I got some 22LR tactical rifle fever
The latest Shooting Illustrated (one of the better gun mags out there and the price is right for NRA members at under $10) had a bit on the various tactical 22LR rifles out there. I hear their new site will go live in January and you’ll be able to see the article and some video. Bottom line is most folks are making 22LR versions of their rifles and I imagine demand is high due to ammo prices. It’s a trend I’ve noted before. With some new additions added all the time.
But I’ve also pondered the various conversion kits. CMMG makes a conversion kit for AR-15s. The kit is sold at Brownells. It has the advantage of being cheaper than a whole rifle and you can use all the optics and doodads on your current rifle. Cons would seem to be that it would be less accurate since my AR barrel is not rifled for the 22LR cartridge. There was a review in the recent Guns and Ammo that I cannot find online which stated accuracy wasn’t the greatest but it was reliable.
Also, The Packing Rat has a good review of the kit with some pics.
I wonder how this kit would work with subsonic ammo and a suppressor?
December 8th, 2009 at 10:53 am
Some of the long heavy bullet subsonics look interesting. They should be more stable with a standard AR-15 twist rate than with standard 22 LR twist.
December 8th, 2009 at 11:04 am
It’s hard to keep the ammo subsonic with a long barrel. I have a dedicated 22 AR with a threaded barrel as well as a threaded barrel on my 10/22 – the subsonic rounds go supersonic every time. It’s still quiet with the can, but the supersonic crack is very much noticeable.
December 8th, 2009 at 11:05 am
What sort of ammo? I don’t notice a crack when I shoot me suppressed 10/22.
December 8th, 2009 at 11:12 am
if you can stomach arfcom, one of their members has done some reasonably extensive testing with conversion kits and various sorts of ammo with a couple of different twist rates.
http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=15&t=441890&page=1
short story: ~4-5 moa, with some outliers. he apparently has a 1/7 barrel that _really_ likes the aguila 60gr subsonics.
Additionally, there’s a mallet shaped thingee out there you can use to increase the diameter of the bullet to more fully engage the rifling, but i’ve forgotten the name of the product. it apparently takes practice to get it right, but the reviewer was getting really good results with it.
I’ve already picked up one of the CMMG kits, but haven’t had a chance to try it out yet. My old man has been running one for a bit now, though, and his has been pretty good. accuracy at 50m is acceptable for our purposes. YMMV.
December 8th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
I wants me a S&W M&P15-22 SO DAMN bad as a trainer rifle.
Sadly in this state that means I must make do with a 10 round mag (why?) and the M4 stock pinned in place, which would mean it will only fit one user (me) well, and not my wife or any small adults or children who might want to learn on what’s a VERY nifty rifle.
I guess I’ll just have to wait until we win a few more big victories….or maybe we get a Governor with some balls.
December 8th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
One of the guys at work has a .22LR kit on his AR and a suppressor – and that thing is VERY quiet with subsonic ammo.
All you hear is the action of the rifle as it cycles.
December 8th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
All I want is a longer bolt handle for my 10/22 so I can reach under and rack it the same as I do on my Kalashnikov.
December 8th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
I’ve got the CMMG kit. I’ve been happy with it for plinking and practice purposes. No, it’s not going to be as accurate as a dedicated upper.
December 8th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
My experience with the conversion kits is the same as someone mentioned above: 4 to 5 moa accuracy if you’re lucky. Also, regarding the mention of the 60 grain Aguila subsonics, Gemtech strongly recommends against using them with a suppressor. Apparently they are known to come out of the barrel wobbling and can cause baffle strikes.
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=232740
December 8th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
Palmetto State has the CMMG kit on sale right now for $179 with three mags. Not a bad price at all, considering what the mags go for.
December 8th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
My B’nells/CMMG convert goes right into a DoubleStar barrelled M-4gery
and I (big qualifier) get about quarter-size groups at 50 ft with mini-mags. Another M-4gery with a Wilson M-4ish tube won’t seat the convert..? Haven’t tried it with a can or on a Colt yet…
…buddy got a S&W M&P .22 and was happy with it, until it cut loose out
of battery and blew out the extractor. They had him ship it back. I’ll bet they make it right, but sounds like they’re still a few issues…
December 8th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
With the CMMG kit from Brownells, I can get quarter-sized groupings at Coal Creek’s indoor range fairly easily with nothing more than iron sights. Now, zeroing those iron sights was a pain in the petrukis…
And, honestly, using copper-plated .22s, I have not experienced all that big of a problem with any fouling or anything either.
All that said, were you not the guy who gave me grief about getting a .22 conversion kit to begin with? 😉
December 9th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
I took my M&P15-22 to the range today. After I cleaned it I racked the bolt and the @)!*&& extractor shot out and disappeared. So I’ll be calling S&W in the morning.
Very accurate and fun, but DAMMIT!