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Posted: 11/18/2011 1:20:26 PM EDT
Why has no one made a conversion kit for the ar in 22 magnum??
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Perhaps the folks that frequent the Rimfire & Pistol Cal forum could help:
http://www.ar15.com/forums/f_3/15_Rimfire_and_Pistol_Calibers.html |
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Well really a pretty simple answer I think in my opinion...22 mag ammo is rediculously priced for the somewhat small gain you get from it...You can get some .22 long rifle that will near match the velocity of the 22 mags...I would not even consider one in .22 magnum for plinking..Just too expensive to shoot..
It can be done in a semi auto rifle..Ruger,Remington,Marlin and Savage are a few that have semi auto.22 Mags..So clearly it is possible but as stated ammo price is the concern of most would not buy them because of it...They are not big sellers from the COs listed above... |
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Quoted:
Seriously, am I the only one that thinks that would be an awesome idea?  No, you are not alone. I thought of it almost immediately after seeing how much fun it was to shoot the 22lr conversion. But, if you look at the low level of support for 22mag in general compared to the 22lr, the fact that the current conversions will handle stingers, velocitors, and the like, and the comparison in cost of 22 mag ammo vs .223 reloads, I can't see the return on investment for magazine, bolt and chamber development being worth it. Look at all of the problems Kel-tec has had with the PMR 30. That is one complex and finicky weapon. So getting a conversion that will handle all of the various barrel lengths, against all of the various ammo options, just sounds like a snarl of mating rattle snakes to me. Don't get me wrong, If there was a reliable unit at the right price out there, I'd get one. But I think it'll be a dream never fulfilled. Duane |
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It's been looked at by more than one manufacturer. Deemed too much liability and danger involved with the .22 magnum conversions. It's not as easy as you think.
Nordic has worked on their version which has a completely different bolt system, closer to a 10/22. If it can be done, it would be that system. But then, it's not a drop in conversion, it's a dedicated upper. Of course you would have to have new mags. Cost to set up tooling for those mags, which will never sell as many as a .22 LR is another consideration. |
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.22 Magnum rimfire is a hot cartridge. Much more pressure than .22LR. Some have converted 261 Army conversions but to get it right is difficult. Magazines are always a problem - IIRC some used the Marlin .22 mag magazines. IIRC there should be some posts about .22 mag conversions in the Archives. See pic below from Archive link - by AR-fan http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_15/439812_22_magnum_conversion.html
Note that the conversion is modified to use the AR buffer and spring. Too much pressure for the regular springs. This is not a conversion easily done - AR-fan and a few others have developed their conversions with a lot of careful thought and engineering. That's why a number of companies which marketed .22 mag semi-auto rifles have pulled them off the market - too much liability and questions on reliability and longevity. (I may be mixing up the .17HMR problems here with the .22 mag). Also - as has been mentioned - the ammo is expensive. YMMV 
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Yes, it has been done. "Not practical" could be used to describe it, so could "not safe". Ruger made a 10/22 Mag rifle, true. But they dumped it some years back. Remington currently makes a 597 in .22 Mag but I have read some reviews on them that were not so hot. They come with a 8 round mag also.
The ammo is expensive compared to .22 LR, the rifles are problematic, and in semi-auto they have issues. Pretty much tells the tale. Now, a manufacture would have to look at a .22 Mag AR and wonder if it were worth it to build one and just ask for trouble. Sure it can be done....but should it? |
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I did that 22 magnum conversion for the same reason you had –– "Why is there no 22 magnum conversion". The big problem is Gas Leak. I did not run the rounds through a chrony but I would imagine from the gas leakage that the velocity might have been about the same as a Stinger round –– maybe better. The setup worked 100% but stingers and the Aguila Super Maximum (over 1700fps) are a heck of a lot cheaper and work in most semi-auto 22's.
I use the same bolt setup in two dedicated 22 magnum AR's. One is a carbine (my favorite) and the other is a 20" barreled rifle. They are both very accurate but the carbine is fun to shoot and makes a good field weapon for hunting –– small and light. |
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