22 Conversions For AR15

[Odin Bravo One]

I played with two conversions, and after less than acceptable performance sold both for a loss. For less than the price of the two conversions, I could have had an M&P.

I paid under $400 for the MOE, and much less for a Real Tree Camo version for my GF's son. Shopping around can score some good deals. Though, all bets are off price wise until the morons stop buying everything in sight.

I have been extremely impressed with the reliability and performance of both S&W's. I run quality .22 ammo, so when the conversions sucked, even with premium ammo, I was quite disappointed. Wish I had the time and money I lost playing with those conversions back. They are great for training, teaching younger/newer shooters, and with a little suppressor action, I can shoot in the garage until the wee hours of the AM without disturbing the neighbors.

[JM Campbell]

Got a line on a TB MP22 for under $500. The mags are unobtanium too it seems.

[cclaxton]

What about the Chiappa?
Seems like you can get these for $300-400. http://www.chiappafirearms.com/product/771
CC

[Dave J]

FWIW, I started with a CMMG conversion kit, and ended up turning it into a full carbine, using leftover parts from various upgrades on other guns. It's run fine on all the Federal and Winchester bulk ammo I've tried in it so far. I wasn't completely happy with the accuracy in the initial configuration (chamber adapter in an AR barrel) but once I ditched the adapter in favor of a dedicated .22LR barrel it's done fine. I'd have no reservations about going the same route again. I don't see anything in the CMMG design that strikes me as being a problem as far as long term durability goes, either. I have no experience with the S&W 15-22, so can't compare the two, although I've heard nothing but good stuff about the S&W.

[JM Campbell]

Found some mags....I think the wife is gonna need another Christmas present to equal this situation out....

[Odin Bravo One]

What about the Chiappa?
Seems like you can get these for $300-400. http://www.chiappafirearms.com/product/771
CC

For $350, from Chiappa you get the conversion with a fixed front sight assembly. No mention as to whether or not the fore-end is replaceable. No mention of rear sight. For setting it up exactly as even my most bare bones big boy AR, it would take a rail and rear sight to even begin, to the tune of at least $125, if I went with bare bones, dirt cheap, low rent.

For $399, I can get the S&W M&P15/22 MOE with a railed fore-end, and sights. Albeit, they are MagPul sights, but even MagPul sights are better than no sights at all. To set it up as a training replica for the same big boy carbine simply takes adding the appropriate accessories.

Can't see the Chiappa being a good deal.

[rob_s]

We started a rimfire division when I was still running carbine matches. The reason was two-fold:
1) get more participation from those that couldn't afford the ammo
2) give me an opportunity to see other people shooting the various types of rimfire ARs so I could decide what I wanted to buy

I wound up with an M&P. I didn't record actual data for this experiment, but I don't recall seeing an aluminum .22 AR run without fail, and I don't recall seeing and M&P go down. Of course, I then bought one and it wouldn't run, but after a trip back to the factory it runs like a champ for several hundred rounds. Nothing earth-shattering, I know, but since I never saw a conversion go more than two mags without a failure I'm pretty happy with the result. I do with I'd have waited for the MOE just to get the extra sling swivel, but it's certainly not a deal breaker. I may yet SBR mine just to have a place to put my otherwise-useless .22 can.

[SLG]

I put 970 rounds of Federal match ammo through my Tacsol conversion a few weekends ago at an appleseed. I did not clean it, and it eventually started malfunctioning, about one malfunction per full size mag. Malf's didn't start until close to the 800 round mark. Before that day, it had several hundred rounds through it, and was not cleaned after that, so really, it went over 1000 rounds before it started malfunctioning. I find them to be pretty reliable.

[SeriousStudent]

The Federal Auto Match seems to work very well in mine, too. Just plain Federal bulk pack gets a FTE probably once every two-three mags. Not a biggie, gets me more practice on the malfunction drills.

As orion06 pointed it, the rounded hammer helps a LOT; I tracked down a older LMT one. I eventually just built a dedicated carbine, based on an old Charles Daly lower I had laying around. So it has a Aimpoint H-1, Surefire X300, VCAS, etc, etc, just like the main carbine.

I'm seriously thinking about doing what Rob said. Probably send it to Steve at ADCO, cut it down to about 8-9 inches, and put a can on it. But with the 16-inch tube, I don't have to worry about a 5330 if I want to travel to see the nephews.

I'm going to get my daughter an MP15-22 as a graduation present from boot camp. Hopefully, all the panic buying will have calmed down by then. Starting all over, I'd definitely get the Smith and Wesson.

[Mitchell, Esq.]

Spike's Tactical .22lr bolt, black dog mags & cheap federal bulk pack ammo.

Works great.