I don't get 'em!

Could someone explain to me why there are buttloads of new .22LR "Assault Rifles" coming out?

What's the point of these high priced mediocre accuracy rimfires?!!

Ruger SR-22, Rem. 597 VTR, SSIG 522 Classic, ATI GSG-522, Colt Tactical Rimfire, HK 416 D145RS, S&W M&P15-22, Mossberg 702 Tactical Plnkster are some examples that come to mind.

Here's my 2 cents. I have a couple of the S&W's and my kids LOVE to shoot them. Much cheaper than shooting my AR's and they get the same "kick" out of the S&W's that they would shooting the bigger caliber ones.

Cheap ammo.

I'd rather get a Compass Lake Upper for mine. Then again, for the same $1000 I can load 3000 5.56 match rounds.

High-quantity plinking for one, the S&W M&P15-22 is perfect for kids btw and they learn the intricacies of an tactical firearm in a much safer way. They each fire 2500+ rounds each time out, try that with a 223!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by eurocentric:
High-quantity plinking for one, the S&W M&P15-22 is perfect for kids btw and they learn the intricacies of an tactical firearm in a much safer way. They each fire 2500+ rounds each time out, try that with a 223!!!!

Wouldn't an accurate upper conversion that worked on an actual "tactical" rifle be more accurate and make more sense?!!

I could not understand all the rush to these so called "tactical" 22's either, but after being introduced to the Sig version it is anything but inaccurate, a very solid well built rifle and is indeed a training rifle in place of the 223 version. Check one out and usually can be bought for under 500.00 out the door. Very high quality firearm.

quote:

Originally posted by DaMan:

quote:

Originally posted by eurocentric:
High-quantity plinking for one, the S&W M&P15-22 is perfect for kids btw and they learn the intricacies of an tactical firearm in a much safer way. They each fire 2500+ rounds each time out, try that with a 223!!!!

Wouldn't an accurate upper conversion that worked on an actual "tactical" rifle be more accurate and make more sense?!!

Not for the dedicated .22 crowd. The Umarex version of the AR15 costs about the same as my match lower. A dedicated .22 upper is any where from $800 to $1200. Accuracy is in the eye of the shooter. For less than $800 you get the same acuracy as a factry 10/22, not bad but nothing to write home about. For $1000 to 1200 you get Compass Lake with 1/2 inch at 50 yards and near minute at 100. The drop in conversion is only $200 but if you have a fast twist barrel on your AR the barrel leads up. As for the glut of them comming out recently it could be monkey see monkey do, or a case where the market exists to make them as trainers and civilian sales are a bonus. If I had to guess I'd still stick with cheap ammo.

I bought the sr22 for the cool toy factor. I was shocked by its accuracy. My wife can shoot the caps off water bottles at 50 yards. What was bought as a toy now is a dedicated squirrel rifle.

There is a bit of a pshcyological continuum here as well. If you look at what the NRA is saying about the transition of military arms into the main stream of the American hunting culture it makes sense.

Just the same thing as all of the calibers that have come out in AR style of rifles. Get the new/next generation interested in hunting with this style of rifle which may interest them when a bolt gun did not.

Also, and in some ways just as important is to be able to illustrate the fact these are hunting arms--that is when the Dem's at some point, and they will--try to call them assault rifles as Hitler so named his rifles. Plus the ammo manufacturers certainly don't mind that more ammo gets fired this way also.

Just some of my thoughts.

Aside from looking cool, I don't see much point. I guess they share ergonomics with their big brothers so you can practice on a nearly identical platform, but that doesn't justify the cost for me.

I'll stick with my $150 10/22 for high-volume plinking.

Actually the Smith and Wesson AR 22 is also pretty accurate. I watched one being used by one of the shooting gurus on Impossible Shots this past week (I think it was a re-run) and he was doing some amazing shooting with that little AR 22!

It's a Semi auto .22. To me it's like dressing up and plastering make up on a pig. Makes no real sense.

The younger shooters 'get it'.

At a recent club shooting event for youths one of the .22 rifles made available for them to shoot was a Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22. There were also some bolt guns and another 'traditional' semi-auto. During the supervised event the youths all gravitated to the AR platform and waited in line to shoot it.

There could have been a 52 Sporter and other 1K+ classic .22's there, but the younger generation would have been interested in only shooting that A-R. And it proved to be accurate and functioned great.

So the reason you are seeing a lot of them is because people are buying them. Heck, I bought one for my Grandkid. Lot's of 'Wow' factor as far as he's concerned. Plus the M-4 style telescoping stock will accomadate him as he grows.

quote:

Originally posted by DaMan:
I don't get 'em!

Could someone explain to me why there are buttloads of new .22LR "Assault Rifles" coming out?

What's the point of these high priced mediocre accuracy rimfires?!!

Ruger SR-22, Rem. 597 VTR, SSIG 522 Classic, ATI GSG-522, Colt Tactical Rimfire, HK 416 D145RS, S&W M&P15-22, Mossberg 702 Tactical Plnkster are some examples that come to mind.

If I may butt in

I think the manufacturers have employed a marketing psychologist and they have got it right.

Under every mature shooter there is a kid dying to break the mould to come out and play -that's why and they are selling trucks loads of them.

its cheap to shoot and lots of fun with the family.

I shoot mine along with my Rigby double regularly !

here in the UK semi auto centre fire rifles are illegal so .22 like theses are the best we can get

I have a 7 year old that regularly wants to shoot/hunt with me. Having an adjustable butt stock she does not need her own rifle to plink. The AR platform is very accurate and gets her familiar with the larger caliber AR's. Plus coming with a threaded bbl you can put a suppressor on it and we now have an ear safe plinker where she can hear instruction.

Perry

Simple answer.....they are fun.....mine is a GSG and although not bullseye accurate it is fun to shoot.

I agree that they are fun to shoot, but, after the initial joy is over, it is nice to be able to hit what you are aiming at otherwise frustration sits in!
Peter.

quote:

Originally posted by Peter:
I agree that they are fun to shoot, but, after the initial joy is over, it is nice to be able to hit what you are aiming at otherwise frustration sits in!
Peter.

If, as others have reported above, those "tactical" .22s can shoot 1/2" at 50 yards, or reliably hit bottle caps at that distance, that is AT LEAST AS ACCURATE as some very expensive Anschutz target rifles I have seen (and/or owned).

I can tell you this for sure....for 4 years I ran monthly rimfire matches at an Oregon gun club. ANY RF rifle which could consistently stay 1 MOA at 25, 50, and 75 yards could have won any of those matches in the hands of someone who could read the wind. (The targets were 20 1/4", 1/2" and 3/4" dots per each range, the longer the range, the bigger the dots.)

So, Alberta, how many BR50 matches have these tactical 22s won?
Peter.

Peter,

if they had all the BR50 competitors in the US in one restaurant, you could afford to pick up the tab. Yankee Stadium couldn't hold the second quarter of 2011 buyers of the tactical 22s. There are very few people that will lay out $500.oo for a brick of 22lr.

99.9% of the rim fire shooters in this country buy them for fun or muscle memory training for their CF Zombie Rifles.

I bought one of the GSG 522 autoloaders this afternoon, and one of the 110 round drums. The younger set thought it was the neatest thing they had ever seen!

Rich

I have a dedicated upper for my ARs. Great fun. Pretty much always take it to the range. Making cans dance is fun. Even more so with 26 rd mags and an EOTech. Pretty awesome fun running plate racks with them against your friends and a shot timer.

Some folks just can't relax and have a little plinking fun. Kinda sad really.

I picked up the CMMG conversion bolt for my AR and think it was a great buy at 165$$$

Same optics, trigger, everything as my standard 5.56 because it is

Just much cheaper to plink with