AR Preference - .22 LR Conversion Kit or Dedicated Upper or Dedicated Rifle?

[TrappedinCalifornia]

It's been a running debate for years on Calguns and I don't see it ending soon. But, I thought it might be interesting to put some 'numbers' to the back on forth insofar as which is preferred in relation to .22 LR and AR's - a Conversion Kit or a Dedicated Upper or Dedicated Rifle. Do you prefer...

Conversion Kit
Dedicated Upper
Dedicated Rifle
I don't believe in shooting .22 LR in an AR
Whichever comes with the best Bacon option

Feel free to expound on the "why."

Once again, I don't have a dog in the hunt. It's as much a stray thought at this time of night as anything else.

[AR22]

Well I could not choose two..But definitely a dedicated complete Rifle is the wise option..Dedicated upper to fit your existing lower is fine too..Not a big deal to swap the upper..Drop in conversion if you are more budget minded..

[hardlyworking]

Dedicated rifle if you have space in the safe (Tippman here), dedicated upper if not.

22lr is such a dirty round, with various waxy/greasy lubricants and most modern ARs having barrel twists much tighter (double) twist rates, chance of barrel leading, etc. makes conversion kit for me much less desirable

[SoCalRayJr]

Most people miss the obvious reasons why to make a dedicated 22 upper. Most AR-15 barrels are between 1:7 and 1:9 twist... This is way too fast a twist rate for a 40 grain bullet therefore causing it to tumble. Most if not all 22 barrels are 1:16 twist. I personally have a dedicated 22 AR and it shoots a hundred times better than my conversion ever did.

Just my $.02

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[stormvet]

While I get why people will shoot 22lr with an AR, either a conversion or dedicated rifle/carbine. It’s never been something I’ve been interested in, when I shoot my AR’s it’s 556. Have other rifles in 22lr that I enjoy shooting, never really cared to blur the lines.

It’s not that I don’t believe in shooting 22lr with an AR, it’s just I don’t care too.

[Garand Hunter]

I put a CMMG conversion in my AR ONLY to go around commie foryuh's AW laws ! In Minnesota now for 3-4 months and then on to Tennessee and out it comes and back into the kit box. No issues here in Minnesota, just not ready to fool with it unless the big green weenie hits the propeller before the next move.

Psalm 1

[Spyder]

I've been through several conversions and uppers and the only one I have left is the PSA one. Price was great, and it has been awesome and great fun. The Chiappa worked, but was cheap and chintzy, and the conversion bolts are almost as much as I paid for the whole PSA upper. Magazines matter. A 500 round box of Thunderbolts and a bunch of steel targets is great fun until you run out. And 30 bucks, instead of a couple hundred.

['ol shooter]

My S&W M&P 15-22 and M&P 15 Sport II are perfect companions.

[Paperchasin]

More complete firearms is always better.

[ARFrog]

I prefer my dedicated PSA upper on AR lower with Boonie Packer adapter to accept S&W M&P mags with last round bolt hold open. This exempt rimfire configuration allows for all the "evil features" without centerfire hassles, yet I always know that there is a spare complete lower there if needed.

I have both but I prefer the AR-22 to the S&W M&P 15-22. I think the 15-22 is a little too "light" for me and I would rather shoot an older Marlin or .22 cal lever gun if I'm not shooting the AR-22.

I had almost 5,000 rounds through my AR-22 without problems until I finally broke a firing pin. Just replaced it and need to get it back to the range.

While I like shooing 556, with a suitable pre-COVID 22 stash, it is a lot cheaper to shoot the AR-22 on a more regular basis

[AR22]

While I get why people will shoot 22lr with an AR, either a conversion or dedicated rifle/carbine. It’s never been something I’ve been interested in, when I shoot my AR’s it’s 556. Have other rifles in 22lr that I enjoy shooting, never really cared to blur the lines.

It’s not that I don’t believe in shooting 22lr with an AR, it’s just I don’t care too.

They are not only great fun..Much much cheaper to feed..And if you ever escape CA..Get a Binary trigger..More fun than a barrel of monkeys as they say..I have several 5.56 ARs..This .22 is the one that goes out with me most often, and is the most fun by a very long shot..I cannot afford to blast away 5.56 for fun anymore..I have piles of cheap .22 rounds though..

[GM4spd]

I don’t care for a lot of loose parts.

[Harry Ono]

Dedicated Upper = Dedicated Rifle

[Tank 57]

I prefer ARs to be centerfire, but I'd go the dedicated rifle route if I was inclined. Far more pluses than minuses. Removes a lot of error possibilities.

My 7.62x39 AR has different color furniture and 7.62 engraved on dust cover to prevent confusion. Mixing parts around could lead to problems.

[DrJeds44]

A dedicated upper is the best choice for any serious shooting. The rifling twist is incorrect in an AR for .22lr. The gun will shoot but performance suffers. I built a dedicated upper with a Beyer barrel and it kills squirrels all day long out to 75 yards as my eyes are limiting me.