Conversion Kit vs. Dedicated Upper: What Fits Your .22 LR Habit

Shooting .22 LR through an AR-15 is one of the cheapest ways to rack up trigger time, and Brownells laid out the two main routes to get there: a CMMG Bravo conversion kit or a dedicated rimfire upper.

Snapshot

Brownells walks through converting an AR-15 to .22 LR using either a drop-in CMMG Bravo conversion kit or a purpose-built rimfire upper. AmmoLand's own testing backs up the Bravo's reliability, but Brownells' Caleb argues the added cost of a dedicated upper pays off for anyone shooting rimfire regularly.

Key points

• Cheapest entry point: The CMMG Bravo swaps in a self-contained blowback bolt assembly and chamber adapter, letting an existing centerfire upper fire .22 LR at roughly seven to eight cents a round.
• Proven reliable: AmmoLand contributor Jim Grant fired 600 rounds of the Bravo across a PSA pistol, a LaRue carbine, and a BCM rifle with zero malfunctions and groups around 1.6 inches at 50 yards.
• Accuracy edge for dedicated barrels: Brownells says a purpose-built rimfire barrel and matched bolt, found in a dedicated upper, offer more accuracy potential than running .22 LR through a centerfire chamber adapter.
• Fouling stays separate: A dedicated upper keeps dirty rimfire residue out of the centerfire barrel and gas system, something Brownells flags as a bigger deal for high-volume shooters.
• Convenience adds up: Caleb notes a dedicated upper can stay assembled with its own optic and zero, avoiding the point-of-impact shifts that come with swapping ammo types on one barrel.

Quick take

For occasional plinking and practicing fundamentals, the Bravo kit is hard to beat on cost and simplicity, and AmmoLand's own 600-round test backs that up. If .22 LR is going to become a regular habit, Brownells makes a reasonable case that a dedicated upper's accuracy and maintenance benefits justify the extra spend.

Read the full story: ammoland.com