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

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bustedmp

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I am getting my son a 22 rifle for christmas, but I am not sure which one. It is either going to be a ruger 10/22 with an adjustable ar style stock, or an M&P 15-22. I clean my firearms after every shooting/hunting trip, and I really like the how easy it is to tear down and clean the 15-22. The purchase cost of both are close to the same after buying the add ons he wants on the 10/22, where the 15-22 is already setup the way he wants. What I want to know from owners of both, is which one you prefer. Which one is more reliable. I know the aftermarket support for the 10/22 is second to none as far as 22 rifles go. I am leaning towards the 15-22, but only on the fact that it will take only minutes to disassemble, clean and reassemble. The 10/22 in the stock kit the my son likes will be a little more involved, but not difficult.

I would appreciate any input and thoughts I can get. My local dealer has both in stock.
 
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Ruger vs S & W 22 rifles

I have both the Ruger 10-22 and the S & W model 15, 22 rifle. My Ruger hasn't been out of the safe this year. The S & W jams less, is extremely accurite, its just a nice rifle. My Ruger is nice too, it has a custom lamiated stock. I have 12 magazines for each. I just perfer the Smith.
 
I would go for the 10/22. He wants the 15-22 because he's a pre-teen and probably likes the way it looks. And it's entirely too much plastic. Feels like a toy to me. The 10/22 can be the one he will have forever. Everybody should have a 10/22 in the collection You can turn it into anything you want as his tastes change. My Ruger has the Tapco on it now, but the wood stock is sitting in the safe, waiting for the day i want to get back the the traditional look. I highly doubt the 15-22 is as accurate as the ruger. I shoot the pencil off erasers at 50 yards with my 10/22. Ruger now makes 25 round factory mags that are awesome, too. I have come very close to picking up a 15/22, but then I say 'what will this do that my 10/22 won't do better?". About the only benefit I see to the 15-22 is it's use as a trainer for the real Ar-15.
 
The 10/22 is a classic and every house should have one in it (I have two). That being said, if he wants an "AR" style rifle, then get the M&P. The 10/22 is a great rifle, but it is not an AR. You can do a million cool things to a 10/22, but it will never be an AR clone, no matter how much you bolt onto it.
 
I have the 10-22 takedown and a 15-22. I really like them both and would hate to have to choose one over the other.

Either rifle will be a good choice. Both are accurate, simple to take down, and reliably shoot bulk and special ammo.

The 10-22 is my choice for small game - rabbits and squirrels because it's light and easy to carry around for a morning but I prefer the 15-22 when I go to the range.

The iron sights on both guns are excellent but I have equipped both with Nikon scopes.

If you get the Ruger, I highly recommend buying a couple BX-25 magazines and an extra 10 round mag too.

To field strip the Ruger you need a flathead screwdriver, but it is very very simple and easy.

Whichever one you buy will be a fine rifle.



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My 10/22 doesn't come out of the safe anymore either. My 15-22 gets used everyday here on the ranch.


If you're goal is to slay paper and get the best groups possible, neither the 15-22 or the 10/22 would be the best option.


I use to think it was cool to dump thousands of dollars on a 10/22 to make it more accurate. Then I started shooting my 77/22 again and realized it was a waste IMO.
 
How old is your son? Reason I ask is if he's old enough to put the question to him with the options he may be the best one to ask which one he would prefer.

The 15-22 as others have said is an excellent trainer for an AR weapon should he have aspirations to go into the armed services, gov't., and/or competitions that involve AR's. You already mentioned no-tool breakdown/cleaning and again, it mirrors take-down/cleaning of an AR. There are numerous parts that will swap out as well but be wary of ones that won't as the 15-22 is definitely NOT a true AR.

The 10/22 is a wonderful weapon also as others have stated. You can get a bare-bones stock 10/22 and let him be the one to modify it to his liking, be it a collapsible or folding stock, or just something that he likes more. I know the 10/22 if you kit it out to be as close to the 15-22 as you can as to the rails and what-not it's going to cost just about as much so price is really only a consideration if you are not planning on doing a bunch of stuff to the Ruger. I know there are Ruger 10/22 owners out there that have built their perfect weapon for half the price of a 15-22, but I'll let them speak for themselves.

Me, I'm saving up for a 15-22. I'd put the question to your son though as I said weighing in on the options and see what he says. :) Can't go wrong with either one I think no matter what he decides.
 
I have both. I bought my Sporter-stocked 10/22 back in the mid 80s and have long lost count of the number of rounds through it. It's basically stock except for the FCG which was worked on a few years ago by Clark Custom Guns to give it a 3.5 lb trigger.

Since I bought the 15-22, the Ruger hasn't been out of the vault except to sight in a new scope. It's still a great rifle, but I now prefer to shoot the 15-22.

Nothing the matter with having both, as others have said.
 
Let me start off by saying I am a Ruger fan through and through. I have more Ruger guns that I care to count including a few 10/22. After my buddy bought his 15-22 I decided I would deck out a new 10/22 to match his 15-22.

Here is the result...

1a820316.jpg


I also have the latest in the 10/22 offering in the new takedown...

e43ab820.jpg


My buddy and I were shooting here at the range one day and he asked to shoot my 10/22 so I obviously obliged as he offered me his 15-22 to shoot. Long story short by the end of the next day I owned a 15-22 and I couldn't be happier with it. I haven't removed the 10/22 from the safe since buying the 15-22. The 10/22 is a great gun and I like them but they are NOT a 15-22. It pains me to admit but I have to be honest in saying I prefer the 15-22 hands down. :D
 
I traded a 10-22 straight across for my 15-22 a few years ago. The 10-22 was a great gun and, even without hundreds of dollars in hop-ups, was quite accurate. The 15-22 is the most fun firearm I've owned. It's even more fun than the SPAS-12 was. It isn't as accurate as the Ruger, but I'm okay with that. Every time I'm out shooting, people put down whatever they might have brought to go through a couple of magazines. Everyone hands it back with a big, stupid grin on their face. Keep in mind that, even though they are the same price initially, it is very easy to spend a lot of money on accessories for the 15-22. I vote 15-22, no contest.
 
i looked at them both and went with the 15-22. it was just more "fun" to me which is what i wanted the gun for. i have never shot a 10/22 though but the s&w seemed easier to add on to for the look i wanted.
 
I have both and like others have said, the 10/22 stays in the safe, the 15-22 goes to the range. I just like having the AR controls, light weight, and 25 round mags.
 
I have both and they each have their place. Both have functioned well with very few issues.

I like the last shot bolt open, the magazine loading (rounds into), and magazine eject of the 15-22.

The 10-22 is more accurate, better built (IMO), and can be built up into any configuration.

I wouldnt sell either but I bought the 15-22 MOE first and the 10-22 VLEH second if that helps.
 
My son is 8, he is tired of his cheap bolt action single shot. The biggest hurdle for him is, he is a lefty, and he gets frustrated with the rigth hand bolt. He started of with his little bb gun when he was 4 and could shoot both lefty, or righty. Over the last few months, he has been all lefty, and can't shoot as good righy anymore. I don't want him fighting it. I have a Stevens 22 semi auto, and it is a very accurate gun, and he loves shooting it, but since it is too big for him, he can only shoot it of a rest, or bags. He shoots very very good with both his air rifle and his 22, but lately the he is loosing interest in his single shot because he doesn't like the way he has to work the bolt. I figured to keep him interested in it until he is big enough for an adult sized gun I would get him a good auto loader. He loves shooting my friends AR when he has the 22 upper on it. If I get him the 15-22 with adjustable stock, he will have it forever. The same with the 10/22 in an aftermarket stock. He has been looking at different guns every time we go to my local shop, and always is drooling over the ar's, ak's and stuff like that. I want to get him into something he likes, so he will beg me to take him to the range. Right now he doesn't want to go with me lately. When I started showing interest in shooting as a kid, all my dad had was full size stuff, and I struggled until I was big enough for them. I don't want my son to loose interest like I did. I want to get him something that he likes, and that won't jam very often.

Thanks for the replies and input.
 
bustedmp said:
My son is 8, he is tired of his cheap bolt action single shot. The biggest hurdle for him is, he is a lefty, and he gets frustrated with the rigth hand bolt. He started of with his little bb gun when he was 4 and could shoot both lefty, or righty. Over the last few months, he has been all lefty
Thanks for the replies and input.
Click to expand...

I know this is obvious but shooting an auto loader left handed adds another level of concern. I doubt anyone here can quantify how many 15-22 or 10-22 have fired "OOB" but if that happens its clearly not a good situation.

Aside from that you'll have the spent casings landing all over the place including the fold in your arm. It might be worth taking a look at an incremental improvent of a solid left handed bolt gun with a higher magazine capacity.

Good luck with purchase
 
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bustedmp said:
I am getting my son a 22 rifle for christmas, but I am not sure which one. It is either going to be a ruger 10/22 with an adjustable ar style stock, or an M&P 15-22. I clean my firearms after every shooting/hunting trip, and I really like the how easy it is to tear down and clean the 15-22. The purchase cost of both are close to the same after buying the add ons he wants on the 10/22, where the 15-22 is already setup the way he wants. What I want to know from owners of both, is which one you prefer. Which one is more reliable. I know the aftermarket support for the 10/22 is second to none as far as 22 rifles go. I am leaning towards the 15-22, but only on the fact that it will take only minutes to disassemble, clean and reassemble. The 10/22 in the stock kit the my son likes will be a little more involved, but not difficult.

I would appreciate any input and thoughts I can get. My local dealer has both in stock.
Click to expand...

I'm glad you asked this question as I am in the same boat trying to decide what to get for my grandson. He really likes my 15-22 but at the Appleseed Shoot I took him to he really had problems in the prone position & the mags resting on the ground. I believe if Pop would have had him some 10-round mags he would have been OK but live & learn I guess. I have looked at the 10-22 & think he would like it OK but I'm pretty sure he would be happier with the 15-22 even if I have to get him some of the shorter mags.
Good luck with your decision, try to keep the young fella interested we need all the shooters we can get
 
Openspaces said:
I know this is obvious but shooting an auto loader left handed adds another level of concern. I doubt anyone here can quantify how many 15-22 or 10-22 have fired "OOB" but if that happens its clearly not a good situation.

Aside from that you'll have the spent casings landing all over the place including the fold in your arm. It might be worth taking a look at an incremental improvent of a solid left handed bolt gun with a higher magazine capacity.

Good luck with purchase
Click to expand...

I shoot left handed and have never had an issue shooting any semis, pumps, or levers in respect to brass hitting me or entering into my FOV. I had one OOB in the 15-22, where the FCG clicked but there was no FP mark on the round, and it is my opinion that if the bolt is not all the way forward, the hammer will not strike the FP. I could be wrong.

While I do not own the 10/22, there was a guy shooting one next to me at the range yesterday and all that I can say is I am glad I chose the 15-22.

I am sure whatever you decide to get him, he will love.
 
Openspaces said:
I know this is obvious but shooting an auto loader left handed adds another level of concern. I doubt anyone here can quantify how many 15-22 or 10-22 have fired "OOB" but if that happens its clearly not a good situation.

Aside from that you'll have the spent casings landing all over the place including the fold in your arm. It might be worth taking a look at an incremental improvent of a solid left handed bolt gun with a higher magazine capacity.

Good luck with purchase
Click to expand...

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.
 
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