New Training Option S&W M&P 15-22

[GUNS-R-US]

Okay to all my Gun Buddies, I bought a S&W M&P 15-22 a couple of weeks ago. I paid $459 with tax (military discount from S&W). Mine has the A2 bird cage flash hider. Most of the one's I've seen have non-treaded barrel. I had to wait a month for this one to come in. I've got 1500 rounds through it so far, and that cost me less than $60. I have to say it's a blast!! pun defiantly intended!! I shoots real good, I did have a couple of minor jams that I'll blame on the ammo. It's hitting a little low out of the box. I forgot my sight adjustment tool so it will have to wait till next time for proper sighting-in. I bought 5 extra mags at Bo Tachtical http://www.botachtactical.com/smwemp2225ma.html for $19.95 ea. and I think I'm going to buy some more. I want to put some kinda optic on it but I'm not sure what yet, I don't want to spend to much money. If I could find a cheap version of it I would like to have some kind of ACOG type sight, as that's what's on my .223. A big selling point for me was that everything works just like the regular AR's especially the bolt hold open after the last round. I have a conversion kit for my AR and to me that is an important part of an AR for training and I have yet to find a conversion or replacement upper that has a working bolt paddle! I don't even think the Tac Solutions upper has that and it cost $600 just for the upper. The mags are also different from the conversion kit mags and better, they have a screw that goes through the mag and allows you to pull the spring down for easier loading! No wearing your thumbs out loading this thing up. Over all I give Smith a big thumbs up on this one A+. If you like AR's you need to buy one of these!

Here is a youtube video of me shooting off a 150 rounds this afternoon after work. Pure Fun!!! 

[GUNS-R-US]

PS. I forgot to mention that it does not come with a front sling mount! small draw back. I like mine on the side anyway so I'll pick one up at the gun show this weekend.

[fightingquaker13]

Try the Bushnell red dot. It has a similar optical picture to the eo-tech. Its just not as bright or as rugged. It is a lot cheaper though, and you don't have to play "find the dot" as its just as much a full screen as eo-tech. I can't comment on accuracy though. You should probably be able to find one for well under two bills used. It strikes me as one of those entry level scopes people buy before deciding its not quite good enough and trading it in. For a .22 though? Just about perfect.
FQ13

[bucktracker]

Finally got my mp-22 back from smith after two weeks. Big time extracter problems with these guns. Mine flew off into the woods somewhere after 200 rounds or so. My gun shop has sent out quite a few for repair.
The good news is, Smith sent me a free mag, and the gun now functions great. put 500+ rounds thru it. This gun is awesome. Took accessories off my Bushmaster AR including my ACOG and attatched it to this gun. very cool

[usmcdadx2]

Bought one of these last night $446 out the door with 2 magazines. An internet dealer that has a physical store in Green Bay is selling these at cost ($392 plus tax) for a few days to celebrate the McDonald decision. Went to a major sporting goods chain store here in town told them about the sale in GB and they made me an offer to buy from them- $425 plus tax and they would throw in the extra magazine, how could I say no? “Look what followed me home from the mall dear, can I keep it?” All of the controls and function are identical to my other AR’s so this should be a great low cost trainer not to mention a blast to shoot. Lurking through other blogs and forums I see a lot more positive comments about these than negative.

[Sponsor]

[kilopaparomeo]

I went back and forth between the M&P15-22 and building a dedicated .22 upper (I also have a Ceiner conversion but the accuracy is poor and it gets DIRTY).  Here's where I landed:

M&P:
+ Lightweight - great for kids
+ BHO - all controls the same is a plus
+ Good prices -- hard to build an upper for ~$400
- Mag has open slot with potential to get lots of gunk in them
- Unique mags (for me an issue as I run Black Dog mags in other AR conversions)

.22 dedicated upper:
+ Same weight and balance as full-up AR
+ Same mags / high reliability Black Dog mags
+ Full customization - I got to build up mine exactly the way I wanted it...didn't have to replace parts to make it so
+ Use on a lower that is the way I want it...Vltor stock and RRA match trigger
- No BHO - new Black Dog mags hold open on last shot but drop the bolt when you pull the mag
- Cost - a bit higher (I built my upper for ~$500)

In the end, I built an upper using the Spikes Tactical barrel and Bolt.  YHM railed forearm and upper receiver.  I like it a lot, especially with Black Dog's new 50-round drum.  In fact, I gave my M4 with the Ceiner conversion...and now they want my Spikes upper.  Dang kids.

I don't think you can go wrong with the S&W though.

[GUNS-R-US]

Well I've got nearly 5000 rounds through it so far and I'm loving it. Very reliable the slot in the mag make loading the 25rds a breeze. Accuracy is good at 50ft! I haven't had the chance to shoot it beyond that yet. I got a 4X32 ACOG look alike scope for it which makes it even more fun!! Hands down I have to say it beats any .22 AR upper, conversion, or dedicated rifle out their! I do have a conversion unit for my AR's, but it doesn't function worth a damn! I have another post out their I have to reply to about a Sig Mosquito I also bought for training with this rifle. I just say here it was worth every penny as well!

[usmcdadx2]

KPR I hear what you're saying!
I’ve tried conversion kits in the past and didn’t really like them. I was toying with a dedicated upper but the “illness” hasn’t taken me to the point I’m building my own yet and the quality, pre-built uppers were more than I was willing to pay for a .22.  So when this one popped up for that price it was a no brainer. The light weight didn’t really matter to me because my other two AR type rifles are vastly different weights. The .308 is a major, heavy pig and the 5.56 is about average. What sold me on the S&W was standard operation and controls and the ability to use standard AR trigger parts. I have polished the trigger/hammer/sear bearing surfaces and installed JP spring kits on both of my other AR’s and will do the same to this one after a few hundred rounds of “break in” time. This will give me 3 guns with very similar triggers and identical operating controls and I will not have to take one apart to shoot the other. That works for me.

Guns-R-Us what ACOG look alike are you using. I've been looking at the Bushnell Trophy MP for my 5.56.

[GUNS-R-US]

The scope is a NcSTAR Rubber Armored Mark III Tactical Scope. I paid a $120 at the local gun show for it. It doesn't have the same reticle as the ACOG but it is lit and has a laser built-in. I think it's a good scope for the money and I didn't want to spend more than I paid for the rifle for a high quality scope! I googled it and it looks like Optics plant has it for a good deal. I apparently also comes in a 3-9X32 variable model.

[usmcdadx2]

Thanks, I'll have to take a look at one of those.