7 Best .22LR AR-15 Rifles & Conversion Kits

Part of the reason the AR-15 became America’s rifle is its versatility. The design holds up to abuse, is infinitely customizable, and comes at prices ranging from a few hundred dollars to several thousand.

It can tackle home defense, three-gun competitions, known-distance matches, hunting, and general range-day shenanigans.

Ammunition prices and availability have taken a turn for the worse in recent years, so even 5.56 NATO can get expensive if you train regularly.

The solution is our old rimfire friend, and we’re here to find the best AR-15 in .22 LR for everyone.

These twists on the AR-15 platform aren’t just for plinking at tin cans, either. The user interface is very similar to a carbine or pistol that shoots 5.56, 300 Blackout, 7.62 NATO, or 6.5 Creedmoor.

The magazines even share their exterior size with those of an AR-15 chambered for 5.56 or 300 BLK. Some rimfire AR-15s incorporate non-functional features like a bolt release or forward assist to complete the aesthetic.

Every time you slingshot the charging handle and send 40 gains of round-nosed lead downrange, you’ll build muscle memory that transfers directly to anything in the AR family. Your skills and wallet will thank you.

How We Chose the Best AR-15 in .22 LR

Scott Murdock is a Marine Corps veteran with a basic working knowledge of shooting, written English, and photography. He's passionate about helping readers find quality gear that's worthy of their money. You can find more of his work at Task & Purpose, Free Range American, and Outdoor Life.

This article is a culmination of the best and most accessible AR-15s we think fit most people. We do update articles regularly, so check back if your favorite isn't listed (or drop us a comment below).

Best AR-15 in .22 LR

1. Best Basic .22 LR AR-15 - Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 Sport

Best Basic .22 LR AR-15

Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22

$469

at Palmetto State Armory

Prices accurate at time of writing

$469 at Palmetto State Armory

GrabAGun (see price)

Kygunco (see price)

AR15 Discounts (see price)

The prolific Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 Sport probably comes to mind when you think about an AR-15 in .22 LR.

It’s a modern approach with a full-length Picatinny rail, collapsible buttstock, and flip-up Magpul MBUS sights instead of a carrying handle and A2-style front sight.

This was a rimfire platform from the drawing board rather than a factory conversion, so you’ll notice the ejection port is smaller than usual, and there’s no dust cover. The 16.5-inch barrel is threaded and comes with a birdcage muzzle device.

Its threaded muzzle gives you the ability to mount a suppressor later on, while the 10-inch M-LOK handguard offers plenty of room for accessories like a weapon light and bipod. A 2-inch Picatinny rail is also included to open up your mounting options.

The M&P 15-22 Sport doesn’t have a forward assist like its centerfire counterparts, and the old-school pistol grip is nothing to write home about. It would be nice if Smith & Wesson threw in more than one 25-round magazine (state-compliant magazines are available, too).

That’s about where critiques of this rifle end. It’s many people’s default rimfire AR-15 for a reason, and you can’t go wrong with an M&P 15-22 Sport — especially with an MSRP of less than $500.

2. Editor's Pick - Heckler & Koch HK416

Editor's Pick

Heckler & Koch HK416 .22LR

$492

at GrabAGun

Prices accurate at time of writing

$492 at GrabAGun

Kygunco (see price)

Palmetto State Armory (see price)

You can always spot an AR-15 owner with an eye for the finer things when you see a Heckler & Koch HK416 in the wild.

The German manufacturer has a reputation for making high-quality firearms, and the rimfire HK416 .22 LR is no exception (even though it’s built by Umarex and licensed by H&K).

This rifle comes with a full-length Picatinny rail, an M-LOK handguard, a 16.1-inch barrel with a birdcage muzzle device, and a collapsible buttstock just like the Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 Sport.

In addition to those features, you’ll get a more ergonomic (and, let's be honest, cooler-looking) pistol grip, a non-functional forward assist, and a functional ejection port cover like you’d find on a centerfire AR-15.

H&K typically has excellent fit and finish, right down to the painted safe/fire indicators. This carbine will give you a taste of the high life without breaking the bank since the MSRP is just $599.

There’s also a pistol version, should you prefer something more compact. Just keep in mind that several proprietary internal components will limit your ability to swap out parts.

The HK416 .22 LR is an awesome training AR, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention another rimfire offering from H&K, the MP5 .22 LR.

It’s not based on the AR-15 platform, and I know it comes with a fake suppressor from the factory, but come on, just look at it and tell me you don’t want one.

Heckler & Koch MP5, .22 LR

$499

at Sportsman's Warehouse

Prices accurate at time of writing

$499 at Sportsman's Warehouse

Firearms Depot (see price)

Palmetto State Armory (see price)

What do you think of HK? Rate them below!

3. Best Budget Pick - Hammerli Tac R1

Best Budget Pick

Hammerli Tac R1

$369

at Palmetto State Armory

Prices accurate at time of writing

$369 at Palmetto State Armory

GrabAGun (see price)

Kygunco (see price)

Hammerli isn’t a big name in the AR world, but the Swiss manufacturer is dominant in Olympic shooting. That arena involves uncompromising accuracy standards and, you guessed it, rifles and pistols chambered for .22 LR.

The Hammerli Tac R1 is a major departure from what Hammerli builds for the Olympic stage, but you can bet the brand isn’t about to sully its good name with an inaccurate sporting rifle.

The Tact R1’s threaded muzzle is topped with a standard flash hider. A 13-inch M-LOK handguard wraps the 16.1-inch barrel, and a Picatinny rail runs the length of the handguard and receiver, so you can run an optic in addition to the included flip-up irons.

The five-position adjustable buttstock has multiple attachment points for a sling, including ambidextrous QD mounts.

The upper receiver has a forward assist and a traditional ejection port and dust cover, so it’s a great tool for people who want to save money on ammunition while building proficiency with the AR-15 platform. Take your pick from 10-, 20-, or 30-round magazines.

The biggest surprise on the Tac R1 is the price tag. Hammerli lists an MSRP of $349, although retail prices seem to run higher than that.

Some owners report that the Tac R1 has a heavy trigger, and finding compatible parts can be challenging, so it might not be the best AR-15 in .22 LR for people with the modding bug.

4. Best High-End .22 LR AR - Smith & Wesson Performance Center M&P 15-22 Sport

Best High-End .22 LR AR

Smith & Wesson Performance Center M&P 15-22 Sport

$690

at GrabAGun

Prices accurate at time of writing

$690 at GrabAGun

What’s better than a Smith & Wesson? Easy…a Smith & Wesson that’s been tweaked by the company’s Performance Center.

The Smith & Wesson Performance Center M&P 15-22 Sport builds on the base rifle’s solid platform to create a factory upgrade for more discerning shooters.

Unlike most rimfire AR-15s, this one caters more to competitive shooting than fast-paced plinking. Accuracy gets a big boost from the thick 18-inch fluted barrel, and Smith & Wesson offsets the extra weight with a polymer lower receiver to keep it at a reasonable 5.6 pounds.

The beefy Hogue grip and short magazine help shooters get into a solid position, especially when prone. Usual features include an M-LOK handguard, collapsible buttstock, full-length Picatinny rail, flip-up iron sights, and QD mounting points for a sling.

Like the base M&P 15-22 Sport, this rifle uses a rimfire-specific bolt and ejection port with no forward assist or dust cover.

Oh, and this one is state-compliant, thanks to the 10-round magazine.

5. Best .22 LR AR Pistol - CMMG Banshee MK4

Best .22 LR AR Pistol

CMMG Banshee Mk4

$1443

at GrabAGun

Prices accurate at time of writing

$1443 at GrabAGun

Kygunco (see price)

CMMG (see price)

Palmetto State Armory (see price)

Don’t forget you can also buy an AR-15 pistol in .22 LR. The CMMG Banshee MK4 carries over a lot of the AR-15’s best features and adds a ton of style.

It’s got to be one of the most fun tools for burning through boxes of .22 LR at the range. This pistol stands out from the crowd partly because of a bronze Cerakote finish that gives off budget Honey Badger vibes.

The EML4 handguard has a built-in hand stop, a Picatinny rail up top, and one M-LOK attachment point at the 3-, 6-, and 9-o’clock positions. The upper receiver includes a full-size ejection port and dust cover but no forward assist.

“Wait, pistol braces are fair game again?”

The legal drama surrounding pistol braces has been going on for years, and nobody can blame you for not memorizing every plot twist along the way. You can read all the sordid details in our guide to the issue, but the bottom line is that in November 2023, a federal judge issued an injunction against the ATF’s rule that defined firearms with pistol braces as short-barreled rifles.

So yes, you’re free to buy the Banshee MK4 with a pistol brace and enjoy all the tactical rimfire goodness you can handle. That 4.5-inch barrel is just begging for a suppressor, so maybe you’ll end up applying for a tax stamp anyway.

6. Best Training Aid - Tippmann M4-22 RCR

Best Training Aid

Tippmann M4-22 RCR

$684

at Palmetto State Armory

Prices accurate at time of writing

$684 at Palmetto State Armory

Rimfire forums are full of people recommending Tippmann Arms, and after looking at the Tippmann M4-22 RCR, it’s not hard to see why.

This slick AR-15 has all kinds of features, making it a fantastic training aid and a fun way to spend time at the range without breaking the bank.

Just like a centerfire AR-15, the M4-22 RCR has aluminum upper and lower receivers, a functional forward assist, and an ejection port cover. It’s compatible with most standard AR-15 components, so you can upgrade parts or personalize this rifle just like any AR-15 chambered for 5.56.

There might not be much you want to change, though. The 4.5-pound trigger is better than most and already comes with an upgraded grip and handguard. Tippmann even got clever with the barrel.

While it measures 16 inches, only the first 7 inches are a functional barrel. The rest is a fixed tube that cuts weight and makes room for ports that keep the muzzle flatter between rapid shots (finally, a way to tame that punishing .22 LR recoil).

The M4-22 RCR is a little pricey for an AR-15 in .22 LR, but it backs up the expense with some neat features you won’t see every day.

7. Best Conversion Kit - CMMG .22 LR Conversion Kit

Best Conversion Kit

CMMG .22 LR AR Bravo Conversion Kit 

$164

at Brownells

Prices accurate at time of writing

$164 at Brownells

Palmetto State Armory (see price)

Primary Arms (see price)

CMMG (see price)

As awesome as these rifles are, there is a cheaper alternative for people who want to cut ammo costs while training with their AR-15.

This CMMG conversion kit drops into any AR-15 chambered for 5.56 or .223, so you can knock a decimal place off your price per round for less than $200.

Is this conversion safe? The bore of a barrel chambered for 5.56 or .223 is generally slightly larger than one chambered for .22 LR, so it’s safe to use one of these conversion kits in an AR-15 chambered for 5.56 or .223 (but not 300 BLK, even though the magazines are compatible).

This conversion only goes one way for obvious reasons.

Because the bore is slightly larger, you won’t get as much accuracy from a .22 LR conversion as you would from a rifle built to shoot .22 LR.

Another consideration is maintenance—.22 LR is a notoriously dirty round, so carbon will accumulate faster with one of these kits. That’s not a problem if you stay on top of your cleaning regimen.  

Final Thoughts

If you’re in the market for your first AR-15, you can’t go wrong with 5.56. The midsize rifle round is too good at too many things to be replaced anytime soon.

On the other hand, if your primary rifle needs are already taken care of, an AR-15 in .22 LR is a fantastic training tool that’s tons of fun to shoot. Besides, every red-blooded American needs a .22.

Whether you want something inexpensive to cut down on training costs or a high-end competition gun with all the bells and whistles, there’s something out there for you.

Given how quiet .22 LR is and how affordable rimfire suppressors and subsonic ammunition are, this is also a budget-friendly way to dip your toe into the world of suppressors.

What kind of rifle do you plink and train with? Let us know in the comments! If you’re looking for more great AR-15 information, check out our Definitive Resource!

Latest Updates

January 2024: Completely rewritten with new products.