.22 conversion for ar-15

[King]

I am wanting to get a .22 conversion kit. Either CMMG or Ciener. Anyone have experience with them. Which is better. Any info would be great.

[Batteriesnare]

I have some experience with the CMMG. Can't really say anything bad about it, easy to install, disassemble, clean ect. Had some reliability issues with the firing, but I always chalked that up to the cheap Walbox ammo we were using. With mini mags it ran 100%. Good way to save some bread!

[Circuits]

I am wanting to get a .22 conversion kit. Either CMMG or Ciener. Anyone have experience with them. Which is better. Any info would be great.

For 20-some years, the "Atchisson" .22 conversion was under patent protection, said patent owned by J.A. Ceiner. Then the patent expired, so CMMG and Spike's Tactical started making the same kit.

So, there is no "better" between the kits as far as the kits themselves are concerned, just the price, availability, available finishes, and customer service issues. I'd recommend CMMG, and hate dealing with Ceiner because their customer service is actually anti-customer hostility.

If you're looking for the "ball detent" mod, spike's kits are pre-machined for it, so they'd be the way to go in that case.

If you want 30rd mags, you have to sell a testicle to Ceiner. 27rd Black Dog mags reportedly work pretty good, and are what CMMG and Spike's supply with their versions of the .22 kit.

[DeusExMachina]

I had a Ciener drop in bolt replacement from Midway. Ran like shit until I fed it Federal Bulk Pack from Walmart. Ran like a TOP! I used it for a combative carbine class and had zero, yes ZERO issues, whereas plenty of people shooting Sigs, .223 ARs (one with an M&P had a stuck case), and even AKs were having trouble.

It hated Minimags, but absolutely loved the Federal cheap stuff.

I also had to clip a couple coils off the recoil spring. It would occasionally double fire before I did that.

Oh and +1 for Black Dog mags, worked great for me.

Edit: Whats the "ball detent" mod?

[King]

Thanks for the input guys. As far as the 30 rd. mags, I think I will stick with the 27 rd. black dogs and keep my testicles.

[beast556]

Ty

[Circuits]

Edit: Whats the "ball detent" mod?

a hole drilled in the conversion bolt, and a notch milled in the .22 kit rail so that a spring-loaded ball bearing pops out of the hole into the notch when the bolt is fully forward.

Basically a new fix for bolt bounce in full auto or rapid semi fire, which can either supplement, or sometimes replace the full auto debounce weight when firing rapidly in semi, or in full auto. I don't have any pics, but a google search should turn some up on uzitalk or ar15.com in reasonably short order.

[Hoosier]

Thanks for this info, I've been planning on buying a .22 conversion kit for my AR.

[MrPrena]

I am seriously thinking about getting a CMMG 22 conversion kit as well.
I hear very good things about it.

Anyone who have/had bad experience w/ CMMG 22 conv kit?

[MichiganMilitia]

I've heard that 22.LR ammo fouls up your barrel and gas tube pretty bad... can anyone weigh in on this?