.22lr conversions with an AR15?

[bhart89]

Does anyone have any experience with the .22lr conversion units for an AR-15 rifle? I have heard that one of the drawbacks is that most AR’s have barrel twists that won’t stabilize the average .22lr bullet. What about using the Aguila 60gr. 22lr ammo? Would that solve the barrel twist problems?

 

[geekWithA.45]

The bbl diameter is ever so slightly wider than the .22lr, so you can pretty much forget amazing accuracy. Typically, the advice becomes, "if you want a super accurate .22lr AR type, get a dedicated upper".

I've got a converter, and don't use it all that much. It's fun, it's cheap, it works, and it's a godawful mess to clean up afterwards.

In short, if you wanna plink tincans all day for a dollar, that's the way to go. If you want to make cloverleafs, tain't happening.

 

[Denny Hansen]

My experience mirrors that of geekWithA.45. I have an old upper that's barrel throat is eroded to the point I can't use it for 5.56 anymore so now it's my dedicated .22 LR upper. l use it for training new shooters and myself for practicing shooting on the move as it's still accurate enough for what I need. Great fun and cheap.

Denny

 

[ddc]

With respect to the "godawful mess to clean up afterwards" issue is this still a problem if you have a dedicated upper with a .22LR specific barrel that doesn't have a gas port?

 

[Steve Smith]

I have one of the dedicated uppers from Compass Lake. The upper does indeed get dirty, and I have found that a good wash-out with brake cleaner every 200 rounds or so is adequate. You can tell when it needs a cleaning by the cycle rate.

I can put five rounds ON TOP of each other at 50 meters with my CLE upper and quality match ammo. You PAY for this accuracy, but if it is a training tool it is the only way to go.

 

[4v50 Gary]

The .223's bore is .224 in diameter. The 22 LR needs a .221 bore to be accurate. If you're doing short range plinking, the worn barrel method as used by Denny works. If however you want longer range accuracy, a dedicated upper is the way to go.

 

[DMK]

I just got one and love it.

I bought a used M16A1 upper with no bolt (1/12 twist, light weight barrel contour and no foreward assist) and a cheap charging handle. Then I bought a Ciener .22LR kit with an extra mag from Brownells. I also added a A2 front sight post that I had and an XS Sight Systems same plane arperture since this is a short range rifle only. Obviously this is optional.

I slapped it all together, and blocked the gas port in the front sight with a metal pin looking thingie from my spare nuts and bolts bin that happened to fit perfectly. Now I have a dedicated .22LR practice upper.

As far as reliability, I hasn't jammed once in two sessions of over 700 rounds except when I tried some Aguilla Subsonics. It tried to even shoot those, but failed to extract every 5 or 7 rounds. It ate up the higher velocity Winchester Dynapoints and Federal 510 like candy. All 40gr.

I haven't shot it from the bench and probably never will. However, from standing I can hit 12guage shotgun shells and little 3" steel plate pop-ups just fine at 25 yards (the extent of my backyard range). Great fun!