AR-22: America’s Rifle In Rimfire

The AR-22 is the name given to AR-15-pattern guns chambered in.22 LR. They’re extremely popular in the U.S. due to their low cost, both in terms of the guns and the ammunition. The platform is fun and even practical in certain situations, but many shooters do not fully understand its advantages and limitations. The company’s first firearm was the AR-1. The 15th was AR-15. And the 18th was AR-18. The AR-18 was Armalite’s last design, but it failed commercially. If the company had continued, its 22nd weapon would have probably been called the AR-22. It also wouldn’t have a.22 LR AR-15. The.22 LR AR platform was developed by Maxwell Atchisson in the 1970s, when he worked for the Military Armament Corporation. Atchisson’s kit included a.22LR bolt carrier that could be dropped in and a 16 round.22LR magazine. The unit was self-contained and replaced the standard.223/5.56 BCG, converting it to direct blowback. Its chamber adaptor allowed the use of.22 LR ammo. An original Atchisson conversion. Photo: Rock Island Auction Company. The conversion was quick and easy, requiring only a swap of BCG and magazine. The AR-15’s.223 caliber meant that a barrel upgrade was not necessary, unlike.22 LR conversions. The different ammo changed the point of impact. After initial production by MAC, which went bankrupt in 1975, the rights were leased to or purchased by other companies who manufactured them, including J.A. Ciener still manufactures them to this day. Colt, in the 1990s, also produced a conversion kit as an accessory to their sporter AR-15s. The Armi Jager AP-15/AP-74 rifles were probably the first complete “AR-22”, meaning a dedicated lower/upper, an entire rifle. They may look like “AR-22″ guns, but they’re not because they differ from actual AR-pattern rifles. There are also some modern versions of this concept, such as Smith & Wesson M&P15-22.An Armi Jager AP74.22 LR. Photo: Rock Island Auction Company.Today’s conversion kits are variations and developments of the original Atchisson designs, with manufacturers like CMMG creating their own magazines for improved functionality. A firearm’s utility is primarily determined by its caliber. Therefore, an AR-22 is the best choice for any task that a.22 LR is used for. Why would someone choose an AR-pattern rifle over a semi-auto like the Ruger 10/22 when they can have a Ruger? Semi-auto.22s are notorious for their poor accuracy. There are many reasons why. It is possible to improve them, as it is possible to make a semi-auto.22 that shoots close to 1 MOA or better. However, most are not up to the task. At 25 yards, a 2-MOA or 3-MOA weapon isn’t that important, but beyond that, it becomes more significant. It’s not easy to thread a shot through a tree at 50 yards, especially if you have faulty ammo or a gun that makes it difficult. It can mean the difference between squirrel soup and the dollar menu. AR-22 rifles may be allowed in some competition shooting events, but you could find yourself at a disadvantage when it came to accuracy. You’ll be at a disadvantage in PRS and Appleseed competitions if your AR-22 doesn’t shoot within MOA with Eley or match ammo. Although most people would not recommend an AR-22 for this purpose, one can argue that it can make a viable home defence carbine. People tend to overlook.22 LR, but high-velocity ammunition can penetrate a rifle barrel to a depth sufficient to cause vital injuries. Some may choose an AR-22 instead of a 10/22 because they think it’s cooler. Others may choose it because they don’t need it or can’t afford a centerfire version. They can be used just as well as any.22 rifle, and are a good choice if used properly. They are often used to replace training with a centerfire rifle. It’s not true. You can’t learn to manage recoil that isn’t there. If you want to run a real carbine or rifle under stress, it’s just not going to work the same way. It’s not true. You can’t manage recoil when it isn’t there. And if you want to run a real rifle or carbine under stress, then that won’t work. If you just want to have fun and plink, a conversion set is the best choice. It’s cheaper, and you don’t have to fill out a Form 4473. Drop the parts in and load up. The.22 LR is a self contained unit with its own spring. Conversion kits are generally considered to be reliable, but they can have issues with full-auto weapons and aftermarket parts like trigger/hammer sets. Some spent shells can get caught in the receiver. This does not happen very often. Lead bullets have also been reported to cause fouling of the gas port. However, this has not been proven. If you’re looking to use your AR-22 for anything other than plinking, it is best to buy a dedicated upper receiver in.22LR or a complete AR-22. Conversion kits are a concern because of the potential reliability issues that may exist, whether they’re real or rumored. It is always better to use an instrument that was designed specifically for the task at hand, rather than one that has been adapted. A conversion kit is also likely to reduce mechanical accuracy. The twist rate is what matters, not the bullet diameter (0.224 inches). Note how much further the barrel of the.22 LR extends into the receiver. A dedicated.22 LR top is much shorter than a standard 16-inch carbine even with a 16”.22 LR barrel. If you want the best gun for any serious purpose, such as hunting, competition, or defense, then you should buy a dedicated AR-22. CMMG.22 LR Kit CMMG’s.22 LR kits are still a great buy. The Atchisson kit is heavily based on these kits, but they can be ordered with a bolt adapter rail and improved charging handle to work with their Bravo package. Proprietary magazines must be used, but CMMG.22 LR mags will work with any AR-15 magazine well. You can order them in either 10- or 30-round capacities. The MSRP starts at $199.95. Site: cmmg.com.Nordic Components Dedicated Upper 22RB 16-Inch If you want to convert an AR, but demand the best accuracy, the Nordic Components upper 22RB is the ticket. It can be mounted on any AR-15 lower. It has a 16-inch match-barrel with a 1:12 twist, a flat-top upper receiver, MLOK handguards and a Black Dog.22 LR Bolt Carrier Group. This conversion is for those who are serious about mechanical accuracy or competition. You will need Black Dog magazines, which work with any AR-15 lower. MSRP is $610. Site: nordiccomp.com.Smith & Wesson M&P15-22. The M&P15-22, also known as the AR-22, is the most widely available and popular AR-22. The Sport variant is a basic version with a polymer upper, lower, MLOK handguard and flat-top receiver. It also has a 16-inch barrel and an A2 birdcage. Magpul MBUS sighting is also included. What’s the big deal if it takes proprietary magazines? According to S&W the entry price is $489, but street prices can be even lower. It’s worth the money if you don’t think of it as a match rifle. Site: smith-wesson.com.Kriss DMK22CKriss manufactures two lines of .22 AR, but with a slight twist, as they use proprietary receivers that accept Ruger 10/22 barrels. However, most AR-15 parts (trigger, furniture, etc.) The bolt and barrel are compatible. You can choose between the DMK22C, which has a 16-inch bar and 12-inch handguard, or the DMK22C Arca with a 16.5 inch barrel and 15 inch handguard. Magpul MBUS sighting is also included. The MSRP for the standard version is $849.99 and $60 more for Arca. Site: kriss.usa.com.JP EnterprisesJP Enterprises offers a variety of configurations for its JP-22 rifles. You can order a complete rifle, or an upper assembly. You can browse the catalog of the JP-22 rifle series to your heart’s desire, but for now, we’ll only cover the basic model. Officially called the RRJP15/22LRUL, the rifle’s MSRP is $1,789. The rifle has a forged upper, lower and a 16-inch Supermatch barrel that is sleeved and has a 1:16 twist. It also features a forged upper, lower and a sleeved Ultralight barrel. Site: jprifles.com.More On-Target Rimfire Info:NEXT STEP Download Your Free Storm Tactical Printable Target Pack62 Printable MOA Targets with DOT Drills – Rifle Range in YARDSThis impressive target pack from our friends at Storm Tactical contains62 printable targetsfor rifle and handgun range use. Site: jprifles.com.More Rimfire On-Target Info:NEXT: Download Your Free Storm Tactical Printing Target Pack62 Printable MOA targets with DOT drills – Rifle range in YARDSThis impressive pack from our friends at Storm Tactical includes62 printable targets for rifle and handgun ranges. The grids and bullseyes are measured in MOA. 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