M&P 15-22 – So many questions…!

[andishdi]

Hi guys,

I’m new to the forum and new to firearm ownership having just gotten my license (UK…) a couple of weeks ago – I’ve duly gone out and bought a couple of things I’ve tried at my local club my favourite being my M&P15-22.

So, I’ve had a good look around the forum but was hoping for some general consensus on a few things (hopefully you’ll be alright re-treading already well-trodden ground!), so here we go;

I bought the MOE edition and love the looks but have found the stock to be no better than a standard one, with that in mind aside from a slidefire stock (not sure how well that’d go down…) what are some good mods that will improve the rifle overall, in terms of accuracy but also just the fun you get from using it (I fitted a fairly cheap 2x red dot and a really good bipod foregrip too, heavy but fantastic)?

Regards cleaning, I like to give the bolt assembly a wipe down and drop of CLP after taking it to the range (has helped with ejected rounds getting stuck, haven’t had any since) but how often do you all clean the barrel and the more fiddly assemblies? I bought a bore snake, are these okay so long as I take care not to snag the ejector guide?

So far I’ve used some Federals (HV) and CCI Standards – I’m thinking of going for some CCI mini-mags and some of the AR Tacticals (which I understand were developed with the 15-22) – what are your experiences of lead against copper coated rounds? Has it impacted cleaning or accuracy? Is it like most things and a case of personal preference or that of the rifle?

Finally, being new to AR ownership, what is your top tip to someone new to the fold?


Thanks for reading and apologies again for going over what’s probably been done a thousand times… But I really look forward to hearing what you have to say.

Andrew

 

[micocyco]

Welcome , I am sure you can & will find more than a few answers to any question you have here.
The only thing I have changed on mine are the sights I put on cheep flip ups, surprisingly after a long time of not even using them I fliped them up & they were still right on.
Just one thing on the bore snake , it is very had to get through the barrel I had the end warped around my foot & still pulled the copper end off. A straw is a good thing to cover the ejector with.
,
Again welcome & post often

 

[sithlord]

The three most common items for mods, fun and accuracy are:
1) Trigger
2) Ammo
3) Magazines

Don't use too much in the way of lubricant. If you use copper plated ammo, be sure to run the bore snake with some copper defouling, wait a few minutes, and then re-run with normal bore cleaner. If you use lead bullets, just run the bore snake twice. Put some cleaner just before the brass bristles and some CLP just after (esp if long term storage).

I clean mine after every range trip, typically 200-500 rounds.

Top tip: [and I'm sure I'll get flamed] You do not have an AR (Armalite Rifle). Many of the components (trigger, butt stock, hand guards, bipods, slings, scopes) will work on this rifle just like an AR and their clones. Call it what it is - a semi-auto 22 tactical-looking rifle.

 

[GhostMutt]

Welcome to the forum Andrew,

I have been addicted to my 15-22 for close to a year now and have finally admitted to the group of my acceptance of my problem, with the help and support of my brothers and sisters on this forum, I am slowly coming to terms with my addiction

Regarding the stock...what is the major problem, wobble? a little masking tape on the buffer tube fixes that? Slidefire wont get past ITAR which is a UK owners biggest bugbear and is a major headache to us this side of the pond. However where there is a will........not sure where the law would stand on 'Slidefire' in the UK, check with your firearms officer.

Cleaning.....DO NOT overlube.....you only really need a tiny bit on the guide rails of the bolt assembly as that is the only moving part, perhaps a tinier bit in the hammer and trigger springs....over oiling attracts dirt that will cause more problems. Bore snakes are fine....just watch that ejector! However the good shooters at my club only bore clean after the end of the season....I have never cleaned my bolt action rifle and it is as accurate as day one...i clean my 15-22 after each comp season.

Regarding accuracy, a barrel nut tool helped my 15-22 which had a slightly loose barrel nut, but i wouldn't class this as an essential piece of kit......yet.

Constantly changing ammo is going to reflect in accuracy as each are made slightly differently and my 15-22 was a picky beast....i settled with Eley and it cycles very well and the only FTF's are obviously ammo related...i think i had 1 FTE in all my shooting, just by cleaning the extractor and the area above the firing pin of gunk you will minimise the rifles stumbling blocks to FTE's and FTF's. (Although if you saw the pics of that filthy bolt the other week all what i just typed means nothing lol)

Accuracy-if there was a magic trick to that well i would be challenging Jerry for his crown...practise, practise, practise...consistent cheek weld, repeatable trigger work and breathing....check out various youtube AR videos. Jerry Miculek probably being the best.
Above all have fun.....if you want a tack driver...you are going to have to get a bolt action....but if you want the best damn fun semi auto 22lr on the market today, then you already have it...embrace it....enjoy it and remember....its okay to confess to us on here, we are all addicted too.

Here is mine....


Happy and safe shooting

 

[andishdi]

All great advice, thank you!

The MOE stock just seems very much like the standard stock, there’s a tiny bit of play in it and it’s not as substantial as I thought it was going to be… There’s nothing really wrong with it I was just hoping it’d be clear why it cost more and it isn’t particularly.

I’ve seen a slide-fire for sale in the UK (someone was selling it unfitted, along with a rifle) but who knows how they got hold of it and whether or not the clubs I’m a member of would appreciate me using it… I was very eager to get one when I first decided on an M&P 15-22 but since getting one haven’t given it a second though as it’s so much fun as it is.

I’ve been careful not to over lube (mostly because of the mess) so aside from literally a drop on each of the springs first time I cleaned it the only thing I’ve used it on is the bolt assembly which I found the CLP was great for – I put some on, work it in and then it seems to suspend the grime so I can just wipe it off. After doing that a couple of times I just add another drop and re-assemble, it’s been great since then and I do really like the CLP (I got Archoil AR4200 as it had a long applicator nozzle) and at the rate I’m using it’ll last forever!

Love the straw over the ejector idea! I am getting very apprehensive about using the bore snake, it’s a genuine Hoppes one I bought but I’m still petrified I’m going to damage something or the cord is going to snap.

I’m going to the range again tonight so will get some pictures of it to try to post up (will have to get some online storage first!).

 

[Rob1]

Hi and welcome to the madness.

Don't worry about the boresnake. Will work fine and you would have to go some to damage your rifle with it.

Sit back enjoy the fun and be ready tonsured as you dream up more and more "must have " items for the addiction.

Slide fire ? Where ? I been looking and looking, and have a range that will let me use one. Lol. IF I can find one. Hahaha

Rob

 

[andishdi]

I saw it on Guntrader of all places! I was very tempted but it was an otherwise base rifle and I really wanted the Magpul bits… In retrospect I could have probably bought the other bits separately, or as I’ve now found potentially not bothered as I haven’t even used the sights – it didn’t help that I was unsure as to legality.

What rounds are you using and how often do you clean the bore?

 

[micocyco]

I saw it on Guntrader of all places! I was very tempted but it was an otherwise base rifle and I really wanted the Magpul bits… In retrospect I could have probably bought the other bits separately, or as I’ve now found potentially not bothered as I haven’t even used the sights – it didn’t help that I was unsure as to legality.

What rounds are you using and how often do you clean the bore?

Some of these rifles like anything you can find, others are a little picky. I like CCI.
Some will say the gun is more accurate with the bore a little dirty,
I go by the face of the bolt when it starts to look bad dirty I clean the whole thing. Usually under 500 rounds.

 

[andishdi]

Put a couple of photos in the photo thread but could resist to post another!

 

[Rob1]

I saw it on Guntrader of all places! I was very tempted but it was an otherwise base rifle and I really wanted the Magpul bits… In retrospect I could have probably bought the other bits separately, or as I’ve now found potentially not bothered as I haven’t even used the sights – it didn’t help that I was unsure as to legality.

What rounds are you using and how often do you clean the bore?

Mine will eat anything it's fed. Hi vel Low vel subsonic hollow point. Cheap stuff / expensive stuff. So far I have had no problems at all. Both with and without sound moderator.

Will have a look see on the site and see if I can find the stock. Thanks.

Rob