Posted on 08/16/2010 5:17:02 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Ammo prices being what they are these days, I find myself looking into .22 LR conversion kits for guns I like to shoot regularly. Currently, my preferred load for AR-15s is running just over $0.40 per round, while .22 LR is running about $0.03 per round. So I was obviously interested in Brownells’ AR-15 .22 LR Conversion Kit. I reasoned that, after one 550-round milk carton of .22 LR, the $199 kit would pay for itself. The other option would be a dedicated .22 LR upper, which costs more and I’d have to purchase additional optics and other accessories to make it comparable to my other AR-15s. The kit seemed like a no-brainer, presuming it worked.
The kit now ships from Brownells with three, 26-round magazines. It’s a drop-in unit that replaces the entire bolt-carrier assembly. Installation is easy and no gunsmithing or fitting is required. Pop out your bolt-carrier assembly and drop the kit in. It operates via direct blowback and has an insert that looks like a 5.56 NATO shell. It also came with a rubber sleeve that holds the unit. You should hang onto this for safe storage.
The ammo recommended is high-velocity, round-nosed ammo. Brownells recommends you lubricate the kit prior to shooting and says the kit requires a break-in period. So, I lubed it up with some Rem-Oil and loaded up a few magazines with Federal ammo and dropped the unit into my daughter’s pretty AR-15 to see how it would do. Her AR is a J&T Distributing Lightweight Upper with a chrome-lined, 1:9-inch-twist barrel.
Magazines fit snugly—there were no issues with wobble. And the fact the mags allow you to see your ammunition is a plus. When installed, the charging handle doesn’t move as far rearward as an AR shooter is accustomed. That took some getting used to. At 25 to 50 yards, I was hitting steel plates and clay pigeons with ease. On paper, I found it was slightly less accurate than firing 5.56 NATO through the same gun. An AR-15 barrel isn’t designed with a twist rate for .22 LR, so that was expected. I was getting about 1.5-inch groups at 25 yards standing. I consider that sufficient accuracy for the kit’s intended purpose. There was virtually no felt recoil, which was also unsurprising.
The magazine holds the bolt open on the last shot. Ejecting the magazine releases the bolt. While it’s a nice visual check to verify you’ve expended a magazine, it doesn’t lend itself to practicing speed reloads.
In nine magazines, I had zero failures to fire and zero failures to feed with the 550-round milk carton of Federal .22 LR. Though round-nosed ammo is recommended, I had no issues with the hollow-point Federal rounds. It doesn’t seem to me that the kit required a break-in period. Firing a .22 through the AR-15 sounded very quiet, and I could have easily shot this configuration all day. I see myself doing that, regularly.
If you want to inexpensively practice sight alignment, trigger squeeze and some drills with your AR-15 rifle, this is a fine product. But, bear in mind, there are a few things with which it doesn’t help, practicing magazine reloads being the most important. The light recoil doesn’t lend itself to perfect practice for follow-up shots either, but shooting ammo less than 1/10 the cost, I see getting a lot of use out of this kit.
Might makes just as much sense to own an air rifle. Deadly to small game but a very low report. If the SHTF it may be wise to not let your neighbors know you are around. Just a thought.
.22LR is under appreciated IMO.
If I had and guns anymore, I might have several 10-22 and Mk IIs. Maybe even a .22 revolver and a Marlin and a Savage. And lots of rounds. Lots.
But I don’t.
“
I agree with you and the same reasons hold true for several high powered
air rifles and a lot of pellets. Even cheaper than .22 LR. Also even quieter.
“
I’m only a customer of Cabelas for footware and other outdoor hardware.
I noted something like a double-page of what I’d call high-end air rifles
in the latest catalog I received.
If I was a nusiance squirrel, rabbit or other small critter,
I’d be afraid, very afraid.
Of any human that availed themselves of one of these premium air rifles.
Heck, even the greenies next door might never know you were getting
rid of some pain-in-the-@$$ critters.
Hence, no calls to city/county officials and local enviro-activist groups.
I went through Lackand in 1977 and at that time we were still shooting 5.56 NATO.
By 1980, however, annual re-qualification was with .22LR conversions at miniature targets at 25 yds, supposed to be a simulation of a full size silhouette at 100 yds.
I never had a malfunction, but the instructors said the kits didn't last very long.
Damn, another boating accident...
There is a great book where the S does hit the fan, that covers pretty well what could happen in just a years time.Its written as a fiction, but when you read it you find yourself taking notes, and underlining.
One Second After
http://www.onesecondafter.com/
I bought the same kit last month for my M&P. I only had a couple of FTF/FTE while going through about 200 rounds. I had way too much fun!!!
Boating accident?
I agree, which is my my pistol and 3 rifles all shoot .22 LR, and why I have 10,000 rounds. I need to pick up another brick this weekend.
Good advise, I believe I am going to check on getting me one this weekend. I think 1000 pellets will be a good start for it. I also have a crossbow and extra arrows.
Add a suppressor and a box of subsonics and you’ll be very happy.
can LR be reloaded or is that rimfire?
Rimfire cartridges cannot be reloaded, so .22 LR is single use.
Part of it is getting used to the trigger, sights and general operation of the weapon. I have an old High Standard .22 that is supposed to have the same grip angle as a .45, but the difference in trigger and general operation are so significant, the only useful similarity is the grip and sight picture.
I like good air rifles and have owned a few. I still own a couple of decent ones. I learned to shoot with one. But, it is very hard to beat a .22 LR. The .22 is 5 times as powerful as the most powerfull .22 air rifle that you can easily obtain. A good air rifle and 10,000 pellets will cost as much as a good semiauto .22 and 10,000 rounds of ammo. The .22 will reliably kill deer and larger game, and has 3 times the effective range of the air rifle.
If you have a .22, and want the special purpose of the air rifle, by all means get an air rifle. If you want all around effectiveness for a low price and do not have a .22, buy a .22 and ammo first.
It’s rimfire, so I don’t think so.
Thanks for the advise. I already own a crossbow for the silent kill, so if the price is too high, I’ll just get some more .22 ammo.
Two weeks ago our local Wal-Mart closed out a bunch of air rifles. I bought a Beeman which has two barrels one in .22 and the other in .177. I generally prefer .177 but the .22 has it’s uses. That one included a nice scope all for $64.
Also bought a Crossman which also had a scope for $54. Both the Beeman and Crossman are rated at 1000fps with standard pellets and 1200 with special light pellets which I will never use. They seem to perform similarly tho the Beeman is better finished.
I also bought a cheap plastic Crossman model 760 for only $10. It is a pump up model and is quite accurate fir a ten dollar airgun.
I will try to eventually replace my Dianas, RWS model 34, 45, and 48 and a little gem made by Haenel. The Haenel is only rated at 760fps but is light, cocks easily, is more accurate than any other one I have owned and is beautifully finished. It is the only one I have ever seen. I had to sell them all while in grad school.
very well said NCD. but.....do not forget the air rifle as a ‘pot getter’. sound signature next to nothing....’ammo’ cheap and easy to stash. then again.... .223......22LR.......45acp....357 mag....have ‘em all. I’m Ret., living up in a small town/city in the mountains. hang in there!!!
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