Which tactical .22 ?

[Citizen_soldier22]

I think a .22 caliber training rifle is a great idea. It gives a lot more sense of recoil than an airsoft rifle, and has all the features of a full-sized AR. I have owned my S&W M&P 15-22 for a couple months now and it's been great. It's accuracy is very comparable to my 5.56 AR out to 50+ yards.
What I like about the S&W .22 rifle is that it has a functional bolt catch, identical selector switch, and even functioning charging handle. Many other companies don't have true-to-detail replicas (i.e. the Colt's firing selector must be rotated 180 degrees to go from safe to semi, not practical or good for muscle memory).
.22 caliber ARs provide an opportunity to focus on the fundamentals of marksmanship as well, since there isn't as much recoil. Recoil, slight as it may be in an AR, may scare new people to guns. So these are great platforms in that sense.
The last big benefit I see is that these are cost effective. I calculated how much I pay for ammo on average, how much .22lr costs, and figured that if I shoot 1,500 or more rounds, the M&P 15-22 will have PAID FOR ITSELF in ammo savings. Not a bad deal if you ask me.
I used both my M&P and my Bushmaster at the last tactical carbine course that I attended. It definitely saved me money, worked as a useful training tool, and it's just plain fun.

 

[1stmarine]

I agree that is a plus but I mean muscle memory I didn't mean precisely all the controls but more the fundamental things. Specially it helps sort of 'break the ice' for new recruits to loose that initial fear of the firearm. Same thing with youths here to initiate them in good marksmanship.
The Israeli army has used 10/22 pretty much out of the box as marksman training rifles. Lots of folks seasoned veterans from over there still speak wonders about that early experience.

I have been shooting high power rifles all my life and in the last few years only I have been more drawn to this. I have to confess always thought of the little 22 only for plinking and poping squirrels and now I see many more practical and fun uses.
for example, a few years back I bought when at Dicks browsing for something else I found a deal and got a Savage 22LR at dicks for something like $250 or $260 and didn't think much about then... Now I use it more often... it is a tack driver and we use it for something we could call "simu-Long-Range". I wrote about this in another post.....

This is what I wrote....

I am not a huge 22LR fun but sometimes I shoot for fun. I was putting together a note with some long range simulation scenarios for a friend and I figured lets put some of the number here in a post.

22LR it is prefect for long range simulation that can be done in 200 and 300 yard range if you want.

61 inches at 200 yards is roughly 30MOA adjustment. May scopes can take this. A decent scope w/o braking the bank is a must and for 300 yards you might need a 20MOA rail too.

Average 40gr Jacketed Round nose form a 20" barrel is:
1260fps
BC: .134

Yardage and Drop vs what can simulate like a military rifle load...
50 yards 3.27 simulates 100 yards
100 yards 13.58 simulates 200
150 yards 32.37 simulates 350
200 yards 60.91 simulates 450
300 yards 151.96 simulates 700

So the trick is to build your ballistic charts for every 25 or 50 yards. Move the targets and adjust for elevation and drift and hopefully you will have the math right and a good scope
and you can have a lot of fun in this long range simulation. Write down your corrections and this 'exercise' will help you with any caliber. Keep in mind that drift is considerable so
I will not try on a day with wind over 5mph.

Tested with a Savage MARKII FVXP with accutrigger and bull fluted barrel that I picked up at Dicks a couple of years ago for $260 and prints sub-moa groups all day long. (with good LR ammo of course).

 

[ugaarguy]

Don't forget Mossbergs new tactical .22

Very inexpensive, based on their 702 plinker (same action) but has the appearance of an AR for about $250 or less. I haven't actually laid hands on one yet, so take it FWIW.

It's a 702 in a very cheaply made ATI stock kit. The mag catch is awkward to use, and the mags don't release easily. The magazines are the standard 702 mag dropped into a wide floor plate with a 2nd spring & follower pushing up on the bottom of the factory mag spring. I worked for a retailer that sold these, and I was thoroughly unimpressed with them.

 

[gotigers]

Tacticool: S&W 15-22

hunting: Marlin Mod 60

plinking, fun, customizing: Ruger 10/22

all above: 15-22 or 10/22

Ill let someone else talk about target 22's.

 

[Sav .250]

" lefty friendly"............... good luck on that count.

 

[BigDaddyNEB]

Cabela's black friday ad has a Ruger 10/22 with 10 round magazine for 169.00.
Open at 5:00 AM

 

[Babarsac]

Curses for not being near a Cabelas

 

[holdencm9]

Tactical .22

I know it wasn't one of hte initial options listed but I like the Ruger 10/22 option someone else suggested. Tapco stock and some other accessories and you have a pretty fun setup for pretty cheap. They also have bullpup stocks, banana magazines, tons of aftermarket parts, the possibilities are endless. It might not look as "cool" but it is just as fun. I did this to my 10/22 a few months ago when I was looking to change it up a bit and I love shooting it. It is like a brand new gun! I am holding onto the original stock though so that when my lil cousin is old enough to start shooting I can teach him on the it with open sights and standard stock, just like I learned

 

[Lone_Sheep_Dog]

I have the Colt M4 Ops .22 and the S&W M&P 15-22. I would recommend the S&W out of those. I would like to get a GSG one of these days.

 

[doubleh]

I have had the Colt M4/22 for quite some time now. I love this thing. Just because.

PS: A Marlin semi-auto will NOT outshoot it.

It is more accurate than my son-in-law's S&W M&P 15-22 with me doing the shooting. Not much but a little. Both are finicky about what ammo they shoot the best. Neither likes what the other does.

 

[Odd Job]

I have tried four evil black .22s:

1) SIG522
2) HK licensed MP5SD
3) Ruger SR-22
4) S&W M&P 15/22

That's how I rate them also. The M&P might score better for someone else, but I can't stand the sproing and the original magazines have exposed springs which I don't like at all. I'd rather have the lacklustre SR-22 which is less accurate.

 

[USAF_Vet]

It's a 702 in a very cheaply made ATI stock kit. The mag catch is awkward to use, and the mags don't release easily. The magazines are the standard 702 mag dropped into a wide floor plate with a 2nd spring & follower pushing up on the bottom of the factory mag spring. I worked for a retailer that sold these, and I was thoroughly unimpressed with them.

Ah. that's too bad. I was hoping for something a little better quality. Thought it might have been a steal at the price point. The 702 isn't a horrible gun (although my Savage is a lot better) but dressing it up into something it isn't and doubling the price probably just isn't worth it.


I like some of the Ruger aftermarket stocks. You've got the Arch Angel kit which is like uber tactical, and there is a kit to dress it up like a Tommy gun. Really it's just playing dress up, and in all reality not worth the money. Just rather eye catching at the range.

 

[amd6547]

My "tactical 22" is a Ruger 10/22 in a Butler Creek folder, with a red dot sight and a Ruger BX25 25rd mag.
Does everything I want a 22 semi to do.

 

[Sky]

Have a couple of CMMG .22 uppers (16" and 18") with Plumbcrazy lowers. They are lite, fun, and accurate.

I Also have the GSG-5 with all the screws replaced and loctite applied. The GSG-5 is fun to shoot when it does not stovepipe or jam...all GSG-5 mags are not the same for keeping the weapon running...I have 7 mags and only three function and feed like I think they should. I am never surprised when the GSG has a problem but am totally caught off guard if the CMMGs has any problems at all... .22 primers are not perfect in any weapon but as of late the ammo seems to be getting better..

 

[ZCORR Jay]

I myself have been eying the GSG

Here is a good write up on it
http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2011/11/joe-grine/gun-review-german-sport-guns-%E2%80%9Cgsg%E2%80%9D-522-sd/

 

[Strykervet]

A) people like it.
B) it is fun
C) can train muscle memory and save some money switching to gaiko.
D) Military use them
E) all the above

I had several 22LRs and mostly shoot .223, 6x45, 308 and above centerfilre but when they started with the tactical systems whether is AR, AK, H&K or Sniper style more folks are finding the fun on it and we are joining the wave of folks and saving some bucks specially with the ammo, powder and bullets prices going so high.
Cheers.

I never saw a .22 in the military. Never heard of anyone else using them either. The Amphibian is the only one I'm aware of, and that is a specialty tool. BTW, that would be the only "tactical" military .22 I can think of, as being integrally suppressed allows it to be used to take out street lights, guard dogs, or even guards --very quietly. The rest? That is the pure definition of tacticool --a "tactical looking" weapon with no real tactical value. A .22 semi auto unsuppressed and dressed like a killer, yeah, that is tacticool to nth degree. An integrally suppressed .22, that can have a real tactical advantage (but not necessarily "look" tactical). Man, the grief that word causes.

I'd get a stock 10/22 (I have one) and leave it at that. The Marlin 60 isn't a bad recommendation either. I think putting that junk on a 10/22 takes away from it rather than gives it something it was missing. If you put money in a stock 10/22, I'd invest in a better trigger. My 10/22, all stock (and wishing it DID have a better trigger) is the range favorite. Everyone loves to shoot it, it is common for me to go to the range with a 1000rd. brick and come back empty. Half the time I don't even get to shoot it myself.

I guess the only problem I have with them, and this problem would be purely personal mind you, I don't care what others own and only offer advice by projecting myself into the situation, is that you spend more on cosmetics and things that don't add but can take away from, the value of the rifle. Both monetary and functional value.

My vote goes for a plain jane 10/22. If you want "tactical" go over to S&H Arms and get an integrally suppressed one. My wife wants the pistol (and so do I!) and I've shot the pistol and heard the rifle shot. They are almost completely silent, truly amazing. No hearing protection at all, quieter than a bb gun. It is an NFA item though, but if you are going to spend extra on a stock 10/22, why not get the real goods?

You can also get a threaded barrel for the 10/22 and a plain can. The cans aren't nearly as quiet as the integrally suppressed, but you could use them on more than one weapon. I guess what I'm saying, in short, is that you need the suppressor to make a .22 tactical, otherwise it is tacticool. But if that is what you are going for, don't let me get in the way, just know the difference because your peers will.

 

[1stmarine]

Read a little bit about history of the below systems and you will find the references. There are some really good books about firearms history. Some you can even buy surplus in the older systems. Make no mistake the 22LR is a lethal round but that is not its main role. Mainly training and less lethal.

Anyway....

A modified 10/22 with a scope and suppressor was adopted by the Israel Defense Force in 1987 as a less than lethal weapon to be used to shoot at the legs of rioters. Israeli Judge Advocate General reclassified the 10/22 as a lethal weapon, thus limiting its use, but soldiers still use it to disperse protesters in spite of the classification.

http://www.ruger1022.com/docs/israeli_sniper.htm

The round has also been used FOR DECADES for training in many other countries. Some popular ones are the Mosin-Nagant M-91/Tikkakoski cal. 22LR and the popular Polish Wifama WZ78 Training Rifle...

Cheers.
E.

 

[amd6547]

My 10/22...the cheap aimpoint clone has finally found a home...I can't complain about it too much, it has survived use on a CETME and a Saiga 5.45 before I put it on this rifle.
I was all set to but an HK MP5 22, had the money all put aside, when I stumbled into this 1968 10/22 in new condition. I wanted to save the nice walnut stock it came with, and I like folders...got this Butler Creek folder on EBAY for a bargain price. I shot the combo at the range this week for the first time, and it worked out great.
I did put a Tuffer Buffer in the rifle since I will be shooting Velocitors in it. I will probably be sending the trigger group off for a trigger job.
The Ruger BX25 25rd mag works great.

 

[Maverick223]

I really like my GSG-5 (particularly now that I have "tuned" the magazines that exhibited problems), but honestly I would probably choose the SIG 522 if I had it to do over again. The S&W M&P15-22 doesn't interest me much (I'm not an AR-15 guy), but they are pretty decent too.

 

[nyc71]

Now my personal favorite is my Henry Lever Action. Smooth, light, and working the action really gets people into things. Just about non-tactical as you can get![/QUOTE]

We own a Henry H001, I bought it for my son I shoot it as often as he does. I have three other 22lr and one of them looks like a AR but I prefer to shoot the Henry.



"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety"- Benjamin Franklin

 

[soloban]

+1 for the Sig 522. Its hella fun to shoot, and is dead on accurate even with cheap federal bulk ammo. Only downside is be sure to factor in adding optics. I put a $125 3-9x NcStar on mine and it works great.

 

[barnbwt]

MP161K by Baikal (Makarov-guys). I bought one through GB the other day, I'll post a review when it gets in and I can test it out - I've heard nothing but praise for it (well, except for magazine availability/capacity). Costs about as much as a tricked out 10/22, but looks (I think) way cooler... I think they are left/right shooter compatible (hard to find definitive info)

They'll also be available (eventually) in 22WMR and 17HMR for more serious plinking.

There's a great video review on Youtube by some dude in Norway blasting away with it. Also do an image search on "MP161K camo" and there's a sweet paint job some guy did on one...

 

[ifit]

got back from the range today, and got to shoot my friends HK mp5 clone with fake can, all i can say that thing was a blast too shoot and pretty darn accurate,collapsable stock, something you might want to consider

 

[1stmarine]

I took the H&KG36ruger to the range and after I was done with some 338lapua reloads I had a blast with this thing...

It is 100% reliable and super accurate.












75 yards open sights


100 yards scope (cheap remignton value pack)

 

[vellocet]

What post#41 said. I have never been able to understand why folks want to make basic,functional .22 rifles into things that look different. That's like putting spinners on a Ford Escort. Why? It's a .22! Wonderful for practice, small game and deadly on people in some situations. Jeez, I just bought my first 10/22 and all I'm going to do to it is scope it because my eyes are going and my iron-sight bolt rifles are tube-fed and slow to load, and so accurate it's boring.