Combat Style .22 LR.

[shadow65]

CMMG Quebec or Sierra uppers are made from real AR uppers.
Uppers start at $349.
I would suggest the stainless bolt up grade.
Many options are available including bolt hold open acuator.
I have close to 6000 rounds through my test model with 3 FTE's.
Accuracy with bulk copper wash ammo and a 4 x scope runs 1.2 at 50 yards with mine. Results accross the board have been similar.
If you look through the Rimfire thread, you can find my review.
And if you buy the complete rifle, yes, you can use it with a 5.56 upper. It's a mil spec lower.
Here's a review:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=354468

Dave

[nrakid88]

Wow, its a landslide. And I am just adding to it. CMMG dedicated upper FTW! Switch out to 5.56 in the future. Then after that he can get a 458 socom. Then later a 6.8. He can finish it off with a 9mm upper... and then he can think about getting a LR308 or AR10 and all the fun wierd calibers available for that lower.

[MaHoTex]

Go with a dedicated S&W M&P15-22. It is the only way to go. It is light, accepts all AR accessories, and will shoot almost anything you feed it. Cost is about $500 and well worth every penny.

I would just forget the other options and do not bother looking back.

[C_1]

I second the CMMG route. Cost is about the same a plastic 22 AR, and he can switch uppers later.

[doc1buc]

Get the MP 15-22, even when he "grows out of it", he never will.

[cmichini]

Another vote for dedicated 22 upper with a standard lower (OLL of course).

This will provide a good platform to learn, and this will be easily transferrable to centerfire when appropriate with only the addition of the correct upper and BB, as applicable/required.

[G lock]

the best .22 LR on the market today is the HK 416 imo

would a dedicated upper conversion be anymore cheaper?

[shadow65]

CMMG starts at $349 complete and a couple dealers are selling them for $315 from what I understand.

[BAGunner]

If you want the MOST reliable assault-rifle-style .22 LR, it's Sig 522. Eats everything, even subsonics. The only issue would be guide rod e-clip, which was fixed early this year by Sig. I researched extensively before I bought mine for $360.

If you want good affordable AR-15 style for drills, it would be M&P 15-22, which has a list of 'recommended ammo'. Functionally, M&P15-22 replicate everything AR-15 does, except forward assist. The charging handle, bolt-hold open all work fine. It's really light, most parts are polymer, even the charging handle. I don't like the fact the upper receiver is polymer, but that's just me. The price is around $400-$500, depending on the accessories you want.

If you want good reusable AR-15 style .22 LR, it would be a mil-spec lower with a dedicated upper. So far I think only CMMG has bolt-hold-open feature with their BHOA. This will put you at around $300 lower (PlumCrazy complete lower is $120ish) + $400-500 upper + sights. Or the CMMG QUEBEC rifle at $600-$700, but you need to upgrade the buffer tube if you want to upgrade to .223 later.

[BAGunner]

HK416 .22LR is made by umarex, has the same guts as Colt .22LR, neither is as good as m&p15-22. Colt .22LR is cheaper though.

Found a review about UK416 .22

http://hkpro.com/forum/showthread.php?129435-HK-416-D-Tactical-Rimfire-The-Good-amp-Bad

"Not a solid barrel. The O.D. is a sleeve. The barrel itself is not much thicker that what you see in the photos and has some play inside the sleeve:"

the best .22 LR on the market today is the HK 416 imo

would a dedicated upper conversion be anymore cheaper?

[G lock]

it has a full metal upper/ lower, and a functional forward assist, price might be higher but its sub 1k

feels great too, you should take a look at one in person

[scootle]

CMMG starts at $349 complete and a couple dealers are selling them for $315 from what I understand.

for a complete rifle? i think the *uppers* start at $350.. and then you need to get the lower and all the other associated parts.

my 15-22 was $419... i couldn't sort out any dedicated mil-spec AR setup for that little cash, but maybe i didn't try hard enough.

the more popular dedicated mil-spec AR platforms i've seen discussed are the ones from CMMG and Spike's Tactical.

[jackandblood]

I advocate Umarex M4/OPs as long as you find them on sale less than 500. Its German quality and the lower receiver, though probably not forged 70XX aluminum alloy, I would wager is a respectable alloy. The finish on all parts is superb. I have pics with an ontario knives m7 bayonet (scary lethal blade design and build). Ill post em if I can get confirmation that I'm allowed to, since i've already had a thread deleted because my modified escrima sticks can be considered a "billy" weapon.

[shadow65]

for a complete rifle? i think the *uppers* start at $350.. and then you need to get the lower and all the other associated parts.

my 15-22 was $419... i couldn't sort out any dedicated mil-spec AR setup for that little cash, but maybe i didn't try hard enough.

the more popular dedicated mil-spec AR platforms i've seen discussed are the ones from CMMG and Spike's Tactical.

Correct. Complete uppers start at $349.05. Complete rifles start at $549.95
But again, these are made of real AR parts. Not plastic or pot metal. I've read reports of accuracy problems with the 15 22 due to the flex of the polymer upper. Makes since since a steel barrel is hanging off of a polymer receiver.
The Colt clones are porone to breakage if dropped and break down nothing like an AR.

Both will work if you just want a .22 that looks like an AR. Neither will accept a 5.56 upper.

The CMMG and like AR's were originally designed for L.E.O.'s and military that needed a cheaper training tool that was designed for muscle memory, weight and function of their duty weapon.

Now, with all the up grades CMMG has added, it's pretty close.
Accuracy is great for a stock barrel and custom barrels are available.

If you already have an AR, get a conversion kit. Use it for a while. You can always use it to build a dedicated upper down the road.

It all comes down to what your requirements are.

[MaHoTex]

I've read reports of accuracy problems with the 15 22 due to the flex of the polymer upper. Makes since since a steel barrel is hanging off of a polymer receiver.

Nonsense. I have 15K+ rounds downrange through my 15-22 and there is no such problem.