Low prices on the Smith & Wesson M&P15-22 Sport in .22LR start at Champion Firearms-

Kicking Some Brass. For decades, many company's have attempted to capture the authentic look and feel of a genuine AR-15 chambered for rimfire cartridges, because dropping a conversion kit in an existing rifle just isn't the same as a dedicated .22 platform. With the AR-15 being one of the most popular rifles in the world, it stands to reason that a scaled down rimfire version in .22LR would be on everyone's "must have" list.

While Colt may have preceded the M&P15-22 and others have since followed, Smith & Wesson was the first to really get it right with the introduction of the Model A1. Due to the skyrocketing cost of ammunition, there's also been an ever increasing demand for a more affordable plinking and training rifle.

Sure, plenty of other manufacturers have produced highly successful and reliable semi- auto rimfire rifles in the distant past, but Smith & Wesson was the first to in an AR-15 platform, make it tremendously cool, reliable, affordable and then mass market their gun on an unprecedented scale.

When a customer walks in the door and inquires about a rimfire target rifle, nothing evokes a more ambivalent response than holding up a Ruger 10/22 or Marlin Model 60. Subsequently, nothing illicits a grin that stretches from ear to ear faster than handing that same customer a Smith & Wesson M&P15-22 Sport.

Smith & Wesson is one of the oldest and greatest names in American firearms. Founded in 1852 by Horace Smith and Daniel Wesson, Smith & Wesson's firearms have become standard issue to law enforcement and military units throughout the world.

Interestingly, the two men set about in Norwich, Connecticut to develop a lever action repeating pistol that used a self- contained cartridge. Faced with financial difficulties, they were forced to sell their company in 1854 to a clothing manufacturer by the name of Oliver Winchester.

Using Smith & Wesson's original lever action design, the powerhouse that emerged was the now famous Winchester Repeating Arms Co. In 1856, Smith & Wesson then formed their second partnership and designed the worlds first successful revolver that utilized a fully self- contained cartridge. In addition to its popularity among sport shooters over the past 165+ years, the company's revolvers have been featured in numerous Hollywood movies, most notably Clint Eastwood's Dirty Harry.

At the heart of the Smith & Wesson M&P15-22 Sport design is a reliable blowback action. The stainless steel bolt rides on top of two steel rails that retain the spring and its guide rod. Both bolt and spring are rigid, which are attached to a working AR-15 style charging handle.

Equally impressive is the fact that all rifle functions are anatomically correct according to modern AR-15 control functions. On the gun's right side, just forward of the trigger guard is the magazine release. Similarly, the bolt catch and release can also be found in their traditional locations as well-- which is on the left side, just above the pistol grip.

There is no forward assist assembly. But then again, if the bolt will not close by itself, at the risk of setting off a primer contained in a cartridge's outer rim, why would anyone want to smash it shut?

The trigger mechanism is the same as that found on a standard AR-15 and is therefore completely interchangeable. The rifle weighs in at just 5.5 pounds and can attribute its lightweight to several key high strength, advanced polymer components.

A polymer upper and lower receiver contain integral steel inserts, but the receivers are not interchangeable with standard AR-15 rifles, nor will a 5.56 upper even work on the Smith & Wesson M&P15-22 MOE. This is a dedicated rimfire platform.

A polymer M-LOK handguard provides attachment points for accessories such as a tactical light, laser or vertical foregrip (not included). Forming a full- length Picatinny top rail, both standard eye relief and extended eye relief optics can be successfully mounted.

The Smith & Wesson M&P15-22 Sport includes a set of Magpul MBUS folding, detachable, adjustable front and rear iron sights. An FDE Magpul MOE SL six position telescoping buttstock allows a shooter to tailor the rifle to their specific length of pull.

Likewise, the FDE MOE SL pistol grip provides improved handling and control. A 16" barrel includes an A1 type flash hider on the muzzle, but is cut to 1/2-28" tpi-- so it is capable of accepting other common muzzle accessories such as a suppressor. Field stripping the Smith & Wesson M&P15-22 MOE is easy and requires no special tools. For service and repairs, the rifle is backed by a limited lifetime warranty.

The 25- round magazine was a major triumph for Smith & Wesson's engineering design team. This is not an Atchisson style AR conversion, but was a proprietary Smith & Wesson design from the ground up.

Unlike 90% of the high cap rimfire AR-15 magazines on the market, it functions flawlessly. With buttons on both sides to help depress the follower, loading is easy. The magazine also has an activator for the bolt to remain open after the last shot has been fired.

The magazine is virtually impossible to rim snag, and has an intriguing look about it. It also accurately follows the dimensions of a 5.56 AR-15 magazine, thereby maintaining the rifle's validity as a training device. Overall, the Smith & Wesson M&P15-22 Sport is a fun accurate and reliable AR-15 style rimfire rifle that is designed for years of plinking enjoyment.

Established in 1993, Champion Firearms is a retail gun store and indoor range located in College Station, Texas.

As a brick & mortar store, we pride ourselves on customer service, quality products and our competitive pricing.

Each listing is an item we actively plan to stock. While not all of our inventory is listed, the items contained on our website represent some of the most popular products we carry.

Our staff has worked hard and done their best to ensure the accuracy of every listing. In the event an error has been made, Champion Firearms asks your understanding while we make it right.

From all of us here at Champion Firearms, thanks for visiting our store. For assistance, please do not hesitate to let us know what we can do to help: (979) 693-9948 or [email protected]