Dedicated .22LR Upper -- Advice Needed

[COBrien]

I've long considered a .22LR upper and, now that I've pert-near cleared myself out of rifle projects, I think it's time to build one. Well, two, actually. One for my 2 y/o (once she's old enough and past Crickets and 10/22s), and one for our little boy who's due in June. They'll be complete rifles, built on 80% lowers, identical in every way, except serial numbers. I want to get these done now, while they're still legal and able to be "grandfathered in." I've got complete spreadsheets on them -- they're looking like they could be sub-5 lbs.

Anyhow... On to my question.

I know CMMG makes a dedicated BCG setup. And I know Clint Beyer is making high-speed-low-drag AR .22LR barrels that are compatible with the CMMG setup. But I also know CMMG's track record and the reputation they carry around here...

Enter 2A Armament. Their titanium BCG looks like a slick deal. But they offer a whopping one (1) barrel for a dedicated setup -- a 16" aluminum bull with a stainless sleeve.

I've been a fan of Clint Beyer's barrels since I got into 10/22s, and would love to do business with him. He offers several different profiles and lengths of aluminum .22LR AR barrels, but I hate that his barrels are married up to CMMG.

Are there any other reputable manufacturers of dedicated rimfire BCGs and/or barrels that I haven't stumbled upon yet? TIA, fellas!

[ar-mountaineer]

On 3/15/2019 at 5:56 PM, COBrien said:

I've long considered a .22LR upper and, now that I've pert-near cleared myself out of rifle projects, I think it's time to build one. Well, two, actually. One for my 2 y/o (once she's old enough and past Crickets and 10/22s), and one for our little boy who's due in June. They'll be complete rifles, built on 80% lowers, identical in every way, except serial numbers. I want to get these done now, while they're still legal and able to be "grandfathered in." I've got complete spreadsheets on them -- they're looking like they could be sub-5 lbs.

Anyhow... On to my question.

I know CMMG makes a dedicated BCG setup. And I know Clint Beyer is making high-speed-low-drag AR .22LR barrels that are compatible with the CMMG setup. But I also know CMMG's track record and the reputation they carry around here...

Enter 2A Armament. Their titanium BCG looks like a slick deal. But they offer a whopping one (1) barrel for a dedicated setup -- a 16" aluminum bull with a stainless sleeve.

I've been a fan of Clint Beyer's barrels since I got into 10/22s, and would love to do business with him. He offers several different profiles and lengths of aluminum .22LR AR barrels, but I hate that his barrels are married up to CMMG.

Are there any other reputable manufacturers of dedicated rimfire BCGs and/or barrels that I haven't stumbled upon yet? TIA, fellas!

What about something like this?

https://www.wingtactical.com/firearm-parts/ar-15/complete-upper-receiver-assemblies/tactical-solutions-ar-22-lt-22lr-ar-upper-assembly/

 

I have a conversion on my 5.56 that I run 22lr for fun. 

[unforgiven]

That looks like fun ? I have a couple of 10-22s one in the Magpul stock with Tec sights. Wife bought my first one for $120.00

[COBrien]

3 hours ago, ar-mountaineer said:

What about something like this?

https://www.wingtactical.com/firearm-parts/ar-15/complete-upper-receiver-assemblies/tactical-solutions-ar-22-lt-22lr-ar-upper-assembly/

 

I have a conversion on my 5.56 that I run 22lr for fun. 

I hadn’t looked at TacSol yet — thanks for that! Their barrel, BCG, and magazine combo might be just the ticket. 

https://www.tacticalsol.com/ar-22-series-uppers/ar-22-barrelandbolt

Edited March 17, 2019 by COBrien

[98Z5V]

The baddest 22LR ARs being made right now are from Tippmann.  Yeah, no joke, the paintball gun guys.  I shiit you not.

[COBrien]

4 hours ago, 98Z5V said:

The baddest 22LR ARs being made right now are from Tippmann.  Yeah, no joke, the paintball gun guys.  I shiit you not.

That's interesting. It's probably been 20 years since I've been to Tippmann's website (my rig of choice back then was my heavily-modified Tippmann 98 -- nitrogen-powered, adjustable gas and recoil spring, sidesaddle red dot mount because this was back before any of us knew what Picatinny was, crossfeed with a shaker hopper. It was a beast!).

Their BCG, charging handle, and barrel setup looks like a one-off deal. Wonder if they'd sell me the parts individually...

[Robocop1051]

I went with Taccom3g when I built mine. 

[Robocop1051]

Another thing to look into, there is now a Magwell adapter that will allow you to use M&P-22 mags. Supposedly they run better than the ceiner style mags. They also let you use a standard bolt hold lever. 

[Armed Eye Doc]

I bought a complete upper made by PSA.  I have yet to find a mag that will reliably function without holding it just right.

[COBrien]

5 hours ago, Robocop1051 said:

I went with Taccom3g when I built mine. 

I've been looking for info on the Taccom3g setup, but their website is a bitch to use. All I'm seeing is their extruded upper and super special takedown/pivot pins...

[Robocop1051]

Their site sucks, but their parts are badass. I was one of the fools who bought the Mag Tactical magnesium receiver sets. After people started breaking them, and they went out of business, I was worried about making mine into a “real” caliber. My wife wanted an FDE rifle and I didn’t have a dedicated .22lr yet. I I have owned an old Colt conversion kit since I was a kid. It’s a good kit, but only works with Colt magazine conversion kits. Luckily I have about 10 mags for it. 

The CMMG kit is a copy of a Ceiner kit. There are lots of companies that make Ceiner conversions, and Taccom is one of them. The difference from a dedicated system is that the kit is missing the front end, which is usually inserted into the .223 chamber. The dedicated barrel has a .22lr chamber. 

I bought the ULW dedicated barrel, the .22lr bolt, and the plastic spacer (it goes in front of the buffer) from Taccom. My upper is a standard upper. 

[Robocop1051]

 

 

[Robocop1051]

Check this out for a simple modification that could save from frustration later. 

*if I had it to do over, I would’ve filled the entire channel up. There’s no reason for an open space on a .22lr. The space is for a gas tube to fit and a dedicated .22lr shouldn’t have a gas tube installed. 

 

[COBrien]

I bought a CMMG clone charging handle from Right To Bear (along with their “pistol caliber/.22LR uppers — short ejection port, Colt 603/605 style forward assist delete). The charging handle was mostly to reverse-engineer it and convert a standard, aluminum CH with judicious application of JB Weld.

RTB offers both the CMMG and a “house brand” (CMMG sans logos) dedicated .22LR BCG. I know this will work with a Beyer barrel, but I’m concerned about the bad press CMMG has gotten. 

Of course, the OpticsPlanet reviews for CMMG dedicated BCGs are all positive. So...? Lol!

Edited March 20, 2019 by COBrien

[98Z5V]

I have a CMMG bolt setup, phosphated.  It was cheap at a gun show in Dulles, VA, and the mags were cheap, so I bought it.  It works wonderfully, now, but it took alot of breaking-in.  I eventually rubbed all the contact rails with a scotch-brite pad to smooth it out even more.  I should have done that in the beginning, and saved ammo, but I didn't know, then.  That was either 2009 or 2010.  The stainless ones don't have that break-in issue, and they are ALOT more smooth-running, right out of the gate. 

I'd buy it again, honestly, even the phosphated one - and I'd short-cut that break-in on it, right away, now that I know. 

[Robocop1051]

Mine came NiB coated.

[COBrien]

15 hours ago, 98Z5V said:

I have a CMMG bolt setup, phosphated.  It was cheap at a gun show in Dulles, VA, and the mags were cheap, so I bought it.  It works wonderfully, now, but it took alot of breaking-in.  I eventually rubbed all the contact rails with a scotch-brite pad to smooth it out even more.  I should have done that in the beginning, and saved ammo, but I didn't know, then.  That was either 2009 or 2010.  The stainless ones don't have that break-in issue, and they are ALOT more smooth-running, right out of the gate. 

I'd buy it again, honestly, even the phosphated one - and I'd short-cut that break-in on it, right away, now that I know. 

A resounding review from a guy who definitely doesn't hesitate to call shite shite.

I think it's settled, then. The "RTB" BCG and collar setup, with a Beyer barrel (16.5" x .920" bull), and a Redi-Mag Better-Mag II (I believe this is what @Robocop1051 was referencing).

That, with some M&P 15-22 mags, should at least get me running. Right?

Edited March 20, 2019 by COBrien

[Robocop1051]

39 minutes ago, COBrien said:

A resounding review from a guy who definitely doesn't hesitate to call shite shite.

I think it's settled, then. The "RTB" BCG and collar setup, with a Beyer barrel (16.5" x .920" bull), and a Redi-Mag Better-Mag II (I believe this is what @Robocop1051 was referencing).

That, with some M&P 15-22 mags, should at least get me running. Right?

Yes! That’s the one. 

[COBrien]

Well, it has started in earnest. As mentioned above, I picked up a couple of uppers from RTB. Having them in hand, I have to say I think these were a good choice.

https://www.righttobear.com/RTB-9mm-22LR-Slick-Side-Upper-Receiver-p/rtb-pcc-m4.htm

Aero forged uppers, no FA, short ejection port, no provision for ejection port cover.

I also picked up a couple of Aero Precision LPKs from DVOR -- $39 each, and they include a MagPul MOE grip and enhanced polymer trigger guard. Those Luth-AR LPKs I previously bought were $26, no grip or trigger guard. I think this was a steal.

Now I need to decide -- do I buy raw 80% lowers (RTB will engrave mfr info, city, state, model, caliber and serial number), then have them blasted and Cerakoted (would Cerakote uppers at the same time), or do I buy anodized 80% lowers, then have the information engraved by my jeweler/gun pusher and fill the engraving in black later? Hmm...

[DNP]

Crap...that upper is a "deal of the day" for $59 right now.  I don't need one. I don't need one. I don't need one....

 

 

[Armed Eye Doc]

53 minutes ago, DNP said:

Crap...that upper is a "deal of the day" for $59 right now.  I don't need one. I don't need one. I don't need one....

 

 

So you need two?

[DNP]

I almost ordered 2. I need to wait. Too many other wants. A dedicated 22 is on the list though. 

[Armed Eye Doc]

It would be the least expensive thing you bought that you didn't need recently.

[Robocop1051]

I need to update my dedicated .22lr. I think the Redi-mag is going in the cart ASAP. 

[COBrien]

On 4/14/2019 at 5:09 PM, DNP said:

Crap...that upper is a "deal of the day" for $59 right now.  I don't need one. I don't need one. I don't need one....

 

 

I've been watching it for awhile now.

It goes on "Deal of the Day" every 2 weeks, for 14 days at a stretch...

 

That is to say, no rush.

 

Also, I've made up my mind re: anodized vs. raw lowers. I've got a buddy (wife's co-worker) who's been dabbling in Cerakote for a year or so now, and he's getting it down. Now that I know he's got a blasting cabinet, I'm going to order raw lowers and have him 'kote the uppers and lowers at the same time.

Also, my jeweler/gun pusher got nervous about engraving a S/N on my FIL's unfinished, incomplete (i.e., no work done do it besides unboxing it...) 80% lower, so I'm going to save him the hand-wringing this time around...

Edited April 18, 2019 by COBrien