.22lr AR15 compatability - The Firearms Forum

Dobbs .40 · 06-07-2012, 10:18 PM

Say if I buy a Bushmaster Ar15 .22 can I swap any. 223 upper to the lower reciever later?

Dobbs .40 · 06-08-2012, 01:45 AM

Could I buy an standard AR lower and a dedicated. 22 upper then later buy a .223 upper and use the same lower? Would this route be any more cost effective then going with a .223 to start with?

Curtis R · 06-08-2012, 05:42 AM

from what i have seen they cannot be converted. the 22lr ar does not have a buffer or buffer spring(the recoil unit for the bolt for a .223). the recoil unit for the .22 is contained in the bolt assy. there will be someone to come along and correct me if i am wrong but this is my experiance with them.

cow0man · 06-08-2012, 05:47 AM

Yes, there are dedicated .22 uppers that have a .22 barrel on them. Will shoot 22 ammo more accurately. Is there a cost savings? Only in the price of the ammo. A dedicated 22 upper will be about $500.

LDBennett · 06-08-2012, 07:13 AM

I have a Double Star California legal lower which I purchase as a receiver only and built up myself. I also have an American Spirit 223 Varmint upper and a TAC SOL 22LR upper. They interchange with the pulling of two captive pins and transferring uppers.

The lower is set up for 223 with the spring buffer in the stock (which the 22LR upper disregards and does not use). As a 223 Varmint gun it is super accurate (Lothar Walther fast twist barrel). The TAC SOL 22LR upper is also very accurate. The gun is very light as a 22LR rifle.

In addition to this I have another AR lower that is used with a 50BMG bolt action upper (BOHICA that actually is 50DTC to be CA legal but essentially the same bullets with slightly modified 50BMG cases). This lower was previously used with the American Spirit upper (223).

The AR is a very versatile rifle with all sorts of caliber uppers available for it. All change over with minimal effort. To get this you have to start with the 223 lower (whether you buy it as a receiver only and build it up or just as a completed lower or as part of a complete 223 rifle). Starting with a 22LR version MAY NOT allow this total interchangeability as some of the AR 22's are Econo lowers not capable of anything other than 22LR (pot metal parts, etc).

Brownells has a whole catalog of AR parts and pieces. Call them and request their AR catalog. Local gun shows sell all the components and completed guns, even here in Assault Weapons Ban California (a special formula of which parts can be used must be adhered to to be CA legal). There are some dealers around the country that specialize in AR's and other quasi-mIlitary rifles.

For more details on CA legal semi-auto centerfire rifles see Cal Guns web page: http://www.calguns.net/

LDBennett

06-07-2012, 10:18 PM	#1
Dobbs .40 Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 21	.22lr AR15 compatability Say if I buy a Bushmaster Ar15 .22 can I swap any. 223 upper to the lower reciever later? -->

06-08-2012, 01:45 AM	#2
Dobbs .40 Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 21	Re: .22lr AR15 compatability Could I buy an standard AR lower and a dedicated. 22 upper then later buy a .223 upper and use the same lower? Would this route be any more cost effective then going with a .223 to start with?

06-08-2012, 05:42 AM	#3
Curtis R V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: N.C. Posts: 289	Re: .22lr AR15 compatability from what i have seen they cannot be converted. the 22lr ar does not have a buffer or buffer spring(the recoil unit for the bolt for a .223). the recoil unit for the .22 is contained in the bolt assy. there will be someone to come along and correct me if i am wrong but this is my experiance with them. __________________

06-08-2012, 05:47 AM	#4
cow0man Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 14	Re: .22lr AR15 compatability Yes, there are dedicated .22 uppers that have a .22 barrel on them. Will shoot 22 ammo more accurately. Is there a cost savings? Only in the price of the ammo. A dedicated 22 upper will be about $500.

06-08-2012, 07:13 AM	#5
LDBennett Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hesperia, CA Posts: 5,719	Re: .22lr AR15 compatability I have a Double Star California legal lower which I purchase as a receiver only and built up myself. I also have an American Spirit 223 Varmint upper and a TAC SOL 22LR upper. They interchange with the pulling of two captive pins and transferring uppers. The lower is set up for 223 with the spring buffer in the stock (which the 22LR upper disregards and does not use). As a 223 Varmint gun it is super accurate (Lothar Walther fast twist barrel). The TAC SOL 22LR upper is also very accurate. The gun is very light as a 22LR rifle. In addition to this I have another AR lower that is used with a 50BMG bolt action upper (BOHICA that actually is 50DTC to be CA legal but essentially the same bullets with slightly modified 50BMG cases). This lower was previously used with the American Spirit upper (223). The AR is a very versatile rifle with all sorts of caliber uppers available for it. All change over with minimal effort. To get this you have to start with the 223 lower (whether you buy it as a receiver only and build it up or just as a completed lower or as part of a complete 223 rifle). Starting with a 22LR version MAY NOT allow this total interchangeability as some of the AR 22's are Econo lowers not capable of anything other than 22LR (pot metal parts, etc). Brownells has a whole catalog of AR parts and pieces. Call them and request their AR catalog. Local gun shows sell all the components and completed guns, even here in Assault Weapons Ban California (a special formula of which parts can be used must be adhered to to be CA legal). There are some dealers around the country that specialize in AR's and other quasi-mIlitary rifles. For more details on CA legal semi-auto centerfire rifles see Cal Guns web page: http://www.calguns.net/ LDBennett