Spikes .22 Upper for AR15 VS Smith&Wesson M&P15-22

Spike's Tactical
http://www.spikestactical.com/z/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=72_73

I would not get the smith/w. too many probs noted, proprietary mags I believe as well. spikes I believe uses the black dog mags, which are used by several diff ar/22 type makers, and have a very nice rep.

I have no experience with Spike's Tactical, but I do have an M&P15-22 and I'm quite happy with it. I like that all the controls are functional, and since it's all polymer, it's pretty light. Before I bought it I read some reviews that mentioned feeding or extraction problems, but I haven't had any. The only downside might be the proprietary magazines. That wasn't an issue for me, but I can see how it could be for some people, especially if they already have a few Black Dogs. On the other hand, the Smith and Wessons are pretty cheap and you can order them right from their website.

Given that the cost of the Spike's upper is about the same as the whole M&P, I'd go with the latter.

The MP15-22 is a nice rifle. It is nicer than I thought it was going to be. It is well made and reliable. However, it is light- much lighter than a real AR is. If you want the real AR feel, go with the Spikes upper or even (more affordably) a drop in type conversion unit for your AR>

If something breaks in your Bushmaster lower, you will be unable to shoot either of your two uppers until the problem is fixed; the M&P 15-22 will at least allow you to keep practicing with .22LR until you fix your .223.

Also, you and a friend cannot shoot both your .223 Bushmaster and a Spike's .22LR upper simultaneously, without an additional lower; the S&W 15-22 lets both of you plink together at the same time.

Finally, since the S&W M&P 15-22 is about a pound or so lighter than a full-up AR, it's nice for teaching youngsters and petite ladies how to shoot.

You don't have to buy from Spikes. I have a dedicated .22LR upper from another vendor, and it works great (for less dough).

That said, I'd go with a .22LR upper all the way. The trigger will feel the same as your regular AR, because it is the same. You CAN buy another lower, but you don't have to. If you put on an upgraded trigger, buttstock, and grip, it will all be part of your .22LR training gun, too.

I have a few guns... I don't even know how many... I do know how many I shoot at a time. ONE. Okay, I might be able to shoot a couple of handguns at once, but I don't do it often.

A real AR upper with a .22LR barrel and bolt assembly is a better upper than a cheap plastic one. Furthermore, the magazines used by a .22LR upper are a multivendor standard, not something that S&W or anyone else can hold you over a barrel for.

I'd say it depends on your needs and what you already own.

I've got my preferred trigger and stock, neither of which were cheap, on my AR lower. An upper allows me to practice with my usual set up and get more trigger time on the cheap. I also own about 8 other .22 rifles. If my friends or relatives want to shoot at the same time as I am, there are plenty of .22s to go around.

I have several Ars in various configurations and I like being able to put the conversion in different uppers. FYI the conversion unit did not run well with the RRA NM trigger unit - it wants a full power trigger spring to give a good pin impact.

Looks like you will save $150 buying the complete S&W rifle over the Spikes upper.

Are there any other brands of uppers I should be considering or is Spikes it?

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Model 1 Sales and Tactical Solutions are a few other options.

Another vote for Spike's here. I love mine.

Mine is from Model 1 Sales. Works well.

Never gave any thought to the hammer. I have standard Bushmaster stuff in one lower and standard Stag in another, and the .22LR upper has worked well on both of those.

We've got the SIG 522. My wife loves it. Takes the same Black Dog mags as my Spike's upper. I prefer the Spike's as its a 'real' AR in .22LR caliber, but my wife prefers the SIG for its light weight. For the $300 I paid for the Sig 522 at a gun show, its pretty hard to beat, IMHO.

--wally.

Sig 522 Classic and 522 SWAT

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I don't know if the sale is still going on, but CDNN had a deal if you bought the 556 they gave you a 522 for free. I've transferred several of the "package deals" but don't have much experience with either rifle. Might want to look into it.

Colt M4 Tactical Carbine

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Personally, I'd advise against it. I've had 3 come through here, 2 of them didn't work well. It's a very small sample size but an alarming failure rate to me.

Spikes is good and there are many out there with conversion kits. Make sure you get the full upper with barrel and you will have many fun plinking days ahead...

I highly, HIGHLY RECOMMEND, any of the sig products; my boss has both the 522 and the 556 patrol version. They almost look like the same weapon side by side, so they did not skip or scrimp on the making of the 22. Flawless running, eats everything, no ftf, or fte's, and accurate to a fault, with even crap ammo. we strapped a greendot laser to it, and shooting from the hip, ate the black center out of a target , about 40 yards away, and I do mean from the hip. Supposedly there were a flaw or two in the first version; that, of course swedes and germans being who they are, took care of any probs by the newest version out. plus it comes with rails, and I think is also ambidex with the controls, like the big brother is. If you can get one for under 450, you are doing good; after a few gunshows here in houston, where they were being sold just a bit, suddenly every vendor who can get them , are selling them-- because they are that good. One vendor I know sells them for 399 a piece, that is about 50 to 75 bucks less than the other dudes. So if you can find one around this price, or the above dude says he got his for 300 plus tax, I would be all over that...

If you can get one for under 450, you are doing good; after a few gunshows here in houston, where they were being sold just a bit, suddenly every vendor who can get them , are selling them-- because they are that good. One vendor I know sells them for 399 a piece, that is about 50 to 75 bucks less than the other dudes. So if you can find one around this price, or the above dude says he got his for 300 plus tax, I would be all over that...

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Yes, I was all over it. Was at the GRB Houston "High Caliber" Gun Show from Bachman Pawn & Gun. Mine is the most basic model, folding adjustable stock, no rails, no sights. Price varies with the options. Its basically my wife's gun, I prefer my Spike's dedicated upper, but the SIG 522 is I think a way better gun than the S&W or Colt AR15-like .22s.

--wally.