Anybody start with a .22 upper

[idcastandblast]

Really wanting an AR, but I want to shoot cheaply for awhile. So, here is my plan. Start with a high quality lower, trigger stock etc. Then purchase a complete 22 upper to get started shooting quickly. Once I get some more money, purchase or build a .223 or 5.56 upper to put on my existing lower. I think that it will be much easier to slip parts into the budget (hidden from wife!) each month that purchasing a pre-built gun.

Has anyone else gone this route?

Are there things to look for when buying a lower? It seems that a lower is a lower, but I may be oversimplifying it.

For an upper, I am thinking of the CMMG right now. Are there lowers that fit well or don't fit with a CMMG upper?

Any comments are appreciated.

[Alaskapopo]

Really wanting an AR, but I want to shoot cheaply for awhile. So, here is my plan. Start with a high quality lower, trigger stock etc. Then purchase a complete 22 upper to get started shooting quickly. Once I get some more money, purchase or build a .223 or 5.56 upper to put on my existing lower. I think that it will be much easier to slip parts into the budget (hidden from wife!) each month that purchasing a pre-built gun.

Has anyone else gone this route?

Are there things to look for when buying a lower? It seems that a lower is a lower, but I may be oversimplifying it.

For an upper, I am thinking of the CMMG right now. Are there lowers that fit well or don't fit with a CMMG upper?

Any comments are appreciated.

I have a Spikes Tactical 22 upper and I like it but for the money you are better off just getting a complete Smith MP-22 rifle for the cost of an upper. Then get the rifle you want and don't worry about a .22 upper.

Pat

[Matt1911]

The best dedicated .22 upper is Nordic. Don't skimp on quality if you're gonna shoot the piss out of it.

[Noah Gladstone]

If you are going to shoot alot and have high expectations on function get the Nordic. A lot of 22 matches are popping up they are great fun if you have a reliable gun.

[assaulter]

Why not build your rifle the way you want it and get a .22 conversion kit. Much cheaper than a dedicated upper.

[bunsen27]

Really wanting an AR, but I want to shoot cheaply for awhile. So, here is my plan. Start with a high quality lower, trigger stock etc. Then purchase a complete 22 upper to get started shooting quickly. Once I get some more money, purchase or build a .223 or 5.56 upper to put on my existing lower. I think that it will be much easier to slip parts into the budget (hidden from wife!) each month that purchasing a pre-built gun.

Has anyone else gone this route?

Are there things to look for when buying a lower? It seems that a lower is a lower, but I may be oversimplifying it.

For an upper, I am thinking of the CMMG right now. Are there lowers that fit well or don't fit with a CMMG upper?

Any comments are appreciated.

The principle component of any lower is the trigger group and for the 3gun game many choose either JP or Giselle. JP does offer a semi-stripped lower with their fire control system installed for $350 add a parts kit for $40 and then your choice of stock, buffer, spring, and buffer tube and you have a completed lower for ~$500 on the low end (A2 stock). It's not the most cost effective route, but buying stuff piecemeal never is, but at least you will have a good quality lower that you can build off of later as finances permit.

The best dedicated .22 upper is Nordic. Don't skimp on quality if you're gonna shoot the piss out of it.

+1000 for Nordic I've been running the snot out of mine the past few weeks shaking off the rust from the off season, and it just shoots everything I feed it. Buy once, cry once.

[idcastandblast]

Thanks for the replies. My problem is that I don't really know what I want. Not sure if I will get into 3 Gun, I'm not really a game or varmint hunter, so it may always be used as a range toy. That is why I was thinking that if I had a decent lower, I could add a .223 upper configured for three gun if I ever got into it something else.

I'll look into Nordic and the other components that you guys have mentioned. Are their lowers that I should stay away from? It sounds like a Spikes lower could be outfitted with a nice trigger, and then used with a Nordic upper.

[Lead-Head]

My opinion for way to go: Get an AR. Or piece together an upper/lower. Heck DSA had 16' M4 uppers for $275 last month.

Then buy a CMMG conversion kit that slides in to replace your bolt/carrier group and 2-3 mags. Mine is SS and I have shot multiple bricks of cheap federal .22 with very few problems.

Good luck.

Edited March 11, 2012 by Lead-Head

[Jesse Tischauser]

Another vote for the Nordic Components NC22 uppers. I shoot the he outta mine. Federal 550 count bulk packs don't stand a chance!

[HS101]

I love my Nordic NC-22 upper! Money well spent. Works great for Steel Challenge (great practice on transitions) and there are some fun .22 matches around. Mine allows me to get a lot more "trigger time" than if I was shooting my 223 upper...

And my 3 daughters love to shoot it too... Double Bonus!

[sparks1]

I know group buys are not allowed here.

Question: Can I mention one on an alternate forum? I do not know how to reach a moderator for the answer. Please advise.

Thanks

Oh, and this is pertinent to this thread.

Edited March 22, 2012 by sparks1

[idcastandblast]

I know group buys are not allowed here.

Question: Can I mention one on an alternate forum? I do not know how to reach a moderator for the answer. Please advise.

Thanks

Oh, and this is pertinent to this thread.

Feel free to PM me with any group buy information! I picked up a Spikes lower and RRA lpk this week. They are FLYING off of the shelves. Has anyone read that shooting .22 out of a 5.56 or .223 barrel can cause problems with the barrel? I live in Boise, Idaho, home of Tactical Solutions, so am feeling some pressure to look there, but they are several hundred dollars above other uppers.

[mumford]

just google "nordic dedicated .22 upper group buy"

Edited March 25, 2012 by mumford

[pjb45]

I had a Firebird Precision lower. I put JP parts in it. Purchased a TS upper. TS and Nordic make great uppers, no doubt about it.

I shot the Ruger Rimfire World with it. I like it. I did not clean it before the match, so it jammed on me. Cleaning is key with .22 rimfire ammo.

So build a great lower. Buy a 22 upper and shoot the heck out of it.

Then, start buying parts for your upper in 5.56.

JP bolt and carrier

Wilson barrel

Fiberglass hand guard

JP or Firebird gas block

Firebird or Predator Tactical Upper.

ABout $1200 for a top notch upper. You can get away with cheaper but the quality is not there.

[KungFuNerd]

Has anyone read that shooting .22 out of a 5.56 or .223 barrel can cause problems with the barrel?

I can see where you might get Lead buildup maybe.

Hard for me to imagine that it could damage the bore.

I would hope that the barrel isn't that soft

Thing is....if you are going to shoot that much .22, your money saved in ammo will you a new Barrel when/if your .22 shooting wears it out.

I have the Target Master conversion and use it with a 20" 1/9 barrel.

It is VERY accurate.

It was unreliable with Federal 550 ammo when it was new.

Lately I am using Federal Champion round nose and it has been fine.

I've been told to try Blazer too.

One drawback is that the Bolt doesn't lock back.

They simulate bolt Lockback by catching it on the mag when it is empty but the function isn't identical.

Other than that, I am happy with it.

Came with 2 Blackdog mags

[TriggerJockey]

I use a Ciener 22 conversion on my Bushmaster with Blackdog gen 1 and 2 mags with excellent results. I will warn you though, do not use your comp unless you want to clean it thoroughly afterwards. I blasted my comp in half at an outlaw 2 gun because I got baffle strike, cost me a mike and a comp. I am honestly lucky I didn't catch any frag or the RO for that matter!

[idcastandblast]

Update:

I just got this put together this weekend. Took it out on Monday at lunch and put 525 rounds through her. The first 100 rounds were rough with trigger reset problems, but it seemed to work itself out and the other 400 were flawless!!

I am having some problems with the bolt hold open actuator and the bolt catch lever not working correctly, but I just need to tweak it a little bit.

Specs:

CMMG dedicated upper

Stainless bolt upgrade

Forward assist

Bolt hold open device

Spikes Tactical lower

Rock River lower parts kit

PWS enhanced buffer tube

Magpul CTR stock

Primary Arms Red Dot scope

[boomfab]

I don't shoot .22's often, but when I do, it's a Nordic.

[DoubleL]

Nice lookin rifle, I've been wanting a dedicated rimfire upper. Keep shootin the crap out of it, probably wear in and get better.

[Sleepswithdogs]

I almost started with a .22 upper, but after reading that the conversions had problems with accuracy etc, and then seeing the cost of a dedicated .22 upper, (way more than a 10/22) I figured that money would put me quite a ways down the road to a .556 and so I used it to buy some parts in stead.

Palmetto Arms down Florida way, makes a very nice lower and it's not expensive,($80 and have been on sale for as low as $49!) put good trigger in it (FCG) and your ready to rock. (http://palmettostatearmory.com/) You can see one being evaluated and built on Youtube (www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3h6S7F9iuY) Another option is a New Frontier polymer lower, comes complete with trigger and stock for $100, throw a quality trigger/hammer in it and you have a very nice lower. (http://newfrontierarmory.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=245_285) Either of these will give you a solid lower with a great trigger for around $350 or less.

The nice thing about building an upper piece by piece is you get to pay for it a little at a time, and you get exactly the parts you want for it.

If you haven't seen the Vltor upper, there worth a look. http://www.vltor.com/mur.htm

SWD

Edited May 17, 2012 by Sleepswithdogs

[bagdrag]

My opinion for way to go: Get an AR. Or piece together an upper/lower. Heck DSA had 16' M4 uppers for $275 last month.

Then buy a CMMG conversion kit that slides in to replace your bolt/carrier group and 2-3 mags. Mine is SS and I have shot multiple bricks of cheap federal .22 with very few problems.

Good luck.

I've got a Nordic and yes the quality is great but honestly I like the CMMG conversion kit as a more cost effective solution.

[nontactical]

Hope you don't think this is a thread hijack, but have you thought about 9mm instead? I know 9mm is pricier than 22lr, but it's still cheaper than 223, and 9mm ARs are a absolute blast. One of the local matches I shoot has a pistol caliber carbine side match a couple times a year, and thats why I bought the thing, but now I take it out almost every time I'm at the range.

[idcastandblast]

Can you put a 9mm upper on a standard ar15 lower? I shoot and reload for 9mm, so that might be an option for the future.

Hope you don't think this is a thread hijack, but have you thought about 9mm instead? I know 9mm is pricier than 22lr, but it's still cheaper than 223, and 9mm ARs are a absolute blast. One of the local matches I shoot has a pistol caliber carbine side match a couple times a year, and thats why I bought the thing, but now I take it out almost every time I'm at the range.