Posted: 9/23/2008 4:20:22 PM EDT
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I have been intrigued by these for a long time, and just received one about a week ago. I have been hesitant to run alot of my ammo through the AR just simply due to price, so the thought of a functional 22 upper sounded like just the ticket. With the price of ammo what it is, by the time you run 4 bricks of 22 ammo through the upper, you have paid for it. I think anyone who is serious about the AR as their main defense rifle would be well served to consider one of these. It looks like it will SIGNIFICANTLY increase trigger time, and when would that be a bad thing?? I posted this brief review, if anyone is interested. Bumps, warts and all, but I am very pleased; 
So far I have only shot for fun, but my son and I will be making some trips and doing some drill work soon. Doc |
duhhhh......
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I am waiting for CMMG to release their version. I've recently started taking my sons to shoot .22's on some land the family owns and I want to shoot my AR there....223's would be a distraction with my sons.....and expensive. I have a 1/12" barrel I'm going to have cut down to 16.1" to use with the kit, so I'll have a dedicated upper for .22's. the Spikes upper looks totally cool but it's outside of my budget (I'm also saving for a middy upper  ). |
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is this a conversion ala a ciener or a dedicated upper like a spikes tactical or American Manufacturing upper? I looked at the American Firearms Manufacturing upper out of Grantsville Utah at the gun show last weekend and it looked very cool. Very good quality. I have a colt conversion right now that runs like a TOP but it's only a 10 round mag and I hate that. So I'm getting a spikes or American firearms manufacturing upper. |
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I have a Spikes 22 dedicated upper. I love it, and so do my children. It works great with high velocity ammo, which it is designed for. It does not cycle with lead tip subsonic ammo. To be fair, the directions clearly state not to use lead tip ammo in it - due to leading on the feed ramps, not related to the failure to cycle. I am sure it could be made to function with the subsonic ammo, but this was purchased as a fun gun for the family, and the federal bulk packs of ammo are a lot cheaper than the subsonic match ammo. It is a modified Ciener design, and the Black dog magazines work very well also. I also have a Compass Lake dedicated 22 upper for service rifle match practice. It is a M261 design. Subsonic match ammo functions in this upper. Both the military 10 round mags and the Black dog mags function well. If you shoot a lot, and want to save a substantial amount of ammo money, it may be a good investment for you. It is nice to go to the range and shoot two bricks of 22's with the children, and it only cost $30.00 or so, compared to $400.00 for the same amount of 223 ammo. It doesn't take long to pay for the upper in ammo savings. |
If your colt conversion is based on the military M261 conversion, (skinny little 10 round mags that fit in a standard 20 round ar mag, Black Dog manufacturing makes a 25 (or 27, I don't remember which) round mag that functions well. I have a few, and am pleased with them. Edited to add, Black Dog manufacturing makes the high capacity mags for Spikes Tactical uppers. They make a slightly different high capacity mag for the M261 conversion. |
Crash, It is a Spike's upper. Doc |
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I ran a ciener unit for years. It functioned fairly well (though you have to keep it cleaned). given that the 223 is slightly bigger in dia than the 22lr, accuracy is not ideal, but it is still accurate enough for CQB practice including head shot practice at 25 yards. Point of aim may be a bit off at various ranges vs 223, but one can adjust. I finally bought a dedicated upper (combined with one of my lowers) made by compass lake and set it up exactly like my AR10, with the same trigger and sights and stock. it is based on the airforce conversion unit. I went with a 24" barrel to better simulate the weight of the AR10 and to reduce the noise (22 subsonics with a 24" barrel sound about like a 9mm with a can). shots into 1/4 at 50 yards with good ammo. Very useful allowing low noise practice and I can practice alot, including precision shooting with no reloading. Finally, a 22 subsonic at 130 yards with 5" tall mini IPCS-type targets is great for having to dope the wind. |
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I too picked up a Spikes .22lr upper and LOVE IT! I have fed it all kinds of crappy .22lr ammo and the things just keeps going. I highly recommend getting the 30 rnd black dog mags cuase you will blow thru them fast. Your fingers will get sore! Link I set my up to be exactly like my AR-15. Same Yankee Hill forearm, sights, and eotech. That is a fake can from Spikes on the end...I just added a LaRue FUG Vertical grip but it's not in this pic. And yes, my training time has been very productive. |