I’m a convert
A bit back, I picked up a AR-15 22LR conversion kit (available at Brownells)
. It’s a drop in unit that allows you to fire inexpensive 22LR ammo from your AR. Simple math makes it worth it. Inexpensive 5.56 ammo is $0.22 per round. Last time I was at WalMart, I snagged a box of 550 rounds of Federal for about $16, or $0.03 per round. The conversion unit is priced with a magazine at $180. So, after one case equivalent of 22LR, it pays for itself.
Took it to the range Saturday in Junior’s pink AR and ran 3 magazines through it. It ran perfectly. I was hitting clays at 30 yards with it easily (not flying, stationary). Next, I’ll give it a go with some subsonic ammo.
April 14th, 2010 at 10:59 am
Now you need the black dog machine 50 rd drum:
http://blackdogmachinellc.net/drum-ar15-22-50rd.aspx
They are also coming out with magazines that have a pull down follower ala .22 pistol magazines. No word on arrival yet
(other online retailers sell it for less than $80)
April 14th, 2010 at 11:56 am
Thanks for telling us about the product from Brownell’s.
I’ve been debating on picking one up myself, with the other option being a dedicated .22lr upper with a higher twist rate barrel.
Have not decided if the extra money on a dedicated upper is worth it or not yet.
April 14th, 2010 at 11:58 am
Trouble with the dedicated is that you have to get optics and such if you wish to make it a plinker version of your carbine.
April 14th, 2010 at 11:59 am
What do you do about the sights? Leave them set for the .223? Since you’re presumably shooting at <50 yards, I would guess you're not off by much.
April 14th, 2010 at 12:11 pm
Sounds like your AR is a convert, too…
April 14th, 2010 at 12:21 pm
T, I left the open sights where they were.
April 14th, 2010 at 12:21 pm
Wish my conversion worked that well. I’ve got one of the old Ciener kits. I’d toss it in the garbage rather than selling it and subjecting someone else to that POS….
April 14th, 2010 at 3:25 pm
I’ve heard dubious things about conversion accuracy (something about a .223 barrel not being Quite Right for .22LR).
Presumably since you’re hitting the clays it’s not gharstly, but how’s it compare on a target?
April 14th, 2010 at 3:27 pm
will give that a shot next range trip.
April 14th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
When my guns were stolen, the first thing that I felt I needed was a .22 semi-auto. I built up a dedicated AR-15 in .22, and I absolutely love that gun. A friend of mine calls it the “giggle gun”, it’s so much fun to shoot.
I highly recommend getting a pack of $1.00 army men, and blasting them to smithereens.
April 14th, 2010 at 6:14 pm
I may have to pick one of these up for myself.
April 14th, 2010 at 8:10 pm
I must have one of the “newer” Ciener kits, because I like mine (~1-1/2 years old).
April 14th, 2010 at 11:20 pm
Good to hear that it is still working well – and, do not worry, it is going to be replaced by something, but that something is probably going to be a full .22 upper, despite having to kit it out independently from the rest of the gun.
That integral-flash-hider-suppressor-holder setup sold me :).
April 15th, 2010 at 10:50 pm
I assume you are referring to the boxer-primed steel cased Tula .223? Have you shot it? I love the looks of the price.