M&P 15 sport upgrade questions - NEWB

[WoodsDweller]

Hey Storyteller,
What did it run to get yourself started into the reloading? I'm thinking about it. How much (aprox) better are you doing (reloading your own) than 31 cents a round on Brass FMJ ?
I've been able to get Federals at $310/1000 in the metal case fairly consistently....but I have been saving the casings..hoping I could cut that in half but haven't run into anyone else reloading 556/223 to learn how and from whom to get the equipment/supplies.
Any help appreciated.

[storeyteller]

WoodsDweller,
I found a used Lee press with everything needed for reloading (dies, extra turrets, case cutter and hand priming tool) for a steal. You can buy all of that new for around $140. I use my M&P AR for hog hunting so I don't load FMJ's. I load Sierra Gameking's for around 34 cents a round. You can reload that Federal brass with FMJ's for around 25 cents a round. Brownell's, Midway, Cabela's, etc all sell everything you need to get started. If your just plinking, and not shooting bullseye or varmits, then you might be better off buying bulk ammo. It is addicting as there are 1000's of different bullet, primer and powder charge combos.

[WoodsDweller]

Hey thanks for the info.
So far I'm just a plinker with this.
I guess I need to do some reading on this whole reloading thing, I buy .40 at 1000 quantity as well and .38 at 500
Is there anywhere to buy reloaded .223?
I haven't found that yet.

[WoodsDweller]

I just bought the ultimate accessory for lowering the shooting cost of your S&W Sporter.
like down to 3.7 cents per round !

I just got the .22 conversion kit for the S&W

.22LR Conversion Kits CMMG Inc. AR15 Rifles, Parts and Accessories. .22 LR Dedicated AR-15 Rifles, Dedicated AR 15 9mm Rifles and Uppers, Tactical Bacon

The kit I bought came with 3 -30 Rd. Mags and the bolt carrier for ~$200 at my local (favorite) store.
The manager installed it in the gun and we went out back of the store and emptied a clip in about 20 seconds.
After a few minutes of him showing this AR newbie how, I was putting the bolt in and out in seconds.
However, I didn't get back to shoot until near dark, so the one clip was all I fired so far, so I can't speak to reliability yet.
(Tonight is pistol Bullseye night, so I won't be playing this axe for a few more days)

[jhershman27]

Question. You're shooting .22 through a .223 barrel... that's not going to cause problems???

[WoodsDweller]

I must say I didn't research that, but the manager at the store actually suggested this kit over selling me the Colt Umarex, or the custom shop S&W I was looking at.
He has been steering me in the right direction (at least I feel that way) for a good while.
So I expect it won't do any damage.
Plus, I had seen that there are many .22LR conversion kits for 556 AR's, I just wasn't thinking that way without actually knowing someone with experience with one.
The manager told me he has two kits from different manufacturers for his 2 AR's and hasn't had a problem.
And he shoots WAY more than I do---SO FAR !!
I also bought 2100 rounds of .22LR

But in reality, I don't know if there is a potential problem.

[gearchecker]

One very simple accessory you might consider adding is an "Accu-wedge" they cost a couple bucks each and will increase your accuracy.
If there's any slop between your upper and lower receivers it'll help tighten them up.
You can get them from Brownell's, Midway , cheaper than dirt and even on eBay.
It made a pretty big improvement in my AR immediately.

Regards,
Gearchecker

[wumpus]

I agree with what was said. The Sport is a great gun and a great deal in a simple AR. I bought one last year and other than mounting a red-dot sight (darned eyes are getting too old for iron sights) I did nothing to it and love it just like it is.

You could certainly perform the mods you discussed on the Sport, but it would have been cheaper and easier to start with a different model that was closer to what you wanted in the first place.

I've seen this comment a lot on this forum and others and my take is that yes, I could have gotten a *similar* rifle for the same price from the get go and gotten the (apparently) all important dust cover and forward assist. Instead, I got the Sport and then outfitted it exactly as *I* wanted. Grip style and stock style and color, red dot site, BUIS, etc. All as I wanted, not the way S&W worked things out with a vendor, or the way some other manufacturer decided to bundle things. Love my Sport!

Though I don't have one yet, I'm looking at the CMMG conversion. My understanding is that, aside from needing some extra cleaning (as all my other .22s do), there's no problems shooting 22 LR out of the stock barrel.

Likewise, I haven't started reloading .223 yet, but using my spreadsheet and buying cheap Sierra bullets in bulk ($144/1000), it looks like I can get down to around $0.18 per round! We'll see...