Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 sight systems

[Southern]

I own a Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 and see that others on SDUK do, as well.
There has been a lot of talk about .22 LR ammunition used, but not a lot about how the rifles are used, and the sights on them.

I am just using the factory iron ( plastic ) sights, and thinking of buying another AR-15, like a Bushmaster, S&W M&P 15 or Ruger 556 carbine with a flat top, flip up rear sight ( like a Magpul ), red dot, and a scope.

So I am thinking of setting up my M&P 15-22 sort of the same way, in advance of said dream purchase. And I am looking at rifle scopes for the M&P 15-22. It is a pretty accurate little rifle with the factory sights and bulk Federal ammo.

I like my BDC reticles on my Burris, Bushnell, Vortex and Hensolt ( HK G3) scopes. Bushnell makes an AR scope with external knobs and a BDC reticle for the .22 LR and for the .223, in several power ranges, all with side parallax adjustment. They are pretty sharp, inexpensive, a little bit on the bulky and tactical side,... but hey, this is an AR-15, right?

They also make two rimfire scopes with a duplex reticle or a BDC, in 2.5-10x36mm AO and 4-12x40 AO. They have knobs and BDC, too, for the .22 LR, .22 WMR and 17 HMR.

Simmons makes a 3-9x40 and 4-12x40 with duplex, side parallax, external knobs for the .22 LR, .22 WMR and 17 HMR. It is mechanically the same scope as the Bushnell AR, but in a less tactical design.

----- So what are you folks shooting ( targets, small game, varmints ) and what scopes?

 

[tarponhead]

Leupold 1.7-6 x 36 old steel scope but clear glass and fine reticle

 

[Druid]

I've got one of these on mine-

https://www.amazon.com/Visionking-1-25-5x26-Rifle-Hunting-Riflescopes/dp/B00GH2QCOS

also available in the uk-

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Visionking-1-25-5x26-Hunting-three-pin-honeycomb/dp/B01ABOLP3K

not what you would call quality brand but perfectly good for the plinking that mine gets used for.
the image and reticule is actually good for my needs but I wouldn't really want to put it on a centrefire.

 

[Southern]

I am surprised to see such small scopes. I have a 2-7x32mm AO Mil Dot scope which could go on mine.

It looks like most of the SDUK owners use their M&P 15-22 for plinking, informal target shooting, but not hunting. Other than shooting rabbits at night, is there much spot and stalk small game hunting done in the UK for rabbits, squirrels, etc? Or decoying in pigeons to shoot on the ground? Here, we call in crows, decoy pigeons in fields, etc.

 

[acj375]

I've got one of these on mine-

https://www.amazon.com/Visionking-1-25-5x26-Rifle-Hunting-Riflescopes/dp/B00GH2QCOS

also available in the uk-

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Visionking-1-25-5x26-Hunting-three-pin-honeycomb/dp/B01ABOLP3K

not what you would call quality brand but perfectly good for the plinking that mine gets used for.
the image and reticule is actually good for my needs but I wouldn't really want to put it on a centrefire.

Bought one of them 5or6 years ago for a .22 ,it's been on a .308 and 6.5 x55 most of The time never missed a beat ,I've Shot 200 or 300 homeload rounds with it holds zeros tracks
Not saying another
one would but it's amazing what you get for your money some times!!
Not great in low light last 10mins at night.Great for rest of time.

 

[Southern]

That Visionking looks great for an AR-15... almost a Vortex Strike Eagle or Burris CQB at 1/5 the price!
Makes me want to try it on my .375 H&H or .444 Marlin for wild boar in dark timber, like swamps.

I like the BDC dots on the Bushnell AR optics for shooting to the limits of a .22 LR.

 

[Druid]

I am surprised to see such small scopes. I have a 2-7x32mm AO Mil Dot scope which could go on mine.

It looks like most of the SDUK owners use their M&P 15-22 for plinking, informal target shooting, but not hunting. Other than shooting rabbits at night, is there much spot and stalk small game hunting done in the UK for rabbits, squirrels, etc? Or decoying in pigeons to shoot on the ground? Here, we call in crows, decoy pigeons in fields, etc.

I, like a few people have a different.22 got shooting small game, I have a moderated ruger 10-22 with a 3-9 x 42 scope which is probably more suitable for the job. Using the 15-22 out in the field is not too popular with many people as the military looks will tend to make any member of the public that may spot you, get all panicked and call the police!! It can and does happen.
Roost shooters swooped on by police helicopter - Shooting UK
sad to say but we live in a very wary society.

 

[Southern]

Do you use the iron sights on your M&P 15-22, or just the scopes and red dot sights?
If you use the irons, do you have your scope set up to co-witness with the front post, on it or just above it?
The 1x setting on the Visionking would make it function simply as a red dot optical sight.

 

[takbok]

Southern, it will be interesting to see which AR15 you end up buying. I quite like the look of the Ruger AR556.

 

[Druid]

Do you use the iron sights on your M&P 15-22, or just the scopes and red dot sights?
If you use the irons, do you have your scope set up to co-witness with the front post, on it or just above it?
The 1x setting on the Visionking would make it function simply as a red dot optical sight.

Used the irons for a little while when I first got it, just for old times sakes. It reminded me how my eyes have deteriorated since I was a young man!!
yes indeed the low mag of the scope does allow good, both eyes open shooting.

 

[Southern]

Southern, it will be interesting to see which AR15 you end up buying. I quite like the look of the Ruger AR556.

The Ruger AR556 is a good deal, looks and feels great.

On my lunch break yesterday, I went to look at some a few blocks from my office. There were about 30 variations hanging on the wall, every brand, some very tactical, race gun looking, etc.

Prices are way down on the basic, solid, brand name AR-15s: S&W, Ruger, Colt, Bushmaster.
This pawn shop / new gun store had the Ruger AR556 and S&W M&P 15 Sport II on sale for $459.00. I had thought about a rail on the gas block with a flip up front sight, but the S&W MP 15 Optics Ready was $599.00.

I made an impulse purchase and walked out the door, back to work, with the demo S&W M&P 15 Sport II, A2 front sight, Magpul flip up rear, two Magpul magazines for $400.00. I figure that I can try that with some scopes I have in QR rings, maybe put on an IR scope like the Visionking 1.25-5x24, or Nikko Stirling 1-4x24 IR, or the Bushnell AR 223 with BDC ( all between $80.00 and $120 USD ).... and if I like something better, I can sell it and get my $400 back.

M Wesson

 

[takbok]

That sounds like a great deal you got. Enjoy shooting it!!

 

[Druid]

Impulse buy of a semi auto AR on lunch break and all for $400! I'm not jealous that you can do that, no really I'm not...........

 

[Southern]

Druid, I had sort of narrowed things down to M4 sort of carbines from Bushmaster, Colt, Ruger or S&W, and chatting with you fellows about AR optics possibly lowered my inhibitions, enabling me to strike ( like a snake ) a bargain when I saw it.

A psychoanalyst might have helped me, but would have cost me $200, no fun talking as it is with other gun addicts here in group therapy, and his $200 would have no resale value, as my MP 15 does.

I will try to put some optics on the MP 15-22 and shoot it this weekend, then the AR later, with irons and some optics, so I can report back.

 

[tarponhead]

Druid, I had sort of narrowed things down to M4 sort of carbines from Bushmaster, Colt, Ruger or S&W, and chatting with you fellows about AR optics possibly lowered my inhibitions, enabling me to strike ( like a snake ) a bargain when I saw it.

A psychoanalyst might have helped me, but would have cost me $200, no fun talking as it is with other gun addicts here in group therapy, and his $200 would have no resale value, as my MP 15 does.


I will try to put some optics on the MP 15-22 and shoot it this weekend, then the AR later, with irons and some optics, so I can report back.

The agonies of choice! Sounds like a great choice, Southern, looking at all the reviews. Will you hunt with it or just shoot targets/things? I assume the ammo supply issue of previous years is better now. Will be great to hear how you get on , what optics you choose etc,. etc,. etc,. As you rightly say, the best group therapy is on here and for free!

 

[Southern]

I will just set this one up for defense, plinking, etc. I have two other standard USGI issue, match grade AR-15s, and a lightweight Colt carbine from the Vietnam era, with the carry handle. The full size rifles are heavy when loaded up. I have hunted mostly coyotes with the Bushmaster and taken down several. The Colt is only 5.5 lbs, and I have a swan mount for a red dot out ahead of the carry handle. This little Colt is 1:12 twist, of course, but it is so accurate that I can knock over empty shotgun hulls at 100 yards, offhand, with the iron sights. Will probably give it to my son. I just wanted a flat top, more adaptable to modern optics, something my small wife can handle. This S&W is 1:9 twist, so it can shoot heavier bullets, but the carbines give up 100 yards or more in velocity to the full-size A2.

 

[DRN]

I alternate between a red dot on my MP15-22 and a falcon optics 1.5-5 mag (or there abouts) illuminated scope which for the money is great. Thats for plinking in the garden. Great fun gun to shoot. Im lucky mine works pretty much faultlessly with subsonics and with a mod its super quiet.

 

[Southern]

S&W has some big rebates going here in the USA on M&P handguns, the 15-22 and the AR15s. So you might check there.
These rebates make an MP15 maybe cheaper than the one I bought.

Druid, if you think this makes you sick, when I bought mine, the store was unboxing an FN M249S, a semi-auto version of the Squad Automatic Weapon....MSRP $7,999.00. Yikes!

 

[Southern]

Another question about the Visionking 1.5-5x26mm.
It is so inexpensive, I was wondering if it would hold up on an AR-15 in .223...
All the reviews I find are in the UK, on .22 LR and air rifles.
I am still trying scopes I already have on both S&W MP-15s, the .22 and the .223. I don't have any use for illumination on the .22, but some of the .223 scope with CQB reticles and BDC combination are impressive and very functional:
Burris MTAC
Bushnell 1-4x24 BTR
Primary Arms 1-6x24 ACSS
Vortex Strike Eagle 1-6x24 ACSS

.... though a mix of red dot and 600 to 800 yard BDC makes less sense than two different optics for vastly different jobs, rather than a Swiss Army Knife Scope.

Went to a gun show today for about an hour and handled some of these.
Vortex has a 1-8x24 now. All three Vortex and the Burris MTAC are amazing optics for around $300 - $400 USD.
They all have long tubes, large occular lenses, long and forgiving eye relief... .would make great DGR scopes.