How do you guys like the S&W M&P15-22?

I guess I'm going to be the lone dissenter

Had one but sold it. I had the MOE model. I put a brick of 22 through it. Although it was 100% reliable, and certainly a lot of fun and cheap to shoot, it felt cheap, almost toyish. The "bolt" seemed very flimsy, not sure how they hold up after a few thousand rounds. I would rather shoot 100 rounds through a real AR vs 500 through the M&P 15-22. Sorry but I don't buy the "training" argument, just shoot the real thing. The recoil from a 223 round is pretty mild anyway. If you want a varmint rifle, buy a Ruger 10/22 for half the cost. I just wasn't impressed by it.

The training thing comes down to cost for me. I shoot 3 gun and a few other events. Shooting that much 223 with todays prices is hard to take. During training, the 15-22 is just a filler that that allows me to keep my muscle memory, trigger pulls, stances, movements as i would if i were in a match. I can get a lot of trigger time at a fraction of the cost. I can shoot 500 rounds of 22 for ~$18 vs $175 for 223.

It is much lighter, that is the only negative as a trainer for me. In 3 gun, weight isn't a big deal. I carry the AR for just a few seconds each stage.

When my 12 year old daughter and i shoot, the lighter 15-22 is the only AR she'll shoot without a bench. She loves the 15-22.

My friend, a fellow Appleseed instructor, had one that the extractor failed on during its first time at an Appleseed (as a loaner). He sent it back and it broke again. Then they supposedly gave it some kind of upgrade with improved parts, but it still broke. I would say it was just a lemon, but it happened to another 2 M&P .22s on the line at different events. I don't know whether they were old or new ones.

Sorry, i have a hard time with that story. Not calling anyone out, but i have not heard of any issues with the 15-22 after the first models. I know there were issues, but they were isolated and with the first models. The Remington ammo issue was widespread, but that was more to do with Remington ammo.

I read a lot of forums, including S&W, Rimfirecentral and many others. I have not seen any reports of widespread issues. Nor have i seen issues at the range. I know bad parts get out of quality control for all companies, but this is news to me.

When did these issues happen? What models were they? When were they manufactured? Did you see the issues first hand?

Edit: spelling

I agree.

With a platform that's gone as mainstream and widespread as the 15/22 has (I call it the new 10/22) any widespread shortcomings would be well known and widely discussed.




posted via that mobile app with the sig lines everyone complaints about

I got a very early one....and ultimately the extractor failed. S&W paid shipping both ways to fix it and included a new magazine on the return trip. Never had a bit of problem with it since. I've introduced several teenagers to shooting using mine....after the first magazine, they are hooked. Next on the list are my grandkids....in a few more years.

If you want to know how well they work (or don't), go to the 15-22 area on the S&W forum. As we all know, folks are much more prone to complain about something on a forum.

My cousin loves his and uses it with his young sons as a trainer. No issues so far and he's put several bricks of ammo through it.

They are fairly well reputed but I don't particularly care for them. They are nearly all plastic and really light....too light. I don't necessarily think they're poorly made but they definitely "feel" cheap to me. IMHO, the SIG 522 is superior in every way and that is why I ordered one this week.

I solved the 15-22 vs the SiG 522 by getting both. My 15-22 is at this moment at my local gun shop being threaded and a flash suppressor installed. Got mine at WM and it came with a plain barrel. I removed the factory sights and installed MBUS flip-ups, a Mako stock and a BCM grip. I'm very pleased with it. Not one problem, about 475 rounds down range.

I got one over the summer and I absolutely love it. I've put probably around 3,000 rounds through it at this point and had zero problems. It's an amazing training rifle. You can work combat carbine fundamentals all day long on $20 worth of ammo. This rifle has already paid for itself and more in saved ammo costs vs. buying 5.56. Even if it were to completely break today, I'd still be in the black money wise from not having to buy $1000 worth of 5.56.

I've had mine for about a year now, and love it. I've got the threaded barrel w/ Magpul sights model, and hope to suppress it when I can afford the stamp. It's a nice little shooter, really fun (and isn't that what it's all about?) Yes it's light, that's what makes it fun. I've not had one single problem. I like it better than my 10/22, but with the accuracy nod going to the 10/22.

Probably not. The sound of the action alone wil be louder.

I think the 15-22 is a little more fun to shoot than the 10/22, but my Ruger is still in essentially bone-stock carbine condition (with Tech Sights).

I love mine. I've had it a couple (3?) years. I bought it before they had flash hiders. I had to return mine to Smith because it fired out of battery. They changed a spring or something and its been perfect since.

I've shot somewhere between 4,000 and 5,000 rounds including over 1,000 in two days with no cleaning while shooting prairie dogs. I would highly recommend one.

This summer I got a wild hair and painted mine.

My next purchase will be the M&P15-22...hoping before Christmas!

I thought mine was awesome. Then it went auto and sent the ejector across the yard somewhere. It's a known issue with them. S&W doesn't ask questions. They just pay for shipping and fix it up for you. So, wear safety glasses and deal with the down time or buy a CMMG.

My brother in law has one of the pistol versions. Fun gun and he hasn't had any real problems with it. Though his is picky with some ammo.

i love mine too. very accurate. holds a lot of ammo and the whole family can shoot it.

I thought mine was awesome. Then it went auto and sent the ejector across the yard somewhere. It's a known issue with them. S&W doesn't ask questions. They just pay for shipping and fix it up for you. So, wear safety glasses and deal with the down time or buy a CMMG.

Click to expand...

Hm. I've put another 750 rounds through mine just since I wrote my first post in this thread and still never had even one single issue of any kind.

urbaneruralite said:

I thought mine was awesome. Then it went auto and sent the ejector across the yard somewhere. It's a known issue with them. S&W doesn't ask questions. They just pay for shipping and fix it up for you. So, wear safety glasses and deal with the down time or buy a CMMG.

Click to expand...

The Sig 522, in my experience, is a more reliable rifle. You should check those out as well.

I could only shake my head at the gents clearing malfs at the range with the 15-22, and I haven't missed mine. Normally, I'm proud to own any Smith product...the 15-22 isn't one of them.

Edit: Nevermind. This horse is beat.