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Posted: 5/23/2016 3:18:14 PM EDT
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So I have two 556 builds I want to run a conversion in every now and then. I've been doing a little research and CMmG and Taccom seem to make good kits. What does everyone recommend? Both of my rifles are under 5 lbs and 1 is piston the other is DI at 14.5 length. They both have a VG6 Epsilon muzzle break.
Since price isn't an issue, what do you guys recommend for a conversion kit? |
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If your going to run better mag adapter with S&W 15-22 mags I'd recommend the CMMG. If your going to run gray CMMG mags or BDM mags either conversion will work. I have two CMMG, one Ciener and one Colt conversion kit and I like the CMMG kits the best. The CMMG and Ciener bolts are being used in dedicated 22 uppers.
If your barrels are 1:7 twist you probably won't get great accuracy but fine for plinking and CQB drills on steel or paper. My 1:9 twist do pretty decent with Federal bulk and Aquila plated Super Extra, shooting groups at 50 yards I usually get fliers which ruin otherwise good groups. |
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Quoted:
If your going to run better mag adapter with S&W 15-22 mags I'd recommend the CMMG. If your going to run gray CMMG mags or BDM mags either conversion will work. I have two CMMG, one Ciener and one Colt conversion kit and I like the CMMG kits the best. The CMMG and Ciener bolts are being used in dedicated 22 uppers. If your barrels are 1:7 twist you probably won't get great accuracy but fine for plinking and CQB drills on steel or paper. My 1:9 twist do pretty decent with Federal bulk and Aquila plated Super Extra, shooting groups at 50 yards I usually get fliers which ruin otherwise good groups. The piston has a 1:7 and the Di has a 1:8. Have you used the Taccom kit or spikes |
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I had a Spike's conversion kit several years ago but sold it to my Brother. My Spike's conversion ran fine but some were finicky. I don't know if Spike's is selling conversion kits at this time. Last I was on their web site their 22 LR uppers weren't supplied with bolts. TACCOM has some of the best customer service in the industry and I would not hesitate buying a conversion kit from TACCOM.
A friend has used a conversion kit in a SS 1:8 twist 223 Wylde chamber barrel and it shot as good as my 1:9 twist barrels using 22 conversion kits. You really never know how your 223/5.56 barrel will do with a conversion kit until you try. I used to shoot steel plates with my 1:9 twist barrel and Ciener conversion kit. I had a 8" X 12" plate at 25 & 50 yards and a 13" round plate at 100 yards along with a bowling pin shaped swinging steel plate. I had no trouble hitting any of these steel targets with my 1:9 twist barrels and 22 conversion kit. I got to shooting so many 22's in my AR-15's I eventually converted my conversion kits into dedicated 22 rimfire AR-15's. I got a bad case of BRD and currently have 4 dedicated 22 rimfire AR-15's plus a Colt 22 conversion kit. I've lost track of the number of people I have taught to shoot using a 22 rimfire AR-15 or a Glock pistol with Advantage Arms 22 rimfire conversion. |
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Quoted:
I had a Spike's conversion kit several years ago but sold it to my Brother. My Spike's conversion ran fine but some were finicky. I don't know if Spike's is selling conversion kits at this time. Last I was on their web site their 22 LR uppers weren't supplied with bolts. TACCOM has some of the best customer service in the industry and I would not hesitate buying a conversion kit from TACCOM. A friend has used a conversion kit in a SS 1:8 twist 223 Wylde chamber barrel and it shot as good as my 1:9 twist barrels using 22 conversion kits. You really never know how your 223/5.56 barrel will do with a conversion kit until you try. I used to shoot steel plates with my 1:9 twist barrel and Ciener conversion kit. I had a 8" X 12" plate at 25 & 50 yards and a 13" round plate at 100 yards along with a bowling pin shaped swinging steel plate. I had no trouble hitting any of these steel targets with my 1:9 twist barrels and 22 conversion kit. I got to shooting so many 22's in my AR-15's I eventually converted my conversion kits into dedicated 22 rimfire AR-15's. I got a bad case of BRD and currently have 4 dedicated 22 rimfire AR-15's plus a Colt 22 conversion kit. I've lost track of the number of people I have taught to shoot using a 22 rimfire AR-15 or a Glock pistol with Advantage Arms 22 rimfire conversion. Do you have to rezero when switching calibers? Which bolt(s) do you currently run? |
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If your using a 50 yard battle zero in 5.56 you might be pretty close with 22 rimfire. A friend used to shoot a lot of 22 rimfire out of his 20" Colt 1:9 twist barrel with carry handle A-2 sights which were sighted in at 100 yards for 223/5.56. When he shot 22's he dialed his rear sight up to 400 yards which got his 22's zeroed at 25 yards. I sight my dedicated 22 AR-15's in at 50 yards and it only takes a small amount of hold over to hit targets out 125 yards. I used to use my 22 conversions in my 16" AR's without readjusting my sights. With the sights being 1.5" over the bore the rimfire shot pretty close to POA as the centerfire out to 50 yards and I just held over at longer distances.
When I was shooting conversions in my 1:9 twist I started out with a used Ciener kit I got from a Friend. I mostly shoot my two dedicated CMMG 16" M-4 style 22's now and both have the parkerized 22 bolt. The TACCOM bolt is nickle as was my old Spikes which clean up nice but really functioned no better than my parkerized kits. I usually keep my kits well lubed with Breakfree CLP. My Ciener conversion is used in my KKF dedicated 22 rifle plus I have a 1st Gen DPMS bull barrel which uses the same mags as the Colt 22 conversion kit. The actual designs between the various AR-15 conversions might be slightly different but they basically all work the same. The conversions use a chamber insert which looks loke a piece of 223 brass which goes into the 223 chamber. The chamber insert contains the 22 rimfire chamber and the insert is attacthed to the rimfire blow back bolt where there is a captive recoil spring. You basically remove the center fire bolt and install the 22 rimfire bolt and use the 22 rimfire magazines. The pressures are so low I don't know if you could ever wear out a 5.56 barrel shooting 22 rimfire. After I finished my range session firing 22 rimfire I would pull a bore snake through the barrel two or three times. I also fired a couple of 223 rounds through my AR-15 after I had fired around 1000 rimfire rounds. I never had any functioning issues with any AR-15 after using a 22 conversion. Just make sure you never get a rimfire bullet stuck in the barrel and you should be able to use a 22 conversion for a long time. If you neglect to fire centerfire ammo through the AR-15 the gas port/gas block/gas tube could get clogged with lead but this is easily remedied. I found plated bullets worked better in the conversions but any 22 rimfire is filthy. |
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I have shot my share of .22 conversions while doing testing for some BNC's. I have a selection of 5.56 uppers in a range of twists from 1-7, 1-8, 1-9, 1-10, and even 1-12. What I have found to be very interesting is how each shoots with different ammo. I have had the 1-7 upper shoot every be as well as the 1-12 upper. This defies the "common knowledge" of this matter, the 1-12 should be better. But, it really depends on the ammo you are using, your individual barrel (they do vary) and the phase of the moon or how you hold your mouth while shooting....or some other odd ball reason.
As with any .22 firearm you take your sample amp and try it. Then you try the various ammo's and see what works best in YOUR rifle. You might be surprised, I know I have been several times myself. Oh, I also have a sampling of .22 conversions. I tend to like the CMMG the best. Stainless Steel and works great. |
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