skidooman603
Member
Just depends if you want to plink or practice...If you want true feedback for practice, a dedicated upper like the compass lake engineering is the way to go.
Which Ar style Ar in 22?
- Thread starter Biggums
- Start date
- Status
Expertowgunner
Member
I just traded some stuff for my friends mp-15a and i have to tell you no way in hell would i ever get a .22 conversion for it. Ar 15 rifles are already kind of a pita to clean but shooting 500 rounds of cheap .22 ammo through your rifle makes it super dirty. Granted i dont think he cleans his guns as good as i do but i dug TONS of carbon out of the chamber and im not much for putting extra wear on my 1000+ rig for the sake of cheaper ammo. id either get a dedicated upper or a mp 15-22 rifle if thats what you want.
The money saved pretty quickly could pay to replace anything getting extra wear and tear. At $320 or so for 1K rounds of 5.56 in a few thousand rounds the saving are notable. You could get a spare high end bolt and barrel in 2K rounds. A couple more and you'd have a whole new rifle. Of course a whole upper pays for its self with in a few bulk packs of .22LR as well and with a proper twist is likely to shoot better.
Hizzie
Member
I'm a hardcore AK guy but I have to admit that I love my M&P 15-22. It handles exactly the same as a "real" AR so it keeps me current with both platforms.
againstthagrane
Member
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2008
- Messages
- 505
I have an AR-15 and a sig 522,and while the controls aren't identical, they're close enough. The sig is also the only one that I've never heard a complaint about. The older ones had issues with the carrier group, but the guilty parts have been changed.
I've had one since may and I've probably run about a thousand rounds of mish-mashed ammo and it hasn't had a single hiccup. Sometimes I even load different ammo in the same mag. It's also more accurate than the others mentioned. I also like that it's actually made by sig and not a rebadged version of a gun made by an airsoft company.
I've had one since may and I've probably run about a thousand rounds of mish-mashed ammo and it hasn't had a single hiccup. Sometimes I even load different ammo in the same mag. It's also more accurate than the others mentioned. I also like that it's actually made by sig and not a rebadged version of a gun made by an airsoft company.
Glocked-N-Loaded
Member
- Joined
- May 2, 2010
- Messages
- 119
Your friend is 100% correct. I'd put my 522 up against any other AR style .22 on the market. Accuracy, reliability, quality, you name the game and we can do it. Put a Primary Arms M3 multi reticle red dot on it FOR $99 and rock n' roll!
wally
Member
IMHO best value is the SIG 522 -- got mine for $300 at a gun show, my wife loves it! I've also got a Spike's Tactical dedicated upper which is IMHO the best way to go (although far from the cheapest) as you will get trigger time with your real AR trigger.
A conversion kit is the cheapest, but .22 ammo is dirtier than 5.56, the twist isn't right for .22LR, and you may have POA/POI issues between .22LR and .223.
I'd not get the Colt or S&W or GSG because they gouge you on spare mags. The conversions, SIG522, and dedicated uppers all use the Black Dog Machine mags which work great and can be found for ~$20 each.
A conversion kit is the cheapest, but .22 ammo is dirtier than 5.56, the twist isn't right for .22LR, and you may have POA/POI issues between .22LR and .223.
I'd not get the Colt or S&W or GSG because they gouge you on spare mags. The conversions, SIG522, and dedicated uppers all use the Black Dog Machine mags which work great and can be found for ~$20 each.
kwelz
Member
S&W mags are 20 and under everywhere I have seen them.
adobewalls
Member
+1 on the Sig 522; but this also has my interest for a future purchase:
http://cmmginc.secure-mall.com/category/Dedicated-.22LR-Uppers-184
http://cmmginc.secure-mall.com/category/Dedicated-.22LR-Uppers-184
I realize this is an old post but I just got a SIG 522 myself and it has proven to be a little tack driver. I put a RED Dot sight on it and it is just a great shooter. Also It will eat anything. As a matter of fact, I got better results with the Winchester bulk stuff than the CCI. I plan on re-testing again this weekend.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
IMHO, the SIG is the best of the bunch but it ain't an AR. Also uses the excellent BDM magazines.
The S&W is a good rifle but it just feels too light and cheap to me. Bummer that it doesn't use BDM magazines.
The Ruger SR-22 is excellent and potentially the most accurate. However, while you have compatibility with any AR furniture, the controls are completely different. Not a big deal if you just want a "tacticool" .22, significant if you want an AR trainer. Tactical Innovations is the place for reliable 25rd magazines.
Several more solutions exist for building a 10/22-based "tacticool" rifle. There is also the excellent monolithic receiver from Zimmerman Arms.
Far too many complaints for me to consider the Colt/Umarex.
A high quality dedicated upper like the Spike's or Tactical Solutions is probably "best" but also the most expensive if you don't already have a lower.
The S&W is a good rifle but it just feels too light and cheap to me. Bummer that it doesn't use BDM magazines.
The Ruger SR-22 is excellent and potentially the most accurate. However, while you have compatibility with any AR furniture, the controls are completely different. Not a big deal if you just want a "tacticool" .22, significant if you want an AR trainer. Tactical Innovations is the place for reliable 25rd magazines.
Several more solutions exist for building a 10/22-based "tacticool" rifle. There is also the excellent monolithic receiver from Zimmerman Arms.
Far too many complaints for me to consider the Colt/Umarex.
A high quality dedicated upper like the Spike's or Tactical Solutions is probably "best" but also the most expensive if you don't already have a lower.
Quentin
Member
I narrowed it down to the S&W M&P15-22 and Colt M4 22LR. Both had problems when released but they've been pretty much ironed out by now. I was really tempted to go with the S&W but it was so darn lightweight and cheap looking while the Colt/Walther really looks like an M4 (and weighs the same) until you look closely. And it has a flash hider, ejection port cover, forward assist, etc. even if they're there just for looks not function.
Anyway, the M4 22 has been extremely reliable with Federal 550 value pack from Walmart but doesn't like Remington Golden Bullet. I believe that's true of the S&W as well. I'm pleased with its reliability and accuracy ... and it just looks right. The only issue I had with the rifle was the front sight had to be cranked up too high to zero properly with a real Colt carry handle. Umarex sent a 0.04" taller sight post for free that corrected this common problem (that many 5.56 ARs have).
BTW, to clear up misinformation stated earlier, there IS a bolt hold open that works properly when the magazine is empty.
Anyway, the M4 22 has been extremely reliable with Federal 550 value pack from Walmart but doesn't like Remington Golden Bullet. I believe that's true of the S&W as well. I'm pleased with its reliability and accuracy ... and it just looks right. The only issue I had with the rifle was the front sight had to be cranked up too high to zero properly with a real Colt carry handle. Umarex sent a 0.04" taller sight post for free that corrected this common problem (that many 5.56 ARs have).
BTW, to clear up misinformation stated earlier, there IS a bolt hold open that works properly when the magazine is empty.
Glocked-N-Loaded
Member
- Joined
- May 2, 2010
- Messages
- 119
I know it all boils down to personal preference but after holding all 3, and shooting the Sig and the S&W, I cannot honestly fathom how anyone could choose something other than the Sig. I put another 500 thru it at the range last night and not 1 hiccup, nothing, boringly reliable. 50 rnds through 1 ragged hole at 25 yrds. The S&W was too light for my taste and not as accuarte for me, the Sig has heft to it, feels meatier and more like a rifle. I paid $390 for the Sig on GB, called Sig and got a 2nd BD mag for free, put a $99 Primary Arms multi reticle red dot on it and again, I'd put it up against anyones S&W, and almost dare anyone to bring a Colt. We'll keep shooting and shooting, first one with a malf of any kind loses. 
Quentin
Member
Same as most 22LRs, the Colt and S&W do just fine once you find the ammo they like, they'll keep pace with a SIG. I expect the SIG 522 is a fine rifle but it just doesn't look like an AR and the controls aren't like an AR. The only reason I bought the Colt M4 22 was to get more practice in that was relative to my real AR but at a much cheaper price for ammo. The S&W is even more like an AR. Once you start deviating too much, why not really save money and get a 10/22 or Marlin 60.
You-Two
Member
M&p 15-22
I like my M&P so far with just a few hundred rounds through it. Easy to clean and shoots great with CCI Mini-Mags. Haven't tried the bulk stuff yet. Here is a pic...just put the EOtech clone on there today since I had it sitting around from a trade a while back. Figured I'd give it a shot on the .22!
I like my M&P so far with just a few hundred rounds through it. Easy to clean and shoots great with CCI Mini-Mags. Haven't tried the bulk stuff yet. Here is a pic...just put the EOtech clone on there today since I had it sitting around from a trade a while back. Figured I'd give it a shot on the .22!
Quentin
Member
Nice S&W! But don't you have an extra "evil" feature or two for a California gun? 
You-Two
Member
Thanks! The AW features only apply to centerfire designs. We are "allowed" to have all the evil features we want on rimfire. Just no mags over 10rds unless you owned them prior to 1/1/2000, which would be hard to claim with the 15-22. You can even use a normal AR lower with a rimfire upper and not be restricted to the use of bullet button arrangement. Silly CA laws!Nice S&W! But don't you have an extra "evil" feature or two for a California gun?
Salty1
Member
The Sig 522 is a great rifle, I enjoy mine so much that I sold my CMMG 22 cal conversion kit for the AR. It has not had a single issue and is really easy to maintain. We sell more of the 522's than any other manufacturers and have not had a single complaint....
Quentin
Member
Ah thanks, I didn't know that about 22s, You-Two. A shame CA, NY, etc. steal your constitutional rights with just about everything else.
- Status
