We are a few years into the .22lr AR platforms development, what’s the current consensus of the top rated. Under $800, no optics included, for plinking and target, a general all purpose, reliable, any ammo digesting .22 AR rifle.
Thanks

I may get slammed for this... but the Ruger SR22 rifle is far the best choice. You get the look you’re after with the reputation of the best 22 auto ever made. And the BX mags run flawless.

For me the whole reason for having a .22 AR is to have the exact same manual of arms in a rifle that cots less to shoot and less muzzleblast to concentrate on the basics. While the SR22 is an excellent gun it has a whole different manual of arms...

I bought two SPIKES Tactical .22 uppers when they were more expensive than a whole AR is now...one is an exact M4 configuration and the other has a full length rail with a fake screw in can that I can replace with my real suppressor very easily...

Bob

I think the SR22 is now kaput. They do make a "tactical" version...kinda.

I own a S&W 15-22, and my good buddy a SR22 (and another, a Mossberg 715T).

I'll say this...the SR22 is just a skinned 10/22 and a 10/22 is still the same very old internals. I owned a 10/22 and while it was reliable, tear down was a serious pain and out of the box, it required some aftermarket parts to make it more user friendly (aka, the bolt hold open, for one...even though hold open on empty is nada).

Once the 15-22 came out, I sold the 10/22 and never looked back. Compared to the SR22, the 15-22 is a snap to tear down. All of the ergonomics of an AR are present and in the correct spots on a 15-22, like the bolt and magazine release, which both function identical to an actual AR. The trigger group is STD AR and can be swapped with any AR trigger on the market. The furniture on mine is also STD equip (actually, mine was the older Magpul edition).

I have beat the gun silly since buying it in Feb of 2011 and the only failure I've had is one factory 25rd magazine breaking. The thing is accurate and runs like a top, as a cheap AR alternative or AR trainer...I really feel it's the best thing going. The SR22 isn't bad...but the 15-22 is better in many ways.

...and don't get me started on that Mossberg...my god...

Back in 2010 I bought this complete CMMG AR with a dedicated 22 upper. I wanted a standard lower that I could use with any upper.

I know a field tester for CMMG and got it at his cost, around $625 shipped. I've shot great multitudes of sub sonic and SV CCI ammo suppressed thru it, and never had a single feed problem...had a firing pin break once, but CMMG sent me 2 replacements free.

Had it stamped as a SBR a year or so after buying it.

I am pretty happy with my Colt M4 Carbine in .22lr. I paid $300 for it from CDNN and it has been a flawless operator. High level of enjoyment for very little cost. By the way, these are made by Walther under license from Colt.

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FBINA, 204th Session

In the UK where centerfire semi-autos of any type are banned, a whole sporting industry has grown around mini rifle (semi-auto .22) competition (and it is spreading down under too, those POME's and their ideas get everywhere ).

The UK shooters have access to some pretty good European made guns, but as this YouTube video shows the one considered best, in terms if design, use and value, is made in the US.


Okay, I realise that in the US you have far more choice in models, configurations and specialist manufacturers that in most of the rest of the world, but if I was after an all round factory standard AR type .22 I'd go for the 15-22.

Oh wait, I was and I did.

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View from down under