Opinions on a "tactical .22"

B

Braatzy

Inactive
I've been looking around for a fun .22 to shoot with that modern m16,Ar-15,M4 look to it. I've checked out the mossberg 702. i think thats what its called. anyway it looked like a cheap pile of junk. all plastic, fake charging handle, and fake magazine. any suggestions for a cheaper but more quality gun?
 
I'm not sure what the Mossburg runs, but I'd say the best buy on a "tactical" .22 these days is the M&P.

I have the Colt/Umarex version.
It's a great gun, very reliable, and EXTREMELY accurate, but the price is a bit on the high side for what it is IMO.

DSC03254.jpg
 
None cheaper,,,

But a lot that aren't any better.

Earlier this year (I forget the month),,,
American Rifleman did a review on all of the tactical 22 rifles.

It was somewhat amusing that they gave the Mossberg a decent review,,,
Even though you could tell by the wording they really did not want to,,,
Perhaps Mossberg didn't spend enough on advertising in their mag.

I don't have the tactical model but I do have the 702 Plinkster,,,
It's a solid performer and probably the best bang for the buck anywhere.

I paid $99.95 at Wally World a couple of years ago,,,
I noticed the other day they are going for $119.00 for the plain version.

I know two people who have the tactical model,,,
It performs as well as the normal version.

Aarond
 
There's two kinds of them.

First, there's the ones that were designed from the ground up as an AR (or other design) lookalike. The Colt Umarex, S&W M&P22, Sig 522, they're all good examples. The controls are in the same places, working the same way, and they generally tear down in a very similar manner to their "parent" designs.

Then, there's the ones that began as some other semiauto design and became "tactical" through the use of bolt on furniture, rails, and the like. Ruger's SR-22, the Remington 597VTR, and I think the Mossberg 702 (could be wrong about the Mossberg; I don't know it well at all) are examples of this. The action is usually tried and true from the other design (the SR-22 is the Ruger 10/22, the 597VTR is the 597), and while the furniture is usually regular AR-15 (the 597VTR uses any handguard that attaches via the AR barrel nut, any AR-15 pistol grip and stock), the core parts are from the other design (the 597VTR uses the 597's receiver, bolt, and trigger group). Reliability of these can be better (or worse, it's always a crapshoot with lower priced guns), but the controls will often NOT be the same as on an actual AR-15.

Which is better? Depends. If you already have a 10/22 or other similar rifle and there's a tactical version, you may wish to get that one, since there's parts and magazine commonality (usually). It's also probably easier to modify one of these "not quite an AR" kinds for greater accuracy, since the barrels are likely the same as the more "sporting" versions. If you are looking for a more true AR-15 trainer, then one built from the ground up as a rimfire clone is probably a better idea.
 
I have one of these arms cor model 16 lookalikes.

http://centerfiresystems.com/AC-M16-22.aspxhttp://centerfiresystems.com/AC-M16-22.aspx

It doesn't have the same controls as an AR, so it isn't very useful for REALISTIC training, but it is cheap and more or less looks like an AR 15

I would like to mate a POF composite lower ($120) with a dedicated AR upper, but surprisingly, .22 lr uppers cost MORE than .223/5.56 uppers due to lower demand and and economy of numbers issues.

For the price of a dedicated upper you can buy a entry level 5.56 upper and ,22lr conversion for it.
 
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For the price of a dedicated upper you can buy a entry level 5.56 upper and ,22lr conversion for it.
Click to expand...

There are a few catches with this approach.

1) .22LR is DIRTY. If you shoot mag after mag through a "regular" AR with a conversion kit, you'll get gunk in the chamber and you'll pack the gas tube with crud. If you plan to shoot .223/5.56 through the thing ever, it's generally recommended to follow a couple mags of .22LR with pulling the chamber insert and firing 2-3 full power rounds through it before going back to .22LR. When done, scrub that chamber WELL.

2) The barrel twist rate that works best with the regular .22LR ammo is about 1 in 16". The usual twist rates on most ARs (other than the varmint style setups for superlight bullets) is 1 in 7 or 1 in 9. This means you'll overstabilize the bullet and accuracy will suffer.

However, there is one thing you can do with that kind of setup. If you want to shoot the Aguila SSS 60gr subsonics, those won't stabilize right in a regular .22LR barrel... not enough twist. However, the AR-15 1 in 9 is just about right, and the bore diameter is good enough. I took some spare parts and a cheap DPMS barrel, stuck in a CMMG conversion kit, and chopped off a gas tube and installed the stub in the gas block upside down (easily replaced with a regular gas tube without too much crud in places that are annoying). Presto- an AR-15 that will shoot those Aguila SSS perfectly. Nice and quiet with a suppressor. :D And it can even get converted back to a 5.56 AR in all of about 20 minutes of cleaning and shop time with a gas tube and spare BCG.
 
If you want an .22LR that handles and functions like an AR-15, then you want the M&P15-22. The safety is the same, the magazine release is the same, the bolt release is the same, and the charging handle charges.

The S&W 25 & 10 round mags are so close in size to the AR-15 magazine, I use the same Blade-Tech magazine holder for the .223 and .22LR mags.

There are several models available, including one with a flash hider. Comes with removable sights and the reciever sports a rail for optics. The handguard is a quad rail design but you can not exchange it with a regular AR-15. However, the stock and trigger from an AR-15 can be put on the M&P15-22, so that gives more options if you wish to upgrade.

Here is pic of mine and my review of the M&P15-22. If you are serious about a dedicated .22LR AR style rifle, you won't get it any more realistic, IMO.

mp15-29.jpg
 
I second the S&W M&P 15-22. Its as close to a AR as your gonna get IMHO. The mossberg is junk, stay away from that dude. I have a 10/22 that came from the factory with a tapco stock. I put a red dot scope on it and use my grip pod and its a fun rifle, especially with the awesome new ruger 25rd. mags. If you want an AR type get the Smith&Wesson.
 
Plus 2 on the M&P 15-22. As close to a understudy rifle to an AR15 as you can get. Very accurate too and the trigger is not bad at all. Although I don't think they are interchangeable with regular AR15 trigger as the blowback design cannot reset it. I could be wrong though. I have mine dressed up with magpul MBUS sights and co witnessed with BSA red dot. I also have a scope set up if shooting out to 100 yards. :cool:
 
For the same money as the Colt you can buy the CMMG Quebec which is a whole lot better rifle.
I own both the Colt and the CMMG.
 
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