.22 Colt vs. M&P

I go by this name on several firearms forums. You may have read some iteration of my opinion & seen these pictures before.

I bought the Colt M4 Ops based on the Colt brand name & the look & feel. It performed well when it worked. I took care of mine according to the user's manual.

The first outward indicator that it wasn't great can be found in the user's manual. It states that removal and disassembly of the bolt is not required for cleaning. The "maintenance free" bolt is held captive in the upper, and isn't accessible to the novice firearms enthusiast.

The second outward indicator is that outward tension provided by screwing down the flash hider is the only thing holding the barrel in place. The flash hider has to be loosened to separate the upper and lower. If the flash hider is loosened too much and the barrel gets tapped, the barrel will dislocate from the receiver.

IMG_0189.jpg


I took the following pictures while I was fixing the Colt M4. These pictures were taken after I cleaned caked on crud from all the parts.

Looks impressive right?
IMG_0183.jpg


The Colt M4's beauty is only skin deep. Once you get under that pretty shell:

IMG_0184.jpg


IMG_0185.jpg


IMG_0190.jpg


Under the pretty shell, none of the guts are AR-like. It has a thin wall, pencil barrel. The proprietary trigger is obscured by a housing. The grip is proprietary. The buffer tube is proprietary. The fake dust cover is always open. The bolt release paddle is non functioning, just there for cosmetics.

I couldn't bring myself to sell the piece o junk directly or indirectly to a fellow firearms enthusiast. IMO no one should spend their hard earned money on one.

A good friend of mine, who is currently unemployed, wanted it. I explained what a piece o junk it is under the skin. He still wanted it. He asked me what I thought it was worth, and how much I wanted for it. I just gave it to him.

I have had several Umarex .22lr owners upset with me over my opinion, because I think all Umarex .22lr products are garbage. IMO, the S&W M&P 15-22 is the only dedicated .22lr AR platform worth buying.
 
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I too considered the Colt but glad I chose S&W, at least so far. The Colt ops M4 looks cool but seemed like gingerbread compared to the S&W with a match grade barrel. I don't care for the Mossberg at all.

Just to muddy the waters, here is another option that I really haven't heard anything about. Anybody hear of Chiappa Firearms M4-22 carbine? I just came across an article on it in the September 2011 issue of The American Rifleman NRA magazine. Similar to the Colt/Umarex setup, it looks more like a traditional AR M4 complete with charging handle, forward assit, dust cover, bolt release... however, some controls are nonfunctional and purely cosmetic.
 
Hmmw!
There is quite a sell's war/battle going on in Tacticool .22lr. rifles.
The big players as far as I can see are GSG, and UMAREX.
Colt, Sig, H&K, and others seem to be going too these makers for their tacticool .22lr's.
They brand them with their name, distbibute them in their network, but do not make them.
In my opinion you pay ~ $100.00 more for the brand name.

I gave a good look at a lot of these rifles. I think the guys at GSG have it right, the UMAREX look great, but.....

S&W built their own, and it is a home run! The Smith is as close to my AR15 as can be.

I bought a GSG 1911 today. I looked at the Colt rail gun also. For less money I think I got the better pistol.
The Ruger, the Mossberg, the Chiappa, the Remington, all look good, but don't operate like a AR15.

So IMHO S&W M&P 15-22 wins in the rifle war!!!

Guy22
 
JaPes said:
I go by this name on several firearms forums. You may have read some iteration of my opinion & seen these pictures before.

I bought the Colt M4 Ops based on the Colt brand name & the look & feel. It performed well when it worked. I took care of mine according to the user's manual.

The first outward indicator that it wasn't great can be found in the user's manual. It states that removal and disassembly of the bolt is not required for cleaning. The "maintenance free" bolt is held captive in the upper, and isn't accessible to the novice firearms enthusiast.

The second outward indicator is that outward tension provided by screwing down the flash hider is the only thing holding the barrel in place. The flash hider has to be loosened to separate the upper and lower. If the flash hider is loosened too much and the barrel gets tapped, the barrel will dislocate from the receiver.

IMG_0189.jpg


I took the following pictures while I was fixing the Colt M4. These pictures were taken after I cleaned caked on crud from all the parts.

Looks impressive right?
IMG_0183.jpg


The Colt M4's beauty is only skin deep. Once you get under that pretty shell:

IMG_0184.jpg


IMG_0185.jpg


IMG_0190.jpg


Under the pretty shell, none of the guts are AR-like. It has a thin wall, pencil barrel. The proprietary trigger is obscured by a housing. The grip is proprietary. The buffer tube is proprietary. The fake dust cover is always open. The bolt release paddle is non functioning, just there for cosmetics.

I couldn't bring myself to sell the piece o junk directly or indirectly to a fellow firearms enthusiast. IMO no one should spend their hard earned money on one.

A good friend of mine, who is currently unemployed, wanted it. I explained what a piece o junk it is under the skin. He still wanted it. He asked me what I thought it was worth, and how much I wanted for it. I just gave it to him.

I have had several Umarex .22lr owners upset with me over my opinion, because I think all Umarex .22lr products are garbage. IMO, the S&W M&P 15-22 is the only dedicated .22lr AR platform worth buying.
Click to expand...


JaPes,

Where's the "Hop Up" adjuster? :D
 
To me, the "Colt" appeared to be poorly made when I looked at it and handled it in the store, but after seeing those pics of it broken down, I am so glad I decided on the S&W. I can't believe that Colt would actually put their name it. I'd rather trade looks for quality and functionality. I did a conversion http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-m-p-15-22/212740-s-w-m-p-15-22-m4-car-conversion.html on my S&W 15-22 to make it look like this below. I think it is close enough to the "Colt" look for me but with the advantage of being a much better functioning weapon and having better overall quality.

15-22M4opensm.jpg


Compare my S&W above :)

to

the "Colt" below :(

Colt22.jpg
 
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I did a lot of research on buying a tactical 22. I really liked the LOOKS of the HK 416 and the Colt M4. Thanks to the internet and numerous articles I purchased the MP 15/22. I don't need to repeat everything that has been said about the Umarex/Walther making the Colt and HK 22s. I can say that the MP 15/22 is the most fun I have had with a weapon in years. Its not only fun to shoot, it's inexpensive to make it look just like you want it too. The magazines may be proprietary but so what when you can easily find them for $18.00! I have never had a problem with it although I must say that it likes Federal ammo. Any 22 with a waxy buildup on the casing gives it a bit of anxiety with occasional FTF. So get that cheap Federal for $15.00 for 550 rounds at Wally world and shoot all day long. I really love this thing. I also purchased a GSG 5PK that is also a blast to shoot and very reliable. It's also very well made. I just purchased a KelTec PMR 30 pistol and WOW this thing is great. A HUGE difference with the 22 WMR. Anyone reading this forum and trying to decide on a tactical 22, the MP 15/22 is by far the best choice you can make. After all, you want to make sure it works and fires all the time. I don't think that can be said with the other brands.
 
Great Look on the S&W.
I like the hand grip and barrel on which one?
Duh!
Guy22
 
This is the S&W forum,
so I'm not going to slag of, make fun of, or make degenetoray remarks about the Colt (says so on the rifle, but realy isn't)
M4-22 here.

I'll constrain myself in stating the I'm SO glad I bought the S&W M&P 15-22 instead of that... (oops,nearly... :rolleyes:)
 
The 15-22 is the best bang for the buck. The controls are identical and you can even put standard trigger control groups in.
Plus the customization is almost limitless thanks to some companies (shameless plug ;D)
 
S&W 15-22, Sig Sauer 522, and KelTec SU-22 were all on my list. They're all wonderful guns- the 15-22 was my choice because it really has helped me be able to basically run AR controls in my sleep.

The "Colt" vs 15-22 debate has raged on for some time now it seems...The comparison is so night and day I'm surprised they still make the colt. The colt was on my comparison list for a few minutes until I watched a disassembly video.
 
Glenn in PA said:
S&W 15-22, Sig Sauer 522, and KelTec SU-22 were all on my list. They're all wonderful guns- the 15-22 was my choice because it really has helped me be able to basically run AR controls in my sleep.

The "Colt" vs 15-22 debate has raged on for some time now it seems...The comparison is so night and day I'm surprised they still make the colt. The colt was on my comparison list for a few minutes until I watched a disassembly video.
Click to expand...

Kel-Tec SU-22: "4 Pounds of Tactical" by Nutnfancy - YouTube
I think the SU-22 might be my next buy.
Guy22
 
I had the pleasure of checking out both weapons, Colt and M&P 15/22, after reviewig both externally and internally (I build AR15s from scrap, also retired rangemaster for over 16 yrs rebuilding and working on AR15s). I pick the S&W, better designed from the ground up to be a 22LR using the AR15's design scaled down to 22LR. The Colt, as other have said, looks like a AR15 from the outside but is a build nightmare from a design standpoint. Doing a complete cleaning of the Colt bolt, well I can say more owners won't or can't and it is not easy to do. The M&P is a few minutes and is so easy to take apart and put back, it's a no brainer. Take it from me the 22LRs rimfire cartridge are dirty little suckers, you will be happy with the M&P and you will be able to clean her and understand her better. Plus if you train with the M&P 15/22, you're also training for the AR15 5.56/.223. Good luck.
 
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mn_doggie said:
I watched the video. KelTec has some interesting stuff, but for the price differential (less than $100) fewer accessory options (Based on AR components) and ease of maintenance (it looked really tedious) I'd go with the 15-22. (Which I did.)
Click to expand...

Sorry if misunderstood. I already have a 15-22. I wasn't talking about a choice between one or the other. I was talking about another purchase, I have been thinking about.

I got the 15-22 mainly for low cost M4 training. I think the Kel-Tec might be the prefect walk in the woods, plinking rifle.

Guy22
 
guy22 said:
Sorry if misunderstood. I already have a 15-22. I wasn't talking about a choice between one or the other. I was talking about another purchase, I have been thinking about.

I got the 15-22 mainly for low cost M4 training. I think the Kel-Tec might be the prefect walk in the woods, plinking rifle.

Guy22
Click to expand...

And you wouldn't use your 15-22 during a walk in the woods?

Mine works great for that.
 
mn_doggie said:
And you wouldn't use your 15-22 during a walk in the woods?

Mine works great for that.
Click to expand...

Are you questioning this fella's desire to purchase another firearm?! :rolleyes: it's what we do!!!

Like the good book says- man cannot live by 15-22 alone.
...or something like that, I'm not very good at reading :confused:
 
Glenn in PA said:
Are you questioning this fella's desire to purchase another firearm?! :rolleyes: it's what we do!!!

Like the good book says- man cannot live by 15-22 alone.
...or something like that, I'm not very good at reading :confused:
Click to expand...

I admit that I've drunk gallons of the 15-22 and TNP koolaid.

But, I'm pretty hesitant about some of the Keltecs. I have considered buying a few. I know several people with the Sub2000 who had problems (I believe Keltec, on their website, give a normal 4000 round figure for the life of some of their firearms. Most firearms are just getting broken in at that point.) They claim Keltec gave them a run around on the warranty. The guys ended up selling the Sub2000 and getting a HiPoint 995 and had better results.

I guess, even though I've bought stuff based on NutNFancy's reviews, I would do more research on the SU-22.

I still see the effort it took to break down that SU22 in the video. :eek:

However, you are right people should be able to get whatever firearm that tickles their fancy.

I will repeat the Man's Prayer 10 times.....

I'm a man
I can change
if I have to, I guess...
 
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