Dedicated lower for a Tactical Solutions .22 AR15 upper?

[enkindler]

I had a weak moment while visiting a local gun shop and walked out with one the A4 Tactical Solutions .22 uppers the price is high but hey...I get to justify a purchase because I'll be "saving money" (after about round 4000 if I didn't reload)

I won't shoot it until tonight but looking it over I was wondering if I should dedicate a lower to it or if swapping on one of my .223 uppers is fine. The major concern I have is that 22LR ammo tends to be dirty, not due to powder but with extra lube on the outside case.

 

[strat81]

I have plans for a dedicated lower for my dedicated .22LR upper. Be sure to include all costs, not just the lower. There's the LPK, receiver extension, stock, and any trigger upgrades.

 

[ArmedBear]

after about round 4000 if I didn't reload

That took me all of a few weeks. .22LR AR uppers seem more reliable and go longer between cleanings than most .22 semiauto rifles in my experience, so it's easy to feed 'em a few bricks.

WRT .22 fouling in the lower, yes, it does get on the hammer and in the mechanism. It's nothing a couple shots of CLP and a rag won't fix, though. And it doesn't get nasty until you've put at least 1000 rounds through it. It still works fine, and I have not had any problems due to lower fouling, no matter how dirty it has been. I'd try it and see how you like it, before spending any money on a special lower assembly. Remember: you'll have to clean that one, too.

Personally, I wouldn't get a dedicated lower just for that upper unless I had a specific reason to want two guns that could be shot at the same time (i.e. letting a friend shoot the .22 while I shot the .223 or something). Swapping uppers is about as easy as swapping magazines.

If I build a special lower just for mine, it will be due to California law and for no other reason (rimfires here are exempt from "assault weapon" restrictions, meaning I can equip it with certain combinations of accessories and features that my centerfire can't have).

 

[MAURICE]

I would definitely get a dedicated lower for it. That said, I wouldn't be in a huge rush to run out and get one either. Swapping it out will be fine for a while. When you can afford a lower, get one. After buying the upper, the lower will be the cheap part.