Description
The Smith Wesson 15-22 Performance Center is a used Performance Center M&P15-22 in a feature-compliant configuration, a purpose-built 22 LR rifle with AR-15 handling and an M-LOK handguard.
Smith Wesson 15-22 Performance Center Condition and What You Are Buying
This rifle is used rather than new in box. It has been fired and will show handling marks consistent with prior use. The photograph shown is representative of the model rather than of this specific rifle, so if exact condition matters to you, contact us before ordering and we will describe or photograph the actual gun.
A used rimfire AR is one of the lower-risk used purchases available. The parts that wear are inexpensive and simple to replace, and a 22 LR barrel will outlast almost any owner regardless of round count.
What you gain is a Performance Center rifle at a used price. The Performance Center versions of the M&P15-22 carry upgrades over the standard Sport, which is why they cost more new.
An AR That Shoots 22 LR
The M&P15-22 is not an AR-15 with a conversion kit in it. It is a purpose-built 22 LR rifle that copies the AR-15 layout, dimensions and controls, which means everything you learn on it transfers to a centerfire rifle while the ammunition costs a fraction as much.
Because it is designed around the rimfire cartridge rather than adapted to it, the rifle is light at roughly 4.8 pounds and it works reliably. Conversion kits in centerfire uppers are notoriously fussy; this is not one.
The controls sit exactly where an AR shooter expects them. Functioning charging handle, receiver-mounted safety lever, shell deflector, magazine release and bolt catch all operate the same way, and the 6-position CAR stock adjusts to fit shooters of any size.
Feeding a Rimfire Semi-Automatic
22 LR is a wonderful cartridge and an inconsistent one. The case is thin, the priming compound is spun into the rim to loose tolerances, and the energy available to work an action varies more between brands and even between lots than any centerfire round does.
High-velocity ammunition generally cycles most reliably, standard velocity is often more accurate, and bulk pack ammunition will occasionally hand you a dud or a soft strike. That is the cartridge rather than the rifle, and it applies equally to a new gun and a used one. Trying two or three brands and settling on whichever runs cleanest is worth doing before you commit to a case.
Cleaning matters more here than on a centerfire rifle, and it matters more still on a used gun of unknown history. Rimfire priming compound and unjacketed lead leave residue quickly, so a thorough strip and clean before the first range trip is time well spent.
Buying a Used Rimfire Rifle
Check the bore, the chamber and the bolt face first. Rimfire fouling accumulates in all three, and a rifle that has gone a few thousand rounds without attention will often behave badly until it is properly cleaned. That is a maintenance issue rather than a fault.
Magazines are the other thing worth looking at. Rimfire magazines take more abuse than centerfire ones and their feed lips and followers are what usually cause malfunctions. Spares are inexpensive, and buying one or two fresh ones removes a whole category of problem.
Specifications
- Manufacturer part number: 11507
- Condition: used
- Caliber: 22 LR
- Configuration: feature compliant
- Handguard: M-LOK
- Barrel: 16.5 in.
- Series: Performance Center
- UPC: 022188868906
Why Buyers Choose the Smith Wesson 15-22 Performance Center
Rimfire practice costs a small fraction of centerfire, and a rifle that handles identically to an AR-15 turns that cheap practice into training rather than plinking.
The M&P15-22 has been in production since 2009 and has one of the strongest reliability reputations of any semi-automatic 22 rifle, which is not a low bar to clear given how fussy the cartridge can be.
Recoil is essentially nonexistent, which makes this an excellent first rifle for a new or younger shooter and a good diagnostic tool for an experienced one.
Magazines, parts and accessories are widely available and inexpensive, and the M-LOK handguard accepts the same accessories as any modern rifle.
Who Should Buy It
The Smith Wesson 15-22 Performance Center suits shooters who want a Performance Center rimfire at a used price, anyone in a state with feature restrictions, and families teaching new shooters on a rifle with no recoil. If unmarked condition matters to you, ask us about this specific rifle before ordering.
Learn more from Smith and Wesson, or browse the rest of our firearms selection.
Every firearm we list ships to your chosen FFL and is transferred there after a background check.
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