Thanks for the feedback.

I'd bet long odds that the trigger guard is solid rather than hollow.

Given its location & size, making it hollow would be tricky & expensive, & would weaken the part. There'd be no net gain for S&W to go to the trouble of making it hollow to offset the added complexity.

Just conjecture, but pretty confident about it.

If you can't see an opening into the trigger guard from the mag well or grip well openings, its a virtual certainty that the guard itself is solid.

Kayback said:

The Magpul trigger guard helps when shooting with gloves as it is slightly larger.

KBK

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Really? My 15-22 vs. Magpul Trigger Guard.

Don't bother with it. It will only make it weaker.

BC38 said:

I don't understand. What would be the benefit to changing the trigger guard? Is it broken? If not, I can't imagine how one trigger guard could be enough better than another to be worth the effort to replace it. What am I missing here?

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With that reasoning then why would anyone replace the factory stock, grip and sights since they all work basically the same way?

Although I do not think cutting the solid piece factory trigger guard off is a good idea. It would be cool to see it done.

My guess is no one has done it since there be no reason to do it. It would like cutting a 1522 handguard in half to put it back together again. Nothing is being accomplished.

BillyJack2012 said:

Really? My 15-22 vs. Magpul Trigger Guard.

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Can that swing down to accommodate mittens? That'd be the only good reason to do it on the 15-22.

ChattanoogaPhil said:

My guess is no one has done it since there be no reason to do it. It would like cutting a 1522 handguard in half to put it back together again. Nothing is being accomplished.

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Technically, there's absolutely no reason for any "Tactical" upgrades to the 15-22 either. No reason for a B.A.D. lever, no reason to replace the factory stock with a Magpul one, no reason to replace the factory sights with Magpul or Duek Defence or Troy, No reason to outfit it with anything that may give you a "tactical" advantage as most of the "upgrades" do to an AR-15 (not that even a small percentage of AR-15 owners in the US have ever even served in the Military or held, fired, etc. a rifle in self defense or tactically for that matter). I'm sorry guys, but no one is clearing a structure with a 15-22... no one is taking a target from a mile away with a 15-22... no one is going into an insurgent stronghold or doing any kind of reconnaissance with a 15-22. What does all that mean? The modifications we do are all pointless, but we do it because we like it. It's fun and we see if we even CAN do it.

As it stands... the existing trigger guard is simply decoration in the first place (as are most of the "mods" that are done to the 15-22). If you shaved it off completely just because the weapon would function 100% as advertised with no change in performance whatsoever. So someone "modifying" the existing trigger guard to incorporate a name brand piece of plastic is completely within the realm of a hobbyist or enthusiast seeing what they can do with their platform.

Why put a $400 free floating rail system on a $600 weapon? Why even modify the barrel with a new adapter to even allow a new rail? Why put a $200 tactical trigger on a .22lr? Competition? Maybe.

The Magpul B.A.D. lever was not designed for the 15-22, yet A LOT of members modified it to fit and even modified their lower receiver to allow for the lever before someone said "hey lets just bend it!".

If everyone just kept what they had and didn't modify or create new means of adding something to it, 80% of the instructional videos on YouTube wouldn't exist.

I realize that it may seem small at this point since it's just a trigger guard... but I'm sure someone said "Why?" when the first person wanted to outfit their 15-22 with a brand new shiny FAKE SUPPRESSOR! Which again, serves no purpose. I mean sure, we write it off as it aids in recoil reduction... but come on.

I agree, there is absolutely NO REASON to change out the trigger guard... but that wasn't the question. Anyone who has seen the pictures of my 15-22 knows I've done MOST of the "mods" and I am all for seeing if it can be done... just remember, I wasn't saying is SHOULD be done... the question was COULD it be done and the biggest and most important question... has anyone actually DONE it. Everyone's opinions as to why it shouldn't be done are moot as it pertains to the original question.

I do appreciate the feedback and I see everyone's point of view... but an answer to the actual question of has anyone done it and what the outcome was would be much more appreciated.

Thanks again to all!

I dont think anyone has done it. Because no one feels it important enough to possibly mess up their lower receiver.

If the lower receiver wasnt a very important and expensive part of the weapon. Then likely people would risk messing with it and upgrading it a little more.

The trigger guard is more than just a decoration, though.

It's kind of important from a safety perspective, & it helps prevent damage to the trigger.

If I really really really wanted to shoot a .22 with mittens on, I think I would cut a finger hole in my mitten. Right after I asked my mom if I could cut the string that attached my mittens through the arms of my winter coat.
Seriously though, I have never heard of that mod. and don't think it would ever be necessary.

Like others have said and shown: it wouldn't do anything. The stock trigger guard of the 15-22 is already shaped the same as the magpul enhanced guard. It's only "enhanced" if it replaces a straight one on an actual AR-15.

Also, the magpul enhanced trigger guard doesn't swing down like the stock AR-15 trigger guard (it screws into place) to accommodate gloves, as it allows for this with it's very shape. So that's not something you would gain.

I can see wanting to do this if you had seriously damaged your trigger guard on your 15-22 as a way to perform a possible repair. Otherwise it seems useless/needless/unnecessary in a way that's different than other accessories/mods for 15-22's.

kingfhb said:

Has anyone tried to cut the trigger guard and drill holes to incorporate a Magpul enhanced trigger guard on the 15-22?

If the guard is solid polymer, it should be able to be shaved off, the detents cut and then holes drilled to fit the Magpul (or any other brands) enhanced trigger guard.

Thoughts? Experiences?

Click to expand...

You did ask for people's thoughts on the matter in your original post... keep that in mind as you take in the responses...

And what you're asking is akin to wanting to cut down a perfectly strong and healthy pine tree, and then graft a different pine tree of the exact same size and shape on to the stump - in the name of "can it be done". Sure it can... but what's the gain and why? At some point, in the name of "can it be done" crosses the line from innovation to insanity at worst and stupidity at best. You're flirting with that line...

I think he may have a Magpul obsession.

I'm going to go out on a limb and concede that no one has done it. I do appreciate everyone answering the question(s)?? So thanks.

I guess I shouldn't have added "Thoughts?" in that original post, because that seems to have just paved the way for responses that are totally off center of the original question of "Has it been done by anyone".

As far as Magpul, it was the most recognizable name that most upgrades to the weapon are done by. I could have just as easily suggested the mod be performed with an Aluminum Spikes Tactical Guard, or any one of the others out there. Then again I can't get anyone to pay enough attention to detail to give a factual answer on the original question.

As for cutting down a tree to put another exact tree in it's place... you have to look at what purpose the tree serves. Like I said in my previous post... why replace the stock? The OEM stock is perfectly fine... given the actual performance and employment of the weapon, a stock change isn't necessary at all and "technically" serves no additional purpose or advantage in any way. Or adding a thicker pad to the stock... again, no purpose. I mean, unless someone is putting some new experimental .22lr rounds down range that all of a sudden increases blowback by 10000%.

How about all of the requests to add a TOTALLY USELESS (other than aesthetics) dust cover? Or complaints that this AR-ish looking weapon doesn't have a Forward Assist handle? We're driven to make "mods" based on our want and need to make the weapon look more authentic and function like the actual weapon. Another reason some have returned other models like the Colt Umarex and Bushmaster to get the 15-22.

Thanks again to all that actually contributed to the answering of the questions. To those hypocrites out there who say it would be useless and a waste, that have made ANY modifications to their 15-22 that fall into that category (like adding a slip on shroud, or flash hider, or single point sling attachment, or any absolutely necessary "Tacticool" (not referring to the company) updates done with their .22lr and can't seem to read, I still say thanks because it was my stupidity to add "Thoughts?" to the original post.

With the mentality of some of these posts (you know who you are... hopefully) I should see NO modifications to your weapons, or actually... you shouldn't even own a 15-22... a .22lr rifle that has been given the appearance of an AR platform. Technically, a mod in itself done by Smith & Wesson.

I guarantee that if the trigger guard was removable... EVERY ONE OF YOU would have replaced that sucker by now.

I'm glad no one ever said "Candles and kerosene lanterns are perfectly fine Thomas, why even make that light bulb".

Cheers!