.22 conversion vs. reloading

[acjones]

I was wondering what everyone thought about getting a .22 conversion kit vs. reloading for the same firearm (like an AR or glock). Most of my friends shoot their converted weapons and hang onto the ammo for a rainy day. I like shooting full power ammo, but .22 is still a good bang for the buck.

[Werdna]

For the AR I would pass on a conversion kit and just buy a 22 semi-auto.

For the glock, I have no experience with the kit but it seems like a good idea if you can find one at a bargain.

Just my .02 cents

[MakeMineaP99]

I hardly shoot 22s these days. With being able to roll your own, you can tailor your loads to the application. Also, assuming you cast your own lead, handgun rounds run about $40/1000 to reload (and that's a high number). What's a brick of 22s these days? $20?

[BigSlick]

Nothing says you can't do both.

I've run a rimfire conversion out of a G19. It shoots, for the most part, but it feels kinda funky after shooting it with a mid range 9x19 load. I like the MK II/III better

I passed on a conversion NIB for the G23 priced at $189. I figured I could buy enough cast to keep me shooting for a while for $189.

Most conversions run well over $200 now if my memory serves me.

For $200 you can get all the parts and pieces you need to load for a (new) caliber and maybe a few components. Then, when the ammo is all shot up, you still get the brass and the practice with your gun shooting the caliber it is designed for.

I personally wouldn't drop $200+ on a conversion limited to use with one gun. 9x19 ammo will shoot out of a lotta guns. If ya buy the rimfire conversion, you'll be stuck with a boat anchor if you sell off the gun it fits.

PLUS, rimfire conversions don't seem to hold their value well when used.

[MONTEGOD7SS]

I shot a G17 .22 conversion this past weekend and it was cool! Get a lot of trigger time for not much coin. You can shoot .22 cheaper than you can buy primers for reloading, plus you don't have to take the time to load or put more wear and tear (and loss) on your brass stash. For an AR I would probably do like mentioned above and just get a .22 rifle of some kind, but for pistols they are great. If the moolah situation keeps improving for me I plan on buying one for my P220.

[cohutt]

I thought about it and passed, instead bought a couple 22 pistols to plink with.

Depending on your regular gun, you can probably find a 22 that has the same shape, grip angle etc.

[Glooooock]

I always like the multi caliber kit off of one frame / receiver .But All the glock & Sig .22 conversions fall short of a stand alone .22 pistol . Like others posted , cast bullet shooters can reload cheaper .

The only conversion that shines is the .22 marvel on a 1911 frame . Ending up better than 90% of all .22 target pistols .

[creophus]

I have a 22 conversion on my G23. Now that I reload, it's now more of a novelty. I also have a 9mm conversion for the 23.

I'd say reload, then get a conversion if you still want one.

[AdamN]

I have a Marvel conversion on a 1911 frame, really nice. I dont use it as a subsitute for reloading. Its more of a dedicated 22 only setup.

[MONTEGOD7SS]

I would love to know where you all buy your components that can reload cheaper than $23/1000. Heck, where you find PRIMERS that cheap, much less the bullet, powder, and time spent loading? Primers you got 100yrs ago don't count because I'm not talking 100yr ago prices on .22 ammo.

[AlPackin]

I both reload and shoot .22's from my Glock, best of both worlds. My son is new to handguns and he's shot a pile of .22's, factory WWB .40, my reload .40s and my reload 9mm. He says the .22 gives him time to concentrate on the trigger pull, not to mention the affordability.

[rwblue01]

I do both.
22 conversion for Glocks and ARs.
I think it really depends on what you are wanting.

Reloading is more expensive, even when you don't pay yourself a wage.

22lr will never be a full powered cartridge.

Reloaders can customise their loads for more accuracy or power.

I have more 22LR round than I expect to shoot in .... well I don't plan on buying any more for a long long time.

Accuracy is good with both reloads and 22LR, but not great. My tack drivers are Ruger MKII and Encore in 22LR. My reloads and my 22LR conversions are not good enough.

The knowledge I have aquired through reloading and testing my own ammo is really the worthwhile reason for reloading.

22lr conversions could be used to get around some legislation. I can not remember where, but I remember they had no problems with semi-auto 22LR with large capacity magazines, but did have a problem with centerfire guns with large capacity magazines. So if they started the same law here, my Glock becomes a 22LR gun.

[MakeMineaP99]

I would love to know where you all buy your components that can reload cheaper than $23/1000. Heck, where you find PRIMERS that cheap, much less the bullet, powder, and time spent loading? Primers you got 100yrs ago don't count because I'm not talking 100yr ago prices on .22 ammo.

You can stil get primers from Grafs for $18/k.

[MONTEGOD7SS]

Ok, so are you getting free powder and bullets? Just don't try to say casting bullets is free, cuz we know that ain't true. Also, you can't buy 1k primers for $18 because you have to pay shipping and Hazmat, I can just stroll down to Wal-Mart and have 1100 .22 for $26. Obviously a .22 and a cheap 9mm or .38 are different animals, but for working on trigger control a small bang is just as good as a big bang.

[MakeMineaP99]

$18/k is the delivered price when you buy in quantity. Powder, lets see, 38s and 45s use about 4 grs at most, that's 1750 rds/lb @ $10-$12/lb depending on make.

Casting bullets is damn near free. I get lead free, if I have to pay it's $15 for 2-3 5 gal buckets, don't make me calulate energy cost, it ain't much.

$25/k is a good number.

[MONTEGOD7SS]

It is a losing battle because it's all based off buying huge amounts to offset shipping and Hazmat which you pay none of with rimfire from Wal-Mart. I know this is a reloading forum and all, but it just doesn't work like that. This thread was about .22 conversions, and they are still a great way to practice with a specific gun cheaply, quietly, and without having to peck around on the ground afterwards.

[MakeMineaP99]

We buy in huge enough quantities there is no hazmat, since it's LTL and the shipping ~$100 is less in tax than you'd pay at Wal-Mart. I like to buy once a year at most for powders and primers, I hate being nickled and dimed to death, be it powders and primers or whatever else. Buy enough to run you a year is my standard. For example, I buy enough Q Tips at a crack for a very long time, carb cleaner, bullet lube, etc.

22s are fun, I have a couple as plinking toys. It seems like you're throwing good money after bad to spend it all on a conversion and then feed the thing, when you could accomplish the same with center fire at close to the same price, granted you have to put some work into making the ammo, without needing a conversion kit. 22s are great to get pistol basics down, sight alignment, trigger control, stance, grip, etc., however, at some point the law of deminishing returns applies.

By yourself a wheelgun and you won't ever have to bend down. ;)

[ede]

i was going to buy a conversion kit for a glock but after looking at the cost of the kit and some extra mags buying MK III made more sense. ended up liking it so much i bought another and put a CMore on it. for most of the competition year every nite after work i'll run 50 rounds through each gun on a plate rack.

[MONTEGOD7SS]

We buy in huge enough quantities there is no hazmat, since it's LTL and the shipping ~$100 is less in tax than you'd pay at Wal-Mart. I like to buy once a year at most for powders and primers, I hate being nickled and dimed to death, be it powders and primers or whatever else. Buy enough to run you a year is my standard. For example, I buy enough Q Tips at a crack for a very long time, carb cleaner, bullet lube, etc.

22s are fun, I have a couple as plinking toys. It seems like you're throwing good money after bad to spend it all on a conversion and then feed the thing, when you could accomplish the same with center fire at close to the same price, granted you have to put some work into making the ammo, without needing a conversion kit. 22s are great to get pistol basics down, sight alignment, trigger control, stance, grip, etc., however, at some point the law of deminishing returns applies.

By yourself a wheelgun and you won't ever have to bend down. ;)

I only have one revolver and it's my J-frame that I carry. My training has been to let the brass hit the ground when training so you don't revert back to brass scrounging mentality in the middle of a gun fight. There were a couple of CHP officers that were killed in the line of duty that had empty brass in their pockets because they had always picked it up as part of their training routine. Scary stuff what your mind does under stress.

[Chuckles]

I have an AR-15 and reload for it. It costs me $150/K to load for it. A good conversion kit for it runs about $200 when you include spare magazines for it. A 500 round brick of .22 with tax is $20-$25 in my neck of the woods. So the cost diffrence is only $50/K. On an AR, that means you have to shoot 4K just to break even. Unless you are shooting a machine gun, reloading is the way to go.

On the other hand, if you don't have time to reload or want an indoor range gun, just pick up a used 10/22. They go for $150 and are blast to shoot and just as easy to customize. Us the AR for your outdoor shooting and just buy Wolf/Silver Bear.

[rwblue01]

Buying factory ammo cost more, but it takes les time to do.

Reloading your own, costs less, but takes time. And there is start up cost. And you will shoot more.

22LR costs less, but it is not full power ammo and there is start up cost, AND shooting 22LR is addictive. First you start off with one rifle, then you need another and a pistol to go along with it. And then a couple rifles and pistols are not good enough, you need conversion units and suppressors. And soon you want conversions for all your guns and .... and .... and .....

Seriously, if you think you will save money by reloading or getting a conversion unit, stop now, it is not going to happen. You will just shoot more. You will use you 22LR for locations and times when you don't want to shoot full power stuff.

[RustyFN]

Ok, so are you getting free powder and bullets? Just don't try to say casting bullets is free, cuz we know that ain't true. Also, you can't buy 1k primers for $18 because you have to pay shipping and Hazmat, I can just stroll down to Wal-Mart and have 1100 .22 for $26. Obviously a .22 and a cheap 9mm or .38 are different animals, but for working on trigger control a small bang is just as good as a big bang.

Monte I cast and have gotten all of my lead for free, I have 1200 pounds. The only cost in my bullets is the little bit of electricity which isn't much. I load with primers that cost $16 per 1K last year and powder that cost $12 a pound last year. Have enough left to load thousands of rounds. I can load 45 auto or basically any of my pistols for $25 per 1K. All it takes is some time which I don't figure anything for because It's a hobby and I wouldn't be doing anything to make money with that time if I wasn't reloading and casting.

You also have a lot more cost into shooting 22LR than $26 for 1100 rounds. Most conversions I have seen cost $250 and up.

[creophus]

You know as I'm sitting here reading this, I am remembering the .22 conversion that I'm waiting on for the M11. In this case I think a full auto .22 will be the bomb. It goes beyond simple dollar amounts in that case.

[Brass Nazi]

I have a conversion for a Beretta 92. It works well and makes for fun and inexpensive shooting. Although I use the Buckmark more.