M&P15-22 Range Report

[raveneap]

As promised, the range report on my new 15-22. Got up this morning to three below zero. Would have canceled shooting except after reading the many posts about FTEs, FTF's, etc. I had to know if I had one of the "good ones" or one of the "bad ones." Arrived at my son's about 10:30 AM. It had risen to a balmy 13 degrees and sunny. I'm really happy to say the the 15-22 functioned flawlessly. Only put 100 rounds down range because of the cold, but all 100 went without a hitch. 50 were Winchester 333 from Wallyworld and 50 were Federal Value Pack, also from WM. Tried slow fire, normal, and as fast as the trigger could be pulled. There were a couple of feet of snow in my son's back yard so nothing fancy as far as checking accuracy, but he had an old 12" saw blade and we dented it repeatedly at 90 feet. More precise tests when weather's a bit warmer. And, as I mentioned in a previous post, I had to shoot right handed, doc's orders due to an implant. It was no problem at all. All in all, I couldn't be happier.

 

[CORPORAL PUNISHMENT]

Glad to hear it, I got my rifle back from smith a couple weeks ago and still haven't got out yet. Nobody wants to shoot in this great Ohio weather I will post when I do maybe this week. Congrats on the rifle

 

[mikehoncho]

i also braved the elements this weekend for my first range test. temps were in the high single digits to low teens. about 250 rounds of federal value pack. one FTF, no FTE. i did tweak my ejector prior to shooting. slow and rapid fire with really no hitches.

tried some subsonic ammo too. no FTF or FTE but i had a few occasions where the spent round was ejected and a new round chambered but there must not have been enough recoil to recock the hammer so i had to pull the charging handle to cock. i wonder if you can get a lighter spring for the bolt to make subsonics work?

sights were way off (low and right) but they are on now.

 

[27 Beck]

i also braved the elements this weekend for my first range test. temps were in the high single digits to low teens. about 250 rounds of federal value pack. one FTF, no FTE. i did tweak my ejector prior to shooting. slow and rapid fire with really no hitches.

tried some subsonic ammo too. no FTF or FTE but i had a few occasions where the spent round was ejected and a new round chambered but there must not have been enough recoil to recock the hammer so i had to pull the charging handle to cock. i wonder if you can get a lighter spring for the bolt to make subsonics work?

sights were way off (low and right) but they are on now.

I suppose you could get a lighter spring or maybe cut the OE one. Some of the guys on ar15.com cut the bolt spring to tune their dedicated upper .22s.

 

[mikehoncho]

I suppose you could get a lighter spring or maybe cut the OE one. Some of the guys on ar15.com cut the bolt spring to tune their dedicated upper .22s.

i'd want an extra spring before i cut the OE one. anyone know where a guy can get one?

 

[27 Beck]

i'd want an extra spring before i cut the OE one. anyone know where a guy can get one?

Getting a spare one is the trick. Seems S&W does not want to sell replacement parts for the 15-22.

Maybe get some springs from a full line hardware store? IDK.

Brownells and Midway USA have gun parts.

 

[BELT_FED]

all the springs in every gun ive ever seen u can buy the same spring in a foot long piece and cut it to length

 

[mikehoncho]

all the springs in every gun ive ever seen u can buy the same spring in a foot long piece and cut it to length

how do you compare springs though? don't you have to take into account the gauge of the wire, the number of coils and the metal itself to get the right amount of tension?

 

[BELT_FED]

when we order it for the belt fed guns we take the spring dia. and the wire dia and the numbers of coils per inch and order that that will get you close most of the time

 

[mikehoncho]

when we order it for the belt fed guns we take the spring dia. and the wire dia and the numbers of coils per inch and order that that will get you close most of the time

i don't believe it can be done. i think you'll have to do that for the bolt spring and report the info here so we can double check your work

i don't think i can get an accurate measure of the wire diameter on my 25ft tape.

 

[BELT_FED]

ya i look around in the shop and see if we have anything close to play with but ill get you some measurement