School Me: AR-15 22lr conversion

ProfMagoo(ret)

ProfMagoo(ret)

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Has anyone done this?
Pros & cons or lessons learned?
Suggestions or recommendations?

I have an M&P 15 Sport that I'm considering converting (vs selling and buying an original 22lr).

Background: looking for something to shoot on the property we rent for plinking and just general practice when a range visit is not convenient; not likely to be a competitive rimfire shooter. Have two DD ARs for keepers.

Thanks.
 
BigWaylon said:
Especially with the MBUS sights and threaded barrel.
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And I have to admit the bag is much more than I expected. By the way, PSA is also selling the magazines at $15 with free shipping on 3 or more.
 
For the $130 more on the 15-22, you'll get something dedicated to blowback operation. You won't have gummed up gas ports that you'd have with .22lr through a gas impingement system. That alone is worth the cost.

Also, twist rate will be appropriate for .22lr @ 1:15" vs 1:7, 1:8, etc. so it will actually be accurate.
 
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Way back there were only conversions available. They work but a dedicated 22lr upper or complete AR in 22lr is the way to go now.

Unless... You have a FA that you really want to have fun with. Then you need the conversion. Nothing is more fun than 30 round dumps of 22lr!!! Hint: Use copper plated to cut down on lead deposits.
 
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AH, now I understand. PSA's current offer has the MBUS sights. The previous deal (same price) was with a red dot (no iron sights) and a carry bag. Otherwise, the actual rifle appears identical (1 mag, threaded barrel, etc.). The one Classic is offering at $330 (plus $20 shipping) is the same as the $300 shipped gun from PSA.

This was the previous deal at $300:
https://palmettostatearmory.com/s-w-m-p-15-22-sport-optic-ready-promo-kit-12546.html

And here are the mags:
https://palmettostatearmory.com/s-w-m-p15-22-magazine-22-lr-25rd.html
 
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Buy a s&w m&p 15-22. Well worth it. I have a cmmg 22 conversion kit and a 15-22. The 15-22 is better in every way. A dedicated 22lr that eats just about anything, don't have to worry about gumming up your real ar. I got mine used for $300 with magpul furniture, 4 mags, and a truglo red dot. It matches my "real" rifle perfectly.
 
Daleo8803 said:
Buy a s&w m&p 15-22. Well worth it. I have a cmmg 22 conversion kit and a 15-22. The 15-22 is better in every way. A dedicated 22lr that eats just about anything, don't have to worry about gumming up your real ar. I got mine used for $300 with magpul furniture, 4 mags, and a truglo red dot. It matches my "real" rifle perfectly.
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Ditto.
Mine will take anything I put in it.
Even cheap federal.

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If you don’t want to buy a 15-22, I would definitely vote for buying/building a dedicated upper as opposed to using the conversion bolt.
 
Conversion kits are great on SBR'd lowers!
 
agree on the 15-22. I did a conversion way back when on my 5.56 SBR upper and the 1/7 twist leaves alot to be desired accuracy wise. Ended up having to shoot Aguila 60 grain .22LR to get any accuracy out of it, which invalidated the reason to do a conversion!
 
BigWaylon said:
If you don’t want to buy a 15-22,
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Btw, never said that. I just happened to see an ad for a conversion kit; situation as described in OP; and thought to make an inquiry here. I certainly received relevant input for which I am grateful. Now ...

"But see, darling, folks at CFF said that I should really get a 15-22 or, at least, a dedicated upper ..." and look sort of helpless in the face of inevitability. ;)
 
As a contrarian I have to say my Ciener M261 type conversion works great in my Colt upper 1/7 carbine. Functions great and accuracy is more than enough for fun plinking to 50 yds. The advantage of the conversion kit is that you are shooting the rifle/carbine that you will use for your 'real' shooting. It reinforces sight picture/ control manipulation/ weight of the arm, and so forth.

If you want a fun plinker, get a 10/22 or 795. If you want to train as you fight, get the conversion kit.
 
I have done all three - 15-22, CMMG kits, and dedicated 22LR upper.

Pros and cons to all.

I use a 15-22 for rimfire 2gun and have for several years. Put a Geissele trigger in it, and an Aimpoint on top. No longer $300 :) But it has run very well. When below freezing it will hiccup occasionally. I should probably run it dry those days instead but I never remember.

Before that, for several years I ran a CMMG conversion in my 3gun rifle in the 2gum rimfire. That conversion ran perfectly. I had a second one that did not. Luck of the draw there I guess. Some are good and some not so much. That rifle got a lot of time with 223 and 22LR and is still my goto rifle. There was definitely a benefit to using the same upper and lower for training and in multiple competitions. Just be careful going back and forth - the first 223 shot or two after some 22 will spray lead out of the brake to the sides enough to cause bleeding. I am very glad the guy next to me that day had on eye protection! But it ran great. I never had a problem with the gas tube (or cleaned it) in many many rounds of both (at least 10K+ of each). Maybe the 223 cleaned out the tube often enough. I guess I had to clean it more because of the 22.

I did buy a cheap 22LR upper (Chiappa I think) that was so cheap I couldn't resist. No advantage to it though. It sits unused after a single outing. I don't like standard front sight post uppers.

I also got a 22LR bolt and barrel for a song on clearance a while back ($99 I think) and recently built a complete upper with them. I haven't used it much yet, but it should be a great upper. Practically, probably no advantage over the 15-22, but it isn't plastic.
 
Tim said:
I really can't think of a single reason not to go with an M&P 15-22 over a conversion.

https://palmettostatearmory.com/sw-mp-1522-sport-22lr-rifle-10208.html
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@GreatGazoo

I'm with Tim here and offer this as a recommendation and review. I picked up one of these from Palmetto several yrs ago and it has become one of my favorite shooters. It just simply feels right in my hand and my grandkids have fallen in love with it...……….I was impressed how easily they picked up on the platform and were able to shoot it well.

Hope this helps and with the mags on sale too it seems like a good time for a purchase.
 
Get both...

Because...


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I got the M&P .22 first, wanted to see if I liked the AR platform before jumping in, the rifle shoots great right out of the box,
I had the 15x in my hands a week later, after the Newtown incident.
 
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