first time gun owner with m&p 15-22, should have gone with .223 instead?

[CJ45lc]

JMHO the way I'm thinking right now I'm not selling or getting rid of anything I have. In the O P situation my suggestion is to keep what you have & add to it, if you want an AR now is probably not a good time to buy price wise but who knows what tomorrow brings, get what you can.

 

[Gopher Slayer]

i cannot help but think that maybe the shooter does not feel man enough that he is not handling a more powerfull weapon.

It sounds like "the shooter" might be you. Just saying.

i am trying to understand where the additional penetration power would be needed in home defense situations, assuming the cci velocitor is already shredding the target.

It's not about penetration power, it's about stopping power.

I didn't see any shredded beef in that video. I saw some holes in a small half frozen roast.

 

[Sid Nitzerglobin]

I wouldn't worry what anyone else thinks about your baby AR. Take it to the range and have fun w/ it. Enjoy the fact that you can send 1000 rounds down range in an afternoon for >$50. I've had mine for a little over a month and have lost count of total rounds fired after 5000 in the first 3.5 weeks. If you're not concerned w/ ranges over ~100 yards, there doesn't seem to be much you can't do w/ an M&P 15-22 that you can w/ an M&P 15 from a target shooting/plinking perspective.

As far as HD goes, I'll mainly echo others, rely on your .38 w/ +P ammo if your revolver will handle them and maybe pick up a shotgun if you have concerns, keep them clean and in good working condition, and get a lot of practice and training w/ them. Personally, my go to gun in an HD scenario is going to be my G17 w/ tritium sights and a TLR-2s loaded w/ Cirtical Duty, not my 15-22 or 22/45. In a pinch either of the .22LRs should be lethal over time, but from everything that I've read they don't produce nearly the same temporary cavity and hydrostatic shock and subsequent "stopping power" that a 9mm/.40/.45 defensive round will. Even if I had picked up a .223 or .308 AR or battle rifle (and I still might in the future assuming they are still available and not going to require a 2nd mortgage), I think I'd still be sticking w/ the pistol or picking up a shotgun for HD and shooting the 15-22 and 22/45 a heck of a lot more than the more "manly" calibers.

 

[rraisley]

I was shooting my 15-22 MOE at the range yesterday, and the fellow next to me, who had a no-stock assault-type shotgun, an SKS Russian military rifle, a Ruger 9mm, a Sig Sauer 1911 .45, and a Walther PKsomething 380, asked what I was shooting. When I told him, he said he had one at home too, but mine looked much cooler with the various accessories I'd added. And I'm almost 70 years old, so I didn't feel like I wasn't a man (also shooting my Colt SAA and Sig Sauer P260).

As others have said, use the .38 for home defense (although you really should have gotten a .357 magnum instead), keep the 15-22 for fun (as you say, you're already having fun thinking of accessories, and let me tell you, it's even more fun to shoot). Only reason to get a .223 is if you feel the "need" or want to shoot longer distances.

 

[les strat]

Well 25 rounds dumped on a attacker with the accuracy of the 15-22 is going to stop anyone unless they are wearing juggernaut armor plus 22 is cheap and easily available. I like the guys who show up at the range and setup their rifle for 30 mins and shoot 2 mags pack up and leave, while I'm dumping mags for 3 to 4 hours. You will get way more range time and have way more fun.

Except someone on meth/crack. I certainly would not want to take one round of .22, but it is not what I would want for home SD.

For a end-times patrol the perimeter-type SHTF situ, it's hard to beat an AR or AK... they have just proven themselves. But for normal home defense, I would recommend a good short barrel shotgun and a decent-size pistol (preferrably with night sights) that you can shoot accurately in 9mm or larger.

OP, your 15-22 is is a great rifle, and will be a GREAT training tool for your future AR purchase

 

[les strat]

it is this kind of quote that i do not fully understand. it appears to be the mentality of so many forum posters about the killing power of the 22. it just sounds like you are just barely favoring the 22 over a bat.

i cannot help but think that maybe the shooter does not feel man enough that he is not handling a more powerfull weapon.

i am trying to understand where the additional penetration power would be needed in home defense situations, assuming the cci velocitor is already shredding the target.

It's the fact that 10" of penetration is around what is needed to feel confident with a good JHP round. That's FBI stats, not mine. Add drugs, a leather or denim coat and other clothing, and that .22 might just penetrate an inch or less. Also, the size of the hole matters as well. A good caliber mushrooming JHP will cause tons more trauma and blood loss, thus stopping the threat. And that's your main objective - not to just slow him down.

Not to sound negative, but it's like entering a bass tournament with a cane pole. You can fish, but........

 

[Tenn2]

All the members here are trying to do is give you feedback from their point of view. The .22 is a good weapon, it just has it's drawbacks compared to other calibers. It all comes down to what YOU are comfortable with defending your family. Only you can make that choice.

If I owned nothing else but a .22 then that would be what I would use for HD.

 

[cyphertext]

As others have said, .22lr makes a small hole. To stop an attacker, you need a large hole...something that will make critical organs cease to function. Notice that the .22lr is not a recommended cartridge for deer or larger animals.

Another point to consider is rimfire ammo is not as reliable as centerfire. Many times you will get a misfire from rimfire ammo. Put it back in the chamber where the firing pin will strike a different area and it often will shoot. Do you want that as your home defense ammo?

As far as the noise and recoil of the shotgun, you can get reduced recoil rounds, or go with a 20 gauge. It will be loud, but it is not going to "blow out the windows". Your wife can handle a shotgun with proper instruction, probably better than the .38.

 

[yukonb]

Shooting a piece of roast beef is entirely different then shooting something alive with muscle and bone, That being said stop worrying about the .22 cal M&P its a nice gun take it to the range shoot it, enjoy it with you wife and keep it handy and safely secured at home incase you need it. Any gun you are competent handling and proficient shooting will suffice. Enjoy your purchase

 

[JTB488]

As for the statement of a 22 over a bat, yes that is accurate. Think of it this way, would you rather confront an intruder with your fist or a bat? We are not saying your choice is flawed. If the first weapon readily available to me is my 22, you can bet I will use it!
Also your not taking into account that by the time that 22 round hit the roast beef, it had lost ALOT of it's velocity. So yea it penetrated "X" amount of inches, but with the loss of velocity it failed to expand.

 

[pmbspyder]

Ballistics, stats, Internet bs aside, here's the deal: placing up to 25 rounds center of mass on a target in rapid succession will get the job done. The fact that there is no recoil will help too. Are there better options? Yes. Will your rifle effectively kill someone? Yes. If you're looki for stopping power, go shotgun. Despite what people say a lot of handgun rounds (and .223) are not "drop you in your tracks" type either. Your setup will be fine

 

[TacoDaTugBoat]

it is this kind of quote that i do not fully understand. it appears to be the mentality of so many forum posters about the killing power of the 22. it just sounds like you are just barely favoring the 22 over a bat.

i cannot help but think that maybe the shooter does not feel man enough that he is not handling a more powerfull weapon.

i am trying to understand where the additional penetration power would be needed in home defense situations, assuming the cci velocitor is already shredding the target.

CCI Velocitors are not going to SHREAD the target. It is going to puncture the target many times. I have read many many articles and had seen that same video you posted well before you found it, all in an attempt to comfort myself that my .22 could work for home defense as well as coyote control. It will do the job, but it is not going to drop a coyote in one or probably even two shots unless they are clean head shots. They are also not going to drop an intruder in one or two shots. Many police departments that used to use 9mm have dropped them for larger rounds because they were finding that perps were taking full magazines to center mass and surviving.
A velocitor is 40gr traveling about 1400 fps. A .223 which as I stated earlier is not intended to kill but mortally injure is a 55 to 70 gr traveling well over 3000 fps. The energy is entirely different, well more than double, and even that is not going to have immediate knock down power.
And as another stated, a 22 HP will not mushroom in a target because the velocity is to low.

So the long and the short:
In most cases just pulling the rifle or even firing a couple shots that never even land on the target will scare most intruders away.
In the unlikely event that you have a drugged up large massed intruder, you could unload all 25
rounds into center mass and have them continue their advance. They will likely die from their wounds, but they may manage to do you some damage in the mean time. When it comes to stopping power you cant beat a hollow point that is going to tear flesh apart and cause massive blood loss and organ damage.
Like I said, all I have is a .22 and I will use it if God forbid I need to, but no one here is going to blindly tell you that it is the ideal tool for the job.
And I am "man" enough to knowledge the difference.

 

[perfectcircle1]

People write too much.

Sent from my SCH-R760 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Majorlk]

Geez, another thread beating on this dead horse and the same old information, some of which could get some gullible shooter and/or his family killed. Doesn't anyone ever look through the existing threads.

 

[ARGH]

In the unlikely event that you have a drugged up large massed intruder, you could unload all 25
rounds into center mass and have them continue their advance. .

this is what i am having trouble believing. at a close ranged home defense scenario the velocitor rounds would go THROUGH the large massed introduer's body, would they not?

if so then no man can survive center mass hits like this, especially since there will be very little recoil with the 15-22. you will probably destroy every single organ in a few seconds unloading all 25 rounds from the rfile.

this is pretty much how i am justifying using the weapon in home defense. lowl recoil and rapid firing would equate to a very high percentage of center mass hits. and again, i am assuming that the velocitor penetrates through.

 

[Freeway]

The 15-22 is an awesome trainer, plinker, and (for many) a hunting rifle. Low cost to acquire and low cost for ammunition, with nearly identical operation to an AR-15.

Home defense??? I agree with most of those here that other options would work more effectively. If that is all a person has, then practice and become very efficient with it.

Kind of like a .410 is thought to be poor as a home defense weapon. Maybe, but a well placed shot with a .22 or .410 is better that missing with a larger caliber! (NOT starting an argument about .410s for home defense!)

Enjoy the 15-22, practice, and save up for an AR-15 in the future.

 

[perfectcircle1]

Like i said. Lmao

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[Ghost_Soldier]

this is what i am having trouble believing. at a close ranged home defense scenario the velocitor rounds would go THROUGH the large massed introduer's body, would they not?

if so then no man can survive center mass hits like this, especially since there will be very little recoil with the 15-22. you will probably destroy every single organ in a few seconds unloading all 25 rounds from the rifle.

this is pretty much how i am justifying using the weapon in home defense. lowl recoil and rapid firing would equate to a very high percentage of center mass hits. and again, i am assuming that the velocitor penetrates through.

Not sure if you watch the news at all but recently in Florida a women shot a guy that broke into her house and she shot him 5 times in the face and neck with a .38 special. He then left the house and attempted to drive away, I think he only made it a few blocks away. If a guy can turn around and leave and drive his truck for a few blocks after taking 5 .38 special rounds to the face and neck. What makes you think a little .22lr is going to do any better?

 

[nexus010]

I just joined this forum / website because of this post. Glad to be here, I've been looking here for awhile.

I just bought the MP 15-22 rifle, it was the Monday after the horrible tragedy in Newton CT. I was wanting one of these ever since I saw it in a Field and Stream Magazine about two years ago. Looked awesome. Since I have a limited budget and a family to protect, I started the journey of getting a conceal and carry pistol permit. I decided to buy as my first gun a glock 19 9mm. 115 grain hollow point bullets two 15 rd mags. Thats for home defense. I agonized about buying it and putting off the "fun" gun for later. Now I own both and couldn't be happier, both turned out to be fun guns. I haven't been out to shoot the rifle yet but anticipate having lots off fun.

For what it's worth I'm telling this little story to let you know that others have gone through the same process of justifying things / there purchase. Maybe not the same way you are but I can relate.

I live in Connecticut, so by being so close to what happened I felt a bit uneasy buying it during the recent time frame. But I thought I should considering everything. $429.99 Excellent Dealer in Newington CT. Thanks

Glad to be here! Next is to join NRA

 

[les strat]

I just joined this forum / website because of this post. Glad to be here, I've been looking here for awhile.

I just bought the MP 15-22 rifle, it was the Monday after the horrible tragedy in Newton CT. I was wanting one of these ever since I saw it in a Field and Stream Magazine about two years ago. Looked awesome. Since I have a limited budget and a family to protect, I started the journey of getting a conceal and carry pistol permit. I decided to buy as my first gun a glock 19 9mm. 115 grain hollow point bullets two 15 rd mags. Thats for home defense. I agonized about buying it and putting off the "fun" gun for later. Now I own both and couldn't be happier, both turned out to be fun guns. I haven't been out to shoot the rifle yet but anticipate having lots off fun.

For what it's worth I'm telling this little story to let you know that others have gone through the same process of justifying things / there purchase. Maybe not the same way you are but I can relate.

I live in Connecticut, so by being so close to what happened I felt a bit uneasy buying it during the recent time frame. But I thought I should considering everything. $429.99 Excellent Dealer in Newington CT. Thanks

Glad to be here! Next is to join NRA

You made a great choice in a handgun. A beauty queen, they are not, but a G19 with modern +p JHP's is a good reliable choice for a CCW and home defense handgun and is my EDC. The OP's .38sp with similar ammo is also a great force against an intruder.

And yes, join the NRA! We need a legion in these times!

Congrats on your two weapons!