Pros and cons of an AR-22 rifle

[Narragansett]

I am doing a lot of shooting lately, and need to lean a bit on the economy of rimfire to help with the ammo costs. So I am thinking about an AR-22 in rifle length. Frankly I know nothing about them, and who makes a better unit. An M4 Tippmann elite has caught my eye.

Any suggestions, noted problems, recommendations?

 

[GypsmJim]

I had a Mossberg clone that was made in Mexico. It was literally **** and went back to the factory 3 times with no fix.

I sold it at a loss and bought a S&W 15-22. One of my best purchases.

I now have other AR15s but my Smith is one of the best.

Highly recommended.

 

[SF VET]

My S& W version has thousands of rounds fired. My grandsons love it. NV

 

[robvious]

I have no first hand knowledge with the Tippman or S&W ar models.. but I do have a Colt (Umarex/ Walther) AR22... multiple thousands of rounds thru it.. was a favorite of everyone.. cheapy red dot and a box of clay pigeons make for a wonderful range day.. bust them and chase the chips until there is nothing... bring more than a 1,000 rounds if there are any kids involved, young or old.. they are a hoot.. one of the best purchases I have ever made.

 

[.38SuperMan]

I'll second the Smith. I put an Sig Romeo5 on it and absolutely love it.

 

[gdogs]

First question is do you already have an AR-15 in 223?

If so, then it can be as simple as buying a conversion kit (I've been happy with my CMMG stainless kit) and dropping it in your upper. There are a few things you can do in terms of polishing the rails of the kit to make them pretty reliable. Negatives to that are a twist rate not ideal for 22lr, and the amount of junk deposits that end up in your gas tube and receiver. That said, when you are done shooting 22lr, you can drop your normal bolt back in and fire a few rounds of 223 to clean out the system... mostly. If you have a super safety in your AR, they can be made to work with these kits (but I'd recommend the next option if that is desired).

One step up from that is to build a dedicated upper in 22lr (again if you already have an AR lower). You'll still need a conversion kit, but also a dedicated barrel adapter/collar, as well as a barrel. This doesn't have to significantly increase the cost, upper receivers are pretty cheap, barrels can be found for under $100, then you'll just need a forearm. Set up a budget, build within it. With this route you'll get better accuracy, and I've found slightly better reliability than the fake bullet chamber set-up above. Building an AR upper in 22lr is extremely simple, there are no gas blocks to align or tubes to install.

Next and easiest option is to just buy the Tippman you mentioned (sorry I don't know anything about them) or a S&W M&P 15-22 which seem to be liked by the people that own them.

I started my AR-22 journey with a conversion kit in an existing 223 upper. Within a year I built a dedicated upper with a 16" M4 style barrel. I just recently rebuilt it with a pistol length barrel for my SBR since I just got a 22lr suppressor. I'm probably going to change to a quiet collar from BoreBuddy soon.

Here's mine below as she currently sits. Just has a cheap red dot on it at the moment, I haven't decided if I'm going to switch to iron sights for this one or go with a lower powered scope. Excluding optic, I have about $300 in the upper as is.

 

[Rodan]

Just buy an S&W 15-22... you can pick them up cheap used, and they accept mil-spec stocks and grips so you can set them up like your 5.56 AR. They're reliable, and the mags are reasonable. Mine run great with CCI SV, which also makes them nice and quiet with a suppressor...

IMHO dealing with a conversion unit is more trouble than it's worth when you can get a 15-22 for the same or less $$$.

 

[TeamPB]

We have a S&W 15-22, its great. We also have two Tippman's, they are great and I am tempted to get a third, the RCR.

Tippman now sells a magazine speed loader. It is witchcraft! It takes moments, not minutes to load many, many magazines. Get one, it works on the 15-22 also.

Enjoy!

 

[Narragansett]

First question is do you already have an AR-15 in 223?

If so, then it can be as simple as buying a conversion kit (I've been happy with my CMMG stainless kit) and dropping it in your upper. There are a few things you can do in terms of polishing the rails of the kit to make them pretty reliable. Negatives to that are a twist rate not ideal for 22lr, and the amount of junk deposits that end up in your gas tube and receiver. That said, when you are done shooting 22lr, you can drop your normal bolt back in and fire a few rounds of 223 to clean out the system... mostly. If you have a super safety in your AR, they can be made to work with these kits (but I'd recommend the next option if that is desired).

One step up from that is to build a dedicated upper in 22lr (again if you already have an AR lower). You'll still need a conversion kit, but also a dedicated barrel adapter/collar, as well as a barrel. This doesn't have to significantly increase the cost, upper receivers are pretty cheap, barrels can be found for under $100, then you'll just need a forearm. Set up a budget, build within it. With this route you'll get better accuracy, and I've found slightly better reliability than the fake bullet chamber set-up above. Building an AR upper in 22lr is extremely simple, there are no gas blocks to align or tubes to install.

Next and easiest option is to just buy the Tippman you mentioned (sorry I don't know anything about them) or a S&W M&P 15-22 which seem to be liked by the people that own them.

I started my AR-22 journey with a conversion kit in an existing 223 upper. Within a year I built a dedicated upper with a 16" M4 style barrel. I just recently rebuilt it with a pistol length barrel for my SBR since I just got a 22lr suppressor. I'm probably going to change to a quiet collar from BoreBuddy soon.

To answer your question, I do not have a current AR. I never have had one, and frankly know nothing about the AR platform orher than a lot of people want to take them away from us

Here's mine below as she currently sits. Just has a cheap red dot on it at the moment, I haven't decided if I'm going to switch to iron sights for this one or go with a lower powered scope. Excluding optic, I have about $300 in the upper as is.

 

[cherrypointmarine]

I don't have an AR22 , but I do have an MP5-22 . It's one of the originals , made by H&K , not Umarex . It's been great fun and is very accurate . I mounted a RD on it and it'll tear the middle out of a target . Saying that , I have been looking at the S&W AR22 , just don't know if they make a PC version . Something to look into , need a new toy .

 

[STORMINORMAN]

An M&P15-22 works! Lightweight, more than "reasonably" accurate, inexpensive (and inexpensive to modify), reliable and FUN! There's an entire forum of posts to read regarding them.

An aftermarket trigger and a decent red dot and you are in business. Good idea to get the correct size anti-walk pins, though..?

Cheers!

 

[Echo40]

I thought about getting an AR-22, but ultimately decided that since my goal was to save money, it made more sense to just buy a .22LR Conversion Kit for my existing AR-15.

Granted, it's not as efficient as a dedicated Upper or a 100% AR-22 due to the faster 1/9 twist, (.22LR typically uses a 1/16-1/18 twist, IIRC) but it's good enough for me, and cost me a mere fraction of what a dedicated AR-22 would have cost otherwise.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I just put a can on my 15-22.......Makes it go fweeeezz instead of BANG........Makes it much mo funner........And it was fun before dat............................Get the S&W 15-22.

 

[Farmer17]

I bought the CMMG conversion unit for my AR and it worked ok but you had to clean it often, but I didn't want to have to re sight in the scope after changing calibers every time so I sold it. I thought it would be cool to have an AR15 in .22 RF but I already have two in 5.56 and one in 300 Blackout so I decided to just stick with my camo Ruger 10-22 Take down with suppressor.

 

[rwsmith]

I wouldn't want to waste a quality AR upper/lower/other parts on a .22 rimfire. I'd get something like a Ruger 10/22 and use the AR for a more potent caliber.

 

[Imissedagain]

An interesting rifle, is the Ruger SR22.
Pic from the web, and will post ours, along with the Win 9422, when I turn on the computer.
A Smith at Ruger, apologized, for ever making that contraption.
So, is a minty 9422, in your plan?

 

[Imissedagain]

Here's the SR22 without the handguard.
Taking it apart and putting it back together, for a proper cleaning, is a bit of a chore.
It's a 10/22 dropped into an AR like contraption.
I've never fired it, but my boy gave it to me, when it was new, 15+ years ago, to put on a scope and make sure it was range ready.
The 9422, was a birth gift for his boy.
I have a saddle ring for that Winchester.

 

[TexasJackKin]

Another vote for the S&W 15-.22. Controls work just like a real AR. I put a Binary trigger in mine. Way fun!

 

[gator59]

I try to shoot this one every day with CCI Standard Velocity 22LR ammo.

 

[Rodan]

I try to shoot this one every day with CCI Standard Velocity 22LR ammo.

I like your backstop, and have been considering doing something similar on our property. Could you tell us about how it is constructed?

 

[BAM-BAM]

S&W 15/22 controls mimic the AR platform...... great for training cheap!

10/25rd mags, add a sling and a red dot or small scope.


Boys loved it and are now familiar with the AR rifle.

 

[SSGRock]

I have 2 AR 22 rifles. They both are Colts and function fine. They are 22's good for training 25 meters to 50 yards.

 

[gator59]

Sure, a wood frame metal clad dirt floor building measuring 8' by 8', 8' tall with a 3' front overhang overhang. We cut and bale hay 2-3 times a year. When we do I give back side bale (for the occasional round that might get through the inside bale) to a friend that has goats, move the inside bale to the back side and put a fresh bale inside the building. Seems to work well.

 

[singleshotcajun]

M&P 15-22 is great. I got mine when they first came out. One caveat is that with some the trigger/hammer pins "walk"out. IMHO KNS trigger pins made for the 15/22 is a must upgrade. With the KNS pins the the pins will not rotate or walk.
https://knsprecisioninc.com/smith-wesson-m-p-15-22-non-rotate-trigger-hammer-build-a-kit/

 

[gator59]

15 yards from bench to target. Mostly used for handgun shooting. For rifle shooting I shoot from house patio to a small wooden frame target stand in the pasture.

 

[cciummo]

I bought 2 of the S&W M&P 15/22 when my kids were 4 and 6 to get them started. They're both 17 & 19 now and have become well trained and respectful of firearms of all shapes and sizes. The last 5yrs they've exclusively been range toys and both with dedicated suppressors. They are honestly 2 of the best rifles in the safe and I will never part with either.

They never fail. If a round doesn't cycle it's due to being one of the CCI Quiet subsonic rounds that are only 760fps. Incredibly easy to clean/maintain. They perfectly mimic the AR15 for training purposes and are incredibly light to carry. Mags are plentiful and reasonably priced. THEY'RE STUPIDLY CHEAP TO BUY. You can upgrade furniture and almost everything else from the AR platform to it and make it "yours". When I say "almost everything" I'm speaking to the hand guard. You will require the proprietary barrel nut wrench to remove the hand guard. The only recommendation I can give for functionality would be to upgrade to the Volquartsen extractor as it apparently was an issue with the Gen 1 15/22 factory extractor. I have both Gen 1& 2 and never had issues but upgraded them both at the same time. That's the only upgrade to both other than their red dots.

Exact Edge Extractor for S&W M&P 15-22 | Volquartsen Firearms

volquartsen.com

 

[firefighterjohn]

We have a S&W 15-22, its great. We also have two Tippman's, they are great and I am tempted to get a third, the RCR.

Tippman now sells a magazine speed loader. It is witchcraft! It takes moments, not minutes to load many, many magazines. Get one, it works on the 15-22 also.

Enjoy!

I'll second the Tippman. I have a Micro Bugout Elite pistol model with a folding brace. It is a great compact little .22 that very closely resembles the AR or M4. All the controls are great and the magazines feel just like regular 30-round AR mags. This makes for a great training weapon that's economical to shoot. With the recoil of an actual 5.56 AR being just a little more than a .22, this model works great! I picked mine up used at a LGS along with 4 mags. The mags have a push butoon that allows an inner sleeve to pull out so you can easily load 25 rounds of .22 with the normal slider button as each round is added. Snap it back together when it's fully loaded and it feels just like a regular AR mag; but alot lighter of course. It's a cool setup but these mags run around $40 each.

I highly recommend a Tippman. Everyone who's shot my Tippman really likes it! This one is a keeper.

 

[Tom S.]

I have three, two HK's and a S&W. All of them are fun to shoot, especially with a suppressor on them. The HK's are not AR compliant, especially when it comes to the trigger assembly. The trigger isn't bad, but it's not great either, even with HK's aftermarket trigger springs installed. On the plus side, the HK's mags are better than the S&W's, holding more rounds and being more durable. The S&W on the other hand is more AR compliant and many AR accessories will work on it. You can install a binary trigger on the S&W whereas you can not on the HK.

HK Rifle:


HK Pistol:


S&W MP-22:

 

[blfuller]

Tippman are nice rifles, all aluminum upper and lower, no plastic and mil spec compatible for furniture etc. CMMG also makes dedicated .22lr uppers to replace your centerfire upper.

 

[jbcook]

I have a Tippman M4-22 and it is a tack driver. I have a Deadair can and a 3-9 scope on it and with standard velocity ammo it is super fun to shoot. It never jams and is as close to an AR-15 trainer as you can get. I'm a smith fan but went with the Tippman and I'm glad I did. I plink with it and use it to hunt squirrels, which is a lot of fun.