[poker99]

Fairly new to the world of ARs.

From reading posts here, it seems like most people spend $600 - $1,500 for an AR15, and seems like everyone customizes theirs. But I bought an S&W M&P15 22 for $330 online, brand new in box. I know "you get what you pay for", but does S&W really make a "cheap, get what you pay for AR15"?

What can I expect in terms of lack of quality in a sub $500 M&P15?

 

[kytowboater]

You bought a .22 caliber ar15.

 

[niteglock]

I own one. They r fun for plinking. The only ammo I've ever had trouble with was Winchester bulk. The one in the wood box. Maybe 10ftf out of 900 rounds or so. That's the only issue with mine. Cci mini mags run great. Like always.
Federal bulk run great also.

 

[buffalolake]

The S&W M&P 15/22 is a very nice .22, and very fun to shoot. And at $330 new, you got a good deal, they are usually north of $450 new. However, it cannot be upgraded to another caliber like a true AR.

 

[okdonk]

My favorite piece in my arsenal! Cheap ammo and accurate. Best purchase of mine actually.
Here is mine

 

[GeneralPatton]

Fairly new to the world of ARs.

From reading posts here, it seems like most people spend $600 - $1,500 for an AR15, and seems like everyone customizes theirs. But I bought an S&W M&P15 22 for $330 online, brand new in box. I know "you get what you pay for", but does S&W really make a "cheap, get what you pay for AR15"?

What can I expect in terms of lack of quality in a sub $500 M&P15?

There is nothing subpar about the 15-22 to me. It was cheap as already said, it's a .22 caliber gun.

only ammo I've ever had trouble with was Winchester bulk

I do tend to have a few failures when running Winchester white box as well. Occasionaly I get some problems with other manufacturers, nothing bad enough for me to think anything is wrong with it. My wife and daughter shoot it and they shoot my Walther P22 when we go to the range. After a while I just started solely using CCI MINIMAG 40gr 1235 fps rounds.

I've found that just using 40gr seems to run strong with no issues. But you did score a deal at 330 for a new one. Those have gone up on Gunbroker and I see some of them bringing about $700. I bought my wife the Pink Tiger Stripe camo on and it was $480 before all this hoopla when I got it in October.

Here she is in all her glory:

Just remember to keep telling yourself that its an S&W MP15-22. That last little -22 makes a lot of difference. The 15-22 lower cannot accept any other upper, and the upper fit on a 5.56 seems loose and I wouldn't chance shooting it.

 

[ScottA]

Wish I had been able to get my M&P 15-22 for that much. You got a heck of a deal.

The 15-22 is my "more fun that a barrel of monkeys gun". You'll love it.

At some point, you may want to look at a centerfire AR in 5.56/.223. But you would do well to wait for a while until the madness dies down otherwise you'll pay out the nose.

 

[poker99]

Thanks folks, great info as I build out my collection.
My takeaways are the main price difference is that I have a rimfire 22 cal vs a centerfire 5.56 or .223

I really appreciate this forum. It should be recommended to all first time firearm owners. I get answers here quicker than hours of searching the web and wading through all the info available.

 

[poker99]

By the way, I picked this up GrabAGun.com and another at impactguns.com

 

[GeneralPatton]

By the way, I picked this up GrabAGun.com and another at impactguns.com

At $330 I'd buy a few spares. Having them with a couple 25 or 32 round mags willmake them more desirable after the mag size limit ban comes to town.