M&P 15-22 or GSG 522 ?

[hq]

I got a NIB GSG5 out of a deal a few years ago. As it is, it's pretty horrible, but after a trigger job, smoothing out the action a bit and removing the mag disconnect, it's been a decent and surprisingly accurate plinker. Would I buy one? Probably not. It doesn't do anything a 10/22 wouldn't do much better.

IMO the best way to get a "black" .22 is a good .22 upper on a regular AR15.

 

[Warp]

I got a NIB GSG5 out of a deal a few years ago. As it is, it's pretty horrible, but after a trigger job, smoothing out the action a bit and removing the mag disconnect, it's been a decent and surprisingly accurate plinker. Would I buy one? Probably not. It doesn't do anything a 10/22 wouldn't do much better.

IMO the best way to get a "black" .22 is a good .22 upper on a regular AR15.

Why? And what upper?

 

[Hacker15E]

I don't know if this is an issue with the early production models or what, but it was not confidence inspiring to say the least.

Yes, this was in fact an issue with early production models that has been fixed since about 2012.

 

[Hacker15E]

I sure wish someone would start making aftermarket aluminum receivers (upper receiver, especially) for the 15-22 the same way they have for the 10-22 pattern.

 

[Warp]

I sure wish someone would start making aftermarket aluminum receivers (upper receiver, especially) for the 15-22 the same way they have for the 10-22 pattern.

For what purpose?

 

[hq]

Why? And what upper?

Far better quality than MIM/plastic factory .22:s and lots of options for customization. For example, CZ V-22 upper isn't a bad choice for a reliable, accurate stocker or an all-out custom build. Do a google search, dedicated rimfire uppers have been quite common for several years.

 

[Warp]

Far better quality than MIM/plastic factory .22:s and lots of options for customization. For example, CZ V-22 upper isn't a bad choice for a reliable, accurate stocker or an all-out custom build. Do a google search, dedicated rimfire uppers have been quite common for several years.

I guess what I'm not understanding is what "quality" would be higher on an aftermarket aluminum upper receiver and what it would do that the factory stock S&W receiver does not.

I'm also pretty sure the 15-22 is more reliable, less ammo picky, more available, has more available magazines, and has better QC than the V-22. I know the dedicated uppers have been available, but I also 'know' the 15-22 is a complete rifle for only a little bit more money that is better at pretty much everything.

 

[hq]

I also 'know' the 15-22 is a complete rifle for only a little bit more money that is better at pretty much everything.

Better? I don't have much experience with 15-22, just a couple of hundreds of rounds, but I've never thought of it as more than just another somewhat decent, cheap rimfire AR adaptation. Not that V-22 as it is would be much different; better barrel, IME consistently a bit more accurate and giving you a chance to choose your lower. Some people seem to love the 15-22, which may or may not have something to do with what it costs compared to a proper billet upper and a hand-lapped precision barrel.

 

[Warp]

Better? I don't have much experience with 15-22, just a couple of hundreds of rounds, but I've never thought of it as more than just another somewhat decent, cheap rimfire AR adaptation. Not that V-22 as it is would be much different; better barrel, IME consistently a bit more accurate and giving you a chance to choose your lower. Some people seem to love the 15-22, which may or may not have something to do with what it costs compared to a proper billet upper and a hand-lapped precision barrel.

Most people seem to want a .22lr rifle with the same controls/interface/ergos of their centerfire AR...or they want it for the same reasons that people buying centerfire want an AR...and those reasons usually do not include whatever benefit there is to a billet upper or the benefit to a more expensive precision barrel.

The OP said:

I'm considering another .22 just for the fun of it. No hunting or competition shooting. Just paper or soda cans.

So I don't think paying more to get a billet upper and a hand-lapped precision barrel would be worthwhile.

I suspect that if you want something fancy and match-accurate for precision

 

[hq]

those reasons usually do not include whatever benefit there is to a billet upper or the benefit to a more expensive precision barrel.

In this case, most certainly not. AR:s have become such a wide field of rifles, purposes and builds that custom option was worth mentioning nevertheless. If not anything else, it takes the guesswork out of even low to medium budget builds.

 

[trigga]

when i first saw the gsg5, i knew i wanted one. the price tag was a bit much for my budget at the time but i regret not buying it because i could not find one for another 2 years. i almost passed on the next one i saw which was the first anniversary edition. i wanted all black. good thing i bought it because a few months later gsg got sued and turns out they changed the design. the finish on it was so cheap, i took the gun squirrel hunting for the hell of it one time and got mosquito spray on it. the paint discolored and i had to repaint the gun. i learned my lesson use primer next time, not some paint and primer in one.

yes pot metal but has nothing to do with function. it'll probably break in half if you trip. got thousands of rounds with no real problem except for jams when gun was dirty. that's .22 bulk in general. also picky on certain ammo. very accurate thin barrel. everything looks good except for the buttstock is flimsy and wobbles. definitely a head turner at the range.


the colt m422 was more appealing to me than the mp 1522. i just don't like the fact that the colt's mag sticks like a foot out. pot metal or plastic, choose your flavor. not a big fan of plastic myself but if it works then go for it. of all the ones mentioned, in my experience the smith is the most reliable. ate everything including cheap bulk ammo. i ended up getting a 22lr conversion for my ar15.

 

[trigga]

which ever you choose, you'll love it. the gsg went with me every time i went to the range until people started hoarding .22lr. it's still one of my favorite gun that i own.

 

[Ibmikey]

As a bi-line to my original post and in response to the comment by Henchman, I have many thousands of rounds through one of my 15-22 rifles with only an occasional cartridge that will not fire, no rifle induced malfunctions or parts breakage. The second rifle has had 1500 to 2000 rounds through it since early December, with an Eotech mounted it is a hoot to fire with multiple soda can targets in rapid motion. It too has fired every bit of ammo fed to it which includes 30+ year old Revalation (Montgomery Wards) Yellowjacket Remington's and other ammo from long dead companies as well as some more recently made fodder. I have given two 15-22's as gifts and they too are hammering out the ammo without any breakage. The 15-22 is a very popular rifle and has earned it's place among my twenty other AR's. Now for a real AR made specifically for the .22 lr cartridge my DPMS M4-22 is all metal, uses many AR parts and shoots like---well, like fun!