M&P 15-22 MOE legality/source?

[GrizzlyGuy]

My wife and I were out plinking yesterday and she gave me the green light to pick up a M&P 15-22. I've always found it best to suggest new gun purchases while she is having fun shooting whatever gun she happens to have in her hand at the time.

Anyhoo... GalleryOfGuns.com lists a 15-22 MOE with 10-rd mag and 16" barrel here (on the right), and the CA-approved "standard" model with 16.5" barrel here. I know that our minimum legal barrel length is 16", so the MOE/10-rd model appears to be CA legal. Why do they put an extra 1/2" on the CA-approved model? Is that so we'll feel more comfortable in case a LEO actually measures the barrel length, or am I wrong and we really need that extra 1/2" to be legal?

Also, I'd prefer to get the MOE Flat Dark Earth model (shown here at S&W) with a 10-rd mag but haven't been able to find a source for it (with any sized mag). Any suggestions?

[wsmc27]

I'm just guessing, but I think it's a typo, afaik the barrels are same length on all the 15-22's. I think it reads that way on the S&W website as well?

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Category4_750001_750051_757786_-1_757784_757784_image

Should be a fun rifle, we realy like our 15-22. Have FUN!

[ke6guj]

I know that our minimum legal barrel length is 16", so the MOE/10-rd model appears to be CA legal. Why do they put an extra 1/2" on the CA-approved model? Is that so we'll feel more comfortable in case a LEO actually measures the barrel length, or am I wrong and we really need that extra 1/2" to be legal?

you'll often see rifle barrels listed as 16.5" and shotgun barrels listed as 18.5". That .5" is there as a safety margin.

[GrizzlyGuy]

I'm just guessing, but I think it's a typo, afaik the barrels are same length on all the 15-22's. I think it reads that way on the S&W website as well?

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Category4_750001_750051_757786_-1_757784_757784_image

Should be a fun rifle, we realy like our 15-22. Have FUN!

Ahhhh, I think you're right. When you drill-down to S&W's spec page for the CA-compliant model, it says Barrel Length: 16".

I found the one I want (MOE FDE) here, ordered it, and they are going to swap out the 25-rd mag for a 10-rd mag. My wife are now eager-to-be happy campers.

[scuds03]

I wish I had gotten a MOE edition, they are sweet.

[thegrayham]

Have fun when it gets here, I am loving mine.

[Acorn556]

I beelive someone has done a comparison on this. The 22 barrel is actually a half inch SHORTER than the AR 15 barrel. They make them longer so they are exactly identical when you put the 22 and the 223 next to each other. I've forgotten where I saw it but it's true. The 22 is a half inch shorter if your order a 16" barrel and the A2 flash hider setup.

[ke6guj]

the chamber face on a .22lr barrel is further back inside the receiver than a 5.56 barrel, so even though both barrels have the same legal length, a .22lr barrel will have a shorter OAL. So, if S&W wants to have the .22lr version to have the same OAL as the 5.56 version, then yes, the legal length of the .22lr barrel will be more than 16". Other vendors make their .22lr barrels at 16" so it looks a little SBR'ish compared to a standard 16" gun.