A Girl Shooter’s Christmas Wish List

January 26, 2012

by CTD Suzanne
Related Topics: Firearms Reviews

After shooting the S&W M&P 15-22 at an AR-15 clinic quite a few months ago, I decided it was high time I purchase my first rifle. It was love at first sight between the 15-22 and me. When I brought it into the office, CTD Scott said, “Suzanne is single handedly trying to keep S&W in business.” But don’t worry; I did try other .22 LR rifles out, the SIG, DPMS, and GSG. The S&W just had the best feel for me. I have to admit, though. The majority of my guns are S&W. I love them so much that I have a tattoo of one them and am seriously considering inking my rifle, too.

Anyway, when I overheard that CTD Mike and CTD Robbie were off to the shooting range after work the other night, I invited myself to join them. It had been a full 24 hours of owning my 15-22 and I was itching to shoot it. I purchased the Leapers UTG Advantage covert rifle case, Radians Eternity shooting glasses and the CCI AR Tactical .22 LR ammo.

Since I was at the range and had some .38 Special ammo, I ran 10 rounds through my Bodyguard. It had been awhile since I shot it, so I decided I needed to. Yep, still smarts. Movin’ on.

I loaded up my mag, put it in my rifle, pulled the charging handle, took it off safe, pulled, and nothing. Pulled the charging handle again; and nothing. You do not EVEN understand my utter disappointment. I’m pretty sure I looked exactly like a three-year old whose ice cream scoop fell off the cone. CTD Robbie stepped in. He fiddled around with it for a bit and found that the last round I had loaded into the magazine did not seat properly, so it was most likely user error and not the function of the rifle.

Though the rifle hit low, groupings were the best I have ever achieved out of any gun I have ever shot. I have the Magpul MOE model, so we know the sights are good. After my initial thrill of shooting it for the first time, I wanted to shoot for better accuracy and my low groups were starting to get frustrating. I got CTD Mike to help me. He reassured me it was not me and it was not the rifle, rather it was the height over bore issue and I just needed to compensate for it. CTD Robbie and I both experimented with setting the sights right and soon both of us were hitting bullseye from whatever distance at which we put our target.

Because we had other .22LR guns with us, we all had brought different .22LR ammo. CTD Mike wanted to experiment with some of the cheaper stuff and was pleasantly surprised that my S&W ate up every single round. Absolutely no issues whatsoever with whatever we fed it. At one point, I thought that maybe I had a fail to fire, but what actually happened was that I tried to load a round into the chamber when one had already been loaded. Oops.

Recoil is like non-existent, it is lightweight so I never got tired of holding it, it is extremely reliable and accurate (so far), smooth trigger pull, the stock, the weight, the controls all “fit” me perfectly, and it draws quite of a bit of attention. “What is that?” “It’s so quiet!” “Nice rifle!” You know how guys take cute puppies to the park to pick up chicks? Well, I am depending on my trusty rifle to help me pick up cute dudes. In fact, I have even already had the bosses’ boss offer to buy it. Well, guess what? No way, no how. This baby is mine and I love my rifle!

After going through about half my box of ammo, I decided that my stomach was starting to rumble more loudly than my gun blasts, so I told the boys we needed to call it a night.

Next up will be cleaning my rifle and mounting a red dot sight. Stayed tuned.

Specifications and Features

S&W M&P 15-22 MOE semi automatic rimfire rifle
.22 Long Rifle caliber
16.5″ barrel
1:15″ twist
Threaded barrel with compensator
25 round capacity
Blow back semi automatic operation
Magpul MOE stock and grip
Polymer upper and lower receiver
Carbon steel barrel
Matte black finish
Folding MBUS sights
Ambidextrous sling attachment point
33.75″ overall length extended
30.5″ overall length collapsed
15.5″ sight radius
7 pounds trigger weight
Weighs 5.5 pounds without magazine

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The mission of Cheaper Than Dirt!’s blog, “The Shooter’s Log,” is to provide information—not opinions—to our customers and the shooting community. We want you, our readers, to be able to make informed decisions. The information provided here does not represent the views of Cheaper Than Dirt!

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December 18, 2011

.22 LR AR-Style Rifles

by CTD Suzanne
Related Topics: Firearms Reviews

This .22LR thing is really catching on. Quite a few of the guys around the office had conversion kits for their ARs before everyone and their gun manufacturing mom started making dedicated .22LR AR-style tactical rifles. And of course, with everything like this there are two sides of the fence:

Left side: “Just get a .223 and a conversion kit.”

Right side: “Conversion kits can be problematic. Get a .223 and a .22LR.”

Well. I sit on the right side. Of course. So here are five .22LR AR-style rifles.

CMMG M4 LEP 22 Evolution Rifle

CMMG M4 LEP .22 Evolution Rifle

CTD Ben built his .223 SBR AR-15 on a CMMG lower. And I know for a fact that CTD Ben doesn’t mess around. He’s not going to build his precious baby on a piece of junk. CMMG makes quality bits. The CMMG M4 LEP 22 uses a standard AR-15 lower receiver and has a patent pending forward assist adapter that functions like their 5.56 model. This CMMG rifle has all the AR-15 accessories that you want like a flash hider, six-position stock, and an M4 heat shield handguard. It also boasts a MIL-SPEC buffer tube, MIL-SPEC fire control group, and MIL-SPEC takedown pins. With a 16-inch barrel and 25 rounds of .22 Long Rifle, the solidly built CMMG M4 LEP is a super fun and super accurate rifle to shoot.

CMMG M4 LEP (Let Every Piece) be mine.

SIG Sauer SIG522 Classic

SIG Sauer SIG 522 Classic

I remember when SIG released the 566; I was deeply curious. It looks unconventional, but it was a much-anticipated release and those who were looking forward to it and could afford it, bought it. Apparently, the SIG 556 drew a lot of attention at the range. I wasn’t the only one curious. I shot the 522 and I liked it. It just didn’t feel as good for me as the M&P 15-22 did. But my two shooting buddies I was with that day preferred the SIG to the S&W. So really, it is just a matter of fit and feel rather than function, because the SIG functioned just as well as the S&W. The SIG 522 features 556 parts with the same side-folding stock, polymer forearm, and metal receiver with Picatinny rail, but of course shoots the .22 Long Rifle, not the .223.

I’m not only curious, but convinced.

Smith & Wesson M&P15-22

S&W M&P 15-22

Oh hey look! It’s CTD Mike’s AR-15-build’s little sister; or brother. I know I sing the praises of the S&W M&P 15-22 a lot, but it’s because it’s a seriously good rifle. This one is like mine, the MOE version with Magpul MOE stock, grip, and sights. But this one is a little bit more fashionable because it comes finished out in Flat Dark Earth. The S&W M&P 15-22 has the same standard operating parts as the .223/5.56 models, but is chambered for .22 Long Rifle–which means you get S&W reliability, but a lighter and cheaper gun to shoot. Plus, it has a threaded barrel so if you want to, you can add a suppressor. It has a 16-inch carbon steel, match-grade precision barrel with A1-style compensator and holds 25 rounds.

Okay, okay, I’ll get one just to make CTD Suzanne shut the hell up about this thing.

Umarex Colt M4 Semi Automatic Carbine

Umarex Colt M4

I’ve shot one of these, too, and I was quite pleasantly surprised. Only because Umarex makes air rifles and air soft, so I wasn’t sure about their firearms. However, did you know that the Umarex Colt .22 LR rifles are made by Walther? I know. Right?! Makes you take a double take, huh? These guys are accurate enough to knock down some steel plates for fun shooting and don’t cause you any more problems than any other tactical .22 I’ve shot. The Colt M4 .22 has a 16.2-inch barrel with a threaded muzzle, a removable carry handle with an A2 rear sight, and holds 30 rounds—which is five more rounds than the other .22 LR tactical rifles I mentioned above.

Colt, Umarex, Walther, Whatever… It’s mine.

German Sport Guns GSG-AK47

GSG-AK47

When we did our Team AR-15 vs. Team Shotgun debate, many of you asked us where Team AK-47 was. Yes, I know this post is about .22LR AR-style rifles, but I decided that I would throw in this GSG AK-47 .22LR rifle to keep all you Team AK peeps happy. I have not had the opportunity to shoot this one yet, but I have shot the GSG MP5 clone in .22LR and I liked it. By the way, when you buy this GSG AK .22LR from us, give me a call—let’s go shooting. So they say that the GSG AK-47 chambered for .22 Long Rifle looks, feels, and functions almost identically to a real AK. It even weighs seven pounds, which is about average for an unloaded 7.62×39 AK. It has a 16.5-inch barrel, a black synthetic stock, and handguard and holds 10 rounds.

Team AK-47. (but in .22LR.)

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November 25, 2011

A Girl Shooter’s Christmas Wish List

by CTD Suzanne
Related Topics: Buyers Guide

Hey guys, I know some of you would rather cut off your own thumb than go to the mall and shop for the girl in your life, so I’ve done the work for you. If your chick is a shooter, I guarantee she will appreciate any of the following gifts…

A Good Pair of Electronic Earmuffs

Radians Pro-Amp Electronic Earmuffs

You know us girls, we like to talk, and earmuffs make it hard to hear each other. Whether we want to brag to each other, or to you, or are listening to range commands, electronic earmuffs make it easier to gab and listen. These Radians Pro-Amp electronic earmuffs amplify sounds like conversations and range commands, but dampen loud noises. They have an adjustable, padded CoolMax headband. Oh. And they are pink.

Like it? Want it? Buy it! Item: 2-RADPAP700CS

Increase Her Accuracy

Crimson Trace S&W J-Frame Pink Lasergrip

I know from experience these short-barreled revolvers can be a pain in the hand to shoot. After a few rounds, your accuracy can deteriorate because of the recoil. When that happens, you get frustrated and target practice becomes unfun. A laser will help increase accuracy and groupings and are perfect for her self-defense gun. These are Crimson Trace laser grips, the best and well-known name in laser grips. They fit almost all &W J-frame revolvers with a round butt frame. And well, they’re pink, too.

Like it? Want it? Buy it! Item: 2-CMTLG105P

Steel Match Together

Do-All Traps Blast Back Pop Up Target

Shooting paper can get old after awhile; sometimes you just wanna plink and have fun. Steel reactive targets are really satisfying to shoot because they make that, well, plink noise. You guys can race each other or time each other to see who can shoot the fastest. The Do-All Blast Back pop-up target is rated for 9mm to .30-06 calibers. It includes ground spikes.

Like it? Want it? Buy it! Item: 63371

A Really Nice Optic

Aimpoint CompML2 Red Dot Sight

If your girl has been super nice—or super naughty (whichever you prefer)—this year, get her a really nice red dot sight. Sure, the cheapies work, but the more expensive ones are worth it. Their electronics will withstand the abuse of recoil or being dropped. The Aimpoint CompML2 has a four MOA red dot and includes a QRP mount, lens caps, and batteries.

Like it? Want it? Buy it! Item: 2-AIM12821

A Compact, Non-Manly Multi-Tool

Leatherman Style CS Multi Tool

I honestly can’t think of anyone who would not appreciate a Leatherman. They seriously are the best multi-tool manufacturer out there. This one is an affordable option without all the extra tools she would never use and all the ones she needs daily- a knife, scissors, a bottle opener, a nail file, tweezers, and a screwdriver. She’ll never borrow your multi-tool again, or go digging around in her purse for a nail file that doesn’t exist. The Leatherman Style CS has a stainless steel body and a glass-filled nylon scaled handle. There is even a carabiner and a key ring attachment.

Like it? Want it? Buy it! Item: 63731

If You Can’t Take Her On Safari…

African Blesbock Antelope Circular Star Mat

If she’s a hunter and has always dreamed of going on an African big game hunt, you can buy her this African Blesbock Antelope mat. It measures 46- by 48-iniches. Our African Treasure pelts are raised in game preserves, their hides are sold to traders, and the meat from the animal is donated to local orphanages. They are hand-made and make any room look pretty dang fancy. She’ll love it. Especially if it comes with a promise to take her hunting…

Like it? Want it? Buy it! Item: ZWA-270

Zombie Killing Kit for the Tough as Nails Chick

Hornady Z-MAX .223 Rem Ammo

If you have a badass chick, or if you have just started dating, you can give her a cheaper gift that also makes a perfect date: a zombie killing kit for a day out at the range. Or if you already plan to buy her a Coach bag or a nice piece of jewelry, this makes a perfect second gift.

AMM-2461 in .223 Remington

AMM-5023 .45 ACP

AMM-5382 .40 S&W

Zombie targets

Ka-Bar’s ZK Kharon Folding Knife

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