Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 better known as the 15-22 for short. It’s a .22 LR variant of the M&P15 semi-automatic rifle. The 15-22 is one of the most popular sport rimfire weapons on the market right now. It’s readily available and quite affordable as well.
As you might have guessed already, there is always room for improvement. While the stock gun is totally fine and usable, it’s not always preferred. Just like decorating your room, upgrading your gun makes it feel like it’s made for you and belongs to you.
Finding out the right upgrades, however, is not that easy. That’s why I hope to come in. You are here to seek help and I will try my best to help you find the best 15-22 Upgrades.
M&P 15-22 Stock Upgrade
The first thing people tend to change in rimfire weapons is the stock of it. After all, the factory buttstock might not be suited for you. If you are facing stability issues or can’t handle the recoil well, then you might want to upgrade to better stock.
1. Hera Arms CQR AR-15 Buttstock
This buttstock is made by Hera Arms. Inspired by the Greek Goddess name, this brand is quite popular among AR-15 owners. As the 15-22 supports AR buttstocks, it makes a perfect guinea pig to experiment with different AR-15 stocks.
This stock is made out of polymer. Hardened polymer is very durable and sturdy. While it’s not fireproof, it’s heat resistant to the extent that you can use this in desert-like areas with ease.
The buttstock offers 6 adjustable positioning as well. Thanks to that, even short hunters and ladies won’t have much trouble making it useful for them. Adjustability is one of the main reasons why shooters upgrade to different buttstocks.
2. Magpul PRS Gen 3 Precision – Stock
The next stock I want you guys to consider is from Magpul. No, really. Magpul isn’t paying us to promote their product. It’s just, they are so good that you can’t ignore them. The PRS Gen 3 Precision is an adjustable AR 15 stock.
As you know your gun supports AR stock, so it makes sense to opt for this. The stock is not made out of a single material. Rather, it’s a combination of multiple durable materials. While the connections are made out of aluminum, the butt of the stock is made out of rubber.
If you are looking for foldable stock, this is not it. While Magpul allows you to adjust the distance of the stock and the height of it as well, it’s not foldable. What if you could make this stock foldable? Well, use the Law Tactical AR Folding Stock Adapter and you are golden.
M&P 15-22 Trigger Upgrade
The next upgrade can be considered a major or not even noteworthy depending on who you ask. The trigger is probably the second most important part of a rifle after the chamber. If you are satisfied with the pull of your stock trigger, you can gladly skip this part. But if you want a bit more control on your trigger or want one with a different pull, might want to consider these triggers below.
1. Geissele Super Dynamic 3-Gun Trigger
As the M&P 15-22 can accept a lot of AR accessories, it makes sense to implement more AR parts to it and improve the shooting experience. Geissele is here to help you elevate your shooting experience with precise trigger creep.
This trigger has a safety built-in and it has two stages of trigger pull. The first stage is 2 lbs and the second stage is 4.5 lbs. Both of them are repeatable and have a sharp release. Making it an ideal system for a fast-tapping shooting.
2. Elftmann Tactical 3 Gun AR 15 Trigger
Now, now. I know this trigger costs half of what your gun costs you. But this is one of those things that you will call worth it after using it for a while. Now, you can demote the trigger update to the last position in your list if you are interested in this trigger. After all, it will take a while to convince yourself to put down that much money.
As for the trigger itself, it’s extremely well built with precise movement for fast tapping. The short release and firm grip make it usable with gloves as well. Without giving up on much shooting freedom, this will elevate your experience a lot.
The trigger is lighter than your stock trigger. In fact, it might be too light for some. You will need to have some precise fingers to be a fast tapper without misfiring or over-firing. Once you get the hang of it, you will not go back to your previous triggers that’s for sure.
M&P 15-22 Grip Upgrade
You might want to consider upgrading your grips before moving forward with other accessories. These simple M&P 15-22 pistol upgrades will elevate your shooting experience a lot. Speaking of pistols, you can use pistol grips on them.
1. Bravo Company AR 15 Mod-3 Gunfighter Grip
Just like Hogue, Bravo Company is a huge name in the gun grip industry. Their pistol grips are used by tons of different shooters including competitive ones as well. This vertical grip from Bravo Company is made out of polymer.
The polymer grip is available in flat dark earth and black finish. Depending on what kind of color your gun has, you might want to match it or go the exotic route of not matching it.
This grip has more space compared to Mod-0 and Mod-2 also made by Bravo Company. While this one didn’t introduce more layering of rubber to make it more comfortable, it did introduce high-quality polymer. Overall, for the money, this grip is quite a banger deal.
2. Hogue Overmolded Beavertail Pistol Grip
You knew the list would be incomplete without Hogue. When it comes to pistol grips, Hogue is one of the best manufacturers in the entire world. Their Overmolded pistol grip is made out of high-quality rubber.
The over-molded design makes it comfortable and the grip also is available in multiple colors. Yes, pink is included. The grip is around 2.8 oz in weight and it’s entirely made in the USA. It has a cobblestone texture that is comfortable to use with or without gloves.
M&P 15-22 Forend Upgrades
The grip will improve your shooting and the forend will add depth to improve your shooting and stabilize the gun as well. All pistol calibers use some sort of forend grips to improve double-handed shooting accuracy.
1. Strike Industries LINK Curved Foregrip
It’s an AR-15 grip that works on the M&P 15-22 as well. Who would’ve thought, amirite? The foregrip is made out of extremely durable 6061 T6 aluminum. The same type of aluminum you see in most riflescopes nowadays.
The grip is also lightweight and the weight balance is centered. Thanks to that, you will not feel like the gun is front-heavy. It will add extra depth to your less dominant hand in gripping the gun and make it much more stable than it was ever before.
2. Magpul AFG2 Angled Forend Grip
When it comes to making accessories, supporting M-Lok Magpul is always the first choice of many. This foregrip from Magpul allows you to just drop in other M-Lok accessories at the bottom of the gun.
The grip itself is made out of polymer. While it’s not as durable as aluminum or steel for this matter, it’s still quite durable and resistant against heat. The gun won’t be able to break it from the recoil if you are concerned about that.
M&P 15-22 Scope Upgrades
The next big thing that you should consider while shopping for the M&P 15-22 is the scope. As this gun is capable of housing almost any riflescope you come across, the choices are nearly infinite. Finding the best scope for 15-22 among them is not an easy task. Don’t worry, it will be easier for you than it was for me.
1. Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9x40mm Rifle Scope
The VX series from Leupold is like the best friend of yours from high school. He is not that expensive to hang around with and is extremely reliable as well. Leupold VX-Freedom can be considered as an entry-level hunting scope.
This relatively inexpensive scope is equipped with a 3x base and 9x maximum magnification. The scope processes the light through a 40mm objective lens and it gets really bright. The scope housing is made out of durable aluminum. It’s lightweight and waterproof as well. The internal purging makes it immune to fogging as well.
As for the lenses, they are fully multi-coated. They are anti-reflective and they don’t suffer from any light bleeding issues. While it would have been nice to see anti-scratch glasses, that’s a bit too much to ask for at this price. The synergy of this scope with the 15-22 is impeccable. If you just want to get a scope and be done for a few years, get this.
2. Sig Sauer Romeo 5 Red Dot Sight
Let’s say magnified scope doesn’t tickle your fancy and you want a red dot instead. Well, allow Romeo 5 to introduce itself. The Romeo 5 is the go-to red dot optic for all budget enthusiasts.
The optic is constructed from CNC-machined aluminum. It’s incredibly sturdy and lightweight. It sits on the top of your scope without occupying much of the rail. Thanks to that you can easily add in a magnifier like the Juliet 3 for example.
If you are looking for something that will not break the bank and comes with an illuminated reticle to keep you going nonstop and you want the best possible CQB experience, then get this optic.
Should I Upgrade My Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22?
Yes, you definitely should. It’s a wonderful gun that can be turned into something even more wonderful with some upgrades. Sure the gun upgrades aren’t cheap and they can get confused real soon.
As for the upgrade order, you can follow your heart. Just kidding! You will need to find out what you want from the gun. Control the recoil better? See better? Or perhaps shoot better? Depending on those things, you will need to come up with a priority list. Then from there, set up a budget.
Once you are done with the budget, slowly start buying affordable things and then save up and go big. This way, you can easily get everything you want without losing interest in the hobby.
Conclusion
And there you have it. I hope you now know how to upgrade M&P 15-22 and what parts to choose while upgrading. I know upgrades aren’t cheap and they can consume a lot of time to find out, then purchase, and then install, but the reward you will get after facing all of those hassles is well worth it.
That’s it for now. As always, I hope you found the read easy to follow and entertaining. If you liked what you read then don’t forget to return later. Got more of those coming for you. Might pique your interest in upgrading other guns in your arsenal. Till next time, take care and have fun.
Hi, I’m Brent Hansford. A writer turned hunter & now sharing my love for the sport through writing. As I practically breathe weapons, I firmly believe I’m capable of providing you with new knowledge about firearms and hunting. My mission is to help more people get better at hunting & master the weapons. Let me help with unleashing the beast within you!
