S&W M&P 15 to hunting rifle

[CMF]

I've got the M&P 15 .223 that I'd like to convert for hunting. I will shoot off-the-shelf ammo, 77tmk, I guess. My budget is to spend as little as I need to shoot hunting bullets suppressed and have a folding stock. We rarely shoot past 300. We'll probably use more for practice, but if hunting, it would be deer, pronghorn, coyote...

Any recommendations for:
Threaded barrel
Folding stock
Scope in the 2-3x to 9-12x range
off-the-shelf ammo

 

[flyfisher117]

Is this one of the OG MP15s with the chrome lined 9 twist barrel?

 

[Steve300xcw]

IMO the folding stock novelty will pass pretty quick after you have one. I sure wouldnt spend the money on that again.

Is that barrel not threaded?

 

[justinspicher]

If it were me…..

I’d get a new 16” barrel, probably from ballistic advantage. Order it with a gas block and tube.

Then I’d get a 15” MLok rail.

After that I’d get a good MVPO in a magnification selection I needed/wanted.

Once all that is done, I’d add a bipod/tripod for upgrading my capabilities.

For ammo, I’d shoot 77gr OTM and TMK.

Eventually I’d upgrade my trigger, probably to a Geissele SSE.

I definitely wouldn’t put a folding stock on it. That serves no purpose on a woods rifle.

Or…..I’d reach out to @Micmac and ask him to build you an upper.

 

[North of 60]

That barrel should be threaded for the brake. I would check to see if it has a fast enough twist for 77 TMK, and if so run with that. I would consider a 3x9 or 2x10 as max magnification for that one.

Unless you really just want to spend a few $ on upgrades if needed.

 

[jaredg]

To echo what has been said, check your barrel twist. If it is a 1/7 or 1/8 you can shoot the 77TMK. I have two of the MP Sport models and they shoot surprising well. Scrap the idea of a folding stock and get a nice Magpul that fits you well. Spend your money on a scope and ammo.

 

[schmidty3]

I've got the M&P 15 .223 that I'd like to convert for hunting. I will shoot off-the-shelf ammo, 77tmk, I guess. My budget is to spend as little as I need to shoot hunting bullets suppressed and have a folding stock. We rarely shoot past 300. We'll probably use more for practice, but if hunting, it would be deer, pronghorn, coyote...

Any recommendations for:
Threaded barrel
Folding stock
Scope in the 2-3x to 9-12x range
off-the-shelf ammo
View attachment 964159

Step 1. Buy hunting ammo

Step 2. Hunt

 

[grfox92]

Is this one of the OG MP15s with the chrome lined 9 twist barrel?

It's funny because I was thinking about this recently. I'm pretty sure mine has the 9 twist but can't be sure. Might be setting it up for my son to hunt with this year and was wondering the same thing. Any way to check, for both me and this guy? Mine shot factory Fiocchi 50gr Vmax into a 1 inch 10 shot group.

Sent from my SM-S931U using Tapatalk

 

[flyfisher117]

It's funny because I was thinking about this recently. I'm pretty sure mine has the 9 twist but can't be sure. Might be setting it up for my son to hunt with this year and was wondering the same thing. Any way to check, for both me and this guy? Mine shot factory Fiocchi 50gr Vmax into a 1 inch 10 shot group.

Sent from my SM-S931U using Tapatalk

Mine has it stamped ontop of the barrel out near the muzzle. It says 5.56 nato 1/9


OP. Mine has the 9 twist. It won’t shoot 77s. But it shoots 55 - 69 grain bullets good enough to hunt. At most I would just replace the hand guard with a free float tube. Maybe swap the grip. Otherwise I would just build yourself a new upper that fits your spec. By the time you buy a new barrel and hand guard you can just add another $50 for a stripped BCM upper and assemble a new one. For now you could borrow the BCG from your current upper but you’re only another $100 to a new BCG.

I threw an old BCM magnesium rail on my MP. It’s plenty accurate to hunt with but nothing special.

 

[77TMK]

Simply buy an optic. For 300 yards and cheap, a quality red dot and magnifier. Get a different upper entirely if you’re considering turning that one into the ship of theseus.

The only folding stock setup that’s reliable is the LAW folder, but it’s not really useful.

 

[grfox92]

Mine has it stamped ontop of the barrel out near the muzzle. It says 5.56 nato 1/9


OP. Mine has the 9 twist. It won’t shoot 77s. But it shoots 55 - 69 grain bullets good enough to hunt. At most I would just replace the hand guard with a free float tube. Maybe swap the grip. Otherwise I would just build yourself a new upper that fits your spec. By the time you buy a new barrel and hand guard you can just add another $50 for a stripped BCM upper and assemble a new one. For now you could borrow the BCG from your current upper but you’re only another $100 to a new BCG.

I threw an old BCM magnesium rail on my MP. It’s plenty accurate to hunt with but nothing special.

Just checked lol.

I have an arca plate bolted through the factory fore end on mine. I might order the MK Machine adaptive vertical grip with thumb shelf to get my son shooting this winter.

Sent from my SM-S931U using Tapatalk

 

[CMF]

Is this one of the OG MP15s with the chrome lined 9 twist barrel?

I'm not sure, and I don't have it with me currently since I'm on the road.

That barrel should be threaded for the brake. I would check to see if it has a fast enough twist for 77 TMK, and if so run with that. I would consider a 3x9 or 2x10 as max magnification for that one.

Unless you really just want to spend a few $ on upgrades if needed.

It may be threaded, I don't remember. But I was thinking the twist might not be right for the 77tmk. The only experience I've had with twist rates was trying to shoot heavy bullets out of a rossi crack barrel 223 and 243 and they wouldn't shoot right. That was a gun I had tried to set up for my daughter when she was 6.

Simply buy an optic. For 300 yards and cheap, a quality red dot and magnifier.

I tried it one hunt with just a red dot and missed an opportunity at a buck at dark. I want something that gathers light and is functional as early/late as possible.

Then I’d get a 15” MLok rail.

Any recommendation for a specific brand?



I guess I'll just leave the stock alone, try and shoot some 77's out of the current barrel, and see how it does. In the meantime, I'll find a Mlok rail and scope.
It will be mid-December before I can mess with it, but I figured I'd make a plan now while I'm bored at work.

 

[North of 60]

Simple solution is to look on the barrel near the muzzle and it will probably have the twist rate stamped into the barrel as others have noted above.

 

[justinspicher]

Not really brand specific. I have used various manufacturers with no real notable differences.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

Birdcage should come off...I have found it takes some work to get them off of MPs. I ended up picking up some aluminum inserts from my vice...just for MPs

 

[minas stiris]

Anything with the Barnes TSX bullet should be good. I don't use the AR for deer, but I do for hogs. For the hogs I have used cheap Silver Bear 62 gr hollow points.