I purchased a 20" CMMG dedicated upper from Midway last week for just under $400, about the same price as a S&W 15-22. I've been going back and forth over which direction to go and I'm glad I went with the upper vs the S&W.
The reviews on the internets is mixed for CMMG uppers. Most love it, a sizable minority hate it complaining of feeding issues, and ammo sensitivity. I went to the range with Winchester M-22, Federal Automatch, Federal brown box, and CCI blazer bulk. CMMG recommends 40gr non-jacketed rounds. All ammo worked with no issues and good results. The Federal brown box is 36gr jacketed HP, which is what is specifically warned against, fed just as well as everything else.
I got better accuracy and grouping from the upper compared to my 10-22 with Tech-Sights. Even though the 10-22 is a 16" barrel, the Tech-Sights extend the distance between sights to a similar distance as the upper.
25 yds with the CMMG upper. Semi-supported, elbows on the table.
Winchester M-22 ammo
25yds with the 10-22, same stance
Winchester M-22 ammo
25yds unsupported, rapid fire.
Federal 36gr JHP
I don't consider myself a very good rifle shot, so I included the 10-22 as sort of a control. Even though it looks as my front sight needs an adjustment, the group still is spread out vs the group from the upper. Everything pictured is shot using iron sights, Magpul Mbus on the CMMG, Tech-Sights on the 10-22.
I don't have any experience with the 15-22, so I can't be positive I made the right choice. But, I will say I'm very happy, and my .22 AR will be my go to .22 rifle. One of my children will probably inherit the 10-22 a little sooner than I expected.
Update
I had it out again today and had a few problems. I had maybe 10 stovepipes out of 200-250 rounds. I also had a few light primer strikes. I didn't clean it after my previous range trip, maybe that's the problem. It's nothing that's a deal breaker, but it seemed perfect for the first couple hundred rounds.
The reviews on the internets is mixed for CMMG uppers. Most love it, a sizable minority hate it complaining of feeding issues, and ammo sensitivity. I went to the range with Winchester M-22, Federal Automatch, Federal brown box, and CCI blazer bulk. CMMG recommends 40gr non-jacketed rounds. All ammo worked with no issues and good results. The Federal brown box is 36gr jacketed HP, which is what is specifically warned against, fed just as well as everything else.
I got better accuracy and grouping from the upper compared to my 10-22 with Tech-Sights. Even though the 10-22 is a 16" barrel, the Tech-Sights extend the distance between sights to a similar distance as the upper.
25 yds with the CMMG upper. Semi-supported, elbows on the table.
Winchester M-22 ammo
25yds with the 10-22, same stance
Winchester M-22 ammo
25yds unsupported, rapid fire.
Federal 36gr JHP
I don't consider myself a very good rifle shot, so I included the 10-22 as sort of a control. Even though it looks as my front sight needs an adjustment, the group still is spread out vs the group from the upper. Everything pictured is shot using iron sights, Magpul Mbus on the CMMG, Tech-Sights on the 10-22.
I don't have any experience with the 15-22, so I can't be positive I made the right choice. But, I will say I'm very happy, and my .22 AR will be my go to .22 rifle. One of my children will probably inherit the 10-22 a little sooner than I expected.
Update
I had it out again today and had a few problems. I had maybe 10 stovepipes out of 200-250 rounds. I also had a few light primer strikes. I didn't clean it after my previous range trip, maybe that's the problem. It's nothing that's a deal breaker, but it seemed perfect for the first couple hundred rounds.
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