The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Thanks for all the repsonse guys. Seems like no one has put me off the S&W. Other options seem a bit too much money for me

What most people seem to have against the S&W is that it is "plasticky"..... That's because it's made of polymer. The exact same stuff that S&W makes their semi pistols from. I would rather have polymer than some zinc based monkey metal....

The S&W has a polymer upper and lower. The barrel is a match grade solid (not sleeved a la Umarex) thing made by Thompson Centre. The whole gun was designed from the ground up as a training weapon for US police departments. All the buttons and levers work as they should like on a full sized AR and you don't have to modify, molly-coddle or fettle. you can change butts, triggers, grips, locking pins, mag releases to your hearts content. Longevity? S&W recommend you change the recoil spring every 100000 rounds!

Lantac build a nicer rifle. JP enterprises build a nicer rifle. So do Spikes and CMMG. Nicer, well perhaps and really should be for between twice and four times the cost. Better rifle than a Smith? Doubtful....

My thoughts exactly. I have not seen a bad word about the S&W other than it is made of polymer. That I knew already, but despite that everyone still rates it and as you say, other so called better options are 2-4 times the price. My mind is made up, I'm gonna bag a S&W!

Thanks to everyone for the input

I have a CMMG which I've had for close on a couple of years. Cant fault it.

I've never seen or handled a S&W but if you want something with a bit more weight to it and made of steel and also able to take a .223 upper at some point in the future this place has them starting at £850 : http://emrr.org.uk/rimfire-1/

Whilst not an AR-15 I'm drawn to the SIG 522, either in classic or SWAT form. Like the S&W it's a proper training tool and designed to feel and handle just like its bigger brother. I guess the amount of go-fast bits available is much less though.

mackie wrote:Whilst not an AR-15 I'm drawn to the SIG 522, either in classic or SWAT form. Like the S&W it's a proper training tool and designed to feel and handle just like its bigger brother. I guess the amount of go-fast bits available is much less though.

Take a look at the thread about 522 feed problems on the newer models

S&W 15-22 has the lead on a few of the other clones. especially if you get the 35 round tactical plinker magazines.

Riflecraft had one at their stall for the H4H match at Shield this year and I got to shoot a couple of mags in their side shoot.
If getting one, I'd get one from them with their modded trigger and the barrel cut, threaded and crowned at 12.5".
They had a Vortex PST 1-4 scope with a Razor red dot at one o'clock, optics overkill for me, but that rifle with a SPARC on would be a little match winner.

I take it the riflecraft 15-22s are special order? I quite fancy and performance center edition cerakoted in burnt bronze. Might have a chat with them at the shooting show about that.

look at gunmarts review on the perfomance centre I would stick with the moe one and spend the rest on ammo you will need to.

mackie wrote:I take it the riflecraft 15-22s are special order? I quite fancy and performance center edition cerakoted in burnt bronze. Might have a chat with them at the shooting show about that.

Yes, custom job, trigger also swapped for something a bit lighter and with less creep.