Which AR conversion kit to buy?

[AngelDecoys]

Tried doing a search on AR conversion kits. Not much luck. I'm in the market and am just curious. There are a number of manufacturers who build and sell .223/.22 conversion kits. Spikes, CMMG, Brownells, etc.

Probably opening a can of worms, but I have a couple of questions. 1)Is one considered better than another? I'm less concerned with price, and more concerned with quality and reliability. 2)Is there one that holds the bolt open after the last shot?

Thanks in advance

[jvpark]

Big can of worms... LOL

I would go with the S&W 15/22... but it's not a conversion. Honestly, from the guys I have talked to who own conversion kits, they regret they did not buy a second rifle.

With that said, I'm sure the conversion kits are just as fun and reliable.

[shadow65]

In my opinion and testing, the CMMG is the best deal going.
I would recommend the stainless.
A dedicated upper will give you better accuracy.
The 2 conversions I have give me about 1.5"-2"@ 25 yards with bulk Winchester out of a 1/9 11.5" barrel. Better ammo, better groups.

The CMMG Evolution has features you will not find with other makes.
The Bolt Hold Open Actuator is the latest mod. It is an option, not part of the conversion, that will fit in the lower and gives the same operation of a 5.56 with the bolt latch.

I have over 1000 rounds on each with 3 FTE's out of the first mag with the first unit I tried.

[AngelDecoys]

Thanks. Not looking to buy another .22 rifle. I have a safe just for .22's already. Nor am I looking for a .22 dedicated upper. They are great, but aren't quite the stocking stuffer i'm looking for.

Looking for information on conversion kits and if there's much difference between manufacturers.

ETA: Thanks shadow. You posted while I was typing.

[shadow65]

Here is a link to show you what is available.

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=2&f=145&t=188909

I've done a lot of testing on these the last couple of months. CMMG is still coming out with new options.
Right now the conversion comes with the live round extraction, forward assist, cotter pin for the firing pin, rill pin for the extractor.
Most importantly to me is the reliability.

I've been testing the M4 LE upper and have over 4500 rounds through it with 2 FTE's I believe. Most reliable .22 I've run.
The conversion is the same kit, just has a chamber adapter instead of a collar.
CMMG also has some of the best customer service I've dealt with.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.
I've been trying to post new info on these as we find it and CMMG developes it.

[weezil_boi]

I have the ciener kit and the cmmg kit (stainless).

The cmmg seems to give me a few more jams than the ciener. but Im talking a couple per 200-300 rds total. No biggy.

I have no expaination for this, but my ciener seems a little more accurate.

I have a beater frankenAR that I pieced together and spray painted camo. 16 brl chrome lined brl from M&A upper, A2 stock. It shoots very well! That same rifle gives me about 1" or less groups with the ciener at 25yds and maybe 1.5 with the CMMG.

I sold my buddy the second ciener kit... he runs it on a Model 1 16 upper (chomelined) 1:9 brl, Car stock. He gets very similar results.

In fact, I can consistently hit those small black shoot-n-c repair dots (like quarter sized) at 25 yds.

the conversions are not real accurate, but lots of fun.

[NorCalDustin]

I would get one of the new CMMG kits with the Forward assist adapter, bolt hold open, stainless steel, and Anti-jam charging handle... The entire package can be had for ~$260

http://cmmginc.secure-mall.com/item/Right-Handed-.22-Evolution-BHOA-Kit-w-Anti-Jam-Charging-Handle-and-10-Rnd-Mag-1654

[shadow65]

I have the ciener kit and the cmmg kit (stainless).

The cmmg seems to give me a few more jams than the ciener. but Im talking a couple per 200-300 rds total. No biggy.

I have no expaination for this, but my ciener seems a little more accurate.

I have a beater frankenAR that I pieced together and spray painted camo. 16 brl chrome lined brl from M&A upper, A2 stock. It shoots very well! That same rifle gives me about 1" or less groups with the ciener at 25yds and maybe 1.5 with the CMMG.

I sold my buddy the second ciener kit... he runs it on a Model 1 16 upper (chomelined) 1:9 brl, Car stock. He gets very similar results.

In fact, I can consistently hit those small black shoot-n-c repair dots (like quarter sized) at 25 yds.

the conversions are not real accurate, but lots of fun.

When did you buy the kit? The newer ones have some minor, but significant differences that add to reliability.
A good tip is to buzz the chamber after you shoot as part of cleaning. It gets the crud out of the chamber adapter(lead and residue).
Mine have been extremly reliable.
Copper wash ammo is best in any conversion kit. Un coated rounds will build up lead quickly. I've had Remingtons do it in 10-15 rounds. Then not chamber. I clean it, it will cycle again for 10-15.
Now that I have a lot of rounds through it, it will cycle Rems better.

[Jim McCoin]

Shadow65, just a question, does the foward assist work with the dedicated upper or just the conversion kit.

Jim

[shadow65]

As long as you have a forward assist on you upper, it works with either one. It does have to be installed on the bolt. The newer ones are set up for it. Older ones are not. Meaning, it's not a part you can just order and drop in. There is a pin holding it to the rear of the bolt. Hole is drilled into the bolt.
I believe CMMG will retro fit these to older bolts.

[tacticalcity]

Unless you have an upper with a completely shot out barrel you do not mind destroying or you found a really good deal on a dirt cheap upper to do this to, then you do not want a drop-in conversion kit.

It is not like you can just put the conversion kit in and then take it out and constantly switch back and forther between 5.56mm and .22lr on a single barrelled upper assembly. The .22lr ammo is going to really ding up your barrel. Pretty soon you have no accuracy with either.

So if you are building a rifle from scratch, pick-up a dedicated upper and save your 5.56mm upper for 5.56mm ammo. If the 5.56mm upper is on its last leg with regards to the barrel, then go ahead and do the drop-in conversion kit because you're not destroying a perfectly good upper.

If you do go with the drop-in conversion kit, leave that rifle .22lr from that point on. Don't try and switch back and forth between calibers.

Basically I am just saying don't destroy your favorite CQB rifle just to save some money on plinking ammo. Get a dedicated upper instead.

[chesterthehero]

ive heard good things about the CMMG kit but have not used it.. however i have put a few thousand rounds through my spikes kit running nothing but federal bulk HP with a few hundred unjacketed just cuz i had them.. i think ive had a total of 2 FTE and 4 FTF (blackdog mags)... ive cleaned it once and have not shot it since.. every other time ive done nothing more than wipe the crud off of it.. i use my main upper with this kit and its still a nail driver.. the barrel is flawless after a good cleaning (another thing that does not happen often).. i switch back and forth everytime i take it out have no issues at all..

[shadow65]

With all due respect, I have never heard of anyone destroying a 5.56 barrel with a .22 conversion. The military used them for years.
It will leave crud in the gas tube if you don't blow it out with 5.56 after shooting.
I run a Boresnake through the barrel while warm and run 5 rounds of .223/5.56
Clean it properly when I get home.

I do agree, optimally, a dedicated .22 upper is the best option. No worries with gas system, proper twist, best accuracy, and in the CMMG's case, the BCG snaps on to the barrel. Some other manufacturers just use a collar to fit over the barrel extension. If tight, it's not bad. If loose, it will move around.