Need Your Opinions Regarding .22LR ARs

[Suvorov]

Like the rest of you I am feeling the pain of the price of 5.56 and am doing things to remedy it. I have already built my 10/22 into a "Liberty Training Rifle" to train for my M14/M1A platforms but wish to do the same thing for the AR.

Here is the deal, I am already part way there. I have an old Colt .22LR conversion kit. It is an old design and magazines are extremely scarce, but it works OK, other than the fact that the bolt will not hold back. Accuracy seems acceptable at 50 yards with my M&P (about 2 inches) and reliability is good with CCI Mini Mags. The problem is that I don't particularly like running dirty .22LR ammo through my ARs. It really is an issue for the lower receiver which seems to get all funky after only a hundred rounds or so.

I have been looking at dedicated .22LR uppers, but their high cost has kept me from pulling the trigger especially since I do not know how much better performance I would get out of one over what I already have (I know accuracy should be better). I have an extra built up receiver of dubious quality that I would not use on a "serious gun" laying around that would allow me to have a dedicated .22 system, I'm just wondering if it would be worth the $600+ price tag I also would rather have a 20 inch "A4" configuration rifle to an M4gery but don't think any of the big 3 dedicated upper manufacturers make them.

The other option is to buy one of the .22LR "AR like" rifles that are coming onto the market. They seem less expensive than a dedicated upper and the reports on the Colt at least have been positive (other than the funky selector lever). The Colt is also available in a 20 inch version which would make me happy. Still, I would prefer to keep everything interchangeable instead of buying into a proprietary system.

Another $$$ issue would be optics. While the zero on my M&P holds reasonably well out to 50 yards with between .22LR and 5.56, I seriously doubt I'll be able to move the optics between uppers with an a significant zero shift which of course would mean I'll need to spend more $$$ on optics and mounts.

Some of you have no doubt had to make similar desisions. Maybe you could provide a little insight into my delima?

[offrdmania]

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=2...CONVERSION_KIT Has bolt hold open on the follower

[Suvorov]

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=2...CONVERSION_KIT Has bolt hold open on the follower

Thanks,

I know that the newer ciener based systems have the bolt hold open option. My Colt does not, but I really can't bring myself to spending $200+ for another conversion kit just so it holds the bolt open without addressing my other concerns that the drop in kits have.

[ipser]

Me too

I've also been thinking about this. I did some research on 22LR conversion kits and some of the AR look-alike guns such as the Colt.

The problem with the drop ins is mainly the barrel twist which makes them supbar on accuracy and the gas tube gets fouled.

The problem with the look-alikes is that they are not as high a quality rifle but also the parts are not interchangable. I might want to swap out the 22LR upper for a 9mm some day.

So I'm currently leaning toward the build.

I estimate total cost will be around $900. That compares to about $600 for a look alike and less than $200 for a conversion.

References:

http://combatrifle.net/22conversions.htm

http://www.colt22rimfire.com/index.php?page=colt-m4-ops

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productnumber=924841