Dedicated .22lr upper

[crufflers]

Dedicated uppers are great, but the factory bolt catch on your lower does not work. The follower on the .22 mags are in the wrong location to actuate the bolt catch. The follower will hold the bolt open when the mag is empty, but when you remove the mag, you'll have to pull it out because of pressure on the follower. Also, when you remove the mag, the bolt will close.

Here's what I've learned about dealing with this problem. Go to post #16 for pics. http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...highlight=bhoa

Good info here. I don't see myself dicking around with it that much but who knows, maybe someday I will be running MP 15-22 mags and a Catch22. I will be happy to get cheap trigger control practice on my lower. I can already tell there's a good chance I will pick up a complete lower for the upper though... even switching over the sling that attaches my Bushmaster Upper to my Bushmaster Lower to the CMMG is annoying. I might just get a cheap complete poly lower. That would make for a real light plinker.

Here she is... not sure what optic will stay on it:

[Jet Setter]

It there really that much of an advantage to get a dedicated upper vs an M&P 15-22?

Yes. You can still have a .223/5.56 to interchange with your lower. A 15-22 is just a 15-22. Great rifle but will never be interchangeable.

[brassburnz]

Just received an email from Midway with clearance sale items. Here's a dedicated CMMG barrel and bolt for under $300. Pick up a cheap upper and you're on your way!

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/173274/cmmg-barrel-and-parkerized-rimfire-bolt-assembly-ar-15-22-long-rifle-m4-contour-1-in-16-twist-16-chrome-moly-matte-pre-ban

[kkp]

Just received an email from Midway with clearance sale items. Here's a dedicated CMMG barrel and bolt for under $300. Pick up a cheap upper and you're on your way!

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/173...-matte-pre-ban

Tempting at first blush, but for just under $300, you still need to add an upper receiver ($100) and all the goodies, probably $100 more. And once you're at the $500 mark, may as well get one that's ready to shoot, complete with SS bolt group, from CMMG (Brownells still has one in stock I think).

[brassburnz]

Tempting at first blush, but for just under $300, you still need to add an upper receiver ($100) and all the goodies, probably $100 more. And once you're at the $500 mark, may as well get one that's ready to shoot, complete with SS bolt group, from CMMG (Brownells still has one in stock I think).

The upper will cost you the most. I found a barrel nut for $8, a free float tube for $35, and an A2 flash hider for $10. If you can find a complete upper for $120 then you've got an additional $173 so you're right at $450 which is the price of a new complete upper.

If you're like me and have take-off parts from old builds sitting in the garage, it might be worth it.

[crufflers]

This might be a silly question, but I always shot ancient A2's. Since the CMMG upper is a flat top, if I want open sites I have two main options... an A3 carry handle or some BUS, right? If I just grab some rear MBUS will they line up ok with the front sight height-wise?

[kkp]

The upper will cost you the most. I found a barrel nut for $8, a free float tube for $35, and an A2 flash hider for $10. If you can find a complete upper for $120 then you've got an additional $173 so you're right at $450 which is the price of a new complete upper.

If you're like me and have take-off parts from old builds sitting in the garage, it might be worth it.

Yes, you're correct, if you have the spare parts available.

However, you missed one part of my point: The $500 complete upper includes the SS bolt group, which is definitely a step up from the parkerized group, and well worth the modest extra cost. Replacing the parkerized group for SS later down the road is a $200+ upgrade, as opposed to buying it in SS in the first place, where the premium is a lot smaller.

[kkp]

This might be a silly question, but I always shot ancient A2's. Since the CMMG upper is a flat top, if I want open sites I have two main options... an A3 carry handle or some BUS, right? If I just grab some rear MBUS will they line up ok with the front sight height-wise?

That's what they're designed for, yes.

[radgokart]

I put a chiappa complete m4-22 upper on a complete new frontier lower. I put a slimmer hammer in and it's gtg. Its eats golden bullet without a problem. This is why i went this route instead of an m&p15-22. My dad's s&w can be finicky sometimes.

[brassburnz]

Yes, you're correct, if you have the spare parts available.

However, you missed one part of my point: The $500 complete upper includes the SS bolt group, which is definitely a step up from the parkerized group, and well worth the modest extra cost. Replacing the parkerized group for SS later down the road is a $200+ upgrade, as opposed to buying it in SS in the first place, where the premium is a lot smaller.

I agree stainless is the way to go. I have one that's parkerized and one that's stainless. They both run well, but stainless is much easier to clean. On CMMG's website, the parkerized bolt assembly in $199.99 and stainless is $229.99. It seems that the upgrade to stainless in whatever package you buy is about 30 bucks.

[crufflers]

MBUS for CMMG upper

That's what they're designed for, yes.

That got me looking at all the options on Amazon, etc... there are a few MBUS type folding rear sights and steel non-folding ones. I remembered that my SIG 522 rear sight is sitting in a box un-used. That one might do the job. I will give it a shot when I get home. I'll install it and measure the front sights to compare.

[SOAR79]

Stick with CMMG, you won't regret it

[kkp]

I agree stainless is the way to go. I have one that's parkerized and one that's stainless. They both run well, but stainless is much easier to clean. On CMMG's website, the parkerized bolt assembly in $199.99 and stainless is $229.99. It seems that the upgrade to stainless in whatever package you buy is about 30 bucks.

Correct. Unfortunately, if you have to replace a parkerized assembly later, then you gotta spring for a whole new assembly, at $200+. (perhaps less if used, if a miracle happened and you found one for sale, but that's the price for new)

[sirgrumps]

Probably depends on the dedicated upper. With CMMG, the upper is a solid forged upper on whatever quality lower you want, including whatever trigger group, etc., that you want to use. (or perhaps already have for your AR15)

One big advantage a Chiappia upper (and CMMG) holds over the M&P 15-22 is it takes readily-available Black Dog mags, while the S&W rifle ONLY takes S&W mags (which are on the scarce side).

Edit: I see kenshinoro2007 was typing pretty much the same thing I was, at the same time.

I guess I got lucky, I have 10+ of the M&P 15-22 10 rd mags. To me, the economics of getting a 15-22 seems to make sense. I installed a CMMG trigger group in my 15-22 as well as a nice Red Dot sight.

It may not be EXACTLY like a converted AR, but it's close enough, for me

[SonofWWIIDI]

Just received an email from Midway with clearance sale items. Here's a dedicated CMMG barrel and bolt for under $300. Pick up a cheap upper and you're on your way!

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/173...-matte-pre-ban

I'm waiting for one of these ⬆⬆⬆ to be delivered right now. Hopefully today sometime. So I can do this ⬇⬇⬇.

The upper will cost you the most. I found a barrel nut for $8, a free float tube for $35, and an A2 flash hider for $10. If you can find a complete upper for $120 then you've got an additional $173 so you're right at $450 which is the price of a new complete upper.

If you're like me and have take-off parts from old builds sitting in the garage, it might be worth it.