Dedicated .22LR AR Build

1) Build the lower as you normally would.
2) Buy a 22lr upper.
3) Shoot!

^^ this!

Or buy a CMMG conversion kit - cheaper and just as fun!

Anmut said:

^^ this!

Or buy a CMMG conversion kit - cheaper and just as fun!

Click to expand...

The conversions are fun, but don't expect any great accuracy. A .22lr bullet going through a 1:7-1:9 barrel just isn't going to do well. The dedicated uppers are 1:16 twist.

It actually helps to put a plug over the buffer so the bolt doesn't move backwards.

get one of these:

http://taccom3g.com/22RF_RELIABILITY_KIT.html

Pretty easy.
They go together pretty much like any other AR. I used a CMMG bolt carrier and barrel.
Its not crazy accurate with bulk ammo, but its good enough for offhand practice.

As for reliability.
A spacer behind the buffer spring helps keep the bolt carrier seated against the barrel.
I used a piece of round plastic about two inches long, free from the junk box.
I ended up with a mil spec trigger group with a home spun trigger job. I couldn’t get
reliable ignition with either a Giselle or Jewell trigger. Since they are blow back if the
round doesn’t go off extraction pretty much sucks. With the mill spec trigger it is very
reliable. Like I said, Its good enough for off hand practice.

I too could not make my CMMG upper work with my Geiselle national match trigger; never captured the hammer correctly during blowback. I experimented with springs, etc.

So yes, use a mil-spec trigger. Also I never got the BHOA kit to work reliability either, so I'd just skip that part.

bolt hold open actuator kit. The CMMG mags with the green followers I believe are the only ones that work with this, but in theory, you adjust the BHOA kit and the mag will lock the 22 bolt back with the actual bolt release as opposed to it interrupting the forward return of the bolt via the follower.

You don't really need the BHOA kit because the follower of any of the 22lr mags will ride up after the last shot and hold the bolt partially open.