I have made the transition and ready for an AR .22. What's the skinny on Colt Vs. M&P? I have always like Colt but am reading things I don't like. Seriously.......What is the best one to get? all other brands included. Any problems with any of these? Having problems with some other modern .22 semi-autos/levers and don't need any other problems.
.22 Colt vs. M&P
- Thread starter Sacerdote
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Hands down it is the smith and wesson that is the better buy. The Colt is built to look like an AR, while the S&W is built to work and handle like a real AR.
Check out this video and it gives you a good explanation on the Colt:
YouTube - Colt .22 M4 and M16 Rimfire Rifles - Field Stripping, Cleaning, & Adjustment
Fake bolt release, fake pins, fake sleeve on the barrel that requires a wrench to field strip the rifle (not to mention hammer and punch to take apart!). The S&W works very much like a real AR. Same trigger, stock, rails, dissassembly process, ease of disassembly and general function.
The big part that turned me off on the Colt is the cheap look of the metal internals. The outside looks nice, but it is like colt said "hey they won't see this, we can skimp". The S&W has a nicely machined bolt and bolt rails, and frankly I haven't really found any "cheaply machined" spots hidden away.
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The Colt is not made by Colt. It doesn't function the same, has a non-standard breakdown procedure, non-functioning bolt catch, non standard trigger group, etc.
The only thing the M&P lacks is the outer appearance of the Colt. Almost everything can be swapped with an AR - the trigger, the muzzle device, stocks, grips, rail accessories, and so on. The bolt catch works, and the safety is the same.
The only thing the M&P lacks is the outer appearance of the Colt. Almost everything can be swapped with an AR - the trigger, the muzzle device, stocks, grips, rail accessories, and so on. The bolt catch works, and the safety is the same.
Brett248Vista
Member
The "Colt" is in name only. It's manufactured by Walther and distributed by Umarex (and air soft company) and it is my strong opinion after handling one, that they used air soft externals and made white metal internals to fit inside and fire bullets. As an owner of a high end air soft, I can tell you it's very much the same as an air soft.
The 15-22 on the other hand, uses standard AR trigger parts and aside from a dust cover and forward assist, it functions just like any other AR.
You should go handle both and then make the decision for yourself. You may like the Colt. I personally wanted the functionality of an AR and the 15-22 delivers.
The 15-22 on the other hand, uses standard AR trigger parts and aside from a dust cover and forward assist, it functions just like any other AR.
You should go handle both and then make the decision for yourself. You may like the Colt. I personally wanted the functionality of an AR and the 15-22 delivers.
SW Gun Guy
Member
While I did not look at the Colt, only heard bad things about them as has been said above. Some early problems with the S&W, but those are all gone now. The Ruger is in LOOKS ONLY and 1) you still have to try and load that goofy magazine and 2) it does not even come with sights. I guess there may be others out there; but among the big 3, the 15-22 is the winner is my book. I probably have only done 1000 rds so far, but I love mine. Good luck and have fun.
The other big rifle is the Sig 522, which is about in the same quality as the M&P 15-22. The big difference is the Sig can't use most AR parts (it can use a few though).
The 10/22.. well it comes in pretty much any package. Precision rifle, AR style, or in my case, an M1 carbine; you can get a 10/22 in any package and built for anything your heart desires. I am not sure about the higher capacity magazines, but the Ruger 10 round magazines are about the best magazines you can get; I don't think I have ever gotten a failure to feed with mine.
The 10/22.. well it comes in pretty much any package. Precision rifle, AR style, or in my case, an M1 carbine; you can get a 10/22 in any package and built for anything your heart desires. I am not sure about the higher capacity magazines, but the Ruger 10 round magazines are about the best magazines you can get; I don't think I have ever gotten a failure to feed with mine.
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okstcowboy
Member
I have held, but not shot, the HK 416 seemed like a quality piece its metal unlike the 15-22. Couldnt tell you the real weight of it because they had a grenade (flare) launcher mounted on it. But they did say it had last shot hold open on the bolt. Overall it seemed like a quality piece. You also dont hear much about them but I would pick it over a Colt Umarex but I picked the 15-22 because it seemed to be the best model if you arent afraid of polymer.
Brett248Vista
Member
The HK416 is the same thing as the Colt, it's the same airsoft shell stuffed with white metal innards.
I bought a Colt .22 AR when they first came out. Awesome looking rifle. It was love at first sight. I had to have it. Took it shooting, functioned ok. Did not clean like a regular AR, pot metal parts, etc. My lust soon turned to remorse. I sold it at a big loss within 6 weeks of purchase. 
okstcowboy
Member
so why does the colt not have last shot hold open and the HK does? later model I guess? Im gonna challenge the HK to a dueling tree match and show them why the 15-22 is superior
cmb2474
Member
The Colt (Umarex) does have a bolt hold open... but as soon as you remove the empty magazine the bolt closes! (it's held open by the magazine follower, as opposed to a bolt catch like the 15-22 and the real thing). My buddy bought a Colt. I like that it feels more substantial than my 15-22, but it does not operate like the real thing... I'm glad I went with the 15-22.
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Brett248Vista
Member
The Mossberg is again another "kinda sorta looks like an AR" it's the guts of a 801 Mossberg crammed in a plastic shell that looks like an AR. It does not function anything like an AR.
Shooting Padre
US Veteran
Come on! The answer is in the question. One is Colt, the other is Smith and Wesson. Need I say more?
Asking this question here is like going to Green Bay or Pittsburg this week and asking who will win the Superbowl. Depends on who you ask. I think you will get a different answer on some Colt forum.
That said - I bought the Smith based in part on reviews I read on more neutral forums like rimfirecentral.com and ar15.com. From what I read the Colt was generally considered inferior and the top two were the S&W and the Sig. Now since I have always preferred American companies and I have owned several S&W handguns over the years, I went with the S&W 15-22 and I am very pleased with it.
I am also a big fan of Ruger 10-22s but I do not think much of their AR knock-off. It was not originally designed to be an AR style rifle and Ruger tried to make it something it is not.
That said - I bought the Smith based in part on reviews I read on more neutral forums like rimfirecentral.com and ar15.com. From what I read the Colt was generally considered inferior and the top two were the S&W and the Sig. Now since I have always preferred American companies and I have owned several S&W handguns over the years, I went with the S&W 15-22 and I am very pleased with it.
I am also a big fan of Ruger 10-22s but I do not think much of their AR knock-off. It was not originally designed to be an AR style rifle and Ruger tried to make it something it is not.
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Sacerdote,
Why put yourself through the anxiety .. Sig, colt, etc. Arr!
Smith and Wesson M&P 15-22 is your cure.
You won't regret the 15-22. It's the only dedicated .22 AR that you can really call the big boy's toy! You can leave the weapon alone or have fun changing, adding, coloring, and painting to your hearts content. Enough said!
Aim small,
tat
Why put yourself through the anxiety .. Sig, colt, etc. Arr!
Smith and Wesson M&P 15-22 is your cure.
You won't regret the 15-22. It's the only dedicated .22 AR that you can really call the big boy's toy! You can leave the weapon alone or have fun changing, adding, coloring, and painting to your hearts content. Enough said!
Aim small,
tat
Aceman58
Member
One thing that made me get the S&W M&P 15/22 is the ease of cleaning. 22LR is dirty in general, and the 15/22 can be stripped and clean in about 10mins. easy. The Colt, not so, and if you don't clean the bolt real good, you're gonna have cycle, feed and ejection issues, not to mention those same issues just with a rim fire cartridge.
ill say this............ my colt and sig 522 have never ever had the issues that I had shooting the S&W. i dont care if they function like a real AR or not (the sig kinda sorta does) if i cant go through a mag without a jam with ANY ammo i want to shoot, thats a problem. I love the fact that i can go to wal mart and buy a box of remington golden and shoot all day without any jamming of any type at all. Maybe these problems are fixed now, but im glad I didnt get a M&P when i was looking at them.
Brett248Vista
Member
I'm just glad that there are better brands of ammo out there than Golden Bombs! 
The Colt looks cool and feels substantial (so does my Airsoft M4a1 with a full alloy body). The S&W will break down and clean, as faithfully as any AR, the Colt does not, but that's not to say that it's "hard" to break down. My GSG 5PK doesn't take down as easily as a real MP5, but I still bought one
The Colt looks cool and feels substantial (so does my Airsoft M4a1 with a full alloy body). The S&W will break down and clean, as faithfully as any AR, the Colt does not, but that's not to say that it's "hard" to break down. My GSG 5PK doesn't take down as easily as a real MP5, but I still bought one
