CMMG Conversion Kit vs. Dedicated .22 LR Upper: Which Wins

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

Snapshot

Brownells' Caleb walks through CMMG's rimfire options for the AR-15 platform: a drop-in conversion kit that works with an existing centerfire upper, and a purpose-built .22 LR upper with its own barrel and bolt. Caleb argues the dedicated upper is worth the extra cost for accuracy and maintenance reasons, though the conversion kit remains the budget-friendly starting point.

Key points

• Cost: The CMMG Bravo conversion kit is the cheaper route since it drops into an existing centerfire upper rather than requiring a whole new build.
• Reliability: AmmoLand contributor Jim Grant previously ran 600 rounds through the Bravo across three AR platforms with zero malfunctions and groups around 1.6 inches at 50 yards.
• Accuracy edge: Brownells' Caleb says a dedicated rimfire barrel has more accuracy potential than adapting a centerfire barrel with a chamber adapter, though no direct side-by-side test is given.
• Fouling: A dedicated upper keeps dirty .22 LR residue out of the centerfire barrel and gas system; Brownells recommends copper-plated bullets with the conversion kit to help manage lead buildup.
• Convenience: A dedicated upper can stay assembled with its own zeroed optic, while a conversion kit needs reinstalling each time and shifts point of impact versus 5.56.

Quick take

For occasional plinking and cheap practice, the CMMG Bravo conversion kit is the easy entry point and has already proven reliable in AmmoLand's own testing. If rimfire shooting becomes a regular habit, Brownells makes the case that a dedicated upper's accuracy and cleanliness advantages justify the added expense.

Read the full story: ammoland.com