"practice" rifle.....?

[MikePaiN]

This is my main rifle. An AO M1 Carbine in a Choate fixed stock.


I don't get to shoot it much because I belong to an indoor club that does not allow centerfire rifle. .22lr rifle is okay, so I want to get a practice rifle in .22lr to use at my club.
Its down to two choices. Help me decide...
First choice is a Ruger 10/22, put it in a Choate fixed stock like the one my M1 is in, add a set of peep sights(Tech-Sights) and a Steel Lips mag or two. This will be very close to the M1 in all ways and will cost ~$400.
The other option is to get a S&W M&P15-22 the cost around here is ~$430 w/2 25r mags and a BUIS set. The feel will be a little different but sights will be close and there will be no farting around, just take it out of the box and start "kicking brass" ...

 

[BrocLuno]

I'd build the 10-22 or a Remington 597 with the same or close stock as your center fire. If you are trying to build muscle memory and ergonomic training so you can transfer those practiced skills to the center fire, you have to do it that way.

If you just want a 22 rifle, do anything that catches your fancy.

 

[henschman]

I'd go 10/22. Closer to the rifle you're trying to simulate, especially since you can get the same stock for it, and those Tech Sights are great. I am a Shoot Boss with Project Appleseed, and I have a Tech-sighted 10/22 that I've used as a loaner rifle for marksmanship clinics for about a year and a half. It has had thousands of rounds put through it during that time, some under less than great conditions, and it has always worked well. By contrast, I have seen 4 or 5 M&P 15-22s on the line, and every one I've seen has spit out the extractor! One is owned by a fellow instructor, and he as had to send it back to S&W 3 times because of that! That can't be a coincidence.

The 10/22 is just way more tried and true, and has way more after-market parts available for it if you want to do something else to it later.

 

[CraigC]

I'd do the 10/22. It'll be super easy to put together and you can upgrade it as time and money allow. Plus the ergonomics will more closely mimic the M1.

Tactical Innovations has the best 25rd magazines available. Worth every cent.

 

[MikePaiN]

Thanks, I hadn't heard about the "problems" with the 15-22....
I'm leaning hard toward the 10/22 build anyway, I did a couple 10/22 projects in the past
and even have a few extra parts hanging around.
I'll post some pics when its done, which should be by the end of the month...

 

[TonyAngel]

I have two of the Rugers and one of the Smiths in .22. I bought the Smith shortly after they were released. My subjective opinion is that the Smith AR is a cool little rifle, but doesn't shoot nearly as well as the 10/22 and mine is particularly ammunition sensitive. It's gotten to a point that I only shoot Mini Mags out of it.

Now that I think about it, I haven't touched the Smith in a couple of months. If I had to choose, it would be the Ruger all the way. Besides, the price on the Smith is rediculous for a plinker. You can by a tack driver bolt gun for less than the price of the Smith.

 

[HM2PAC]

10/22

Having an M1 carbine and a 10/22 set up the same way is one of the more practical things I've read in quite a while.

 

[WNTFW]

I would go tech sights on a .22 over the .22 AR. The 10/22 would be good as would others but the 10/22 could mimic the m1.

 

[FMJMIKE]

10/22.....................:d

 

[MikePaiN]

Its a done deal.. The 10/22 project it is
I'm ordering up the parts before head out work this this morning.

Besides 10/22 Tech-Sights......XS also makes a Ghost-Ring set for the 10/22

 

[MikePaiN]

I bought the basic carbine today(what a great deal from the LGS NIB $199, incl. 1 25round Steel-Lips, 1 10round Ruger clear mag and the 10round black that comes with the rifle), installed the Tech-Sights and Tuffer-Buffer(had an extra). Its Choate stock is on the way and soon it will be a real close match to its big brother. I should be able to get it out for a break-in/sight-in Sunday.
Here's the build so far.

 

[MikePaiN]

I'll get them out in natural light to get some better pics soon. For now these will have to do. The 10/22 feels amazingly like the M1 Carbine...I'm happy with how these came out..