CMMG AR/.22 conversion

[Chesapeake Boy]

Anyone have one? If so, how well does it work? How accurate are they? I recently got an AR... enjoy shooting it.. but, I would have a heck of a lot more fun shooting for less... Muscle Memory.... Tactical courses etc...

Then if SHTF, having a quiet .22 for small game etc, in addition to the 10/22 is always plus.

Thanks

[Just Jeff]

I have one and love it. Shot it yesterday.

Accuracy will depend on the barrel twist...I built my AR with a bushmaster barrel so I could get a 1:9 twist, which is just a little better for .22 than the 1:7 of most ARs, but 1/9 is still good for 55gr and pretty good for 62gr. The conversion bolt isn't quite as accurate as shooting with a dedicated .22 barrel, but it's reasonably accurate for the convenience. Takes just a few seconds to swap bolts.

Aside from being able to practice on the same platform for much cheaper, the real convenience would be if I had to bail out to the woods. I could take my AR with some 5.56, and a few thousand rounds of .22 for very little additional weight...just the weight of the extra bolt. Then I could take squirrels and rabbits with the .22 and save my 5.56 for defense, small deer, etc. My son would have the 10/22 so we'd have some redundancy in caliber.

I have about a thousand rounds through it now and I haven't had a malfunction yet.

I've read that .22 can leave a waxy residue in the barrel, so be sure to swab out the barrel before switching back to 5.56, or you might bulge the barrel. Probably a slim chance of actually doing damage, but no reason to take the risk.

I also got the stainless steel model since rimfire is so dirty.

Speaking of reliability, I've also read that hollowpoints will fail to feed and that subsonic won't cycle correctly with the conversion bolt. This is not true for mine. I shoot nothing but HPs and don't have failures, and even the HP subsonics that I shot worked correctly. No reliability issues here.

[Gort]

The barrels on ARs are NOT very compatible with 22lr ammo because of the twist rate, the accuracy drops off very quickly after 50 yards.

Best advice I could give is get a Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22, they're about $450. All the controls are exactly like the AR. Many other dedicated 22lr AR copies do not have the same controls like the bolt release and mag release button.

I have around 1200 rounds through mine and it has been an awesome little rifle, it gets shot more than my ARs. They can be picky on which ammo it'll shoot when they are new so start with CCI mini-mags or the Winchester 1300 FPS ammo that comes in the long plastic red slider boxes, that works the best in my 15-22.

I would avoid the conversion kits, saving for the S&W would be a better choice.

[usmc0341]

I have that coversion kit and it shoots minute of squirrel at 50yd. Much further than that is a toss up since I have an EOTECH on my M4. Reasonably reliable and I have it for all the reasons that Just Jeff stated.

My M4 does have a troy medieval muzzlebreak on it and whenever I shoot it gets coated in lead. I don't know if this is due to the rounds simply not being jacketed, or the rifling rate is too fast, or if I am getting a slight strike to the Brake from the round as it passes through.

Also I need to add that the rate of twist on my LMT M4 is 1-7"

I will have a few malfunctions every few hundred rounds but nothing major and was probably due to the dry lube that I was running on it. I use that white box target ammo that is round nose because it is the most accurate out of my gun and it is also the most reliable.

[13FoxTrot10]

I'd pass on the kit, and the dedicated .22 AR look-alike and do a complete upper.
The conversion is certainly cheaper, but as mentioned, running .22 lr thru your barrel is not optimal. $450 for a .22 AR will pay for the upper.

[Chesapeake Boy]

Thanks for the feedback! I am sold. I have zero desire to spend $225+ extra to shoot a .22 look alike... Ihave several .22s, and my 10/22 is a naildriver. I am just wanting an economical way to shoot the AR I have. I certainly am not looking to shoot my AR with .22 at 50+ yards... I have a gun for that.

[13FoxTrot10]

He's a friends .22 upper on a LWRC lower, suppressed. With subsonic ammo, it's nearly silent. FUN shooter! All day fun for a couple bucks.

Suppressed LWRC .22 Upper - YouTube

[RogueSpear2023]

CMMG actually recommends Federal Bulk 22LR with are 37gr HP rounds, so there is no issue with them, they say you should High Velocity ammo, I have some subsonic I may try but I would not be surprised if they won't cycle. The AR barrel has the wrong twist rate for 22LR, but they are fine out to about 50yds after that good luck. If you want more accuracy before buying MP 15 22LR, I would get a dedicated upper. I have had zero issues with mine, except for the white box Winchester I have had a few FTF the primer is hit hard, but nothing I have had about 10 out of box of 500, this is with three well functioning 22LRs and the bolt conversion, so I know its the ammo. I have never had any issue federal bulk pack.

[Gort]

Originally Posted by Chesapeake Boy

Thanks for the feedback! I am sold. I have zero desire to spend $225+ extra to shoot a .22 look alike... Ihave several .22s, and my 10/22 is a naildriver. I am just wanting an economical way to shoot the AR I have. I certainly am not looking to shoot my AR with .22 at 50+ yards... I have a gun for that.

Where are you getting your dedicated .22lr upper from?

I was just checking them out and the pricing was much higher than expected, the cheapest I could find are in a range from $360 - $450 for a mid-range quality upper. The cheap end of the scale is just over $300. The nicer (CMMG) uppers are no less than $360 from my brief search. You can buy a nice used M&P 15-22 for that much or slightly more and have another complete system ready to rock.

Still think you're getting a bargain on a reliable & complete 22lr upper?

If this helps, My 15-22 has paid for itself in ammo savings and I have about 1200 rounds through it.....and it far lighter than a standard AR.

It's no biggie to me, it's you money, just trying to give you as much data as possible before spending your hard earned money. Good luck regardless of which direction you choose.

[mojavesam]

I had one. It was fairly reliable and accurate. I sold it to get a dedicated upper, which I didn't like and sold. I'd probably get another CMMG conversion if I didn't already have too many 22s.

[Chesapeake Boy]

Originally Posted by Gort

Where are you getting your dedicated .22lr upper from?

I was just checking them out and the pricing was much higher than expected, the cheapest I could find are in a range from $360 - $450 for a mid-range quality upper. The cheap end of the scale is just over $300. The nicer (CMMG) uppers are no less than $360 from my brief search. You can buy a nice used M&P 15-22 for that much or slightly more and have another complete system ready to rock.

Still think you're getting a bargain on a reliable & complete 22lr upper?

If this helps, My 15-22 has paid for itself in ammo savings and I have about 1200 rounds through it.....and it far lighter than a standard AR.

It's no biggie to me, it's you money, just trying to give you as much data as possible before spending your hard earned money. Good luck regardless of which direction you choose.

I am not getting a complete upper... It is a drop in bolt carriage and mag. $189.... I would like to run through some of the tactical courses.. or set one up on my property. just for fun and practice... The .22 is just so damn cheap. It is also good cheap way to enforce muscle memory and consistant cheak wld to the stock. Glad you like your 15-22... but my 10/22 has tens and tens of thousands of rounds through it.. and she shoots where I aim.. no reason to get another of the same... I just want something to make it more economical to put time in on mhy AR.... in between the loud rounds.

[Gort]

Your reasons are the same as mine. I wanted something with the controls in the same place as the AR platform so 'playing' with the .22lr AR copy transfers to the 5.56 AR.

The only thing I wanted to do with my 15-22 is to compete in our local 'tactical' .22lr matches at my local range, and the lightweight 15-22 was the best choice for that. Some targets are 100 yards out so accuracy was important for me.

For what you're doing the bolt assembly will do the trick, good luck.

[Chesapeake Boy]

I recieved my conversion kit on Friday... I have shot several hundred rounds. I couldn't be happier with it. It isn't the most accurate, At 50 yards... prone with bipod, 10 shots... 4 in the 10 ring, 4 in the 6 ring, and 1 in the 8 & 9. but for shooting steel.... and having fun... I love it. You are best to fill the 2 round mag only to 20.

My 10/22 with a 3x9 puts 10 in the 10 ring.

[Steve37]

I just bought one. I can't wait to try it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FquUx4-xjFM

[American ME!]

Originally Posted by Chesapeake Boy

Anyone have one? If so, how well does it work? How accurate are they? I recently got an AR... enjoy shooting it.. but, I would have a heck of a lot more fun shooting for less... Muscle Memory.... Tactical courses etc...

Then if SHTF, having a quiet .22 for small game etc, in addition to the 10/22 is always plus.

Thanks

I have a conversion for mine by Atchisson and hi-cap mag by Brownell....both work great...$200.00. Just be sure you thoroughly clean your weapon before going back to the 5.56x45 round.

[American ME!]

Originally Posted by Steve37

I just bought one. I can't wait to try it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FquUx4-xjFM

That works too....plug and play.

[Mechman]

Gort. Having a dedicated 22 lr ar15 is cool. But, if used as BOE it is still extra weight. CMMG makes a good kit and when added to your kit it does a couple of things. One small critter getter light weight and if needed after using all your 5.56 can still defend you.

[Gort]

Originally Posted by Mechman

Gort. Having a dedicated 22 lr ar15 is cool. But, if used as BOE it is still extra weight. CMMG makes a good kit and when added to your kit it does a couple of things. One small critter getter light weight and if needed after using all your 5.56 can still defend you.

Meckman, my S&W 15-22 won't be coming with me in any bug-out situation, it's strictly a training weapon and dedicated 'plinker'. With all the controls being as they are on an AR platform it's an excellent trainer.

In a BO situation I'll be taking both of my 5.56 ARs, if I have to go on foot I'll trim that down to my best rifle (and my Dan Wesson Valor).

The idea of having a 22lr for critters is not a bad idea, but critters will be a low priority for me....carrying enough ammo will trump just about everything else outside of food, water and suitable shelter.

[silversam1]

I have one. Works well. Plus I like the savings in ammo. A whole lot cheaper to plink with .22

[Steve37]

Originally Posted by American ME!

That works too....plug and play.

Exactly.

The 1:7 barrel is not that great with 36 gr bullets, but It's alright.

Test shots CMMG .22lr semi-automatic conversion...