22LR AR15 magazine question

[gregintenn]

I am sorely tempted by the PSA lightweight upper in the daily emails I receive. I've never owned one. I would like to know if the magazines are pretty well standard between dedicated uppers and 22LR conversion units. I'd also like to hear your preferences on brands and where you'd buy them.

[Raoul]

I've used a drop-in bolt for years with no problem. I can only assume the dedicated uppers would be as good or better. Of course you would have to zero in the sights on the upper. Enjoy your new toy.

[MP5_Rizzo]

They recommend Black Dog Machine magazines.  I have several Black Dog sonic weld mags that I use with and old Ciener/Atchisson  conversion kit and never had an issue.  Even in full bullet hose mode.

[Raoul]

Just now, MP5_Rizzo said:

They recommend Black Dog Machine magazines.  I have several Black Dog sonic weld mags that I use with and old Ciener/Atchisson  conversion kit and never had an issue.  Even in full bullet hose mode.

I second this. I used the same mix for a long time with no major issue.

[hipower]

FWIW...Last year I sold a complete 22 upper I bought to build a 22AR. The seller told me it functioned reliably only with Black Dog mags. 

[MacGyver]

Black Dog mags are the only 22 LR mags as far as I’m concerned.  

[krunchnik]

There is a company called Better Mag that makes a lower magazine well adapter that fits into the AR lower and converts it to use the S&W MP15-22 magazines that also works as a last round hold open.I have one for my dedicated CMMG upper and they work really well.A person just slides the adapter into the lower and install the upper assembly and away you go.

[hipower]

Interesting. Thanks. Will have to check this out. Ever try it on the M&P 22?

I have an older model. At least 8 years old.

[Murgatroy]

I am pretty decided to just buy an M&P 15-22, surely the cost can't be that different? I have seen some really good deals on them lately.

 

[hipower]

Sorry my memory is shot. Someone had a pretty good deal last week on one.

 

Actually, PSA has one now for 299, with free shipping.

Edited January 16, 2019 by hipower

[DL126]

I use Black Dog magazines in my PSA 22LR dedicated upper.
Normally I order direct from the maker.
In my experience thus far, It's easier to find them in stock that way.
The only "twitch" I have found with them is if you rest the rifle on the mag, like in the absence of a bipod, they don't like to feed the next round. Sometimes it will, sometimes it won't. (This might not be the fault of the mag itself.)

The upper really likes CCI Mini Mag HP's.
Really nice groups @ 50 yards.
I started out buying Mini Mag solid nose, then discovered that the HP's grouped better for me.
Mine is the classic M4 style, 16" with front sight and non free floated hand guard.

As for the SW MP 15-22 ...
I had one.
It was OK I reckon, but I grew not to like it mainly because the whole thing is plastic.
The bolt catch would "rock" back/forth in it's pocket. (Not good for longevity IMO)
The "buffer tube" and lower is a single, all plastic, piece.
I felt like that if I were to take a fall, and the rifle had to support my weight, it'd break.
They will take any milspec trigger group, and a milspec stock.
If you wanted to replace the hand guard, I read that it can be done, but good luck with that.
I wound up giving the rifle to my daughter so she'd always have at least one of "Daddy's guns". 
My wife still has a 15-22. We'll most likely replace it with another dedicated PSA upper.

[krunchnik]

11 hours ago, DL126 said:

I use Black Dog magazines in my PSA 22LR dedicated upper.
Normally I order direct from the maker.
In my experience thus far, It's easier to find them in stock that way.
The only "twitch" I have found with them is if you rest the rifle on the mag, like in the absence of a bipod, they don't like to feed the next round. Sometimes it will, sometimes it won't. (This might not be the fault of the mag itself.)

The upper really likes CCI Mini Mag HP's.
Really nice groups @ 50 yards.
I started out buying Mini Mag solid nose, then discovered that the HP's grouped better for me.
Mine is the classic M4 style, 16" with front sight and non free floated hand guard.

As for the SW MP 15-22 ...
I had one.
It was OK I reckon, but I grew not to like it mainly because the whole thing is plastic.
The bolt catch would "rock" back/forth in it's pocket. (Not good for longevity IMO)
The "buffer tube" and lower is a single, all plastic, piece.
I felt like that if I were to take a fall, and the rifle had to support my weight, it'd break.
They will take any milspec trigger group, and a milspec stock.
If you wanted to replace the hand guard, I read that it can be done, but good luck with that.
I wound up giving the rifle to my daughter so she'd always have at least one of "Daddy's guns". 
My wife still has a 15-22. We'll most likely replace it with another dedicated PSA upper.

Your completely right about all plastic.I am the armorer at Range USA and we have a S&W 15-22 in our rental inventory-I clean it every 2 weeks and it is holding up pretty well.

So far all I have replaced is an extractor hook and plunger with spring-A parson can replace the trigger group but the plastic lower pin holes get a little out of shape fairly easy.

Magazines are kind of a soft spot-the feed lips at the rear get a groove worn in and the rounds will self feed all over the floor-it would be a good idea to have one as a spare.

 

[TheOtherBob]

I bought a Tactical Solutions dedicated .22 upper several years ago. It has been flawless with Black Dog Machine magazines.

[Raoul]

Not a dedicated upper but a pretty good deal nonetheless.

I have had good luck with the one I have.

https://www.ammoland.com/2019/02/cmmg-ar15-22lr-bravo-rifle-conversion-kit-3-mags/#axzz5fiVtRAOE

[10-Ring]

On 1/15/2019 at 9:51 PM, Murgatroy said:

I am pretty decided to just buy an M&P 15-22, surely the cost can't be that different? I have seen some really good deals on them lately.

 

I've had one for a few months and really like it.

[DL126]

On 1/16/2019 at 7:17 AM, DL126 said:

As for the SW MP 15-22 ...
I had one.
It was OK I reckon, but I grew not to like it mainly because the whole thing is plastic.
The bolt catch would "rock" back/forth in it's pocket. (Not good for longevity IMO)
The "buffer tube" and lower is a single, all plastic, piece.
I felt like that if I were to take a fall, and the rifle had to support my weight, it'd break.
They will take any milspec trigger group, and a milspec stock.
If you wanted to replace the hand guard, I read that it can be done, but good luck with that.
I wound up giving the rifle to my daughter so she'd always have at least one of "Daddy's guns". 
My wife still has a 15-22. We'll most likely replace it with another dedicated PSA upper.

Sold the wife's 15-22 a couple of weeks ago, (with her blessing), and ordered this ...
https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-16-22-lr-1-16-nitride-2a-armament-13-5-m-lok-upper-with-bcg-ch.html

So far, it has functioned without flaw, and consistently hits where you point it using CCI MiniMag 36gr HP.
Probably have +/- 200 rounds thru it.
Very pleased.

[DL126]

Update ...

Last weekend I did a bit of shooting/testing with the aforementioned PSA upper.
I shot 200 rounds of the ammo mentioned above.

That ammo has 1260 FPS listed right on the box.
15 rounds over the chronograph ... drop high and low ... average of the remaining 13 ... 1270 FPS.
The chrony was 13' out from the muzzle, so I added 10 FPS and plugged 1280 into ballistic software.

25 yard zero.
12oz soda at 172 yards.
12.4 MOA up .... 1st shot hit.

New scope/mount ordered.
I'm anxious to see what it can do at even longer range!

Still very pleased.