Ruger SR-22 or 10/22 question.

[jrdolall]

I am looking into getting a .22/AR and have looked at several options. The least expensive is to buy a conversion kit for my .223 but I was wondering what experience people have had with the .22 AR types. Would a customized 10/22 work as well as the SR22? What is the difference in the two? This would be a gun for everyone to shoot at paper targets. No competitions, other than a case of beer, jsut something to look like an AR and be able to shoot 500 rounds in a weekend without taking out a 2nd mortgage every month to pay for the .223 ammo. I already have an AK22 that is fun for the kids but is not as customisable.
Price considerations: Under $600 ready to shoot.
Manufacturers: Any of the AR22 Variants. Probably not Mossberg since I have little faith in any rifles they currently build.
I know I can get a 10/22 for $200. An Archangel conversion is around $125.

 

[adelbridge]

a 10/22 is as good as a 22 semi auto rifle gets. The SR-22 is the same action and some tacticool window dressing. You are paying a lot of extra money and the only good reason is to approximate AR-15 training. If you want the AR training get a dedicated .22 lr upper. Some of the minimalist conversions attempt to push a .22lr down your existing .223 barrel and it wont stabilize the .22 properly.

 

[CraigC]

The SR-22 is a great rifle and the Nordic chassis is more than just window dressing. It is still a 10/22 underneath, with its legendary reliability. Which means that it is compatible with all 10/22 aftermarket parts but also opens up your opportunities to virtually any of the AR-15 buttstocks, pistol grips and forends on the market as well. They are great stock but can also be whatever you want it to be. Considering what you get, it is a bargain. For you surely cannot buy a 10/22 and build a Nordic-based rifle for less.

That said, it is a poor choice for an AR trainer. IMHO, the most important part of a rimfire understudy is the controls and the controls on a Ruger are completely different from an AR. You're simply not gonna get any better at running an AR by practicing with a 10/22. If you want an AR trainer, you're better off with either a dedicated upper or a dedicated rifle. Which can be a real AR-15 or something like the S&W 15-22. My choice for a trainer would be the CMMG .22LR upper. With the options available at present, I wouldn't even consider a conversion kit.

 

[viking499]

Have you looked at a Sig 522 or S&W?

 

[unlimited4x4]

I vote for the 10/22

For the purpose you stated you can't go wrong with the 10/22. It is reliable, accurate and inexpensive. The rifle works great in its stock form. My family loves the 10/22.

 

[jrdolall]

I have two .22 rifles to hunt with. A Winchester Model 77 tube fed and a 10/22. I bought another 10/22 and put the Archangel stock on it as pictured. I will get it a bit more "tacticalized" by the weekend and kill some paper. I have an AR in .223 so this is in no way a way of training with an AR. I just wanted something the kids could shoot that looked ARish. This setup as pictured is $337 all-in. $215 for the 10/22 and $112 for the kit. Installation took about 30 minutes because I had to remove the sights from the 10/22 and added the estended mag release. Easy operation with a punch and some allen wrenches. All of the AR22 rifles, Smith, Colt, GSG, I looked at were at least $500 with the exception of the Mossberg at $275 and I am not comfortable with them. I already have the extended magazines so that was not extra.

 

[jmr40]

Just bought one of the S&W 15-22's a couple of weeks ago. MUCH better than the Ruger SR-22. And I'm a big Ruger fan. With the excellent peeps on the S&W it is as accurate as a standard 10-22 with a good scope.

Now my custom barreled 10-22 will shoot darn well. I'm going to have to put a scope on the S&W and see what it is capable of. I wouldn't spend the extra money on the SR-22 over a standard 10-22. If you want a 22 that looks like an AR the Smith is the way to go.

 

[henschman]

Here's another vote for a CMMG .22 upper, in whatever configuration is closest to your real AR. It just makes sense, as you already have the lower for it. The prices are pretty decent, too.

 

[CraigC]

If you want a 22 that looks like an AR the Smith is the way to go.

That's all well and good if you're satisfied with the S&W as it comes out of the box. IMHO, the S&W would make the better trainer but overall, the Ruger is the better rifle. The S&W is a good rifle but it's just too light and cheap feeling for me.

 

[crracer_712]

IMO, if you are lookikng for an AR style 22, you'll want the S&W M&P15-22. I'm not biased, I have 4 Ruger 10-22 a Sig 522 and 2 M&P 15-22. While the Ruger's are very customizable, they are not AR type rifles, mostly due to the action. The Sig is a fine rifle in itself, but it's not an AR type rifle. The M&P 15-22 isn't just an AR type, it is an AR Rifle. The pistol grip and butt stock are interchangable with any mil-spec AR components. It's take down is identical to an AR15. There are even components out now to allow the removal of the quad rail on the 15-22 and allow a user to install a fake gas block/A2 front sight, and install a carbine length or midlength hand gaurd. They are an extremely fun shooting rifle, magazines are relatively inexpensive and are easy to load.