Tried the CMMG .22LR conversion kit

[RikersBeard]

Tried the CMMG .22LR conversion kit in my new AR build. Nearly zero issues.
Ran 3 slightly different rimfire cartridges to see which would do well. Shot 25 rounds of each.

• Aguila Super Extra - 1,130 fps (6 mis-feeds)
• Aguila Super Extra - 1,255 fps (no mis-feeds)
• Federal Champion Training- 1,200 fps (1 mis-feed)

It was fun shooting .22LR from an AR platform. Barely any recoil at all. Anecdotally, it seems the 1,255 fps Aguila shoots the best. But, 100+ yards, all of these fly a bit. Still need to shoot it a bit more before I determine whether I should get the Bore Buddy. And if I should build a dedicated .22LR upper.

[Jimi Jah]

Accuracy is never good in those. The dedicated .22lr barrels do much better. Even so, my Henry Golden Boy is far more accurate than my CMMG .22lr barrel upper. Plus it's much easier and faster to clean, takes 5 minutes. The AR takes at least 1/2 hour.

[FNGGlock]

Before getting a dedicated upper you may want to look at getting something like a MP 15-22 (aka dedicated rimfire AR, not just upper). I initially was skeptical of those, but since getting one I really enjoyed it. Mine has been extremely reliable, even runs fine with CCI/Aguila SV, though I mostly feed it Golden bullets and min mags.

The nice thing is that it is super simple to do a quickly clean as you deal with a simple blowback and the bolt can easily be pulled to wipe down. Then just brush the barrel side and run a boresnake through. No need to deal with an AR chamber and locking cams to clean.

It runs the same AR controls and you can upgrade AR Milspec furniture, just be careful that the grip has both safety and rear takedown springs/pins.

I believe you can still get one (rimfire semi-auto) with another DROS. I did that to save on the DROS fees when I got a pistol, also go a $75 rebate from S&W.

This way you don't have to worry about stupid AW laws on your AR lower or featureless on your rimfire. And you have both ARs ready to shoot with at the range vs swapping upper, etc.

[RikersBeard]

Thanks for the info!

Not sure if I want a complete dedicated AR-22 at this point like the Smith & Wesson M&P15-22. I have limited space so the conversion kit is a good compromise for me at this point.

[TrappedinCalifornia]

I've thought about one of these, but have never quite gotten 'round to it.

I know I don't necessarily want a dedicated .22 LR in an AR platform. But, having a kit like the CMMG as a 'back up' seems, as you say, a fair compromise.

[FNGGlock]

Thanks for the info!

Not sure if I want a complete dedicated AR-22 at this point like the Smith & Wesson M&P15-22. I have limited space so the conversion kit is a good compromise for me at this point.

The CMMG conversion kits are great if you are short on space. However a dedicated 22 upper, you may want to think about just getting an AR 22 config as uppers do take a lot of space as well.

How much does your POI shift from 556/223 to swapping to the CMMG and 22LR? 223/556 ammo seems to be pretty pricey now, so 22LR for some fun is always good.

[otteray]

Mine works fairly well but groups are a bit larger than a dedicated rifle like my Marlin Model 39 from 1925 or so. That rifle shoots wings of gnats at a hundred yards; if I could see um.
I was thinking of getting a tool that expands the bullet diameter, for a tighter bore fit. I think Paco Kelly makes one; or did.
Kind of a chore; but what the heck.

[Usmc0844spare]

I wanted to get one of these, primarily so my kid could shoot .22 out of my BBRAW lower... but... that would be illegal as it turns out... so... no dice.

He like the 10/22 well enough anyway, so nbd.

[RikersBeard]

The CMMG conversion kits are great if you are short on space. However a dedicated 22 upper, you may want to think about just getting an AR 22 config as uppers do take a lot of space as well.

How much does your POI shift from 556/223 to swapping to the CMMG and 22LR? 223/556 ammo seems to be pretty pricey now, so 22LR for some fun is always good.

I was only running it at 100 yards because I was more concerned that the conversion worked. And I was running a new AR build. Plus, I was just using a simple red dot. With that being said, they were flying all over the place. Some rounds would fall short of the target by a few yards. Some flew above it. Some to the left. Some to the right. Again...I just wanted to run my new AR build.

Once I get back out to the range next weekend, I'll try and dial it in a bit more starting at 25 yards then at 50 yards.

I have my dad's Ruger 10/22 with a scope so I already have a dedicated .22LR rifle.

And yes, with .223/5.56 going up for dumb reasons, plinking .22LR is attractive.

[FNGGlock]

That sounds a bit all over the place for 22, hopefully the conversion does way better next time. I would expect to put hits easily on an IPSC target offhand with a 22 rifle at 100 yds. Just holdover 7” or so for a 25yd zero with 22.

[RikersBeard]

I'll see how it goes next week. I'll post an update...as long as I'm able to get out there.

[Zenderfall]

The 5.56 AR barrel wasn’t made for .22LR, the twist rates being the most different as .22LR is around 1:16 and typical 5.56 AR barrels are maybe1:7, 1:9 and above that. how it’s behaving for you is pretty much what its going to be for just about everyone, very inaccurate at distances above 50 yards, and sorta poor for distances up to 50 yrds.

Dedicated uppers will be more accurate for sure, but of course, that’s more money.

[RikersBeard]

I figured as much. For fun & run drills up in BLM area, .22LR is way cheaper.

[Zenderfall]

Don?t forget the biggest advantage of a .22 AR conversion: being able to have a full featured rifle! Pistol grip, collapsible stock, and flash hider!

[Bullwinkle]

I just finished building a .22LR upper last night (boring MNF game). That is, a 5.56 upper with a CMMG kit installed.

From the get-go I expected it to have less-than-stellar accuracy, due to the twist rates etc, but I never intended it to be a target rifle, either. I just wanted a fun, lightweight (as in my wife & daughter-in-law won't be overwhelmed by it), throw-a-bunch-of-rounds-downrange trainer/plinker.

Your definition of "nearly zero issues" and mine are a bit different, though. 7 misfeeds in 75 rounds is almost 10%. Nevertheless, that's better than what I was expecting going into this, especially for the first break-in trip. I'll be happy if I have similar results with mine.

Glad you had a fun time with yours. Your experience is encouraging.