Best 22LR AR

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arthury

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Currently, I already own a Colt LE6920 and I am looking into getting an AR with a 22LR caliber for my son.

What's the best AR 22LR for the money in the market? I'm looking for a decent one, not the cheapest.

Please advice. Thanks!
 
arthury said:
What's the best AR 22LR for the money in the market? I'm looking for a decent one, not the cheapest.
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Mine. :cool:

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Dedicated .22LR - Tactical Solutions upper, on a complete Precision Aero lower.

Sports;

- ARMS 41b Shilouette folding front sight (this is actually an Airsoft knock-off! :eek: Since there ain't no gasblock on a .22LR, its a legitimate cost-cutting measure - Over $100 cheaper than the REAL thing!)
- DD Omega-X 12.0 FSP rails
- Magpul AVG
- Vltor CK light mount
- PentagonLights eX2-BK light with TacStar tapeswitch
- Aimpoint Comp M (1 - the first model - has about 12 hours of battery life :rolleyes: ) in QRP mount
- Troy folding rear sight (pictured with a Magpul - that's since been changed)
- TacticalLink 2-point sling & anti-rotation sling QD rail mount
- Magpul enhanced trigger guard
- ACE ARF-X stock
- Ergo ambi-grip
- Black Dog Machine 26 round mag!

But it's NOT for sale! ;)

I would suggest building a dedicated .22LR trainer, if for no other reason than, you can knock the pins out, pop off the .22 upper, and slap a 5.56 upper in it's place, and be ready to go without missing a beat, should the need arise!
 
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Look at the bull barrel, 22lr upper available by DPMS the new released ones not the older DPMS .22lr stuff. They have two barrel designs available now that were released in the last year. they use Black Dog magazines and are excellent. Easily 1" groups at 50 yards. about $400.00 for the upper and one magazine. Match it up with your favorite lower and your set. Then later your son can get a .223 upper and a .450 Bushmaster upper. Perfect set up! .22lr fun and cheap, .223 varmint (coyote and fox) and deer if you don't mind some telling you it's too light for deer. And .450 for hogs or big stuff. Of course other will have other advise, but I like this set up.

David
 
+1 on the dedicated 22LR upper. You get the weight and feel of a 'real' AR and you can put whatever handguards, stock, etc on there that you might want.

I went the CMMG route with stainless bolt and have been very happy, with about 16,000 rounds between two of them. For $20 extra you can get their bolt hold open adapter and the mags that work with it for an extra few bucks each. They even make a forward assist adapter, but I'm not sure why you'd want it.
 
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IMO the first two posts sum up the first decision point which is whether you want a dedicated 22 platform or a 22 upper. I prefer the dedicated platform with identical AR controls. Most of the upper-only solutions seem to give up some sort of AR function due to the nature of the 22 round. With the dedicated platform, many seem to lose the weight and balance of an AR (which could be a good thing if your son is younger) and of course the lower will not take a "full" power upper. Take your pick.

Like I said before, I preferred the same function so I chose the M&P 15-22 and have been very happy with it.
 
Do not know the age of your son or build. I have the CMMG uppers with the Plumcrazy lowers and as far as weight goes they are about all my 96 pound wife and the younger kids I have let shoot them can handle off hand.

If the Plumcrazy lowers are to be used with a .22 upper you have to change the hammer ( they will furnish the hammer if they know that is what the lower is going on) to fit in the channel of the upper.

I have hundreds if not well over a couple of thousand rounds through the 16" and 18" uppers and have been very pleased with their no hassle performance and accuracy.

I used the lowers when I first got them on 5.56 and 7.62x39 uppers without a problem. But since I mounted them on the .22s that is where they have stayed.
 
So far, he has shot my Colt and my Remington 700 series 308 on sandbags and he had no problems. But, the larger caliber rounds wears him down pretty quickly. That's why we're looking for a .22 AR.

I have no problems with the M&P15-22. The only issue I have is how long will the polymer lower/upper last?
 
arthury said:
I have no problems with the M&P15-22. The only issue I have is how long will the polymer lower/upper last?
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I would agree with you if this was a full fledged 5.56 AR. However the M&P-22 was designed to be polymer and uses a very low powered round. You can expect this gun to last as long or longer than a Glock, or M&P pistol.
 
I have no problems with the M&P15-22. The only issue I have is how long will the polymer lower/upper last?

I thought about that for a while, then I remembered that my Nylon 66 is still going strong :).

Of course that's an emotional answer, not a rational one - I have no idea if the materials and design are the same - but Nylon 66's and Glocks make the argument that plastic guns can be durable if properly engineered. I decided to gamble that S&W got the engineering right. If it matters, the bolt actually rides on metal rails.

I really like mine, though I only have 500 or so round through it. It has a decent trigger and sights, and has the benefit IIUC of using standard parts, so you can replace the trigger if you want.

I wish the barrel was free floated; I worry about a sling affecting the POI (but I haven't tried that yet). All in all, though, I'm very pleased with it.
 
Another happy CMMG dedicated .22 upper owner here. I have ~10K rounds through it without any issues. I use a Cav Arms MKII polymer lower and it's super lightweight.
 
I vote for S&W M&P 15 22. Mine shoots great, kids and grand kids go to it before any other 22 I have. It wont shot as accurately as my 39a or my Savage Mark 11 but I am splitting hairs.
 
Had a Spikes Tactical conversion.

Sold it in favor of MP15 22

Amazing rifle
Better accuracy than the kit
Not ammo finicky like my kit was
 
I have a nylon 66 and I do like that .22lr, I also think the Smith and Wesson M&P 15-22 is a very good set up with lots of good reviews. The M&P 15-22 was on my short list and it came down to that one or a .22lr upper. I was worried about accuracy and reliability, but after going with the DPMS upper I was very happy with my decision. Depends on what you want and how you plan to use the rifle. The AR platform is nice to have and is very flexible. I can put on or remove the collapsible stock remove and go back to the solid stock. Switch calibers with out effecting the zero of sights or optics. My daughter uses it deer hunting, I use it for coyote and we all use it for fun and practice with the .22lr barrel. If its for your son and he will keep it all his life than a good AR platform would be great. Just my thoughts.

David
 
The S&W 15-22 will last plenty long enough.

It's a great concept. Especially for younger shooters. Or even for older shooters like me. All the controls work; none are cosmetic like on other dedicated rimfire ARs. And they seem to work with any and all .22 ammo. That's not something all of them - conversions or dedicated units - can claim.
 
I believe finicky is the word you're looking for.
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The CMMG upper I just bought is certainly finicky about notched hammers. Of course CMMG clearly states that, I just clearly didn't read. I've got to pick up a rounded hammer before I can find out if it is finicky about ammo. :)
 
MIne eats Federal bulk just fine. I have 4 Bulldog Machine mags for it. Good LUCK burning up 550 rounds in an afternoon. You mag-loading thumb will give out, before the ammo runs out. :p
 
A 15-22 looks and works like an AR, My kids enjoy mine, BUT...

It weighs about 4 1/2 lbs, has an abysmal trigger, and forget about shooting prone with a sling as the tension will affect sight alignment significantly. It's definitely not like shooting an AR-15. It is a very fun gun to shoot, however, and youngsters over 12 can easily handle it.

It accepts standard AR trigger groups and I put an RRA-NM trigger in mine, totally made the gun. The recoil spring housing is part of the receiver so it won't take standard buttstock assemblies.
 
arthury: My Wife got me a S&W MP-15-22 for Xmas 2 years ago and I have learned to just love to shoot and hunt with it. The little rifle doesn`t weight anything and it will shoot anything I put in it but I stay with the 22LR ammo designed for it. I am shooting a lot more 22 LR`S now than ever befor with the price of ammo going thru the roof. This is a truly fun gun to shoot, it is very accruate, I am told it has a matched barrel, and I belive that. My Son has one to we buy in pairs he has been my shooting partner since he was poddy trained. We have been shooting thoes action 22LR matches, and these little rifles are a hoot to shoot. I think the quality is just great not any problems of any kind. And every body at the matches want to shoot our rifles. I am seeing more and more of them at the 22 action matches we go to, and a brick of 22 LR`S goes a long way. GOOD LUCK TO YOU. ken
 
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