I don't really get the M&P 15/22

[kbm6893]

Why the big fuss? It's a .22. You can get a Ruger 10/22 and trick it out to look "tactical" for less. Mags are cheaper, too. I know some people will say it's a great training tool to make the transition to an AR easier, but I disagree. You can teach a person how to operate an AR in about 3 minutes. Shooting a .22 will never equal shooting a .223. Plus, I get the impression tha people buy them just because they look cool.

 

[zercool]

You can teach a person how to operate an AR in about 3 minutes.

How to operate it, yes... but that's *conscious operation*. It takes hundreds or thousands of repetitions to develop muscle memory and get to "unconscious proficiency". It's not about transition to an AR, it's about becoming proficient.

If your patrol rifle or house rifle is an AR-style rifle, then training with the *exact same manual of arms* allows you to develop the muscle memory and motor skills for about 1/20th the cost ($0.02/rd for .22, $0.40/rd for .223).

And yeah, they do look cool.

 

[kenjen]

i bough mine because it looks cool. i also have a 10-22,single six,h&r,mark2,browing lever,remington pump,henry lever and a rem.bolt, you can never have to many 22s.

 

[kscardsfan]

Same as what they said, cheap practice...but it does look cool too.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

I moved this thread from Long Guns to the 15-22 section--

Most people who contribute to this Forum seem to very much enjoy the 15-22. Some use it as a training tool, some just for plinking fun.

C'mon guys.... tell kbm6893 why you like the 15-22!

And yeah.... it is cool.

 

[dpreller]

15-22

I bought one in oct and after I had it a while I thought the same thing I mean I have 4 other .22s so I sold it.well last week I bought a new moe.for me its just something differnt looks cool like you said.Iset it up differnt than my other.22 red dot scope and back up sights instead of a variable crosshair scope.for me its just a plinker a cool toy and a training rifle for my real ar

 

[Rustpot]

The 10/22, when modified to imitate a "tactical" look such as an AR15 looks like junk in my eyes. Even Ruger's new version looks like a bad attempt. It's a great gun, but in my mind it's better as a target gun.

My next rifle is going to be a center fire AR. After a several hundred or several thousand rounds with my 15-22 I'll have the manual of arms down pat and can get right into shooting the expensive stuff well. No reason to train with .223 when I can use .22LR and shoot all day for $20.

 

[MR .44 Spl]

Take one out and shoot a couple of hundred rounds through it and you'll see what the fuss is about. I got mine because it looked cool and I thought would be a good training tool for me and my daughter. But this thing is an absolute blast at the range. One of the most fun guns I've ever owned.

And did I mention, it looks cool?

 

[ceg54]

I love the m&p 15-22 its cheap to shoot and its accurate
I dont want even want a 223
rather have my AK-47 ,each to their own as they say

 

[shawnr5]

I traded a 10/22 with an overmolded stock, a quad rail forend, a bull barrel, a bipod and a 3x9 scope straight across for a plain 1st gen 15-22 and definitely got the better end of the deal. This 15-22 is more fun than anything else I've ever shot. Everybody who puts a magazine or two or four through it grins like a fool and gives it back saying "That's just fun." I've enjoyed accessorizing it immensely and am filling out the NFA Form 1 to submit so I can have my barrel cut short, because it will be even cooler then.

If you really question "Why the 15-22?" go out shooting with someone who owns one. It probably wouldn't take more than a magazine or two to convert you.

 

[rakusi]

The 10/22, when modified to imitate a "tactical" look such as an AR15 looks like junk in my eyes.

You're not the only one that feels that way.

I got mine due to the similarity between the 15-22 and the AR15 platform. I plan on building my first AR15 soon, and I wanted something to help familiarize myself with the workings of the AR15; no, the 15-22 isn't exactly the same as a "true" AR, but it's similar enough to give me a good idea of what I'm looking at. Also, ~$.03/rd for federal bulk to practice with isn't exactly a downside either


Basically, my reasoning is due to the similarity between the 15-22 and "real" AR15s, both in an aesthetic sense and in the functionality.

 

[bang bang]

I purchased my 15-22 for a number of reasons. my first experience was with a S&W15 that my buddy owns. It is lightly modded with some stuff. Eotech red dot, different stock
etc etc. I want a full size AR in the future but just can't afford exactly what the AR build will cost. So main reasons is cost and the fact that anything I hang on my 15-22 will be able to go towards a future bad ass AR build.

It is fun to shoot, cheap to shoot and is a great platform to start off with AR's. All those reasons made another buddy of mine buy one last week too !!!

 

[cain73]

How about this for simplicity:
it's reliable, cheap, fun to shoot, and looks cool.

that pretty much sums it up. I have other larger caliber rifles that are "tactical" in nature, but this rifle is just fun to shoot and I can go to the range with my 8 year old son and shoot all day for next to nothing.

What more reason do you need to buy one ?

The 10/22 is a great gun, but the modified ones look like what they are - modified 10/22's. The 15-22 looks like what it is as well. A .22 rifle that was designed from the ground up to be a tactical style .22 rifle. So instead of a decent retro- fit, you get the real thing. The fact that it's modeled after the AR 15 is just another plus in my opinion.

 

[whoppo]

1) Yes.. it look very cool, especially when it's tacticooly enhanced.
2) Ever take a 10/22 apart for a good cleaning? Ever take a real AR platform apart for a good cleaning? There's a significant difference in the work / time involved.
3) Last round fired locks bolt open... slide another mag in the well, smack the bolt release and continue firing. Not a huge deal, but stays in tradition with it's bigger brothers.
4) Tricking out a 10/22 isn't really any cheaper. Once you've bought a new 10/22 ($250 or so) and an archangel kit ($150 or so) you've reached the $400 tag of a 15-22.
5) It looks cool.

 

[Justinsan]

I love my 15-22. It's fun, cheap to shoot, and looks cool.

 

[BELT_FED]

i assuming that he doesnt own a 15-22 or we would not be having this nice talk.. at close to 20,000 rds threw mine it would have cost several 1000 to put that threw my ars..."cheap trainer"

 

[jtf650]

I'll admit up front that I know nothing about ARs, but I'm pretty sure I've noticed somewhere that there are .22 rimfire conversion kits that can be used on a "real" AR. Wouldn't that be a better way to practice using an AR with .22lr? I guess that assumes one already has the base AR, which may not be the case. Are the conversion kits expensive, relative to the 15-22? Are they unreliable or finicky? Info/opinions appreciated.

 

[Rustpot]

I'll admit up front that I know nothing about ARs, but I'm pretty sure I've noticed somewhere that there are .22 rimfire conversion kits that can be used on a "real" AR. Wouldn't that be a better way to practice using an AR with .22lr? I guess that assumes one already has the base AR, which may not be the case. Are the conversion kits expensive, relative to the 15-22? Are they unreliable or finicky? Info/opinions appreciated.

You have 3 options basically

1. Buy a .22 bolt for you AR. Cheapest solution, but you're relying on a retrofit bolt and firing a .22 down a .223 barrel.

2. Buy a .22 upper receiver set. Cheapest ones are $400 or so, on up to $800 or more. You still need sights, optics, accessories to mimic your centerfire as you desire.

3. Buy a .22 rifle. Gets you a second rifle, built for the .22, need to buy sights, optics and accessories to mimic the centerfire.

The 15-22 is option 3, as is the Colt/Umarex Tactical 22. The 15-22 plastic receivers save a bit of weight without making it unrealistically light (5.5lb 15-22 vs. a 6-7lb AR). The gun can be used for new shooters who are shy of the recoil and noise of the .223/5.56, and saves wear to the lower from having additional rounds shot with it.

The Colt/Umarex .22 doesn't have a working bolt catch and is much more expensive.

The 15-22 is a very logical choice! Sig makes a similar rifle, the 522, which would be a perfect choice if you shoot the Sig 55x rifles or want a rifle like an AR that's just a bit different.

 

[HAWKEYE10]

I bought mine because...

Something my grandson would like to shoot.

Something I would like to shoot.

I like all 22's

Cheap to shoot.

No problem getting ammo.

Something to relax and have fun with.

Nuff said. Don

 

[Ladyfox]

The 10/22, when modified to imitate a "tactical" look such as an AR15 looks like junk in my eyes. Even Ruger's new version looks like a bad attempt. It's a great gun, but in my mind it's better as a target gun.

This pretty much sums up my feelings on it as well. No matter what you do a 10/22 will always look like a 10/22 if you try and make it look like an AR-series rifle. Granted, I've seen some pretty impressive conversions like to a Thompson but every AR build just looks really bad.