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

[Gopher Slayer]

I get what some are saying about sticking to the low capacity bolt guns. That was my grandfather's thinking when he bought my cousin and I our first 77/22s years ago.

However, times have changed. The AR15 is the modern sporting rifle. People target shoot, compete, hunt, and plink with them. To me it isn't a bad idea to get youngins use to the platform early so they are pros by the time they get their first AR15. Then when they do they will be more knowledgeable than most first time AR buyers/shooters. That might require a little more work from the teacher, but that wouldn't bother me at all.

You could always have the young shooter earn his ammo. That might suppress the urge to do mag dumps if the kid doesn't like to do what he is told the first time.

 

[Majorlk]

It's ALL what the adults teach the kids - and how close they are supervised when they are shooting.

My grandson outgrew his Cricket in a couple of months and graduated to my 77/22 and 10/22, but the LOP on both are too long for him and I'm not about to restock them. He handles the 15-22 just fine and is a rather deliberate shooter most of the time. He'd much rather see a target fall or hear the impact on a metal target than machine-gun the rifle.

To each his own!

 

[Kayback]

I agree with pretty much everything said, I was just wondering why the low round count in a high capacity gun. I totally get the sticking with the single shot/bolt action until trusted to use a semi auto, but once there, rock on the 25 round mags.

Gopher has a brilliant idea with the earning the ammo. Time to set up a chore to ammo ratio. That'll actually achieve results. Thanks.

 

[Majorlk]

You could always have the young shooter earn his ammo. That might suppress the urge to do mag dumps if the kid doesn't like to do what he is told the first time.

My son-in-law told Kinley he was going to have to start shooting up whatever ammo he could afford out of his allowance and quit shooting all of grandpa's ammo. That would probably limit him to 100 rounds a month.

 

[rraisley]

"....buy them what they like"........ they "like" full mags. The biggest grin I got from my then 14 year old was after his first 10 round mag dump with the 15-22. (He doesn't even know about the 25 rounders yet..LOL..maybe next year!)

Well, yeah, that is part of the fun. For us, too. But after on fast burst of 25, remind them that the intent of the gun is not to just make noise; you can buy firecrackers and use them without a gun for that. Give them a second target, and have them shoot slow, deliberately-aimed shots at it, and compare the two. They do want to be "good shots" too, right?

 

[bustedmp]

The shop I go to will have a 10/22 in for me with a tapco stock on it tuesday for my son to try out. The 15-22 is a good bit lighter.

My son learned to shoot with open sights. He doesn't want a red dot sight, he wants an actual scope. Another reason for me to get him the 15-22, BUIS that are easily seen unlike the 10/22 i saw with the ati stock. I am not worried about him doing a mag dump if he wants once in a while, but I won't allow it constantly. How can I stop him from doing something I myself do once in a while. I have a 14 square steel target that I like to place as many rounds on as fast as I can with all of my auto loaders.

 

[dannybot]

I have both, and enjoy both. But like most above have said, 10/22 sits in the safe, while 15-22 goes to the range every month.

But I shoot steels, and the AR with a big RDS is faster than the Ruger. If I were squirrel hunting, I'd take the 10-22. I have a 4x Weaver K38 scope on the Ruger with open rings, so I can also use the excellent standard irons on the Ruger.

If he is going to hunt or target shoot, get the 10/22, if he's going to plink or compete steels, or train for 3gun, get the AR.....

 

[jsha22lr]

When I first got into shooting I was 10 years old. I was raised on my dads old Glenfield mod 75 (I think). Iron sights only. When I came of age (14) to get my first .22 rifle, there was two guns I was torn between: the Ruger 10/22 and the M&P 15-22 (plain muzzle). I did my research on both of them. I read magazine articles, youtubed videos, and talked to people who had them. I finally choosethe 15-22 for its lightweight, ergonomics, and the cleaning. When I first got the gun I started out on the iron sights. After about 3 months I finally got a scope. Safe to say that the 15-22 has kept up with me as I've grown

 

[Gatillo]

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.

If you're gonna go for the "ar stock" anyway, just cut to the chase and get the ar platform.

 

[Majorlk]

If you're gonna go for the "ar stock" anyway, just cut to the chase and get the ar platform.

Or just buy the Ruger SR-22. It's Ruger's contribution to the tactical .22 market and is pure 10/22 "under the skin".

Ruger® SR-22® Autoloading Rifle Models

 

[BAM-BAM]

bustedmp,

Training aside..and every kid is different... maturity isn't just a matter of age. Again FWIW..........

If money isn't an object my idea of the best combo for teaching shooting to a son is a good bolt action .22. I like the CZ 452 FS with a scope and J&P rear sight blade, You can get a left handed CZ if needed.

Add a S&W 15-22 w/ 10 round mags in the 2nd or 3rd year of shooting because it does have the same controls as a AR unlike the 10/22,mossburg or Colt. And the stock length can be adjusted. It can be a fun plinker/Trainer ( In Pa. we can't hunt with semi's).

I would add a 10/22 to the mix only because everyone should have one....I love my Internationals with with one with a 1-4X20 scope and one with Williams fire sights. My former "plinkers".

Add to the mix at about age 12 or so a S&W 17 or 18; if you can find one. I prefer a swing out cylinder to a Ruger Single-six for safety. Also the Single six bore is a compromise to handle .22lr and .22mag.

Finally a fun .22 auto at about 15-16....most people like the Ruger, me not so much. My 15 year old has been shooting my Browning HP with a .22 conversion..... but he still likes my little Smith 4 inch 34 revolver better. Go figure!

 

[w0ady]

one option with the 25 rd mags is you control the amount of ammo that is handed out at a time. keep the box and if you only provide 2-3 rds at a time, thats all they can load and shoot. not trying to argue, just help.

 

[magicmechanic86]

both guns are a must in any gun collection period.

 

[xICEMANx]

15-22. I got one for my son. Cheaper mags, weight, AR styling all sold it for me. I had a 10/22 at one time, in don't miss it. IMO they are very over rated.

Sent from my Nexus 7

 

[p51mstg]

On topic: I really, really like both. If I had to choose, I think of the 15-22 as a plinker and the 10-22 as a small game hunter. Not sure why, other than the traditional looks of the 10-22 versus 15-22. At the moment, I'm more interested in plinking, and have put more rounds through my 15-22 in a few short months than in all the years I've owned my 10-22.

I do like how easy it is to field strip the 15-22, but would say a detailed strip of both is probably equal. The downside of the 15-22 is you have to be a little careful with all that plastic. Like someone else said, the 10-22 will last a long time, and can be handed down generations. I doubt the 15-22 will age as well - it's more of a "this generation" gun, instead of a "generations to follow" gun.

For a kid, that probably doesn't matter as much as what looks cool. It's like when I bought my daughter a really nice bike for her 16th birthday. I knew it was something she'd have for her entire adult life - the one thing that could get her from point a to point b when all else fails. To me, it was the most valuable thing I could give her. To her, it was an embarrassment and a disappointment. Go figure.

Moral: Maybe it's better to buy the thing they'll appreciate now, and patiently wait for the day to arrive when you can give them the thing you know they'll appreciate for the rest of their lives.

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

I shoot my semiautos both left and right handed, and I've grown increasingly nervous about that (especially with my Mini-14, which slings brass past my face with incredible velicity).

It's too bad more manufacturers don't make left-handed versions of their rifles, because I think there's a definite need in the market.

My 22's haven't been as much of a concern, because they eject casings at more of a right angle. I also thought the brass deflector on my 15-22 would do some good, but haven't had many opportunities to shoot that left handed yet.

 

[bustedmp]

My son got the oppertunity to shoot a few different 22's. He decided he wants a bolt action. My local dealer found a nice left handed bolt action for me. If he wants to shoot an AR style rifle, he can shoot my AR 15 when I get it.

 

[photoracer]

Getting a .22 auto by 15-16? Man is that behind the times. My dad started me with everything from a Hi-standard 22 to a 1911 before my brother and I were 10 YO. By the 6th gade I was my dads backup gun bearer hunting all over NA.
One of my friends, a fellow competitive shooter, has a daughter, 15 YO who weighs all of 80# at most. She already has a ranking in USPSA action shooting using a full size Glock 17L. She got her first gun, a Browning Buckmark, at about 11 YO. She has already shot a S&W M&P 9 PRO, an STI Spartan, and all the rest of her dad's guns. At the 2012 S&W sponsored PSA Shootout, using a borrowed STI open gun in 9mm she bested every shooter in our club who shot in the open division finishing 33rd overall, 1st junior lady (2nd woman) and the only junior shooter who beat her was Ben Thompson who was on the US World Shoot Team. She shoots Steel Challenge and IDPA also. But she is also an equestrian and a soccer player so she only has time to shoot matches about 3 times a month. She only recently got her first rifle a 10/22, but I also let her shoot both my AR15-22 and my AR with CMMG conversion. Her dad and I are both getting into 3-gun at the same time so I figure she will be doing that within another year.
The slow development of shooting skills is like driving a model T in a world of Ferraris. If they shoot because you do then teach them at whatever pace you want. But if they like to shoot then get them involved in some type of competition, whether it is the local junior rifle team or some kind of pistol competition. If they have a real interest you will be suprised at how fast they will pickup the needed skills with good practice.

 

[kbm6893]

The M&P22 is just too much plastic for me. Feels like a BB gun. What does it do that the 10/22 doesn't? And factory 25 round mags are now available for the 10/22 for about 30 bucks.

 

[w0ady]

The M&P22 is just too much plastic for me. Feels like a BB gun. What does it do that the 10/22 doesn't? And factory 25 round mags are now available for the 10/22 for about 30 bucks.

mimic the operation of a real ar? save you >$10 on mags?

 

[photoracer]

The M&P22 is just too much plastic for me. Feels like a BB gun. What does it do that the 10/22 doesn't? And factory 25 round mags are now available for the 10/22 for about 30 bucks.

Well for one thing There are few people in the world who could shoot a 10/22 fast with accuracy with just a trigger change compared to a 10/22 with as much as you can do to it. If you poured up to $2000 into a 10/22 (its possible) results have shown that shooters of similar skills can do just as well in speed competition with an AR lower and a .22 upper (see results from the Ruger Rimfire World Championships if you doubt me). And an AR15-22 is more accurate than an AR w/22 conversion as I have all of these combos.
AR15-22 25 round mags are around 16 bucks so you can shoot twice as many. Besides I see countless 10/22 at speed events that can't seem to shoot more than about 10 rounds without an FTE or FTF for some reason. AR15-22s just don't have those issues.
There is nothing that kids hate more than a firearm that Dad has to work on when they should be shooting.