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Posted: 3/29/2024 1:13:06 AM EDT
Thinking about a .22LR upper for my AR.
I know I could just get a conversion, but would rather have a dedicated upper instead of simply converting my existing upper. So, just some questions. What twist rates should the barrel have for either 16" or 18" in length, which gas system, what magazines are worth while, which manufacture is a good go to? |
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1:16” has been the standard for 22LR since Moses parted the waters.
No gas system. Standard 22 rimfire blowback. Blackdog magazines. |
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I use a 9” RTB upper, Blackdog and CMMG mags.
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I have one built by Keystone Accuracy. Shoots incredibly well at 50 yards with match grade ammunition.
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The CMMG (Ciener) style bolt is pretty much the standard these days. Right to bear, borebuddy, and other sites have them available. The conversion bolt with a dedicated barrel and 22LR specific magazines are all that you need to put one together. Everything else is "AR" compatible. The standard twist rate is 1:16 but borebuddy.com has some 1:12 twist barrels that shoot very well.
If you have other parts; i.e. lowers, handguards, upper receivers, charging handles, then find a barrel/bolt combo at RTB or Borebuddy and put yours together. I don't think CMMG sells just the parts anymore. Black Dog magazines are the easiest and work about as good as any. Lot's of information available on this site and over at rimfirecentral.com. |
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Right to Bear has the parts in stock to assemble an upper but currently only have a 9” barrel upper in stock. If you want to shoot paper target for small groups and you’re going to assemble an upper I suggest you look at Beyer’s barrels. Beyer Barrels get very good reviews. Palmetto State Armory was selling CMMG pattern bolts recently for $99. PSA sell 22 LR CMMG pattern uppers but haven’t had any in stock for several months.
PSA 22 LR bolt still in stock for $99 https://palmettostatearmory.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=psa+ar-15+22+lr+ https://www.righttobear.com/22lr-parts-upgrades-accessories/?page=1 http://beyerbarrels.com/barrels/ar15_barrels Here is a picture of my dedicated 22 LR AR-15, Right to Bear upper with CMMG SS bolt. I’m using a LaRue MTB 2S trigger and BDM mags. |
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Originally Posted By Wandering_minstrel: Thinking about a .22LR upper for my AR. I know I could just get a conversion, but would rather have a dedicated upper instead of simply converting my existing upper. So, just some questions. What twist rates should the barrel have for either 16" or 18" in length, which gas system, what magazines are worth while, which manufacture is a good go to? View Quote Do you want an "accurate" gun or just a steel plate range tool? If accuracy is a priority, I suggest something other than a barrel/bolt "kit" although sometimes you may get lucky. Mine is about a 2 MOA gun with quality ammo, double that with bulk. Beyer and Keystone are a couple that are known for accuracy. |
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Originally Posted By s4s4u: Do you want an "accurate" gun or just a steel plate range tool? If accuracy is a priority, I suggest something other than a barrel/bolt "kit" although sometimes you may get lucky. Mine is about a 2 MOA gun with quality ammo, double that with bulk. Beyer and Keystone are a couple that are known for accuracy. View Quote Something that can ring steel plates (4" to 12") at 50 yards max. |
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Originally Posted By 10mmillie: I use a 9" RTB upper, Blackdog and CMMG mags. View Quote |
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Tom Sawyer.
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Originally Posted By GrimEReaper: My 2 ar22's. RTB barrel and bolt. Black Dog Mags and Mcfadden speedloader. The speed loader can load a 25 rd mag in about 10 seconds. I love both these uppers. https://u.cubeupload.com/Jpatnorman77/b9fPhotoGrid16768270488.jpg View Quote That M16 A1 is awesome. I will absolutely copy that. |
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The Tac Sol Kestrel upper is the master race of 22LR uppers. Unfortunately, they no longer make them. Some pop up on Gunbroker every now and then.
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PSA or RTB
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Originally Posted By AugustineBolishbatfe: The Tac Sol Kestrel upper is the master race of 22LR uppers. Unfortunately, they no longer make them. Some pop up on Gunbroker every now and then. View Quote this is why (despite tacsol, mp15-22, JP, tippmann, etc being good platforms) one should stick with the cmmg/ciener/atchisson design, it is becoming the "standard" 22lr ar platform and many companies make it and spare parts, plus it uses the most milspec-AR-parts. I use the readimag bettermag + mp15-22 mags though, been going strong for me for 10s of thousands of rounds plus though i have won a few mags out (feed lips wear/spread out over long time/heavy use. |
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Originally Posted By 10mmillie: I use a 9” RTB upper, Blackdog and CMMG mags. View Quote 16" same same |
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I have been very pleased with my 16" CMMG heavy 22lr barrel. It does very well from a rest at 50 yards with CCI Standard ammo. Here is a 5 shot group after sighting in my Arken SH-4 6-24 scope.
Attached File I also have a Bore Buddy 21" 1-12 twist barrel but it does not shoot as well as the 16" CMMG barrel no matter what ammo I have tried. I get a flyer with every 5 shot group out of the BB barrel. Here is the best 5 shot group I could get out of the BB barrel. This was shot on the same day as the above group with my CMMG barrel. Attached File |
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RTB had a great deal on a compete 16" upper a week or two ago.
$299. I helped a friend put together a nice setup. I used that same RTB complete upper on a aero m4e1 lower. Magpul CTR stock. Larue MBT2 trigger K2 grip Sig Romeo 5. I have a RTB 8" barrel, cmmg bolt, PSA 7" handguard. Use it on a couple SBR lowers. Currently on a side folding lower with a Sig MCX adjustable stock. Fun. |
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As said, 16 twist is pretty much standard. Just grab a barrel and bolt combo from RTB and throw it together. I'd also suggest grabbing a few extra firing pins, firing pin springs, extra power extractor springs and an extractor. I don't know how much you're gonna shoot, but I shoot mine a lot.
As for magazines, as mentioned, there are those goto mags, like blackdog. I use S&W M&P 22 mags. They are more reliable, easier to load and cheap. You just need to use a small adapter from Catch22. You can either get the one that clips to the magwell or get the ones that stick to the mags. I use the ones that stick to the mags. If you plan on suppressing, go with a shorter barrel. With the short barrels, even high velocity ammo is subsonic. Well, it is for me where I am. I don't know how it will be where you are. |
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