.22 AR uppers

[GIJOEL]

What kind of accuracy do you get from your dedicated .22 upper? I have a S&W 15-22, I might get 2 in at 50 yards... It's reliable and fun to shoot, but I wish it was more accurate. If a decent .223 upper with a free float handguard shoots 2 in at 100 yards with bulk ammo, why can't my 15-22 do that?

 

[hirundo82]

If a decent .223 upper with a free float handguard shoots 2 in at 100 yards with bulk ammo, why can't my 15-22 do that?

I don't think any bulk pack .22 is going to do 2" at 100 yards, whether it's from a .22 upper or an Anschutz.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

Because it's a .22lr, not a centerfire rifle cartridge. In the .223 you are shooting a bullet that is shaped like a rifle bullet, at 3x the velocity, so it'll be a lot more consistent out that far.
I've never seen great accuracy from .22lr AR uppers though. I have a 10/22 that is quite accurate (it's not stock) but it seems accuracy with the dedicated AR uppers isn't that great and I'm not sure why.

 

[wanderinwalker]

I don't think any bulk pack .22 is going to do 2" at 100 yards, whether it's from a .22 upper or an Anschutz.

And this is the crux of it. There isn't really any inexpensive .22LR ammo that will do 2-MOA on a long-run average at 100 yards. You're at the limit of the ballistics of the little rimfire by that point. Added to this is the fact that your blow-back operated 15-22 doesn't have particularly consistent lockup and ignition, and you're expecting a lot out of the poor plinker.

The rifles and ammunition I can think of in .22LR I would count on to deliver sub-2" performance cost more than an M&P-15, 15-22 AND a case of .22 bulk ammo. Even then you'd have to lot test the ammo to pick the best performer in your barrel.

 

[GIJOEL]

I admit that the limits of the .22lr do hold it back compared to a .223, however, I have a $150 Remington (597) that feature wise has everything my 15-22 has and shoots much better. With CCI ammo in both the Remington can keep the 1 in spinner going all day at 50 yards, while the 15-22 struggles with the 2 in spinner. And actually my CZ 452 will shoot 2 in groups with blaser and federal bulk at 100 yards but thats a whole different can of worms. I don't understand why .22 uppers just don't seem to preform as well as other designs when they share similar construction?

 

[TonyAngel]

Well, have you tried a bunch of different ammo? You have to find what it likes to determine its accuracy limits. In my experience, no AR type of .22 is going to give you any sort of real accuracy. Really, the best accuracy is usually attained from a .22 using standard velocity ammo. All of the AR22s I've seen need hi vel ammo to function properly

 

[Locoone]

I talked with a s&w rep this weekend at the pistol range about the 15-22 since I also own one.
S&W has been finding these have a problem with the cheap Winchester bulk ammo, the casings are blowing apart and evidently taking out the extractor and doing other things.
There is now an ammo out specifically geared at tactical 22's... CCI tactical 22lr.
it's not sold wide spread right now, but the gun shop happened to have some. comes in a bulk pack of 375rds and is round nosed.
I put 250 rounds through it this weekend with only 1 malfunction (caused by the 25rd magazine not releasing the round).
this was at 25meters for a scope sight in, it then turned into a steadiness rite seeing how many I could keep in or near the bull, when I finally buckled down and relaxed i was easily keeping them within a 50 cent piece area with a heavy sidewind.
I don't know what it was about the winchester hollowpoints, but they seemed to go wherever around the bull.

 

[happygeek]

I've got a CMMG 22LR upper that'll put 5 shots inside a 25 cent quarter at 50 yards and makes jagged holes at 25 meters. It'd probably make 1 hole shot groups at 25m if I was a better shot. The rifle is certainly more accurate than I am.

I've heard 22LRs are more accurate with standard velocity ammo but mine won't cycle without using high velocity.

After I got mine CMMG started selling 18 and 20 inch barreled uppers. Does the extra barrel length make a noticeable difference with 22LR?

 

[mc223]

What are you using for sights ?

 

[skidooman603]

The finest .22 dedicated upper made is the Compass Lake.. period. Accurate enough to go up against nearly any bolt gun at our range. Expensive but hold their value very well

 

[Sky]

Happygeek that is good to know about the CMMG upper. I need a bigger safe or I would have one already. Maybe someone will chime who has the longer version or we might just call them, they are pretty good about answering the phone.

 

[Pete D.]

CL

The finest .22 dedicated upper made is the Compass Lake.. period. Accurate enough to go up against nearly any bolt gun at our range. Expensive but hold their value very well

+1 about that.

Pete

 

[skidooman603]

Another nice thing about the CLE Upper is you can slap it right on your comp lower so you have the same exact trigger you will compete in HighPower with. Same weight etc. I have had a few fellow competitors get the colt or S&W and be really dissapointed. Could never get the triggers to feel right..Weight wasn't right yada yada..If you just want a fun and "fairly accurate" .22 the above mentioned rifles are fine. If you want perfect feedback for perfect practice then ya gots to pony up the bucks..

 

[GIJOEL]

I'm thinking I will probably just sell the 15-22 and pick up a 10/22 and do a barrel and stock upgrade. I just want something that tells me that I missed, and not the gun.

 

[mc223]

What are you using for sights ?

 

[GIJOEL]

On the 15-22 I had a 2-7x rimfire scope mounted. I took it off and now just use the irons or a bushnell holosight.

 

[mc223]

I don't want to offend you in any way but are you expecting more than the combination of sighting, ammo and your abilities can deliver ?

 

[GIJOEL]

mc223... No, I'm a fairly experienced shooter who is very familiar with the AR platform. I typically shoot 35/40 on US Army pop-up ranges without an optic. I can usually shoot an 1 1/4 or better from the bench with my bushmaster A2 target model and decent handloads. I just haven't seen an AR upper in .22 lr that was terribly accurate. These Compass lake uppers seem to be the cats meow, but they also cost over a grand! I would think that in a world with technology that gives us $200 rifles that can take a ethical shot at a squirrel at 75-100 yards, we could manage an AR upper in .22 that could match that. I'm going to see if I can drag up some info on the CMMG uppers mentioned, but I'm loosing faith in the idea all together.

 

[benzy2]

Look at the rifle and tell me you expect it to hold 2" at 100 yards honestly. First, it's a plastic upper/lower receiver. Plastic flexes, which is bad for accuracy. Then, the handguard is attached to the barrel. I think if you tried one of the aftermarket adapters to allow a real AR handguard along with a float tube that accuracy would improve a bit. Beyond that, it is what it is. A plastic rifle meant to be shot fast, not something out to shoot tiny groups at 100 yards. If you want a target gun, get a target upper.