Ruger 10/22 or m&p 15-22?

[Ditchdigger]

Again I want to thank everyone for their points of view. That being said I believe I've made up my mind and will have to go with both. My oldest likes the idea of the challenge to pick an eraser off a pencil at 25+, the youngest likes the tacticool look. I like the idea of both. Now the difficult part, convincing the Lady of the house without having to get the pink camo version.

 

[chud333]

10/22 all day long. Your kids are young and probably play Call of Duty so they're gonna want the 15/22. But the 10/22 is a better gun. Far more accurate. Endlessly customizable. And it doesn't feel like some plastic toy. I have an AR15 and like it, but when I feel like shooting a .22, the 10/22 comes out. At 50 yards, I shoot the erasers off of pencils with a Nikon 3X9 scope. No lie.

This is my experience also.
If you want an Accurate rifle buy the Ruger 10/22
If you want to play Tacticool buy the AR copy.
Why spend the extra 300 bucks for a wannabe ?

Chuck

 

[DelFuego]

We are ages 37,13,12, and 10. I'm looking to pick up a fun shooting .22 for the boys and I and I'm not sure which one.
I have many questions on the differences in the m&p's, seems that there are many options from the factory that are still Greek to me. I'd like something that i can expand and build on, if I choose. Guess I'm looking for the 'lego' model not the 'duplo'.
Obviously I'm leaning toward the s&w just need a little talking into it to push me over the couple hundred dollar difference.

Any help and or suggested reading material would be greatly appreciated.

One 15-22 for each one of you!

 

[Gatillo]

I have both, too. Started out with the 15-22, and then wanted to have the takedown model of the 10/22 for its packability.

 

[Lost Lake]

The 15/22 is fun.... My boy likes shooting it as fast as I can load magazines. We set up balloons and moving targets, clay pigeons, tip overs and spinners. He didn't like the holographic sight so he uses iron sights and is a great shot.

I go more for accuracy so I use a 10/22 sometimes, other times if I really want to hit what I aim at I take my Anschutz. To me, hitting a match tip at 50 yards is infinitely more satisfying than busting 50 balloons at 50 feet. Not so with my son.

So I'd get both like you said, and when he is frustrated that he can't hit a small water balloon at 50 yards, let him grab your 10/22 with a 24x scope on it and then he will learn there are two different worlds of shooting.

 

[Ruger14Ron]

Wow, lots of responses - not enough time to read through them all, so forgive me if I repeat.

I saw a few comparisons to cars and I look at it like this. Would you want your kids' first car to be a dependable sedan or a high-strung sports car? Another comparison that is close to home is guitar. When my daughter wanted to start a pro guitarist I know said "she's going to want a strat, but she'll learn a lot more with an acoustic". So pull all of that together and I see a nice progression in the works. Start with something like a CZ Bolt Action to really instill things like respect, safety, patience, ammunition conservation, etc. Let them earn moving up to the next level.

Yes, you could start with a 15-22 with all of the fixings - Bushnell TRS-25 (I have one on mine), Magpul furniture (on mine), etc. Create a trainer for an AR-15. You can think "they play video games, it's what they'll find fun", but it may be likely that their interest isn't retained because they "got the Vette" from the start.

The Ruger 10/22 and new SR22 platforms are legendary. I don't see how you could go wrong with that as a starting point. And stick with 10 round magazines and let the kids budget their ammo.

 

[cyphertext]

Wisdom comes from experience. If you gave a child the choice for what to eat for dinner, he'd ask for cheeseburgers and french fries everytime, but we wouldn't support that. For great music, they want Justin Bieber. Not many here would agree with that, either.

Are we really supporting letting a kid's interest in a video game be the deciding factor as to what to buy?

Yeah, that tactical rail on the 15-22 is a real winner. Who knows when we're gonna want to hang a tactical light or a laser on a .22. The 10/22 puts the same holes on paper, is more accurate, and customizable. And the whole "15-22 as a trainer for the AR" is nonsense. The recoil is so different it's not training anybody.

This is reply is so far off, not sure where to start...

1. The M&P 15-22 can be used as a trainer for the AR. The trigger is the same. The manual of arms is the same. Militaries the world over have used .22lr trainers for their main battle rifles. When I was in the USAF, we shot with conversion bolts in the M-16 for qualifications.

2. Letting the kids have some say in what they would like to shoot is not like feeding them hamburgers for every meal. I've seen many young boys go from little to no interest in shooting to wanting to shoot all the time, just because of the firearm. When my son went to a camp over the summer, they had several rifles for the boys to shoot, from bolt actions and pump actions to Rugers and M&P 15-22s. Guess which gun was the most popular with the 11 to 17 crowd...the M&P 15-22 with a red dot sight. Second most popular was a 10/22 dressed up in an Archangel kit.

3. I would also disagree that right out of the box the Ruger is more accurate. It might have the potential to be more accurate, but the stock sights suck. They are not easily click adjustable and repeatable, like the A2 style sights. If the Ruger was the best thing since sliced bread straight out of the box, the majority of 10/22s used at Appleseeds wouldn't be wearing Tech Sights.

The 10/22 is a good rifle and was what I picked when I was a boy. But, when I was a boy the M1 Garand and the M-14 were still cool. The vets complained about the plastic Mattel toy rifles. Times have changed....

 

[Bayou 15-22]

I have a twelve year old daughter who expressed interest in shooting. After diligent research and recommendations I purchased a Magnum Research MLR22TB . It combines the Ruger 10/22 action and aftermarket options with a tactical like look and adjustable stock. The graphite barrel is very very accurate and super light weight (the whole gun is 4 3/4lbs!) I had to pay more than I did for the m&p 15-22 camo I just bought however.

Just another option if you can purchase only one gun at this time.

 

[kbm6893]

This is reply is so far off, not sure where to start...

1. The M&P 15-22 can be used as a trainer for the AR. The trigger is the same. The manual of arms is the same. Militaries the world over have used .22lr trainers for their main battle rifles. When I was in the USAF, we shot with conversion bolts in the M-16 for qualifications.

2. Letting the kids have some say in what they would like to shoot is not like feeding them hamburgers for every meal. I've seen many young boys go from little to no interest in shooting to wanting to shoot all the time, just because of the firearm. When my son went to a camp over the summer, they had several rifles for the boys to shoot, from bolt actions and pump actions to Rugers and M&P 15-22s. Guess which gun was the most popular with the 11 to 17 crowd...the M&P 15-22 with a red dot sight. Second most popular was a 10/22 dressed up in an Archangel kit.

3. I would also disagree that right out of the box the Ruger is more accurate. It might have the potential to be more accurate, but the stock sights suck. They are not easily click adjustable and repeatable, like the A2 style sights. If the Ruger was the best thing since sliced bread straight out of the box, the majority of 10/22s used at Appleseeds wouldn't be wearing Tech Sights.

The 10/22 is a good rifle and was what I picked when I was a boy. But, when I was a boy the M1 Garand and the M-14 were still cool. The vets complained about the plastic Mattel toy rifles. Times have changed....

Not far off at all. The low recoil on any .22 makes it a poor trainer for real centerfire ammo. I can hit the bullseye with my 10/22 all dat long at 50 yards. With iron sights. Group is the size of a nickle. The same groups aren't going to happen with a centerfire.

You're going to use a "trainer" for a 10 year old? What about sight alignment, and trigger control? I leanred to shoot on a bolt action .22. Kids today want high capacity tacticool guns like the 15/22. They also want new iphones for their 10th birthday. Should we give them those?

My son is 6. I plan to start him shooting when he's about 9. I will be picking up a bolt or lever .22 for him. When he gets it down, we'll move on. But giving a child a tacticool .22 so he feels like he's in a video game is not the proper way to teach him to shoot. Maybe one day I'll get a 15/22. Not against them. But for a kid, I'm starting with anything but.

And the reason your son's choice was the 15/22 or ArchAngel with a red dot is because he has seen a bunch of movies or played video games. Think that will make him a batter shot? he'll spray 500 rounds in an hour and have a grouping like birdshot.

I took my nephew to the range last year. He didn't want to shoot my 10/22 (which has a Tapco stock, by the way). he wanted to shoot my Ar, because "that's what they use in my game".

 

[WI357SIG]

Old School Anyone

I have a Ruger 10/22 with walnut stock that I acquired about 20 years ago and it's still new in the box. My favorite .22 is a Winchester 9422 lever action with a 4X scope.
RUGER14RON is right on target. Growing up, a box of 50 longs would last several weeks. I read somewhere that young shooters should start out with a bolt action .22 and that still makes sense today. Things like respect for firearms, safe gun handling, and accuracy along with ammunition conservation are easier to teach with a bolt action. .22 ammo is in short supply and is more expensive now; a bolt action will serve the needs of a young shooter. The current Savage bolt actions have an excellent trigger, are very accurate and it is easy to mount a scope. After safe gun handling is taught, focus on punching some holes in paper. Any similarity between introduction to gun handling and video games is not healthy. Teach them well and stay safe.

 

[cyphertext]

Not far off at all. The low recoil on any .22 makes it a poor trainer for real centerfire ammo. I can hit the bullseye with my 10/22 all dat long at 50 yards. With iron sights. Group is the size of a nickle. The same groups aren't going to happen with a centerfire.

You're going to use a "trainer" for a 10 year old? What about sight alignment, and trigger control? I leanred to shoot on a bolt action .22. Kids today want high capacity tacticool guns like the 15/22. They also want new iphones for their 10th birthday. Should we give them those?

My son is 6. I plan to start him shooting when he's about 9. I will be picking up a bolt or lever .22 for him. When he gets it down, we'll move on. But giving a child a tacticool .22 so he feels like he's in a video game is not the proper way to teach him to shoot. Maybe one day I'll get a 15/22. Not against them. But for a kid, I'm starting with anything but.

And the reason your son's choice was the 15/22 or ArchAngel with a red dot is because he has seen a bunch of movies or played video games. Think that will make him a batter shot? he'll spray 500 rounds in an hour and have a grouping like birdshot.

I took my nephew to the range last year. He didn't want to shoot my 10/22 (which has a Tapco stock, by the way). he wanted to shoot my Ar, because "that's what they use in my game".

So, you think the military is wrong by using .22lr as trainer? The groups don't open up that much, because it is the same trigger pull and the same sight picture. Look how many guys run a conversion bolt in their AR....same purpose, training. You get more trigger time for less money.

My son started shooting way before 9. He started on a Crickett single shot bolt action around 5. Shot that until he was 10. Then he moved onto the 15-22. You have no idea why my son chose the 15-22. Could it possibly be because dad has an AR-15? Because his uncle has an AR-15? And no, he doesn't spray 500 rounds an hour and have a grouping like birdshot. He consistently shoots a 5 shot group at 25 yards that a quarter can touch all 5 shots, from a rest, without optics. He earned his rifle merit badge in Boy Scouts on his first time out. My son also hunts and shoots close to 1 MOA with his .243 at 100 yards. But for just fun shooting, he likes the 15-22 with red dot sight.

Besides, the OP didn't ask if either of these were how we would start a kid shooting. He asked for a "fun shooting .22 for the boys", and for boys today, they would pick the 15-22.

 

[Chuter]

The correct answer is "both". I have had several 10/22's and they are fine rifles. For young boys, I really would use the 10/22 first. It simply is a more robust, damage resistant rifle. My wife has her 15/22 and loves it. It's a lot lighter than they 10/22, a key feature for her.
A wood stock on a 10/22 will probably give your youngsters several advantages over the 15/22. It will be harder to break, give them the feel of a wide variety of other rifles and be as comfortable to shoot as either.
I train young shooters on either a bolt action or pump action rifle before moving to a semi-auto. Yes you can just load one round into a semi auto mag and if budget allows for only one or two, get the 10/22.
I also like my Malin 7000T. It will outshoot the Ruger or Smith at distance all day long. That being said, under 100 yards the 15/22 is the most fun .22 one could every want.
So there, just my $0.22 for your consideration.

 

[kbm6893]

So, you think the military is wrong by using .22lr as trainer? The groups don't open up that much, because it is the same trigger pull and the same sight picture. Look how many guys run a conversion bolt in their AR....same purpose, training. You get more trigger time for less money.

My son started shooting way before 9. He started on a Crickett single shot bolt action around 5. Shot that until he was 10. Then he moved onto the 15-22. You have no idea why my son chose the 15-22. Could it possibly be because dad has an AR-15? Because his uncle has an AR-15? And no, he doesn't spray 500 rounds an hour and have a grouping like birdshot. He consistently shoots a 5 shot group at 25 yards that a quarter can touch all 5 shots, from a rest, without optics. He earned his rifle merit badge in Boy Scouts on his first time out. My son also hunts and shoots close to 1 MOA with his .243 at 100 yards. But for just fun shooting, he likes the 15-22 with red dot sight.

Besides, the OP didn't ask if either of these were how we would start a kid shooting. He asked for a "fun shooting .22 for the boys", and for boys today, they would pick the 15-22.

The military originally went to .22 trainers to save on ammo costs.

never said a kid COULDN'T leanr to shoot well with a 15/22, just said it is NOT being billed as a trainer for the AR rifle. It is marketed to those who want to feel like Navy SEALS without spending the bucks on a real AR.

Dick's has some H&K MP5 knockoff with a fake suppressor on it in .22. Who's buying that? Some wanna-be who wants to feel like Rambo. I shot one once. With gun rested on the bench, the rounds had about a 4" spread at 25 yards. Same ammo in my 10/22 at same range had them all covered with a nickle.

The important thing is to get them shooting, but going with what a 10 year old feels is "cool cause it's like my video game" is not the best way to introduce a person into shooting, in my opinion.

 

[LaCarolus]

You guys that are ragging on new people to the sport need to step off your high horses! If a tacticiool rifle gets someone interested in shooting what does it matter that it's a "wannabe firearm"? Sure it might not print a dime size group but for many that's not the point...spending time with family and friends and trying to have fun is what its all about for me. Plinking rifles tend to grow firearm enthusiasts from one gun owners to slightly addicted multigun owners in a good way. Anyhow isn't
variety the spice of life?

 

[moosedog]

I'm "old school", heck, i'm old period. The first rifle I bought was a Ruger 10/22 at K-Marts back in 1974. Still have it and it's a great gun, very reliable.
But it is not anywhere near as much fun as my S&W 15-22. Plus, maybe I have a freak, but i'd put my 15-22 up against the Ruger for accuracy any day.

 

[Buckskinner]

Get the 15/22 for your fun gun and then a nice bolt gun for accuracy, Savage makes a nice one for about $300 with a bull barrel.

 

[cyphertext]

The military originally went to .22 trainers to save on ammo costs.

Right, lower costs = more training time = more efficient on the platform. Not rocket science...

never said a kid COULDN'T leanr to shoot well with a 15/22, just said it is NOT being billed as a trainer for the AR rifle. It is marketed to those who want to feel like Navy SEALS without spending the bucks on a real AR.

Funny, S&W marketing does not agree with you. I'm betting that most of the folks who answered in this thread, who you just insulted, would not agree with you either.. http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-m-p-15-22/273099-m-p15-22-owners-age-occupation.html

Dick's has some H&K MP5 knockoff with a fake suppressor on it in .22. Who's buying that? Some wanna-be who wants to feel like Rambo. I shot one once. With gun rested on the bench, the rounds had about a 4" spread at 25 yards. Same ammo in my 10/22 at same range had them all covered with a nickle.

Thread isn't about some H&K MP5 knockoff, it is about which is more fun, M&P 15-22 or Ruger 10/22. But, even so, some firearms will shoot some ammo more accurately than others. Also, what kind of sights are you using on your Ruger for these nickel sized groups? I know it ain't the stock sights...

The important thing is to get them shooting

This we agree on

but going with what a 10 year old feels is "cool cause it's like my video game" is not the best way to introduce a person into shooting, in my opinion.

Why not let the 10 year old pick what he thinks is cool? You are comparing a semi auto to a semi auto, with the same bullet. You realize you are basing your argument off of cosmetics....same argument as the gun control crowd. The OP asked for a fun to shoot gun for his boys. If he had asked for a gun that consistently knock and aphid off a ticks *** at 100 yards, we wouldn't be discussing either rifle.... Neither the M&P 15-22 nor the Ruger 10/22 are what anyone would consider a target grade rifle.

You realize, back in the day, a lot of boys wanted a lever action because that is what they saw in the movies, right?...some things never change.

 

[kbm6893]

Yes. iron sights on my 10/22. With the scope, I shoot erasers of pencils at 50 yards. And it fires just as fast if I want as the 15-22. So really, the real draw for a 10 year old to a 15-22 is just how it looks. It doesn't do anything better. Unless you count an accessory rail for lights and lasers as a plus. i don't. Not on a .22

It's a free country. Buy what you like. But learning to shoot is serious business. I choose not to leave the choice of equiptment to a child. When he learns enough, he can choose what he wants.

And yeah, I've fired the 15-22. it's fun, like any other .22. But the whole gun is plastic. it just feels like a BB gun to me.

 

[Majorlk]

Get the 15/22 for your fun gun and then a nice bolt gun for accuracy, Savage makes a nice one for about $300 with a bull barrel.

Ruger's 77/22 is another excellent and accurate bolt action.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Again I want to thank everyone for their points of view. That being said I believe I've made up my mind and will have to go with both. My oldest likes the idea of the challenge to pick an eraser off a pencil at 25+, the youngest likes the tacticool look. I like the idea of both. Now the difficult part, convincing the Lady of the house without having to get the pink camo version.

Sounds like a good way to go.