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Thread: .22lr conversion wearing out barrel

  1. #1
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    .22lr conversion wearing out barrel

    Im about to jump into a .22lr convserion kit but before I did I was curious if shooting the .22lr will have any effects on the barrel like wearing it out faster, or effect the rifling in someway? I read that chrome lined barrels are really only good for about 10-20k rounds.

    Also, will it effect any other compoents of the rifle?

  2. #2
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    .22 rounds are very, very easy on barrels. they aren't going to cause additional wear or have the same impact on bbl life as .223 rounds.
    I'm no expert, but I took my CCW course at a Holiday Inn Express

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    I have heard reports of leading up the gas tube but others have said that it clears up after a few shots of 5.56.

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    Quote Originally Posted by kalikraven View Post
    I have heard reports of leading up the gas tube but others have said that it clears up after a few shots of 5.56.
    Yep. I've put several thousand rounds down one AR alone using a .22 kit, and the gas port and receiver are the biggest things to keep clean. I've went over a thousand rounds using .22lr without blowing out the port, and when I fired the first round of .223, it didn't have the oomph to eject the spent brass. That round must have cleaned the port, because mag after mag functioned fine after that.

    Generally, after shooting a brick of .22lr down mine, I remove the .22 converison unit, wipe out the receiver, run a snake down the barrel, then fire 4 or 5 rounds of .223. When I get home, I clean it as normal.

    If for whatever reason I didn't run a few rounds of .223 down it when I was done, then I shoot some compressed air down the gas tube after running a pipe cleaner through it. I may be a bit anal though.

    Other than ensuring the gas port is clear and wiping the crud out of the receiver, your cleaning routine won't be any different than with .223. I haven't had any lead fouling issues with a 1:7 barrel, and a .22lr is easy on barrels (especially chrome-lined barrels).

  5. #5
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    Not to mention that as long as you're shooting copper jacketed ammo you should be fine as well. I know I've seen some non-jacketed 22 before and that's the stuff I'd stay away from. After shooting my friend's Bushy with a CMMG conversion in it, buying a kit is totally worth it. You can shoot all day for under $20!

  6. #6
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    Thanks for this info guys... I've been thinking about this also. Just not sure which conversion kit would be better, spikes or cmmg.

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    I'd go with the one from Spikes. It's $50 more but the nickel coating and the addition of the O rings helps out a lot (from what I've read). A lot of people say the CMMG kit runs best sopping wet but I'm sure the coating on the Spikes unit helps a lot with keeping things running smoothly.

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    Thanks, I was leaning towards the Spikes because of the O rings. I'm also wondering if I'll need to change zero on my red dot, I'm hoping not.

  9. #9
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    You don't from what i've heard, but i'd stick with the Handle Sight for the Spike's. That's what I use.
    The most powerful weapon in the WORLD is the Marine.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by JSTICFRALL View Post
    I'd go with the one from Spikes. It's $50 more but the nickel coating and the addition of the O rings helps out a lot (from what I've read). A lot of people say the CMMG kit runs best sopping wet but I'm sure the coating on the Spikes unit helps a lot with keeping things running smoothly.
    I just put another 550 round bulk pack of Federal #750 thru my CMMG conversion with no failures to feed, fire or extract, which has also been the case for the precceding 3,000 rounds. Buy the CMMG and put the extra $50 into Federal #750 bulk packs from Walmart.

    My Aimpoint Mirco is zeroed at 50 yards with 5.56 and I have to aim about 3 inches high at 25 feet with 22LR. Don't rezero your RDS, just find out where the 22LR shoots and make the adjustment in your head. A 22LR conversion in an AR is not a precision rig.

    Also, there are tons of threads on the subject of conversions already. Lots of good info in them also:
    http://m4carbine.net/forumdisplay.php?f=6

    Edited to add: And I don't run it sloppy wet either. I think this would lead to problems. I just give it a wipe down and a very, very light coat of oil after shooting. I do remove the bolt from the rails every couple of thousand rounds, clean the rails and groves well and put a very thin coat of Slide Glide on them.
    Last edited by austinN4; 08-05-10 at 11:51.

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