AR-15 22LR CONVERSION HISTORY

by | Feb 27, 2017 | .22 Conversion Kit, Reference | 0 comments

AR-15 22LR CONVERSION HISTORY

AR-15 22LR Conversion History originally appeared for us at Combat Rifle website was emailed to us anonymously .

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AR-15 22LR Conversion History

AR-15 22LR CONVERSION HISTORY

AR-15 22LR Conversion History

There are a number of AR-15 conversions and it will not prove possible for me to cover each and every one of them. Instead we’ll look at three: The original Atchisson, the factory Colt, and the current Ciener conversion which is an updated version of the early Atchisson. In addition to these three conversions there is also a USAF M16 conversion kit which functions in a totally different manner (gas action) as well as at least one other US military M16 conversion which will not be discussed here.

Firearms designer Maxwell Atchisson is generally credited with the development of the first marketable AR-15 conversion unit while he was on the staff of the old Military Armament Corp (MAC) during the early 1970s. The original MAC units were available in two versions; One allowing full auto fire while the other provided semi-auto only. Each unit used a special 16 round box magazine which was the same size and shape as a standard AR-15 twenty round magazine but later a 30 round banana type magazine was developed and this design was later copied by J.A. Ciener for use in his conversion.

The MAC conversion itself was little more than a replacement bolt assembly which contained .22LR chamber, recoil spring, extractor and ejector which allowed for straight blow-back operation. To a certain extent the conversion unit functions as a sort of tiny self contained firearm when it is inserted into the AR-15 upper receiver. The entire device was enclosed in a metal sleeve and was inserted as a direct replacement for the standard .223 bolt carrier. Unlike the HK .308 conversions, no special barrel insert was needed to fire .22LR ammo in the .223 AR-15 barrel but sight adjustments were needed since the point of impact between the .223 and .22LR ammo is very different, usually about 3 or 4 inches lower. When first introduced in 1973 these conversions cost a princely $79.95 or about 1/3 the retail price of an AR-15 rifle.

The rights to the Atchisson conversion were later obtained by J.A. Ciener who began marketing a new an improved conversion under his own name. One of the major innovations of the Ciener kit was the removal of the metal sleeve which once fully enclosed the unit. This allowed for much easier access to the internals for cleaning, something which was very difficult with the original MAC conversions. Ciener also offered two conversions: one for semi auto and another which was specially tuned to function properly in full automatic. A 30 round magazine was standard prior to the 1994 Crime Bill, after this 10 round magazines were the only capacity available. With the passing of the Crime Bill the 30 round mags are available once again.

In the early 1990s Colt decided to market a conversion unit of there own to accompany the reintroduction of the new Colt Sporter Rifles, which were simply AR-15s without bayonet lugs and a block installed in the lower receiver to prevent the installation of a Drop In Auto-sear device. The Colt unit was built in something like the shape of the original MAC kit but did not have its internals completely enclosed. The same Colt kit would function in either semi or full automatic rifles and used a small plastic 10 shot magazine. Colt never offered larger capacity mags, although Ciener one produced special 30 round magazines for use in the Colt conversions. It is worth noting that Ciener/MAC magazines will not work in the Colt kits nor will the Colt mags work in the other two units.

In all three cases these conversion units are installed by simply removing the standard .223 bolt carrier and dropping the conversion into the upper receiver. As with all .22 conversions I suggest steering clear of the cheap promotional brands of .22 ammo and sticking with the high quality ammo since this will reduce fouling and make cleanup much easier at the end of the day. Although none of these AR-15 conversions are as complex as the HK conversion unit I still feel that the average shooter should avoid taking them apart. Just soak them in bore cleaner, scrub them down and then dry with a blast of compressed air

There has been a lot of talk about the possibility of the lead from firing .22 ammo fouling or lodging in the gas port/gas tube of an AR upper receiver but .I have never had this problem. All and all I consider the .22 conversions to be a very useful addition for any AR type rifle as is allows for almost limitless shooting at very low cost as well as letting you fire your AR at many indoor pistol ranges where the .223 rifles are generally prohibited. Right now the Ciener kit is the most easily available while the Colt kits are getting harder to locate. Any of the original MAC kits are now considered more collectors items, although they will function fine if you choose to shoot them.

AR-15 22LR Conversion For Sale

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AR-15 22 CONVERSION KIT | AR 22 CONVERSION KIT

by | Feb 25, 2017 | AR-15 22LR Conversion, Reference | 0 comments

AR-15 22LR Conversion Kit – Back in 2006 or so I created this page for one of our other sites Combatrifle.net now Combatrifle.com. Timing was right as the “Tactical 22’s” were just coming on to the scene. While shooters embraced the airsoft knockoff .22’s  other shooters particularly AR-15 shooters began to embrace AR-15 22 Conversion Kits. This page became massively popular. Now in 2017 as I copy the page to this site I’m struck by how much the AR-15 22LR Conversion Kit landscape has changed. Most of the information on this page now only serves historical value. So much so that this page can easily be renamed AR-15 22LR Conversion History Part 2. (See  the original AR-15 22LR Conversion History) Look for a current up to date version very soon!

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Visit > AR-15 .22LR

AR-15 22 CONVERSION KIT | AR-15 22LR CONVERSION KIT

Colt Sporter with CMMG Dedicated .22 Upper Conversion Kit-AR-15 22LR Conversion Kit

Colt Sporter with CMMG Dedicated .22 Upper Conversion Kit

.22 Long Rifle Conversion Kits for Colt AR 15 Rifles and Clones

Drop-in AR-15 22LR Conversion Kit:

Read the history of the AR-15 22lr conversions here

The Drop-in AR-15 22LR Conversion Kits are the easiest and least expensive method of converting your AR-15 to a .22 caliber plinker. The kits will range in price from about $160-$250 and take about 30 seconds to install. There is a few down sides to using the drop in kits. The bullet must travel a few inches in an unrifled tube before it reaches the barrel. The barrels on most AR type rifles will typically have a twist rate that is optimized for the 5.56 Nato (.223) with a 1:7″- 1:9″ barrel twist rate and not the 1:16″ that works well with .22 long rifle. There is also a few thousandths of an inch difference in the bullets diameter of .22LR (.222) vs 5.56 Nato (.224). Those differences can lead to less then match grade accuracy in an AR-15 but the accuracy is perfectly suited for plinking. If that accuracy is not suitable you can purchase a complete .22 long rifle upper. The cost starts at about double of the drop-in conversion and can go upwards well over $1000. The choice is yours.

I purchased my Colt brand conversion kit part# R6222 back in the early 90’s without much fanfare. The Colt and the Jonathan Arthur Ciener kits seemed to be the only ones around at the time, at least that was my findings in the Shotgun News and prior to the internet. Recently a good friend purchased his first rifle, a Bushmaster Modular Carbine. I explained to him the virtues of cheap practice ammo, getting to know the rifle and the ability to shoot at any indoor range. Eager to get a conversion kit he quickly hit the web with google and met a brick wall in a lack of availability. My friend got quickly frustrated so I decided to do some research the result of which you are reading here. A few things came to light very quickly.

The Colt unit I own while listed as a current product offering is nowhere to be found. The Jonathan Arthur Ciener kits are being offered at several places for low prices but none are in stock even at his own site .22lrconversions.com. Jonathan Arthur Ciener has always had a long back order and a history of poor customer service. He also has quite a few complaints against him at the BBB. In fairness everybody seems to get their kits just be prepared to wait. In the end my friend ended up ordering a CMMG AR-15/M16 22LR BRAVO CONVERSION KIT from Brownells Update 2015:(When this article was originally written the word “Bravo” was not part of the name

.22LR AR Upper Receivers

Now if after reading the above you feel you need more from a .22 conversion a complete upper chambered for .22 long Rifle is exactly what your looking for. You will be able to achieve greater accuracy and superior reliability with these dedicated uppers. These units start at around $450 with the sky being the limit. The low end units typically will look like any other AR15 with a typical handguard and a carry handle or flat top receiver. What starts to drive the costs way up is the barrels. Some manufacturers offer custom match grade barrels. These barrels turn the AR15 into a fine precision shooting machine with accuracy on par with other top rifles in the .22 Long Rifle class. Take a look at this Lakeside Guns for what is probably the most radical 22lr AR-15 dedicated upper receiver to date.

Tips:

  • Keep the drop-in units cleaned and lubricated
  • Inspect the gas tube for fouling before returning the weapons center fire bolt carrier.
  • If you get failures to extract often, clean the area under the extraction claws. It has probably become dirty and the claws are not returning to their fully retracted position
  • Failure too feed will be from the magazine and or carbon buildup on the neck of the carrier preventing it to fully seat in the chamber
  • Failures to fire, see above. The carbon prevents the the .22 bolt from seating firmly. Energy is lost from the firing pin and light strikes can result
  • Ammo – These things can be fussy and cause either of the two previous problems. I’ve found high and hyper velocity ammo to work best.

How easy is it to install a .22 long rifle AR-15 Conversion kit?

Brownells has put together a video presentation display how easy it is to install the CMMG Conversion Kit. The video is on the product page.

CMMG AR-15 .22 Hardware | CMMG AR-15 22LR Conversion Kit

CMMG AR-15 22LR Conversion Kits

CMMG AR-15 22 Conversion Kits

August 22, 2010 – CMMG is growing their .22LR lineup by leaps and bounds. They have added Stainless Steel and Left Handed versions of their popular AR-15 conversion units as well as dedicated .22LR Uppers and Complete Rifles ,22LR. There are also many more models to be released over the next few months. CMMG is also adding accessories unique to these .22’s as well as possibly firsts in the shooting world. The first item is the Anti-Jam Charging Handle for Drop-In Conversion .22. The charging handle is machined much more shallow that that of an AR-15. This prevents a .22 case from getting jammed inside the upper.

CMMG Anti-Jam Charging Handle for Drop-In Conversion AR-15 22-AR-15 22LR Conversion Kit

CMMG Anti-Jam Charging Handle for Drop-In Conversion AR-15 22

The other items are hardware to enable the last shot hold open feature of an AR-15 to function with any Atchisson based AR .22 conversion unit.

CMMG 22 Evolution Conversion Bolt Hold Open Spring & Follower-AR-15 22LR Conversion Kit

CMMG 22 Evolution Conversion Bolt Hold Open Spring & Follower

AR-15 22LR Conversion Kit-CMMG 22 Evolution Conversion Bolt Hold Open Actuator

CMMG 22 Evolution Conversion Bolt Hold Open Actuator

The new AR-15 .22LR conversion units are also incorporating forward assist adapter.

CMMG AR-15 M16 22LR BRAVO CONVERSION KITS-AR-15 Conversion Kit

CMMG AR-15 M16 22LR BRAVO CONVERSION KITS

This is the brand new CMMG .22 Long Rifle AR15 Conversion Kit. The kit includes the conversion unit and either a 10 or 27 round magazine. The magazines are manufactured by Black Dog Machine LLC.

Original CMMG 22LR AR-15 Conversion Unit

Original CMMG 22LR AR-15 Conversion Unit

Range Report: We received our CMMG kit approximately 2 weeks after ordering it directly from CMMG. The unit was well made and fit our brand new Bushmaster Modular Carbine perfectly. A quick trip to an indoor range for some informal shooting and we were very pleased. We put 300 rounds of inexpensive Federal American Eagle .22 through the Bushmaster with only one failure to fire. The rim of the cartridge was struck firmly so I fault the cheap ammo and not the conversion kit. Feeding and extraction were perfect with no failures. Accuracy was better then we expected at 25 yards with the Bushmaster sporting a 1-4x Millet DMS Scope. Shooting from a bench we could easily blast out the blast out a 1″ circle all day. The kit is probably capable of better accuracy then that but the trigger on the Bushmaster is a little stiff. We will compile a real review at a later date.

Order the CMMG .22 Long Rifle AR15 Conversion Kit from Brownells for $239. Brownells stocks the 10 and 27 round magazines for the kits

CMMG M4 Dedicated .22LR Upper

“New CMMG .22 UPPER RECEIVER This kit is based on the standard CMMG AR-15 22LR Conversion Kit. Barrel is a 1/16″ with our WASP finish. Barrel OAL is 16″. Compatible with BDM, Ceiner or similar mags. Magazine not included but available in the pull down window.” SKU Number:U-160422

CMMG Sierra 22lr AR15 Upper Receiver with CMMG AR-15 22LR Conversion Kit

CMMG Sierra 22lr AR15 Upper Receiver

CMMG 26 Round Magazine for .22 Long Rifle

CMMG has just released their own magazine for their AR-15 22LR Conversion Kit and 22 upper receiver. These magazines should also be perfectly compatible with other .22lr conversions based on the Ciener system. These magazines look great and are priced very reasonably at $19.95. The bolt catch feature means the bolt will lock back after the last round just like it when setup in its centerfire form.

Specs: Polymer .22 LR magazine for CMMG .22 LR sub-caliber conversion kits. 26 round capacity with bolt catch follower. The full size design can utilize your existing magazine pouches and rifle case magazine carriers. SKU Number:M-26-22

CMMG 26 Round Magazine for .22LR AR-15

CMMG 26 Round Magazine for .22

Colt #R6222

Colt R6222 22lr drop in conversion

Colt R6222 22lr Drop-In AR-15 M16 Conversion Unit

Olympic Arms Rimfire Adapter AR-15 22LR Conversion Kit

The Olympic Arms Rimfire Adapter (RFA) is a replacement bolt carrier assembly for AR-15 rifles, and includes a 25 round Black Dog full-size magazine that slides easily into an AR-15 magazine well. With the RFA, a user can enjoy an entire afternoon shooting cheap 22 LR ammunition for the price required to purchase a single, 20 round box of .223 Remington. Installation is simple, and requires no gunsmithing or permanent alterations.

About the RFA conversion system: The RFA is a conversion system, which allows the use of .22LR ammunition in a standard AR rife fitted with a .223 or 5.56 NATO barrel. This conversion system is based around the bolt group assembly and a magazine adapter insert. The RFA system was designed to be cost effective, simply to use, and easy to enjoy.

Read the owners Olympic Arms RFA owners manual here

Olympic Arms Rimfire Adapter AR-15 22 Conversion Unit

Olympic Arms Rimfire Adapter

Olympic Arms 22-17 Partner System AR-15 22 Conversion Kit

The Olympic Arms 22-17 Partner system AR-15 22LR Conversion Kit can be used with any complete mil-spec lower receiver. Simply put the top end assembly on your lower. Insert the desired sleeve with bolt carrier assembly. Put an insert in your magazine and the system is installed. No tools, just a couple minutes.

The 22-17 Partner is a conversion system, which allows the use of either .22 LR or .17 MK2 ammunition in a standard AR style rifle. This system is based around the upper receiver. The upper receiver is fitted with a specially made barrel. The barrel has been bored out to accept chambered sleeves. The sleeves are interchangeable with the 22-17 Partner bolt carrier group, which allows the use of multiple types of ammunition in the same rifl e. The 22-17 Partner was designed to be cost effective, simple to use, and easy to enjoy.

Download the Olympic Arms 22-17 Partner System’s owners manual here

Olympic Arms 22-17 Partner System

Olympic Arms 22-17 Partner System

Olympic Arms 22-17 Partner System

Olympic Arms 22-17 Partner System

Kuehl Precision Firearms AR-15 22LR Upper

I couldn’t find any info about the Kuehl.

Kuehl Precision Firearms AR-15 22LR Upper

Kuehl Precision Firearms AR-15 22LR Upper

Jonathan Arthur Ciener AR15 22 Conversion Kit

The Atchisson MKIII from Jonathan Arthur Ciener. The unit consists of a sub-caliber bolt/chamber adapter/return spring and guide rod/receiver rail assembly and magazine in a fitted plastic case that replaces the standard bolt/bolt carrier assembly in the AR15/M16 family of rifles.

FITS:  The unit fits all AR15 and M16 family firearms whose dimensional tolerances meet those of the U.S. Government prints including current post ban firearms.

MODELS:

AR15 Unit – Standard sub-caliber bolt/chamber adapter/return spring and guide rod/receiver rail assemble with 10 round magazine.  The M16 unit’s 30 round magazine is optional at additional $40.00 upgrade charge.

M16 Unit – Standard sub-caliber bolt/chamber adapter/return spring and guide rod/receiver rail assemble with 30 round magazine with the addition of the automatic trip and anti-bounce weight necessary to support the automatic fire mode of the parent firearm.

Jonathan Arthur Ciener The "Atchisson" MKIII AR15 / M16 .22LR Conversion Unit

Jonathan Arthur Ciener The “Atchisson” MKIII AR15 / M16 .22LR Conversion Unit

CZ V22 .22 Conversion

The V22 Complete upper receiver made by CZ, aluminum alloy receiver, 16.25″ carbon steel barrel, black finish, super quality, see American Rifleman P.64, March 2005. Complete with 10 Round magazine and flat top Picantinny rail system, easy to install your rifle and does not permanently alter your weapon. This is a complete .22 upper assemble with barrel, hand guard, magazine, bolt assembly from the Czech Republic, model V-22, easily convert your .223 AR-15 rifle to shoot inexpensive .22 ammo. This is a Flat top upper for scope use, and does not include any sights, plain barrel but dressed with Picantinny rails front and back so you can add your own desired front and rear sight assemblies. May not fit some later production Colt Rifles, fits all the other Clones we have tested. This is NOT a complete rifle, just the upper forward assembly which allows you to convert your existing rifle to the .22-LR caliber.

I found this product description on a web site that used to offer the V-22

Get set for some serious fun with our new AR-15 .22 LR conversion! Make no mistake, this is NOT the cheap “blowback bolt and insert kit” offered by others (please read our warning about those): ours is a purpose built, precision machined assembly that replaces your entire upper, thus eliminating the problems experienced with discount-priced “kits” that use your existing upper and .223 Rem./ 5.56x45mm barrel.

In our continuing quest to bring you the best value for the money we have chosen Ceska Zbrojovka (CZ), whose long-established reputation in manufacturing quality sporting and military firearms is second to none, and imported their V-22 .22 LR AR-15 system. These complete .22 LR “uppers” boast all the latest features: hammer forged 16” heavy barrel, free-floating knurled hand guards, flat top receiver with integral weaver base, picatinny rail, and more!

You can also choose whatever configuration best suits your needs: just the complete CZ V-22 system itself, the complete V-22 with detachable carry handle, or – as an introductory limited time offer – the complete V-22 equipped with 4x28mm AR-15 scope with bullet drop compensator!

CZ V22 .22 Conversion

CZ V22 .22 Conversion

Bushmaster Carbon 15 .22 Rimfire

Bushmaster offered a .22 Rimfire dedicated Upper Receiver/Barrel Assembly that will fit all Bushmaster Lower Receivers – as well as most all AR15 Type Lower Receivers from other manufacturers (as long as they are mil. spec in measurement. With an Upper specifically designed for .22 Rimfire, you can quickly switch out from your 5.56mm/.223 caliber Upper to hone your shooting skills with the economical .22 Long Rifle ammunition – which is acceptable at most indoor ranges due to its lower power and penetration. In addition to offering the advantages of more frequent training with your AR15 type rifle, the Bushmaster .22LR Upper adds versatility to the weapon system, and is a joy to use for plinking.

The light weight and low recoil will be appreciated by women and younger shooters. The Bushmaster .22LR Upper Receiver/Barrel Assembly is a complete kit which includes all pieces necessary to quickly convert your rifle over to .22 Rimfire. The Upper Receiver is chambered for .22 Long Rifle only, and operates in a semi-automatic “blowback” mode. Other parts of the kit include a 10 Round Magazine; a Recoil Spring and Buffer; and a Butt stock Insert which acts as a guide for the Recoil Spring and replaces the standard AR Buffer and Action Spring inside the Receiver Extension.

The highly accurate 16″ Barrel is rifled 1 turn in 16″ for the .22 LR cartridge, and is machined of Chrome Moly Barrel Steel. A “blowback” operating bolt is machined from lightweight aluminum for great durability, and all parts are easily disassembled for cleaning / maintenance. The iron sights of the .22LR Upper feature a dual rear flip aperture (adjustable for windage), and a square front post type sight adjustable for elevation. On the Upper Receiver, a Picatinny rail offers easy mounting of any scope, optic, red dot or laser sight.

Bushmaster Carbon 15 .22 Rimfire

Bushmaster Carbon 15 .22 Rimfire

Compass Lake CLE AR22

Here’s a little info from the Compass Lake web site. “We use the Army’s M-261 kit because it has proven to be the most reliable of all the kits we tested. The M-261 kit will allow single loading as the bolt will lock back after each shot when used with a standard .223 magazine. The M-261 magazines are insert magazines that fit into a standard .223 magazine. The bolt will not lock back automatically on the last shot with the .22 insert magazine installed. The bolt can be manually locked back with either. The upper receivers are supplied with two magazines and one single round loading device (LED). This device enables you to insert a single round into the chamber to make it possible to single load the rifle.

We use Douglas stainless steel 1-16 twist rimfire barrel blanks. The cartridges chamber directly into the barrel. The chambering reamer is a JGS match reamer that is very similar to the Bentz reamer. The service rifle uppers are equipped the same as our .223 service rifle uppers with float tube and 1/2 moa or 1/4 moa match sights with interchangeable apertures and hood. Most shooters choose the 1/4 moa rear sight for the fine adjustment it offers. Space gun uppers are also available either in flat top/A4 or modified receiver configuration. Krieger rimfire barrels are available for an additional $112.20

Compass Lake CLE AR22 22LR AR-15

Compass Lake CLE AR22

DPMS AR 22

The original DPMS conversion kit is the same as the Colt unit. It is no longer available. I cannot seem to locate if DPMS is currently offering a kit but they is offering complete uppers

DPMS CMP22LR AR-15 22

Based on my research DPMS made at least two different dedicated .22lr upper receivers. From the images Ive seen they look very good and appear to utilize the Colt style magazine and modified Colt bolt carrier. This would make sense as mentioned above DPMS once offered a DPMS branded Colt 22lr conversion for sale.

DPMS CMP22LR AR-15 22

DPMS CMP22LR AR-15 22

DPMS CMP22LR Semi Auto

DPMS CMP22LR bolt for their AR-15 22 Conversion Unit

DPMS CMP22LR bolt for their AR-15 22 Conversion Unit

DPMS CMP22LR bolt for their AR-15 22 Conversion Unit Magazine

DPMS CMP22LR bolt for their AR-15 22 Conversion Unit Magazine

SPIKES TACTICAL .22LR CONVERSION UPPERS

Spikes Tactical offers a few different variations of complete upper receivers as well as .22 LR conversion kits. The conversion kits look to be similar to the CMMG and Ciener units. Differences: notice the o-rings for a better chamber seal and chrome plating for smoother function and easier cleaning. The Spikes unit cost more then the competitors but its worth the premium in my opinion.

Something that sets Spikes Tactical apart from the others is they offer the parts to build your own .22 LR AR-15 starting with a caliber stamped “.22 long Rifle” stripped lower receiver. Pretty unique.

SPIKES TACTICAL 22LR AR Upper with Daniel Defense Lite Rail

SPIKES TACTICAL 22LR AR Upper with Daniel Defense Lite Rail

SPIKES TACTICAL .22LR Upper with Daniel Defense Lite Rail

Spikes Tactical 22 AR Upper

Spikes Tactical 22 AR Upper

Spikes Tactical AR-15 22 Conversion Kit

Spikes Tactical AR-15 22LR Conversion Kit

ADCO V-22

The ADCO V-22 iAR15 22 Conversion Kit as the CZ V22.

Victor Arms V-22 Conversion

This is the same kit as the CZ V22 AR 15 22 Conversion Unit.

Accuracy Speaks 22LR AR-15 Service Rifle Upper Receivers

Accuracy Speaks manufacturers custom premium match grade .22lr conversion kits utilizing Douglas Chromoly free floating barrels. These are noted to be some of the most accurate .22’s anywhere. On par with competition bolt .22’s.

Accuracy Speaks 22LR AR-15 Service Rifle Upper Receivers

Accuracy Speaks 22LR AR-15 Service Rifle Upper Receivers

Tactical Solutions AR-15 22LR

This AR15 22 Conversion Kit  is the newest innovation from Tactical Solutions. It will work on any standard AR-15 lower and is sold as a self-contained complete unit (upper receiver and barrel). There are three model options available:

  • AR-15 M4: This option is similar to the standard military
  • AR-15. It features an A1 Flash hider.
  • AR-15 LT: This lightweight option features a threaded aluminum barrel and Hogue forend. AR-15 MC: This integrally suppressed conversion unit features a monocore unit with removable titanium baffles for easy cleaning.

SKU: TS_AR15_LT Weight: 5 lbs 8 oz’s Features: – Standard A4 Flat-Top – Heat Treated 416 Stainless Steel Bolt – Tool Steel Bolt Rail – 16.5″ Barrel Length – 1 in 16″ Twist – 1/2-28 Threads (Standard with Thread Protector) – .920″ Diameter Barrel – Aluminum Sleeve with Chrome Moly Liner – Lightweight Barrel – Hogue Mid-Length Fore-End

The AR-15 Conversion unit is sold as a complete upper receiver and barrel. It will fit on any standard AR-15 Lower. The Unit is self-contained, and is not designed for full auto use. All Models come with 1 25 round Black Dog Magazine (10 round magazine available for California).

Tactical Solutions AR-15 LT Upper Receiver

Tactical Solutions AR-15 LT Upper Receiver

Atlantic Firearms AR 15 Rifle .22 Upper Receiver

Atlantic Firearms offers on of the least expensive dedicated uppers on the market. If my research is correct the upper is injected molded and not aluminum to keep the cost down. Complete upper for AR-15 in 22 long rifle.  The upper is  completely interchangeable with a standard flat top upper receiver. These are dedicated .22 long rifle caliber with a chrome moly, 1-16” twist, 16” long barrel, and feature a Military type .22 long rifle bolt assembly for accuracy. This model also has a threaded barrel and has an A2 style flash hider with M4 hand guards. Include with this upper is a 27rnd  black dog mag. These uppers will fit any mil-spec lower receiver.

Atlantic Firearms AR 15 Rifle .22 Upper Receiver

Atlantic Firearms AR 15 Rifle .22 Upper Receiver

Velocity Firearms Dedicated .22LR Uppers

Velocity Firearms offers dedicate uppers in aluminum and carbon fiber.

Velocity Firearms Dedicated 22LR AR Uppers

Velocity Firearms Dedicated 22LR AR Uppers

Ballistic Advantage LLC AR-15 22 Conversion Kit

Ballistic Advantage offers match barrels and complete dedicated uppers that utilize the Spike’s Tactical AR-15 22LR Conversion Kit.

Ballistic Advantage AR-15 22 Upper Receiver

Ballistic Advantage AR-15 22 Upper Receiver

Magazines for the .22 Long Rifle AR Conversion Kits

AR-15 22LR Conversion Kit Magazines – Not much to choose from in this area. There’s the Ciener’s and a few aftermarket companies making Ciener compatible ones. The Colt and DPMS which are identical and not compatible with the Ciener’s. Black Dog Machine is working on a magazine that will work with the Colt/DPMS drop in kits.

CMMG -AR-15 26RD 22LR MAGAZINE

CMMG – AR-15 26RD 22LR MAGAZINE

Below are some sources for AR-15 22LR Conversion Kit magazines.

  • Black Dog Machine – The leader in high capacity magazines for the Ciener style of uppers, and Olympic Arms .22 uppers and kits, commonly called the M261 .22 LR conversion kit. (These guys are great)
  • Conversion Caliber Supply, LLC – High capacity magazines for .22 LR conversion kits and upper receivers.
  • Brownells
  • Jonathan Arthur Ciener

 

AR-15 22LR Conversion For Sale

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RUGER COMPLETE OWNERS ASSEMBLY GUIDE

by | Oct 15, 2016 | Reference | 0 comments

The Ruger 10/22 Complete Owners Assembly Guide – How to select, configure, operate, maintain and upgrade your own Ruger 10/22 by Walt Kuleck

RUGER 10/22 COMPLETE OWNERS ASSEMBLY GUIDE

RUGER 10/22 COMPLETE OWNERS ASSEMBLY GUIDE

WHY A Ruger 10/22 COMPLETE OWNERS ASSEMBLY GUIDE?

This book is the latest gun owners manual from Walt Kuleck. The Ruger 10/22 Complete Owner’s and Assembly Guide is like the other Walt Kuleck Guides. This time Walt Kuleck provides the Ruger 10/22 and 10/22 clone owners a head start towards an in-depth understanding of the history, operation, maintenance, upgrading and use of the 10 22 rifle, while providing the experienced owner knowledge that they don’t yet have, with the intent of giving even the expert new insights into the  Ruger 10/22.

The three patented innovations Bill Ruger and his chief engineer, Harry Sefried put into the 10/22 insured its success via rock-sold function and unprecedented configuration versatility. Over the years, Ruger Firearms has introduced a wide array of 10/22 variations. A 10 22 to suit every shooter.  More significantly, the ease of rifle barrel and rifle stock change make it simple and practical for a shooter to customize and personalize their 10/22.

The unintended consequence of Ruger and Sefried’s innovative design is a huge aftermarket industry offering 10/22 barrels, riflestocks, triggers, optical sight rails etctera. The 10/22 ranks with the AR-15 and M1911 as one of the three top platforms for parts and aftermarket accessory offerings by suppliers such as Brownells.

The Purpose of RUGER® 10/22 COMPLETE GUIDE

Before buying or upgrading your 10/22, have a plan. Set down the purpose of your rifle or carbine. Are you building for plinking? For hunting? Three-gun rimfire competition? The same considerations apply for changes or upgrades to your 10/22. It’s fine to build or change a 10/22 “just because.” But, consider the time and money you are going to invest in your 10/22, and if the change is truly meets your needs and wants. In the Guide we can’t tell you what you should do, but we can show you what you can do and make the process enjoyable.

You will find a great deal of detail on the history, selection, disassembly, assembly, maintenance, troubleshooting, magazines, upgrades and more. You will also gain an understanding of the principles involved in selecting upgrades, magazines, ammunition and more.

The Owner’s and Assembly Guide goes beyond the factory manual in both scope and depth. It’s a “must have” for every 10/22 owner! The Ruger 10/22 Complete Owner’s and Assembly Guide is 6″ x 9″, is Perfect bound with a laminated soft cover, and has 177 Pages and 395 Photographs, 20 in color. All copies are signed by Walt Kuleck!

Its Only For a 22 – Scopes | Best 22 Scope

by | Jan 20, 2016 | Reference, Scopes | 0 comments

Diamondback 2-7x35 Rimfire Scope - Its Only For a 22

Diamondback 2-7×35 Rimfire Scope

Its Only For a 22

While walking around Cabelas I happened across a gentlemen looking at scopes with a perplexed look in his eyes. I’m helpful by nature so I struck up with a conversation with him. It’s seemed the gentlemen was after a “good 22 scope cheap”. I had to ask what his “cheap” budget was and his answer “less than $100” “because its only for a 22“. Now perplexed by his response I asked what he meant by “Its Only For a 22“. Apparently in his mind there was some correlation between a firearm that shoots inexpensive ammo and the need for an inexpensive scope.We had a bit of a discussion and I soon came to realize that he was not interested in a “good 22 scope cheap” he was simply interested in a cheap 22 scope with little regard to quality, reliability, repeatability and longevity. Disappointed I walked away. I thought about this conversation most of my 40 minute ride home. I didn’t dwell on it because of this one guy but rather I dwelled on it because I hear it often in stores and on the RIMFIRE WORLD FORUM. If you the reader also subscribe to this line of thought please do not be offended by my opinion on the subject and what I write below. I simply would like to offer up a different point of view and some points to consider.

To begin first and foremost buy what you can afford. Don’t spend money you don’t have! however when your budgeting for a new gun you should always consider the cost of the scope and scope mount if they will be a requirement for your type of shooting. Your being dishonest with yourself if you don’t. Also as a general rule of thumb when possible spend about as much on the scope as you do the gun. That is a common rule of thumb not just mine but I do believe it appropriate. Now for the “its only for a 22” statement. Somewhere along the way our minds get this idea that any old scope will work on a .22 and to some degree that’s true. However ask yourself how many rounds have you sent down range on all your centerfire firearms versus your .22’s. If your a pretty dedicated shooter chances are you have put tens of thousands of rounds through your .22’s and a fraction of that number through your centerfire firearms. It’s simple economics (and fun). Now think about this a shot from a centerfire firearms usually results in some sort of kick and recoil and no matter what caliber it’s certainly more than a .22. Now here’s the rub. Whats worse on a scope one thousand rounds of .223 or ten thousand rounds of .22? Basically it’s like comparing a jackhammer to a sledge hammer. Both are going to break stuff or in our case break scopes, loosen crosshairs and scope mounts. Do not underestimate the tiny recoil of a .22 or an air rifle for that matter. That recoil really simply translates into a lot of vibration and we all know vibration is very good at moving things and making them fall apart. Scopes are not immune. Don’t get me wrong I have bought my fair share of cheap scopes just to see how they compare to buying the proper scope and I have learned a few things along the way. Most cheap scopes once adjusted will keep you on target. That said I have noticed canted reticles, reticles too thick for anything other than shooting cans, illumination that’s too bright on the lowest settings, a lack of repeatability on returning to zero, internals loosening up and debris floating  around inside the scopes. Basically I got what I paid for in an $80-$129 scope.

Now here’s the thing as I write this in early 2016. The major scope manufacturers such as Nikon, Leupold and Vortex have been paying attention and are currently offering their lowest cost scopes ever. While not as cheap as the cheap scopes they are typically leaps and bound better than the no name imports. Heck a Vortex for $125 with a lifetime warranty is actually a pretty good deal in my book. See below.

Our VIP warranty is about you, not us. It’s about taking care of you after the sale.

VIP stands for a Very Important Promise to you, our customer. We will repair or replace your Vortex product in the event it becomes damaged or defective—at no charge to you. If we cannot repair your product, we will replace it with a product in perfect working order of equal or better physical condition.

You see, it doesn’t matter how it happened, whose fault it was, or where you purchased it. You can count on the VIP Warranty for all Vortex Optics riflescopes, prism scopes, red dots, rangefinders, binoculars, spotting scopes, tripods, and monoculars.

  • Unlimited Lifetime Warranty
  • Fully transferable
  • No warranty card to fill out
  • No receipt needed to hang on to

If you ever have a problem, no matter the cause, we promise to take care of you.

 

My 22 Keeps Jamming | 22 Wont Feed | 22 Wont Extract

by | Aug 2, 2015 | Reference, Ammunition | 2 comments

CCI Standard Velocity 22 Box | My 22 Keeps Jamming | 22 Wont Feed | 22 Wont Extract

CCI Standard Velocity 22 Box | My 22 Keeps Jamming | 22 Wont Feed | 22 Wont Extract

CCI Standard Velocity 22 Box

My 22 Keeps Jamming, My 22 Rifle Keeps Jamming, My 22 Pistol Keeps Jamming,  are the most often made statements on the .22 forum.

So you drive to the range with your shiny new .22 rifle and a brick of .22 ammo you purchased at the time of the rifle purchase. You setup your targets, you load your magazines, you get into position, line up your sights or crosshairs on the target, pull the trigger, bang you fire your first shot. Once again you get on target, pull the trigger and click, nothing happens. You examine the .22 rifle and you notice one of several things happened.
  1. Previous round never ejected
  2. Bolt never moved the next round out of the magazine and into the chamber.
  3. Next round didn’t fully chamber
  4. Round is chambered but did not fire
  5. Previous spent casing is trapped in the action
  6. Next round is out of position in the chamber.
All of the above issues can lead to a very bad day at the shooting range and frustration and disappointment with your new .22 rifle. The natural first path to diagnosing the trouble is a magazine swap. Again disappointment in your new .22 rifle.
So what’s the cause of the problem you ask? Two stories first.
When I turned 21 and got my pistol permit I bought a Smith&Wesson 422 pistol. I grew to despise that pistol because it rarely fired more than once in a row. Fast forward a couple years later I bought an AR15 .22 conversion kit for my Colt Sporter Match HBAR. that too was a disappointment and pretty much a single shot rifle. Now unfortunately at that time there was no internet to seek for help. I was pretty much left to my own devices and with advice from friends and fellow shooters. None of which had any experience with an AR15 and most had little or no experience with semi-automatic .22 pistols.
It wasn’t until a couple years later shooting with a friend that I learned what my problem was. The problem was the ammunition. His CCI .22 ammunition functioned nearly flawlessly in both guns. The thing was I was living off the same two types of .22 ammunition for years. Years earlier my dad had come across an outstanding deal on Remington Thunderbolt .22 ammunition. He bough cases of it, 30,000 rounds. Our Marlin Model 60 devoured it without hardly an issue. Insult to injury I bought a few bricks of Winchester cheap .22 ammo for the 422 and later to be used with my AR15. Guess what? Ammunition lasts a long time when your .22 will only fire one round at a time.
The short answer to “My 22 Rifle Keeps Jamming” is you need to find what ammunition works best in your .22. Now don’t think you need to run out and buy the most expensive .22 ammunition on the market. I learned that even guns like my Smith&Wesson Model .41 will not digest many premium brands and types of ammunition.
So now your thinking what can be so different about one brand or another of .22 ammunition? First off many types of .22 ammunition were developed before the landscape was filled with semi-automatic .22 rifles and handguns. The semi-automatics that have been around the longest like the Marlin model 60, Ruger 10/22, Ruger Mark and Browning Buckmark pistols will often embarrass new owners of modern .22’s.
While .22 ammunition is made to industry specifications the individual design of the .22 ammunition brands and categories varies greatly. Details such as pressure curves, primer material, rim design and hardness, coatings and bullet shapes all affect function and if you have or plan on having more than one .22 don’t be surprised if you do not find a single .22 ammunition that feeds reliably in all your .22’s. Dont forget you dont just want a reliable .22 ammunition you also want accurate .22 ammunition.
What .22 ammunition do I shoot? Well I have a little bit of everything. Typically though I suggest to folks start with Federal bulk ammunition (not American Eagle), the cheap stuff. If that doesnt work move up a few grades. I use the Federal Gold Medal more often than not. I keep a lot of standard velocity CCI, CCI Green Tag and Federal Gold medal match on hand as well. I also have every type of RWS. I have found some to be very reliable and accurate but the ammunition is less universal across my .22’s. It’s also important to note there are lot variations in ammunition. It seems more noticeable in bulk .22 ammunition
After you shoot a few thousand rounds through your .22 rifle or pistol and break it in it’s always worth trying ammunition that didn’t work previously.
By the way I recommend every .22 shooter own a .22 bolt action rifle or .22 revolver to use the .22 ammunition that does not function in your semi-automatics. See what I did there? I helped justify another .22 purchase.

My 22 Keeps Jamming, My 22 Rifle Keeps Jamming, My 22 Pistol Keeps Jamming