My first gun. Where to begin? Because of my age, it couldn’t be a handgun. Thanks to a low tolerance for PITA parties and ongoing RTFM issues, it had to be reliable. Money? Money was too tight to mention (although I just did). I eventually put the Smith &Wesson M&P15-22 in my sights. Friends who owned the cheap-to-fire .22 caliber AR sang its praises like Maxim describing Bar Rafaeli . . .
Before pulling the trigger on the rimfire AR, I commuted to my local gun store for extended fondling and familiarity. I boned-up online, and then researched the gun in a farrago of forums, YouTube videos, review sites and official websites. I put my cash down and picked up my M&P15-22 after a mandatory two-day wait.
Thus began my inevitable descent into firearm addiction.
The 15-22 made it home unmolested. You know those cool Springfield XD cases that remind you of a spy movie? The 15-22′s cardboard box goes completely the other way. It has that Sam’s Club “pile ‘em high and sell ‘em cheap” vibe; which is no bad thing provided the gun does what it’s supposed to do. NRA come-on, manual, laughable lock, 25-round mag, gun. Now how much would you pay? Wait! Don’t answer . . .
Thanks to the United States Air Force (your tax money hard at work) the AR platform and I are BFFs. The 5.5 pound Smith & Wesson M&P15-22 is slightly lighter than a 5.56 M4 but not so light that you wonder if the Smith is the “nothing” to which the “It’s NERF or nothing” tagline refers. The M&P15-22′s polymer construction is solid as you wannabe, with only a slight slight wobble with the stock. [ED: Wobble baby wobble baby wobble.]
In my case the 15-22 dances with an A1-Style compensator (1/2 x 28″ thread). If that’s not for you, you can compensate for the compensator with a variety of aftermarket attachments. How about a suppressor that make the 15-22 quieter than a mute librarian? Just don’t forget to say hello to the ATF.
The Smith & Wesson M&P15-22 comes with adjustable/removable front and rear sights. Like with all railed AR platforms, you can pimp your gun until it’s disappears in doo-dads. Unlike its 5.56 cousins, you can customize your more-or-less recoilless rifle on the cheap. Example given: Airsoft replica red dot/holographic sights. My rifle sports a $80 EOTech knockoff and a $125 quick detach 3x magnifier. Neither loose their zero, even when I’m bump firing.
The 15-22 breaks down like a Diva stuck in the middle of a rainstorm. Remove two pins and the body splits in half. The buffer’s built into the bolt and doesn’t travel into the buffer tube. The trigger assembly is solid. Cleaning the .22 caliber Smith AR is so quick and easy you will actually do it on a regular basis without complaining.
Now the fun part: range time.
The weather: clear with a very light breeze. Ammo: 36 gr, CPHP Federal Ammunition. Target: a 2¼” steel spinning target set out at 50′. After zeroing the M&P’s iron sights benched, I took careful aim and fired a full 25-round magazine. Every round found the target. As you’d expect, recoil was almost as mild as an ant fart (don’t ask me how I know). Follow-up shots were quicker Michael Moore making his first trip to the buffet. Or is that his second?
I fired the next few mags standing. I rapid fired five full mags and landed almost every round on steel. I was about 200 rounds in when I had my first series of malfunctions. Over the span of two magazines I had four stovepipes. I had a misfeed two mags later. I attribute the malfs to the 15-22′s break-in period. At the end of a two-hour shooting session I’d shot my way through 550 rounds with only the previously mentioned malfunctions.
Other than that, the rifle ran like a dream. And since then as well. I’ve put another thousand rounds of different ammo brands through the gun without so much as a hiccup. No issues. Nothing.
That’s no small thing. .22 caliber AR’s are notoriously finicky. While there are advantages to the problem: shooters using a .22 AR to train for a full-size firearm get hands-on experience dealing with malfunctions—there’s a limit to how many clicks even the most determined tacticool type wants to hear. The Smith & Wesson M&P15-22 leaps over this bar like Olympic hurdler Lolo Jones jumping over a playa.
Smith & Wesson have come a long, long way in terms of quality control for their AR products; they’ve brought production back in-house to excellent effect. Still, we’re talking about a $450 plastic fantastic—sorry ”high strength polymer upper and lower receiver equipped” rimfire AR. A buyer should clean and run their M&P15-22 with a large variety and quantity of ammo to see what works. If problems persist, Smith has terrific customer care. FWIW.
The Smith & Wesson M&P15-22 has exceeded my expectations on all fronts. It’s set the standard for the firearms to follow. Which sucks. How will I ever find another cool-looking firearm that’s so much fun to shoot that doesn’t break the bank in terms of price of entry or running costs? I think I need a bigger income.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Caliber: .22LR
Barrel: 1 in 15″ twist, carbon steel
Barrel Length: 16″
Overall Length: 33.75″ extended, 30.5″ collapsed
Weight: 5.5 pounds unloaded
Action: Semi-automatic
Finish: Matte black
Capacity: 25+1
Price: MSRP $519 (~$459 street)
RATINGS (out of five stars):
Accuracy: * * * * *
The 15-22 was surprisingly consistent, regularly hitting 2¼” steel targets at 50′ while standing and dead-on while benched.
Ergonomics: * * * * *
It’s the little brother of the beloved AR carbine and has all the features of its more powerful sibling. The picatinny rail will accept any of the accessories that make your .223 rifle shoot well.
Reliability: * * * * *
I’ve only had one misfeed and four stovepipe jams in over 1500 rounds. With a .003% fail rate, this rifle definitely maxes out on the reliability scale.
Customize This: * * * * *
Being a .22 AR with a rail system, it can accept the gajillion or so accessories.
Overall Rating: * * * * *
The price is just right for this system. For those looking for a dedicated .22 AR platform gun, you’d be crazy not to consider an M&P15-22.
This was my second rifle. I bought it’s big brother first (M&P 15 Sport) so after a much research and based on the positive review done on this website for it’s value and quality. Later I happened on the M&P 15-22 and I found out that my research might not have been as complete as I thought! This is a great rifle. Light, accurate (at least for me), inexpensive to shoot and it looks just like it’s 5.56 cousin! Both rifles are well made, but the 15-22 is the rifle that sees the most rounds through it. THE AWB in Connecticut is a pain for accessories, but the rifle was worth every penny spent. Thanks for the review!
Fantastic rifle, I have nothing but good things to say about it. I also think it is the most reliable tacticool .22 made right now.
I have both the M&P 15-22 and the CMMG Quebec (now called the M4-LE .22). While I like my M&P, I love the CMMG. It has a really real lower, which I have used with 5.56 and 300 BLK uppers. The CMMG has a far superior trigger out-of-the-box. It also weighs more, and I see that as a good thing. That being said, the M&P is a bit more accurate.
thank you for the excellent review!
I have been looking for a good/great 22, and you just sealed it for me.
I bought a M&P 9mm for my very 1st pistol and fell in love with the S&W brand because of the excellent preformance of that pistol compaired to others that I have since fired with a compairable failure rate to what you just did and I have fed my pistol every kind of 9mm ammo that i could find over the past 2 years.
Thanks again and keep up the great work.
I tell everyone I know at my gunclub about your site and have linked your articles to my friends many times becuase of your high standards and honesty.
The people who comment here are very knowledgeable and for the most part, friendly with just a few trolls.
In the early 70′s I bought a Remington Nylon 66. Since then I’ve put lord-only-knows how many rounds through that gun. I once went about 1000 rounds without cleaning. It finally got so dirty that the bolt would sometimes not fully close, resulting in a misfire now and then. I cleaned it and it returned to its fully-reliable mode. Other than that, I’ve Never had a failure to feed, extract, or eject. Just makes me wonder if quality control is a thing of the past, because I don’t believe in a “break in period” for firearms. Every one I’ve ever had worked right out of the box or got sent packing asap.
if you want an accurate out of the box 22 find a winchester wildcat. even with a cheap scope it’s a match lighter.
I commuted to my local gun store for extended fondling and familiarity. I boned-up online
I understand getting all hot and bothered after feeling up this terrific little rifle, climaxing in this outstanding review, but an online boner is nothing to brag about.
…keyboard… suffering… dying…
It is on my list to get. I bought a 10/22 Takedown instead. A buddy of mine has one and really enjoys it.
Congrats and enjoy. I love, love, LOVE my M&P 15-22. It just can’t be beat for range-time fun. Mine has been utterly reliable until I tried to feed it Winchester 555 bulk ammo. That stuff is CRAP! It didn’t work well in my Ruger SR22 Pistol, either.
My M&P 15-22 feeds Federal Champion like shit through a goose . (I had to add my own simile… it seems you like them!).
I put a Primary Arms red dot clone on mine for about $80. Works very well.
Oh… got the MOE version.
The low-end Winchester “bulk” ammo is probably the worst .22LR ammo ever made. Period.
Seems a bit bias being as it’s your first and it gets five stars all the away across….Maybe the rifle is that good but this a too much like fanboyism, I bought it, research it, feel in love with it and bought it so it MUST be the best of the best right? right?.
Haha… you never forget your first, eh?
If you look around the interwebz, though, you’d see nearly universal praise for the 15-22. So, this review is a bit of a redundant, “I love it, just like everyone else!” It really is a great .22LR rifle. Is it the “best of the best?” I can’t say. I do enjoy shooting it more than the venerable 10-22. But, I haven’t compared it to any other .22LR rifle.
While you’ve got a point Wiebelhaus, it actually is the best of the best of the best, sir! I’ve run ARs with .22lr BCGs, the Mossberg AR, the Umarex AR and a billion semi-auto & bolt action .22lrs, and the M&P 15-22 is not a classic .22lr jammomatic, it is very to handle for an 8 or 88 year old and with it being so close to mil-spec, I’d say that it probably has more options and upgrades available to it than a 10/22. I know that when we have range night at my place, it’s usually the first gun to get grabbed and definitely gets the most rounds through it among the 30 or so other firearms available. Add a few bits and do-dads (like a JP trigger spring kit and a EOTech) and it’s amazingly accurate to 100 yds and takes any ammo I’ve thrown at it. Life gets even better when you add a can to the end of it. Of all the firearms I have, the best bang or the buck has definitely been the M&P 15-22.
Yes, this was my first but that was a few years ago. Since then I have owned many more guns and have applied what I have learned about firearms to this review. At the time I felt the rifle was near perfect and after shooting other .22 rifles I stand by my original thoughts.
I love my M&P15-22, but this rifle is the best example of the grave injustice that is the California high capacity magazine ban. I don’t mind the 10 round mags on handguns as much. I just buy smaller, more concealable guns since I have an LTC. Take that gun grabbers. (yes there is such a thing as a CA license to carry) The M&P15-22 just begs for high capacity magazine. Mag dumping 10 rounds of .22lr just isn’t enough. I need at least 25 or really the 75 round drum. If I could have a full auto firearm, this would be it.
I thought this a cool gun, so more money for an.556 AR would be even better but Since I live in California it would have to have a fixed 10 round magazine so I don’t go out and shoot mass quantities of puppy s and little kids. I was born in California and love my state but we have been screwed by politically correct trend setters minding everyone’s business.
Small review nitpick, reliability rate is 0.3% not 0.003%
5/1500 x 100
Ordered 4 M&P 15-22 25 round mags Tuesday and they were in my mailbox Thursday, clear across the country!!! Thank You for the GREAT SERVICE, I will be back.
Hitting 2¼” steel targets at 50′ is about as impressive as the sun coming up in the morning. Tell me that you can hit 5 dimes in a row at 50 yards (150 feet) with it, and you will have an impressive gun.
@joe,
if you watch the video (or fast forward to the end of it) the youtube links for more videos in the same player, there is a guy who shoots his steel target at 250 yards with the video camera running and no breaks in the film to prove it.
very impressive with his 15-22!
I have a remington with a Tasco scope I can do that with. With the right scope I have faith the M&P will do that and then some. Going to laser bore sight mine at 150 yards with a high rise scope mount to allow for open sights sighted at 50 yards. Thats how my Remington Speedmaster is set up. I can open sight mid range and scope it long range and it is dead on. That should have me covered
I went into my LGS today to buy some ammo. While I was there I thought I’d have a gander at an M&P 15 22. They had one, it felt really cheap to me, to light and brittle feeling. Right next to it sat a Colt M4 22, all metal and feeling like a real M4. I walked out with it for $350…couldn’t pass that up. Look forward to getting it out on the range.
The MOE version for me in FDE, because I live in the desert.
This thing is FUN. I must say that the trigger is very good with a crisp release and a short reset. I wish all AR triggers were this good out of the box.
Out the door with this and a brick of .22 for a tad under 600 dollars may have been some of the best firearms money that I have ever spent. The Magpul parts alone are close to 200 dollars with a six position stock, folding MBUS sights and pistol grip all from Magpul.
I did have to clean it after a couple of bricks but only because I felt a little guilty about it. So far it is utterly reliable with various ammo brands although I do only use high velocity stuff in it.
Sadly, I think that this may have replaced my Marlin 39A as my favorite rimfire rifle.
I’m glad to hear it’s reliable. Have you shot any groups at 50m or 100m? I should think it would be simplicity itself to mount glass on a flattop AR. That’s why the configuration was created, wasn’t it?
I opted for the Performance Center version. Far better trigger, more accurate threaded barrel. Different grip and stock. Well worth the extra ~$75
It is a favorite. I use it a lot and plink steel targets at 110 yards. Fun!
Apparently Patrick got his “first gun” before getting to whatever grade where his school teaches percentages. Five failures in 1500 rounds is 0.33%, not 0.003%
Fired my 15-22 for the first time today. Used Winchester Wildcat and some subsonic ammo (both on the “avoid” list in the user manual) and it fed perfectly, only problem was with the subsonic the bolt didnt hold open after the mag was empty. Which isnt a huge problem. Best ammo was M-22 by Winchester. Made for large mag capacity auto -loading .22s. 1 FTF out of around 400 rounds. On the whole a fun shooter that gives you an AR experience at a .22 plinker price.
Bought a S&W M&P 15-22 being that I am a beginner. Seeing all the good reviews I thought it would be a good choice for me.
if you want a real gun check out CMMG http://www.youtube.com/v/RJNhVFGDTYg
Wow! That video was…underwhelming!
Thanks for the good writeup. It in truth was a amusement account it. Look complex to more introduced agreeable from you! By the way, how could we keep up a correspondence?
Thanks for the great review. Just picked up one this morning. Cant wait to shoot it.