.22 Semi Auto advice

[John MH]

Save up cry and buy only once BAR22 or Raven.

[jazzyj]

I guess when you boil it down, it's all about what you want a rifle for and the type of shooting your into.

If you want a cheap plinker, buy something second hand for a few beans. If you want something precision, save up and buy precision. If you want cheap tacti-cool plinker, gsg5 etc etc, if you want a mix of both, precision tacti-cool, then go for lantac, spikes tactical etc etc.

I personally see .22lr shooting as the affordable end of the market. The price of .223 etc is mind boggling for me, and I'm not ashamed to admit that I just can't afford that. I can see the appeal of the tacti-cool stuff, but don't see it as anything more than a bit of fun style plinking. I know you can pay for the top end stuff like the spike's tactical stuff, but if you're blowing that kind of money, why not buy a proper target gun? A second hand Anny 54 would be just as good as them and a fraction of the cost.

The other thing that makes me chuckle is when people overload the tacti-cool stuff, torches, lasers, big scopes, bipods.... 500g might not sound much but at arm's length all that crap just gives you one hell of a nose heavy boom stick, unless you're a bit soft and resting it on a bench <--- tongue firmly in cheek.

Each unto their own, and I don't dismiss people for being into other types of rifle etc. It grates a little when people dismiss stuff just because they don't like it.

For an example, the last rifle I bought was for a family member who wants to try shooting. I got a remington speedmaster, good condition with no dings in the wood, it's reliable, shoots straight and has a threaded muzzle so if hunting becomes an interest it's possible to take it out for that. It cost me £25.

The only thing I don't like about semi's is the fact that there's always one up the spout. Obviously with a bolt you can make safe, open the bolt and there's no chance of a ND, with semi's there's always one in there and there's more fiddling around with removing mags and working actions to make safe. Other than that, for plinking I can't see anything wrong with them.

[techguy]

I know you can pay for the top end stuff like the spike's tactical stuff, but if you're blowing that kind of money, why not buy a proper target gun? A second hand Anny 54 would be just as good as them and a fraction of the cost.

Because you might not like 'proper target guns'. I don't, and I would rather have a Lantac than *any* target gun because a proper target gun doesn't fit with any of the shooting I do with .22 (plinking, minirifle/multi gun). Different strokes for different folks :) (I know you say each to their own, but just wanted to expand on this point/question a tad)

The only thing I don't like about semi's is the fact that there's always one up the spout. Obviously with a bolt you can make safe, open the bolt and there's no chance of a ND, with semi's there's always one in there and there's more fiddling around with removing mags and working actions to make safe. Other than that, for plinking I can't see anything wrong with them.

Shoot the whole mag in one go... then there's nothing up the spout

[jazzyj]

Shoot the whole mag in one go... then there's nothing up the spout

well there's a solution....

[phaedra1106]

Raven if you have almost silly money to spend or for £600 a S&W M&P15-22

I've been looking at a straight pull in 223 and/or .300 Blackout and the prices this side of the pond are ridiculous, even for a basic build I've been quoted prices over £2000 by some manufacturers.

AR15 Mil Spec platform builds aren't rocket science or black arts, they are a collection of parts to be assembled.

[John MH]

AR15 Mil Spec platform builds aren't rocket science or black arts, they are a collection of parts to be assembled.

Problem is you have to get the parts.

[jazzyj]

Personally as it's had good reviews, pretty much any after sales stuff is available, you can use mil-spec kit on it, match grade trigger kits are widely available, it's reliable and fairly accurate, plus it has the full functions of a proper ar-15, my next purchase is looking very much like the S&W M+P 15-22.

[phaedra1106]

The early ones were fully mil spec but S&W changed them so the lower won't mate with mil spec uppers. I found this on AR15.com

"We have a 15-22 and a few mil spec ARs. The S&W 15-22 lower is not compatable with mil-spec uppers. They moved the pins just enough to insure that.

We love our 15-22, but it is interesting. They seemed to start by making a 100% compatable/mil-spec .22 LR AR out of polymer. Which is exactly what we want. But then they seemed to say, "what are all the ways we can get sued by poeple doing stupid things with 5.56 parts". And then they:
- shorttened the mag well and mags a little, so you cannot put a 5.56 mag in a 15-22 (and 15-22 mags are loose in mil-spec lowers, but there are ways around that).
- Moved the pins enough so that you can NOT mix mil-spec and 15-22 uppers and lowers.
- Made the buffer tube one solid piece with the lower, that is plugged at the front. There's no way your going to get a buffer/spring in there. At least the tube is mil-spec.

Besides that it's all good.
- it takes most mil-spec trigger groups and other parts.
- besides missing forward assist, it is a fully functional AR. Bolt catch/release, charging handle, Bolt Hold Open On Last Round, all work perfect.
- The 15-22 mags are proprietary, but they are the best in the bussiness (IMHO). Easy to load (due to load assist buttons), never jam, always do the bolt hold open thing. I like these so much, I've converted my mil-spec .22 LR AR to use these mags also.
- most standard AR furniture works. Our's just got a Magpul CTR stock, MAID grip (need AR10 adapter for the insert that goes way up the back, but the other works fine as is).

The 15-22 is a great gun. The first .22 LR AR to implement the full AR manual of arms. But is only mil-spec compatable as far as trigger groups, and furiture."

[jazzyj]

thanks for that, i didn't realise they changed the design to 'non mil-spec', thats a shame.

still doesn't put me off though, the sig522 was a close contender but its the personalisation abilities of the s&w that swayed my choice.

i've now just got to save up the money, get rid of a rifle to make some room, convince the wife its a good idea and finish my custom build.....

[BritBloke]

As a relative newcomer to the .22 scene I was looking for something a bit different to the 10/22s and eventually settled on the Anschutz MSR RX22. I baulked a little at the 'Black & Tan' versions and plumped for the 'Precision'. Slightly less Tacticool but with an good barrel and adjustable trigger. I also liked the fact that it was truly ambidextrous (I shoot 'Left-eyed'!) with six position cocking handle placement and left/right safety and mag release. Put just over 500 rnds through it now and am happy with my purchase......

B_B

[img][img]