Recommended ammo to break in 15-22?

[PowderMeasure]

They looked closer and said the trigger is functioning correctly. The owner mentioned that some triggers are very crisp and some are gritty and rough, especially with inexpensive 22s (they deal mostly with custom built ARs).

They suggested to continue to break it in, and if it persists to cause me concern, I could call S&W and see if they will do anything, or I can have them replace the trigger with a nicer one.

That was enough info to satisfy me. Being my first rifle, and never having experienced that type of trigger performance in pistols I shoot, I was concerned that there may have been a defect in the trigger.

Looks like it is what it is, and I need to just break it in and see how I like it. Making changes in the future, if I want a better feel, or want to improve the trigger performance.

Just having them check it quickly, was enough to give me peace of mind.

I'm hoping to, someday, learn how to fully takedown and better understand all the internals, so that I could check this out myself. Right now, I'm at the "field strip" level with rifles.

I'm sure this is old hat to those who have experience with numerous AR style rifles.

Appreciate the comments and suggestions folks!

 

[Sixgun_jjr]

IMHO, any machine is a collection of parts...

Nearly all of them tend to improve with said parts
working together as a team.

Now, why would that be... cause, ANY manufacturer
cannot spend hours with each and every rifle coming
off the line.

And I do NOT want to spend a premium for a factory
to go for perfection.

They make a product that works fine, nearly always,
and produce it.

I personally do not believe that S&W let anyone down,
but there may always be the occasional unit that they
need to fix.

I am satisfied with the 15-22, but certainly know that
the rimfire round is by design not perfect.

I have had trash bulk bullets shoot 100's of rounds
perfect, and also CCI's goof up. It's not the magazines,
but seemingly perhaps flawed loading from what I have
seen.

So, my opinion is to... let it AND you just go shoot
the thing and get to know one another.

The lack of perfection of the .22LR Will make you
a better gun owner on many levels.

 

[PowderMeasure]

Just a quick update on breaking in the M&P 15-22...

I ran 200 rounds of CCI standard velocity, while I was also adjusting the sights and practicing shooting standing at 25 yards. I had picked up two more magazines and was alternating, with about 50 rounds per mag.

I had one double feed, and then later on, two stove pipes.

After that, I ran about 100 Federal Range Pack rounds. No issues seen this time (before I had failure to feed - round not at top of mag).

I did spend more attention to loading the magazine carefully.

The trigger seems a little better, but still pretty rough. I didn't even try to check the reset, which was previously very odd (click/bump, then further release gave a larger click and real reset).

Plan is to keep putting rounds through it and see if the trigger feels better over time.

I may try some of the Aguila Super Extra rounds I have, and I finally found some CCI mini-mags and have ordered them.

 

[giants1]

Working the action

Whatever you can get the cheapest.
Working the action thousands
Of times while you are watching TV or somethjngnis chesp break-in.

Do you work the action dry or with lubricant?

The Ruger 10/22 fans recommend polishing the bolt and the underside of the slide cover. Would polishing the action be an effective alternative to working the action?

 

[giants1]

Is hyper-velocity ammo safe to use in the 15-22?

And would its recoil better simulate the .223/5.56 than standard or high velocity ammo?

 

[Eric300]

Do you work the action dry or with lubricant?

The Ruger 10/22 fans recommend polishing the bolt and the underside of the slide cover. Would polishing the action be an effective alternative to working the action?

Althiugh both are .22 semi-auto rimfires, the Ruger 10-22 and M&P 15-22 are two different kinds of animals. Polishing the action parts on a 10-22, along with the inside of the upper does help smooth up the function of the action. On a 15-22, not so much. You're better off keeping the 15-22 clean and PROPERLY lubed.

Is hyper-velocity ammo safe to use in the 15-22?

And would its recoil better simulate the .223/5.56 than standard or high velocity ammo?

HV ammo is just fine in a 15-22. It won't hurt a thing. But still not even close to the (albeit mild) recoil of 5.56/.223 centerfire ammo.

 

[PowderMeasure]

Another update on ammo and break-in...

Tried out the M&P 15-22 at a Steel Challenge event. Had a blast, and learned quite a bit from shooting and talking to others, who were giving me tips.

I was using the stock rifle with iron sights and was really happy about accuracy. I was slow, pausing at each target to ensure I heard the hit, but as I build confidence, I'm sure I'll get smoother and not wait for the hit. It took a bit to get used to getting a quick site picture (initially, I didn't have the butt up high enough, near my cheek), and I have a lot more things to work on, but I was really happy (and surprised how I did). I really expected to get a "D" everywhere, but ended up with a "C" on four stages and a "D" on three (outer limits, which I don't do much, 5 to go, and pendulum - the expected tougher stages, to me at least). Not I have a baseline to work off of, for each event.


On the first stage, I tried the CCI Standard Velocity rounds and had two double feeds. Switched to the Aguila Super Extra and had not issues the rest of the match.

I have some CCI mini-mags on order, and will try them out. It looks like I need high velocity ammo with that rifle, at least for competition.

I'll have to try the Federal Range pack ammo (not during matches) more to see if it works reliably.

I tried CCI SV in my Ruger Mark IV, the day before, and had some jams as well. Mini mags, Federal Automatch, Aguila, all seem to work fine on that pistol.

 

[flip flappy]

I have the same type of trigger reset with my 15-22 and it doesn't bother me. Mine does seem to be picky with ammo. I can't shoot hollow points in mine without a FTF. I shoot round nose 40 gr with no problems. Standard or high velocity work equally well.

 

[diyj98]

I'd just shoot it with whatever ammo I had lying around.

 

[Kp321]

The 15-22 is my most used rifle by a long shot. It runs 100% on any ammo I put in the magazine including Armscor SV, the nastiest 22 ammo on the planet.
I have replaced the stock trigger with a CMC 3.5 # drop in unit. 15-22’s won’t fire reliably with some aftermarket triggers and especially the light pull spring kits that work well in center fire ARs.

 

[PowderMeasure]

I have the same type of trigger reset with my 15-22 and it doesn't bother me. Mine does seem to be picky with ammo. I can't shoot hollow points in mine without a FTF. I shoot round nose 40 gr with no problems. Standard or high velocity work equally well.

It doesn’t really “bother” me, but is noticeable, when I try to hold and then release until reset. Different than two others I have tried.

CCI mini mags work well so far - trying to use those for matches.
Had a few double feeds and stove pipes with CCI standard velocity per 100 or so.
Aguila Super Extra work pretty well, only a failure every 200 rounds or so.
Federal range pack has a failure every 50-100 initially, but after having shot 2000-3000 rounds of different types, it does seem to be getting better.

Not as reliable with ammo, as my Mark IV though.

 

[PowderMeasure]

The 15-22 is my most used rifle by a long shot. It runs 100% on any ammo I put in the magazine including Armscor SV, the nastiest 22 ammo on the planet.
I have replaced the stock trigger with a CMC 3.5 # drop in unit. 15-22’s won’t fire reliably with some aftermarket triggers and especially the light pull spring kits that work well in center fire ARs.

That really great for you. It’s nice when one has confidence on the ammo. Did you have that performance from the get go, after a break in, or after the trigger swap?

 

[Univibe]

A double feed is a magazine issue.

I'll bet you're having extraction problems. 15-22 is picky on ammo. Run high velocity, clean frequently, scrub the chamber, generous lube with light oil such as CLP.

 

[342ti]

You're reading too much online. Like any .22, buy the cheapest Hi Vel stuff you can find, and plug away Brother!