.22 AR type rifle

[daniel craig]

Friends, I was wondering what your opinions are about getting a semi-auto AR style or 10/22 style .22 rifle. I want it for plinking and for something I could use for "urban ops" if the time ever came. I am looking into .22 because even with the current ammo market .22 is a heck of a lot cheaper than 5.56, 7.62x39 and 5.45. What do you all think?


Ok, by urban ops I mean live fire shoot houses and training when I am on leave to take the place of my M4. Also, lets say I was trying to fill the role that an AK or AR would fill, just with cheaper more plentiful ammo, like if I ever had to clear a room with it how do you think it would fare against an enemy combatant. I just want a cheaper ammo alternative to 5.56/.223, 7.62x39, 5.45x39 and 5.7x25.

Furthermore, I am not interested in people arguing back and forth about what sucks and what is good. State your opinion and get on with it. If someone disagrees, oh well just don't bicker back and forth on the thread. Not cool.

 

[hatt]

If you don't have a AR, or plan to get one, I'd get the 10/22. Or maybe a Henry.

 

[TBH]

You are headed in a good direction. Love mine. Great practice for the big one. Like everything else, I would get the best you can afford. I picked up a Tac Sol upper and put it on a lower with a match trigger. Not a must, but sure makes a difference.

 

[FinnComm]

Consider CZ512. My experience is that it's massively more reliable than a 10/22 and it strips quickly for cleaning. It might cost slightly more, but then, like with all rifles, you're going to spend many times the cost of the rifle on ammo over the years. CZ512 is accurate too. Downside is the trigger, but it improves massively after a 1000 rounds.

 

[inkinskin]

I have a S&W M&P 15-22 and am very happy with it. It functions exactly like the AR platform, breaks down the same, and has the customization options.

Good for training with an AR platform without breaking the bank.

 

[basicblur]

I have a 15-22, a Colt (made by Walther), and the Beretta ARX 160 (Also made by Walther).
Now if I could only get 'em to make a Tavor in 22...

The 15-22 is probably best(?) since it functions more closely to an actual AR than anything else on the market.

I've gotten a couple of friends hooked on shooting the 15-22, many which did not understand the appeal of a 22 AR 'til they got one.

 

[Warp]

...urban ops?

The S&W M&P 15-22 is the clear winner in terms of AR pattern .22lr rifles. That's what you will want to get.

 

[Trailduster79]

My Brother-in-law has a S&W 15-22. He loves it. I have shot it several times and it is definitely fun and easy to shoot.

I purchased a .22 conversion kit for my AR when I started to build it. Hope to shoot it this week. Should be nice being able to gain familiarity with my gun at half the cost of shooting .223 or 5.56 out of it.

 

[Teachu2]

Another vote for the M&P 15-22.

 

[Quentin]

The S&W M&P15-22 is a clear winner for an AR-15 style dedicated 22LR rifle. However, a few years ago I bought the Colt/Walther M4 22LR and am pleased with it.

Look at all of them and pick the one you like best at your price point. Mossberg, Ruger and others will be cheaper but the S&W is a great price for a 22LR rifle that functions very much like an AR. When I bought, the S&W could be found for $400 and the Colt, $450.

 

[bpl]

I have the M&P15-22 MOE version and I would recommend it. Fun plinking and good training for using a real AR15.

 

[Dr. Sandman]

I'd go with the 10-22. It is less expensive, has high cap mags, is customizable, and I like wood on my guns. Can you give us an example of "urban ops"?

 

[cpt-t]

daniel craig: I have been shooting a S&W 15-22 for quite a while now, and like it more everytime I shoot it. My Son has one to and neither of us hass had any problems at all with them. Just shoot the 22 ammo that it was designed to shoot, just good high speed 22 ammo. The S&W 15-22 has a match barrel I am told and I think that is right. Ours will shoot right with our CZ 452 Trainers and that is saying something. But nothing is wrong with a Ruger 10-22, or a GSG5 22, or a SIG-522. You might give all of these a try if you can or at least a look, they all work just great. And they are unbeliveably accurate, at least ours are. Good luck on your choice.
ken
.

 

[Fishbed77]

I have a 15-22, a Colt (made by Walther), and the Beretta ARX 160 (Also made by Walther).

Neither the "Colt" or the "Beretta" are made by Walther. They are made by Umarex at the Umarex factory near Cologne. Walthers are made at the Walther factory in Ulm. Umarex owns a stake in Walther, so they like to slap that name on an increasing number of their rimfires, rather than their own name, which is associated more with airsoft toys and cheap potmetal guns.

 

[Warp]

Neither the "Colt" or the "Beretta" are made by Walther. They are made by Umarex at the Umarex factory near Cologne. Walthers are made at the Walther factory in Ulm. Umarex owns a stake in Walther, so they like to slap that name on an increasing number of their rimfires, rather than their own name, which is associated more with airsoft toys and cheap potmetal guns.

Which mostly explains why the "Colt" sucks. So do the rest, except the S&W

 

[jungle]

If you want to use it as an AR trainer a dedicated upper works well and gives a more realistic feel than any of the plastic/potmetal copies.

 

[gibble888]

M&p 15-22

 

[basicblur]

Which mostly explains why the "Colt" sucks. So do the rest, except the S&W

I guess one has to define "sucks"?

While it's true the 15-22 is probably the top choice, for someone that may prefer more metal there's the Colt, etc.

My Colt has failed to feed anything I've fed it so far - my 15-22 probably chokes 5% of the time on Winchester 555/333's. That particular flavor of 22 has the flattest nose of any of my many flavors of 22 ammo - the flat nose seems to give the 15-22 problems 5% of the time.

So...rather than say my 15-22 sucks, I prefer to simply point out the differences rather than issue blanket statements.

And I tend to avoid folks that deal in superlatives...

 

[Warp]

You can avoid people who use subjective terms if you like.

I will continue to believe, through various experiences, that some guns tend to suck.

 

[basicblur]

I will continue to believe, through various experiences, that some guns tend to suck.

Perhaps you'll be so kind as to inform us (and the OP) exactly why the "Colt" sucks?

As stated, my 15-22 only sucks 5% of the time with a certain type of ammo...

 

[Warp]

Perhaps you'll be so kind as to inform us (and the OP) exactly why the "Colt" sucks?

As stated, my 15-22 only sucks 5% of the time with a certain type of ammo...

They tend to lack reliability and are not always put together well.

I have observed my share of them. The 15-22 is clearly superior.

I do not have a table or chart or study ready at this time. Maybe later.

 

[Dr.Rob]

+1 for a dedicated upper, start with a plastic real AR lower to keep the cost down, buy a real 5.56 upper when you can.

It's a LOT cheaper to buy a 10/22

 

[Warp]

The 10/22 does make a lot of sense given what is in the OP.

The biggest quantifiable benefit to a 15-22 or other .22lr AR style rifle is that it functions pretty much identically to a centerfire AR. But OP doesn't say anything about having or planning to have or wanting a centerfire AR.

 

[mstreddy]

OP, I have 3 of the ones mentioned above. I have the S&W 15-22 and it has fed pretty much everything I've given it. Any ammo that I have found in bulk packs, from Win 333, 555, Fed bulk (crap), etc... The only issue I had with it was that the extractor decided to come apart and depart the rifle. As a result of that, the remaining piece was causing out of battery firing. A trip back to S&W took care of that.

I have a dedicated 22LR upper that I can put on my AR lower. It's built around a Ceiner bolt kit, CMMG barrel and bargain upper. I find that I kept leaving it set up in the AR lower more than the 5.56 upper. It's worked very well for me as well.

I also have a 10/22 or 2 or 3. A lot of fun on its own merit and the various possibilities are fun.

Which of these makes it to the range most often? Probably the S&W. But it's a close call for all.

I also have a dedicated Bushmaster Carbon 15-22 upper, but it's not currently supported by Bushie, so it's out of play for your choices.

I looked at the Colt/Umarex when they came out, but I didn't really like the feel and the marketing hype that they were "COLT", but actually Umarex made.
I looked hard at the Chiappa uppers, but they were definitely pot-metal and they have proven to break often.
In all honesty I don't know who makes the S&W, if not them, but they seem to avoid the pot-metal by going with polymers.
Ultimately, I ended up building my own dedicated upper as i wanted something closer in the weight and feel of the real AR.
These are my experiences, I hope this helps.
EM

 

[FinnComm]

Ours will shoot right with our CZ 452 Trainers and that is saying something.

That sounds incredibly impressive, what sort of group size at 50m are you getting from the 15-22 and 452s?

My own experience is that I've not yet to see any (basic, stock, non-competition model) semi-auto .22 stay the distance alongside a CZ452. My CZ512 comes close, but is still no match for 452/453s.

If a 15-22 can shoot up there with a 452, I'm gonna get one myself