This is priceless advice right here.
You;re right, the Mossberg .22 offering is complete crap. The M&P 15-22 is the benchmark for AR styled .22's. Throw a Primary Arms micro on it and call it done. You can get decent conversions but they sometimes take quite a bit of tuning to work properly. I have a dedicated .22lr upper with a modified Ciener conversion kit utilizing a cut down Ruger 10/22 barrel. It too a LOT of tuning to run properly.
As for the 5.56 AR, the pendulum has swung several times over the years. Right now in 5.56, the most common and preferred setup if you only have one AR is a 16" mid or lightweight ("LW") profile, chrome lined, hammer forged (nice, but not necessary) with a 1in7 twist rate and true 5.56 chamber. top it with a red dot optic such as the Aimpoint Micro or Pro and use a fixed "F" marked FSB (front sight base) and fixed rear like a Daniel Defense A1.5 or similar. Handguards are personal preference. Mil-std 1913 picatinny rails have been preferred for a long time, but that pendulum has swung to "slick" forends with rail attachment points. Everything you need and nothing you don't. The new hotness is rails like Vltor, Noveske, Fortis, Geissele, etc.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keymod
If you're ever going to mount a magnified optic on the gun, you'll want folding backup iron sights (BIUS) such as Troy or Magpul make. Make sure you get a mil-spec vs. commercial stock tube (correctly called the receiver extension or "RE" for short.). This will allow you the greatest number of stock options with the best fit.
Here are a couple of different way you can go:
First up is a Noveske lower/BCM upper rifle. The lower has a mil-spec RE with a Magpul CTR stock. The lower parts kit is Daniel Defense with a Geissele SSA trigger. The upper is a LW mid-gas 14.5" BCM with pinned BattleComp 1.5 (makes it legal minimum length). The mid-length gas system offers a smoother recoil impulse than a carbine length (9" vs. 7"), but isn't completely necessary. It's just a nice feature to have. If you're getting a carbile length, it's critical to get it from a good source such as Colt, Daniel Defense or BCM. They are correctly gassed for optimum function without excess wear and tear. Many low quality AR's are overgassed intentionally to make up for low quality ammo and poor maintenance by the end user.
Forened is an inexpensive MOE, utilizing an Impact Weapons Components QD sling stud and Surefire 600 Scout mount. It's light, sturdy and a lot less expensive than most free float forends. All in all, it's a tidy package that works every time.
Next up is a Noveske Rogue Hunter 18". This is the precision rig for longer ranges. It's heavier and more accurate. It will also run as fast as you can keep up with accuracy. LOTS of mods and upgrades on this rig, so I'm not going to list them all as you may not start out this way. This total rig would run about $3,500, without the suppressor.
So that's why it's so important to go research each segment of the rifle for what will work best in your intended role for a reasonable cost. The more time you spend researching, the more happy you'll be with your choices.
Bookmarks