Hey guys, sorry if this is the wrong forum or if this has been discussed 1,000x times. I've spent the last 2 hours searching this whole forum and reading all about the AR .22lr conversions and uppers and I can't find the answer.

In a few photos and videos I've seen guys using standard AR .223 mags that appear to be modified to accept .22lr rounds. I do NOT like the look of the skinny plastic looking .22lr magazines that most of the AR .22lr conversion/upper manufactures sell. It seems like there has to be some sort of conversion?

Here is a link I found via Google that shows a video of a guy shooting a standard AR clip with a .22lr conversion and the clip has been modified to hold 10 .22lr rounds (CA legal I guess). Obviously, I'd rather have 30+ rounds in a mag than 10, but the point is, he's using a standard AR magazine.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=76516

Any help here? Thanks

What about the full sized BDM Generation II magazines?

BDM yep, they work nice

I belive what you are reffering to is the us gov. m261 10 rnd inserts that would fit into the usgi 30 rnd mags. Do a search and that should get you right in there.

The M261 inserts also go into GI straight 20 rd mags.

The BDM mags are popular enough and work well enough that Olympic now sells them with their RFA, which is a M261 clone.

FWIW; AFAIK; IMHO; YMMV; yadda, yadda, yadda.

Regards, Ed Mann
   [email protected]

Bobby Bowden is doing a fine  job - just leave him  alone.

Thanks guys. The M261 inserts are exactly what I would expect to find available.....however, I can't seem to find them for sale via my Google searches. I'd also expect to find the same type inserts with higher capacities than 10??  I'd like to have those same insert that would hold 25+ rounds of .22lr ammo. Guess I'm stuck with the BDM mags. Nothing against them, but I just don't like the looks a hardcore AR-15 and then a clear plastic (or black shiny plastic looking) mag sticking out the bottom. I know, I know, I'm being a little picky.  But as much as the conversions and/or the dedicated uppers cost, I'd just like to have some sort of real AR metal mags. No biggie though.

Thanks for the help guys and if you know of a link to buy the M261 inserts, let me know! Thanks again

**EDIT**  
Ok, I just looked at some more close up pics of the BDM mags in AR's and they don't look too bad. Not near as bad as my first impression. I think they will do just fine if I go through with my conversion. Thanks!

If you are going to use a Ceiner kit you could do this..
Works with 30 rd. G.I. mags too.
Tommy T.

http://archive.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=15&t=386426

Since BDM started making their mags, even Oly has lost interest in making the inserts.  Three years ago these were available from a few places.  Now, I think Sarco is the only source.



The way the inserts work, I doubt one could be made much over 10 rounds, and still be fit into a standard magazine.  In any case, 10 rounds is all that was ever made, AFAIK, barring some sort of experiment or prototype.

FWIW; AFAIK; IMHO; YMMV; yadda, yadda, yadda.

Regards, Ed Mann
   [email protected]

Bobby Bowden is doing a fine  job - just leave him  alone.

The M261 inserts were designed decades before the .22lr craze hit the AR community. The inserts allowed the military to use their existing magazines for training, but they are problematic and need constant cleaning. On top of that they can shift in their magazines and cause feeding problems. The are acceptable for my usage because I'm in NY and all I can have is 10 rounds, but if I had it to do over again I go with the BDM's.