Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 22LR Rifle Review and Guide

[The Hamsterball]

Hello Guys,

I have been meaning to write up a guide for this rifle, Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 with 22 LR ammo.

However, haven't gotten a chance because I wanted to get the rifle working perfectly without failures first.
Now's the time.

So here is what I have on mine:
- Volquartsen Exact Edge Extractor
- Sling from Turners Outdoorsman (M-LOK)
- S&W MP-100 Red Dot Equipped from Factory
- SOUFORCE Flip-Up Iron Sights (Amazon)


Volquartsen Exact Edge Extractor
First thing you should, and must do.
Install Volquartsen Exact Edge Extractor.

If you fire the rifle, it may fail with certain types of ammo.
I tried Aguila Super Extra 40 Grain.
(Do not use this ammo.
It causes the gun to jam occasionally, and gets it really dirty.)

You will have to clean every 200 rounds with Aguila ammo.
With the exact edge extractor it is better, but not perfect.

If you use Federal ammo or CCI Mini Mags (I've heard good things about Federal ammo), you may see some failure.
With the exact edge extractor you will have zero failures for up to 1,000 - 3,000 rounds without cleaning in between.

This is what those out-of-state guys with better ammo in their states have said.
It's probably because they have better ammo there.

For California, my choice is CCI Mini Mags 22 LR.
(Do not use CCI Stingers, S&W says it will cause damage your rifle in a bulletin).

I have not tried Federal ammo. Heard good things.
Reason I use CCI Mini Mags is because I also own a Walther P22, which loves mini mags (it is more economical to cycle the same ammo through my only two firearms).

(Unfortunately somebody already created a thread on P22, which eliminated my ability to create a similar thread for my Walther P22, which I also got to work fine)

If you have failures at all with CCI Ammo, do not send the rifle back to S&W.
Inspect the Extractor.
Try installing this $25 Volquartsen piece.
You might save yourself the trouble.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiKCxSRrV2Y

[B]SOUFORCE Iron Sights:[B]
- Now, why would you want iron sights in ADDITION to a red dot sight?
#1
Well this is what happened to me.
I fully cleaned, lubed, serviced my rifle before taking it to the range.
When I popped off the red dot covers, they were stained with bore cleaner on the lenses.
In an emergency I had to use a hand wipe to clean them and dry the lenses off with a hoodie.
(I did go home and use lens cleaner to make them spotless when I got a chance).

#2 If you forget to turn off your red dot, which I frequently do sometimes coming back home from the range (I always turn it off after I'm safe at home since you can't really take the rifle out anywhere else).
Battery might die.

WHERE DO YOU INSTALL THE FLIP UP SIGHTS IF RED DOT IS AGAINST THE CHAMBER?!

Okay okay. This may seem a little confusing.
Whether you have two pens end to end stacked on top of each other, or halfway next to each other with one one the left and one on the right.
Both cases, there is still a straight line end to end.
Do you want to create some space for your sights? Sure

I installed my rear sight right up against the red dot, so as to not block the red dot sight cover which pops off.
The front sight I put right at the end of the barrel towards the front.
Both are still on the part that disassembles at the end so you can still disassemble it without uninstalling the sights.
(See pictures for reference).

Now you might think: "WHY NOT MBUS?" "WHY DID YOU GET AMAZON SIGHTS?"
Honestly, MBUS costs so much money and it's plastic (wait are they also iron versions? dunno).

I don't like MBUS because of the shape and lack of reference with the red dot.
(See images).
I prefer the SOUFORCE because it's easy to hit the paper target circle spot on at 10 meters. It is a little difficult at 25 meters, but that's what the red dot is for.

(Please reference paper target shots. All target shots tonight were with SOUFORCE sights.
Top right is at 25 meters for 10 rounds.
Kind of difficult with a large circle to hit at 25 meters.
Rest of top right is 10 meters, spot on.

Top left, bottom left, and bottom right are at 10 meters while either sitting or standing. Mostly standing. Spot on.)

The sling? Is it really necessary?
No, it's not.
But I plan on going to Piru Precision Rifle Matches pretty soon. It just makes it convenient to maneuver around the course if you got an empty unloaded rifle to carry in between target sessions.
Plus it's an M-LOK accessory, so it pops off with the push of a button.
Big thanks to Turners Outdoorsman for a nice sling.

You call that a real rifle? Why not 5.56?
Oh yeah? Really?
Here's what are the issues with 5.56 rifles.
They overheat after firing too many rounds too fast.
You need to let them cool.

$1/round vs $120/1,000 rounds.
If you're like me, you're cheap.
Would you spend $1,000 or $800 for 1,000 rounds of experience?
I wouldn't.
I spent $120 for 1,000 rounds and a few times in the beginning, I bought Aguila 250 pack for $17.
I have put probably 1,000 rounds through the rifle already, and it will now hold for 750 rounds at least before I have to clean it again.

Sure, 5.56's are nice. But c'mon. If you're just trying to get some practice, 22 LR is much more cost-effective.
This rifle is also based on an AR-15. Similar features.

Reliability
I've already explained the reliability.
Follow this guide, and yours will be plenty reliable.

Best part. ACCESSORIES!!!
With the exception of the red dot, maybe the sling, and possibly the co-witness sights, certain parts on 5.56's are illegal in California.

PISTOL GRIP.
I can accessorize this 22 LR rifle as much as legally possible.
It has features you can only dream of in California on a 5.56 rifle.
DETACHABLE MAG WITH PISTOL GRIP
M-LOK!!
ADJUSTABLE STOCK

That's all I gotta say.
Now you may say, still 5.56 is better.
Sure, people have opinions.
But I have had much more fun with this 22 LR than I would a 5.56.
To each their own.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folde...usp=share_link