.22LR AR's

[Bullseye_shooter]

I know of the SW MP-15, SIG 522, Ruger 522 and the GSG-5 even though its a mp5 platform

are there any others???

 

[ArmedBear]

There are many vendors who make .22LR uppers that fit standard AR lowers. These uppers have special barrels usually with 1:12" twist and a .22LR chamber (obviously) and a special rimfire blowback bolt assembly, but otherwise they use standard AR upper parts, as well. They use .22LR-specific magazines.

I have one from Model 1 Sales, and I like it a lot. M1S offers a lot of variety, from fluted varmint bull barrels to 20" and M4gery training guns, with some other stuff in between. I have a 16" heavy contour carbine, which is somewhat shorter than a 5.56 16" since the .22LR barrel sits farther inside the upper receiver.

Spikes Tactical is a popular vendor, though their prices can seem somewhat high to me. Buyers seem universally satisfied, though.

Everyone who has shot my .22LR upper has wanted to buy one for her/himself. Yes, this has included women and men.

 

[Quentin]

Colt has some models made by Walther I believe. They look good but most people seem to like the S&W better. I'm warming up to the idea of getting something but haven't tried any of them yet. The Ruger uses 10/22 mags which might be an advantage.

 

[DasFriek]

H&K has a new line they are releasing or released as im not sure if they are out yet.

 

[doubleh]

The Colt M4/.22 is a nice piece of equipment. I've read some posts on other forums knocking it pretty bad because you can't remove the bolt to clean it. Big deal. It's totally unnecessary to remove it and Colt has a video showing you how to clean the rifle. Another ding is that the receiver is made of aluminum. ??

The S&W receiver is a composite and feels like it when you handle it. I wasn't impressed with it at all. It is quite a bit cheaper than the colt and should be IMO.

The Ruger is just a 10/22 with fancy clothing. Remington did the same with their .22 semi-auto. I don't remember the model number. 597, maybe?

 

[Hokkmike]

A little off topic but after looking at the AR types I elected to buy a .22 in AK, GSG - pretty satisifed.

 

[Justin]

Tactical Solutions makes a quality .22 LR AR upper, and Nordic Components is planning to release their own upper as well.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

The Ruger SR-22 *looks* like an AR15 type, but it's not.

I guess you've got 7 different basic categories of "tactical" .22s (if you must make me use that dreaded T word):


1. Complete AR-15-ish rifles: S&W M&P, Colt/Umarex, others?

2. Dedicated uppers that fit existing lowers and look externally like an AR15: Several of these, like Tactical Solutions, DPMS, Bushmaster, others? Justin, I heard that the Nordic is supposed to be very very good.

3. Dedicated uppers that fit existing lowers and look externally like an American-180/AR15 hybrid (this is the one I want)

4. Drop-in Conversion kits utilizing an existing complete rifle, just changing the bolt to make it a blowback action: Atchisson-Ceiner, Spikes, CMMG, others?.

5. Non-AR, AR-look alikes: The Ruger 10/22 made to look like an AR, others?

6. Those that don't even look like an AR15, but are look-alikes to some type of military small arm / EBR, and are therefore presumably "tactical": The GSG-5, Sig 522, the new Rossi looking like a Ppsh-41, others?

7. Others that are kinda tacticool but don't resemble any existing .mil small arm: The Walther bullpup, others?


So what all categories are interested in looking at? All seven or just certain ones?

Wait a minute - I'm kinda all wet, aren't I? The Colt and S&W aren't really ANY more of an AR15 than the Ruger is, are they? So categories #1 and #5 probably should be combined into just one - category 5, and eliminate category 1.

 

[ArmedBear]

There's probably no reason to get worked up about the vendor of a .22LR upper, since it's a standard AR upper with a special barrel and bolt assembly, and no gas tube. Everything else is standard, so, as with any AR, who makes the parts, and how well, matters a hell of a lot more than whose name is stamped on the assembly.

They don't "look externally like an AR". They use standard AR components. Therefore, they tend to look internally like an AR, also...

It's the complete rifles that don't fit standard AR components, but look like ARs, that "look externally like an AR".

 

[wally]

There's probably no reason to get worked up about the vendor of a .22LR upper, since it's a standard AR upper with a special barrel and bolt assembly, and no gas tube. Everything else is standard

Not quite, there are two different configuration for the uppers/conversions magazines Ceiner/CMMG (used by Spikes Tactical & SIG 522 which is not an AR-alike, and most others) and Olympic.

The Colt/Uramex, S&W, & GSG each take a unique mag which keeps the prices up compared to the Black Dog Machine mags for the "standard".

--wally.

 

[ArmedBear]

I said "uppers" so that's not what I was talking about, but it's a very good point to mention.

It's also a reason I have no interest in the .22 AR-alikes. If you get the .22LR upper, there is a standard for the magazines. The .22 AR lookalikes are made to provide future revenue for their individual brands.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

I think the look alikes and the uppers are made to provide future revenue. All of these are for-profit companies.

The nice thing about the Colt and S&W is that they cost less that what some companies sell .22 AR uppers for.

I have shot the Colt and own the S&W. I have also shot dedicated uppers on my AR. I like the S&W. Unlike the Colt, it does have a real bolt release. Unlike the Colt, it has actual pins (as opposed to machined in circles on the metal to look like it has pins). The S&W comes in a full quad rail setup without paying extra. You can pay about $10 extra and get the version with the flash hider, however.

Yep, Colt has a video on how to clean their gun. That is because it has given people some fits. It is a rather bizarre but functional bit of engineering. It may look like a Colt, but the important parts are Umarex...which is known for their air guns.

 

[lions]

The nice thing about the Colt and S&W is that they cost less that what some companies sell .22 AR uppers for.

Exactly why I am in the market for the S&W, why buy an upper when you can have a complete gun for less money. I'll take 2 guns over 2 halves. The mags are going for less than $20, that is a good price for just about any mag, let alone a proprietary one.

 

[Wahoo95]

I'm a big fan of Spokes Tactical. My ST-22 is accurate and has been flawless.

 

[bpl]

Spikes Tactical dedicated 22lr upper with Black Dog Mags is the way to go. This is from friends who are heavy into the full auto class 3 stuff and have used most of these uppers and/or conversion kits fairly heavily.

 

[BamAlmighty]

the S&W 15-22 is the most authentic of the bunch as far as replicating the AR experience. Unlike the Colt the 15-22's bolt will lock back on the last shot and the bolt release button is functional which it is not on the colt. Plus it dissembles and assembles exactly like an AR i.e. you can remove the bolt.

I spent the last 6 months deciding what 22 I wanted and I bounced between getting a .22 upper and dedicated rifle. Went with the 15-22 and I have no regrets.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Not only that, but the safety on the S&W works like on a real AR15 whereas the Colt has to be rotated 180 degrees. You can replace the safety on the S&W with an ambi safety if you like.

 

[wally]

Spikes Tactical dedicated 22lr upper with Black Dog Mags is the way to go.

I agree, but if you want to go cheaper and use the same Black Dog Mags look at the SIG 522, its not an AR but its close, and if you later decide to get a dedicated .22 LR upper like the Spikes' you'll have mags for it already.

I gave $300 + tax for my SIG 522 at a gun show, my wife really likes it because its a lot lighter than my Spike's .22LR upper on a real AR lower.

 

[ArmedBear]

Exactly why I am in the market for the S&W, why buy an upper when you can have a complete gun for less money.

Because a good trigger for an AR runs about $200. Aftermarket stocks go for more than that. Leveraging these things, along with the training value of a gun that feels the same as the "real" one, makes an upper much more economical, unless what you really want is just an overpriced POS .22 that looks like an AR so you can impress your friends.

 

[Mags]

the training value of a gun that feels the same as the "real" one, makes an upper much more economical

I don't get why you would train with a 22 AR or 22 upper. Yes, it is more economical but I don't think that you would be doing a good job of training without recoil and attempting quick follow up shots with the actual recoil that would be experienced. I own 22s but not for training, I also never jumped on the 1911 22 conversion bandwagon either for the same reason. But you know the saying "different strokes for different folks".

 

[lions]

Because a good trigger for an AR runs about $200. Aftermarket stocks go for more than that. Leveraging these things, along with the training value of a gun that feels the same as the "real" one, makes an upper much more economical...

That is great for your expensive parts but I use a basic trigger and stock. All that leaves is weight which isn't very helpful because the recoil will be completely different, as Mags points out.

...unless what you really want is just an overpriced POS .22 that looks like an AR so you can impress your friends.

What makes the S&W an overpriced POS? And I already told you why I want the "overpriced POS", because I would rather have two rifles than two halves which imitate each other poorly, IMO.

I'm not buying your logic about training benefits based solely on the similarities. I can go out and practice trigger control, breathing, sight picture, etc on any .22 rifle and see the benefits transfer nicely to shooting my AR. If all you have left to practice is target transitions and recoil recovery then you have probably saved enough with the .22 to go ahead and exercise your AR a little.

I'm glad to hear you like your model 1 upper, but it isn't the answer for everyone, certainly not for me.

 

[skidooman603]

Said it before and I will say it again " if ya want the best .22 upper and don't mind bustin out the wallet a little COMPASS LAKE ENGINEERING" Best...Period...Game...Set...Match

 

[Zach S]

Unlike a lot of folks here, I have experience with an MP5, and I own a GSG5. The GSG is a fun little cheap pot-metal plinker, but that's about it.

IMO, comparing a Colt or S&W .22 to a dedicated upper is much like comparing a GSG-5 to an MP5 or real HK94.

I do enjoy my cheap pot-metal plinker, but it goes to the range in a hard case and gets handled with care - unlike my AR.

 

[NordicG3K]

I have two of the Spike's Tactical uppers and I love them! The 16" upper has been great from the get-go. The 5.5" upper has required more tuning, but it's a fun blaster and is surprisingly accurate. The Spike's uppers aren't cheap, but the quality is top notch and they stand behind their products.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

The nice thing about the Colt and S&W is that they cost less that what some companies sell .22 AR uppers for.

That IS a nice thing about the S&W. But I really cannot say that that is a "nice thing" about the Umarex, given that with all the horror stories abounding, it's apparently not even worth the price of a Marlin 60.