newbie range report

[v35]

I'm a decent hand gunner but never shot a rifle before. Don't really know anything about long guns at all, but on a whim I bought an S&W M&P15-22 from a reputable online dealer the other day for really no other reason that I have to start somewhere. It was reasonably priced and life isn't getting any longer, you know?

When the gun arrived at my LGS I admit to being somewhat disappointed. I was not expecting a "real" AR but I thought the M&P15-22 had the appearance of being somewhat cheap. On the other hand it has a functioning charging handle, a real threaded barrel, authentic magazine release, sort-of-kind-of AR style magazines, decent folding sights and other features of a real AR. The nice part about handing it is that it is surprisingly light. But, I was somewhat disappointed in it looking and feeling somewhat toy-like, and thought it'll probably be destined for either a quick sale at a bit of a loss, or the back of the safe.

After taking it to the range (my first time firing a real rifle, yay) I completely forgot about my initial impressions. This gun is really nice! The trigger is smooth and has a very crisp tactile and audible reset. Recoil is essentially nonexistent. The bolt locks back on an empty magazine. Basically, those are all the things I like in handguns, so I'm starting to feel as though I may be able relate to it after all. I did buy an additional two magazines to go with it. Glad I did, here's why:

Being new to rifles I don't have any real targets so I dragged these printed targets off of my dusty shelf and hung them on the target frame. Unfortunately (I'm pretty embarrassed to admit this) I really don't know from what range I was shooting... it's either 50 feet or 50 yards. It's 50 something I know that sounds stupid, but from a hand gunner perspective the target was OH MY GOD SO FAR OUT THERE. I never even attempted to shoot a handgun at anything more than 25 feet, but I do pretty well at that, so how hard can it be?

Who am I kidding. As I hike this enormous distance from the target back to the bench I'm thinking this was going to turn out to be a ridiculous exercise. At least there was no one else there to laugh at me. Not knowing what to expect from this new gun I chambered one and only one round, sat at the bench, and did my best to keep the sights somewhere in the vicinity of the black spot way out there in the distance while I squeezed off a round. Waaaay too far out to see any result, again I hike this freakishly absurd distance back to the target thinking I probably didn't even hit the paper, but as I approached it I was rewarded with the hole you see in the X ring. This was my very first shot. Yes that was luck of course, but hitting the X with my very first shot was worth about million bucks in motivation. I prepared a full magazine (25 rounds) and went about trying to do that again.

There was a significant wind from the right... 20, 25 knots or so. I set up another target and attempted to compensate by aiming right of center a little bit. That went a lot better (second pic). Whether that was the rear sight or the wind I won't know until shooting another day.

At the end of the session I counted a total of 40 holes in both targets. This was a concern because I thought I brought a box of 50 rounds with me. Where did the other ten go? Missed the paper entirely? Now I was feeling really stupid. Then, I looked at the empty box of American Eagle 38 gr and realized there were only 40 in the box to begin with

From a hand gunner perspective, I have come to respect rifle shooting as an entirely different ball game encompassing an entirely different set of skills. Now I'm thinking, hey, maybe I can do this! I think I'm hooked Wish I discovered rifles years ago.

 

[ontarget]

Good job and welcome to the world of long guns. Soon you will be asking about advice for shooting 500 yards. Of course you will need a larger caliber rifle for that, but that's the best part. Keep on shooting, and have a ball doing it.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Congrats on starting with a great rifle.

The S&W M&P15-22 may look toy-like to someone not familiar with the AR platform, but just about every exterior accessory made to fit a centerfire AR will fit on the 15-22. Part of the impression you are getting likely comes from the fact that the receiver is polymer as opposed to aluminum.

Shooting distance: Most folks start out zeroing at 25 yards and then move back to 50 yards after they get it printing on paper. 50 feet is only about 16 yards and that is more commonly considered handgun distance

I would highly recommend attending an Appleseed Shoot in your area to get down the basics of shooting a rifle

 

[v35]

Thanks for the Appleseed Shoot recommendations. I'll research that.

Part of the impression you are getting likely comes from the fact that the receiver is polymer as opposed to aluminum.

I'm not opposed to polymer at all. In fact I bought a few lowers over the past few months, some aluminum, some polymer, some "hybrid" (Tennessee Arms - I was really impressed with their videos). The objective is to assemble my own AR. I have a lot to learn first, starting with this "sticky".

Did a little better today, a lot less wind. I paced off the distance, in fact it was about eighty feet. Perhaps I'll remember to take a tape measure next time

I'm liking this rifle!

 

[v35]

so you're that guy

Zen and the art of hitting stuff

By the way I have you to thank for that link. I had forgotten where I had seen it.

His technique resulted in the most significant improvement in my handgun performance since my initial training over a decade ago. I used to wonder how the guy next to me at the range got such tight groups. Now I'm that guy

It really works. A quantum leap in performance that would never have occurred simply going about my usual practice.

 

[Geno]

v35:

Congrats, and welcome to the rifle world. I like guns...all guns. If you get a chance, test the accuracy of some Remington, Blue box, target rounds. They do (did) cycle in my autoloaders, and were extremely accurate to 225 yards.

Geno

 

[Frostbite]

Welcome to the wonderful world of the rifle v35, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. I shoot a lot of .22 LR because I like to shoot a lot. It is fun to always try to get the group smaller, and sometimes, when it just won't get small at all (I have days like that), dump a few mags in no time!

Maybe someday I will do the reverse trip you just did and go buy myself a nicely chromed 1911 to shoot some 9 mm at paper targets. It is just so much more complicated to shoot handguns over here; I am not sure it will ever happen. I am still not convinced the extra fun is worth all the extra trouble.

I wonder which is easier: from rifle to handgun or from handgun to rifle?

In any case, keep on shooting!

 

[MedWheeler]

Don't worry about the M&P15-22 feeling "toy-like." Even the centerfire version does, if one is used to rifles with wooden furniture. I have one (the Sport), but have never fired it. It felt light and "plasticky", with less heft than my Tapco-stocked Ruger 10/22.

Then, I got an AK (which I also have not yet shot.) Now, the AR feels even more toy-like.

Welcome to rimfire riflery. Even though I haven't shot either of those aforementioned centerfires, or the other one I have, a Mosin-Nagant, I have shot scads of .22LR from that Ruger.

Due partly to the perceived continuation of the .22LR ammo shortage, I've been finding decent deals on used firearms in the caliber, and have been acquiring them more often than I've been finding time to shoot them. Now, I have six rimfire rifles I haven't yet shot..

 

[v35]

If you get a chance, test the accuracy of some Remington, Blue box, target rounds.

I'd like to, but I don't know what they are. I can't find any Remington .22lr that come in a blue box.

The ones I used in my report were Remington Thunderbolt which were at least ten years old. I got the impression from this board they are not a well respected product, but I had no trouble with them. I don't have any left but I wouldn't hesitate to buy more.

Federal Champion also performed well, I have plenty of them left.

 

[ontarget]

The Remington thunderbolt will work. Just not very consistent is all. For plinking and informal target practice they are fine.

 

[v35]

so I brought my wife to the range...

... and she proceeded to humiliate me

I prepared two 10 round mags for her.

Twelve in the center, eight in the ten ring. She really likes this gun too.

This time I brought binoculars so we didn't have to go running back and forth to see how we did. The binoculars are just for nature watching, not so good for inspecting a target out that far.

She asked me if there is anything better to use for the purpose, and I said sure, it's called a spotting scope.

She asked if we could get one.

On the way back home I asked her what her secret was. I think her comments are worth noting: "You just have to relax. Concentrate on the target. It's like Zen. Once you get in the zone you don't think about anything else and the shot will go right where you want it. Oh and you should loosen up your grip on the gun too. You're holding it too tight and that's messing up your shots."

This from someone who just shot a rifle for the second time, ever.

Oh by the way my targets aren't worth posting

What have I done

 

[v35]

The Remington thunderbolt will work. Just not very consistent is all.

Besides the Thunderbolt and American Eagle I have tried Federal Champion, Winchester Super X, CCI Mini-Mags, and Remington Golden Bullet "value pack" hollowpoints. I have a few other brands I have not yet tried, including some "match grade" (and even some legendary "CCI .22lr Tactical AR" overpriced stuff allegedly tested specifically with this S&W) and I'm interested to see if I can discern any difference between it and the cheap stuff.

The only problem I had was with the Remington GB. A fully loaded 25 round mag would not feed, as the relatively flat tip of that bullet would become scrunched at the bottom of the feed ramp. If I limited the mags to only 10 rounds they all fed perfectly OK. Those were the ones used in the above target. So I suppose if I want to use the Rem GB it will be necessary to load a 25 round mag to something less than its full capacity.

I'm not experienced enough to judge the merits of the various brands yet. Perhaps my wife can.

 

[ontarget]

Sounds like you got a keeper. A wife and shooting partner all in one.

 

[BCRider]

That was a great newbie story and reading your "awakening report" had me smiling and nodding.

You've got yourself a superb action shooting gun. Go see if you can find some USPSA or similar steel shoots with a "carbine" class where you can shoot fast while still stressing some accuracy. I assure you that you'll come away with a set of sore smile muscles.