As you may have guessed from the title, I haven’t had a great deal of success with 22 LR conversion kits other than the CMMG Bravo. I’m sure that someone in the comments will tell me I’m a fool or that their off-brand 22 conversion ran flawlessly for 10,000 rounds. But realistically, they’re either lying or managed to get the world’s finest example combined with immaculately clean rimfire ammunition.
Whatever the case, most 22 conversions are just fancy, overpriced paperweights. So what makes the CMMG Bravo 22lr AR15 Conversion Kit unique? Let’s take a closer look and find out.
What is the CMMG Bravo 22 LR Conversion Kit?
The CMMG Bravo 22 LR conversion kit is a self-contained, drop-in replacement bolt carrier group that changes the caliber of a .223/5.56mm AR-15 to .22 LR.
Clear the action, swap the carrier group and magazine, and you’re done. (see installation how-to video below)
CMMG Bravo 22 LR Conversion Kit Specs
- Brand: CMMG Manufacturing
- Product Name: CMMG 22LR AR Conversion Kit, Bravo
- Product Part Number/Model: 22BA651 & 22BA6AE
- UPC: 815835017143
- MSRP: $230.00
It would be easy enough to simply summarize this article in four words: “The CMMG Bravo works.”
And while that would be a fully accurate statement, there’s more to the story than that – especially for shooters who’ve been on the fence about investing in a .22 conversion kit for their favorite black rifle. So first I’ll explain how the conversion works, then go into its strengths and limitations.
Live Inventory Price Checker
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CMMG Bravo .22lr Conversion Kit w/ 3- 10rd Black Polymer Magazines | BattleHawk Armory | $ 229.95 $ 154.99 |
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CMMG Bravo .22lr Conversion Kit w/ 1- 25rd Black Magazine | BattleHawk Armory | $ 199.95 $ 134.88 |
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CMMG Evolution .22LR Conversion Kit Bravo Stainless 25rd | GrabAGun | $ 152.99 |
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CMMG Bravo AR-15 .22LR Conversion Kit with Three 25 Round Magazines | The Mag Shack | $ 169.99 |
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CMMG Bravo AR-15 .22LR Conversion Kit with Three 25-Round Magazines | GunMag Warehouse | $ 229.99 $ 174.99 |
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CMMG Bravo AR-15 .22LR Conversion Kit with 25-Round Magazine | GunMag Warehouse | $ 199.99 $ 154.99 |
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CMMG Bravo AR-15 .22LR Conversion Kit with 10-Round Magazine | GunMag Warehouse | $ 229.99 $ 159.99 |
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CMMG Bravo AR-15 .22LR Conversion Kit with Three 10-Round Magazines | GunMag Warehouse | $ 229.99 $ 189.99 |
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CMMG Bravo .22LR AR-15 Conversion Kit | GunMag Warehouse | $ 189.99 $ 154.99 |
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CMMG AR Conversion Kit Bravo 22LR 10RD Stainless Steel | BattleHawk Armory | $ 199.95 $ 139.51 |
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Under The Hood
Like nearly every self-loading rimfire conversion, the CMMG Bravo is a direct blowback-operated system. Meaning that the bolt never locks into battery, but simply rests there under the pressure of the recoil spring. This is because, while affordable and accurate, .22lr is relatively low pressure, and thus, the action of the firearm doesn’t need to be locked during detonation to ensure the shooter’s safety.
But wait, you might be thinking, how can the Bravo just drop in and change the caliber of the host gun without changing the barrel?
Well, the diameter of most 40gr .22lr rounds is .224in – the same as .223 rounds (confusing, I know).
As long as the conversion properly aligns the round in the chamber, it’s good to go.
So how does it accomplish this? By replicating the dimensions of an AR-15’s bolt carrier group in a self-contained unit.
Basically, the CMMG Bravo is a bolt, recoil-spring, and chamber all in one. The chamber itself is shaped like a .223 cartridge to allow it to sit perfectly in the host gun’s chamber.
Why does that matter? For our purposes, the importance of this fact lies in its simplicity, ease of installation, and reliability. Because only the spring’s tension and the bolt’s weight need to be properly tuned for reliable operation, there are fewer things to foul up and break. Plus, the whole unit can be installed in seconds by removing the BCG and replacing it with the Bravo – simplicity itself.
Yet, the majority of these guns aren’t very reliable – why is that? Well, I’ve heard a number of reasons ranging from ammunition quality to magazine design, but none of them seem to be either as reliable or as accurate as a dedicated .22lr firearm.
But here’s a question I haven’t seen asked – Does it need to be?
Bravo 22LR AR Conversion Kit Accuracy
Here’s the thing, 22LR AR conversion kits for centerfire rifles aren’t meant to perfectly replicate the entire shooting experience. Rather, they’re designed to allow shooters to build fundamental shooting skills like sight picture, trigger control, and proper breathing without sending pricey rounds downrange. Plus, given the relatively limited range of .22lr, shooters shouldn’t expect their conversion to group sub-MOA
Does this mean the Bravo isn’t very accurate?
Actually, no.
In fact, during testing, the Bravo achieved groups hovering around 1.6 inches at 50 yards, making it more than accurate enough for practical training, plinking targets, and even hunting small game. So while it might not be the best configuration at the Alamo, an AR with the CMMG Bravo installed could serve as a survival gun in a pinch.
CMMG Bravo Reliability
This category is what separates rockstars from groupies. Multiple companies have built similar caliber conversions in the past, but none of them can hold a candle to Bravo’s reliability.
And while the importance of a firearm’s reliability is pretty apparent, it’s also crucial for training as well.
One of the biggest hurdles for new shooters is motivation. Especially for those working 60+ hour work weeks, finding the time to drive to the gun range and train can be very difficult.
The best way to encourage return trips and dedication to training is not having to constantly struggle with malfunctions. Because we’ve all been there before – starting something new without someone, it’s easy to make mountains out of molehills.
A great example: the first time a kid swings a bat, they either miss entirely or swing under the ball. Anyone who has played little league knows that the solution is simple. Either the batter needs to keep his eye on the ball and/or keep his shoulder up, but that’s not immediately apparent to someone brand new to the sport.
So how did the CMMG Bravo perform?
In a word: Flawlessly.
The Bravo was installed in three different firearms: a PSA 10.5in barrel pistol, a LaRue Tactical 14.5in (with muzzle device pinned and welded) Ultimate Upper Kit build carbine and a Bravo Company Machine 20in rifle. Each gun was fed 200 rounds from the 25-round magazine, filled to capacity. A .22lr sound suppressor was installed on the PSA pistol and a SilencerCo Saker 762 on the LaRue, and across these 600 rounds, the gun encountered zero malfunctions.
This was with Winchester WildCat, CCI Standard Velocity, and old Federal military contract CMP ammo. The only cleaning procedure observed was to wipe down the Bravo at the end of each shooting session, and after replacing the Bravo with the original BCG, fire a single .223 round from the gun.
Pros & Cons, aka Problems, of the 22LR AR Conversion Kit
Tip #1. After each shooting session, it’s recommended that shooters replace the Bravo with the original BCG and fire a full-powered round through the gun.
This clears the gas tube of excess carbon and lead fouling that results from firing .22lr ammo. It’s not a big deal at all, but it makes sure you don’t totally clog up the gas tube after a thousand or so rounds.
Another issue with the Bravo and all .22 conversions is recoil or lack thereof.
Because your AR-15 was designed to fire the more potent, higher velocity .223/5.56mm cartridge, it has laughably little felt recoil with the Bravo installed.
This is great for younger or brand-new shooters as it helps acclimate them to the noise and kick of firearms before going all in. But it also has the strange effect of making full-powered rounds seem momentarily overly loud and powerful when switching back.
For some shooters, this might cause them to flinch – especially at indoor ranges where the 5.56 cartridge may as well be a flashbang. It’s so damn loud.
Unfortunately, this is unavoidable since there’s no easy way to replicate the recoil of a full-powered cartridge in a .22lr carbine. Colt managed to do a decent job replicating some recoil with their Colt 1911 Ace and its floating chamber, but nothing similar to my knowledge exists.
CMMG Bravo Advantages
- Saving Money on Ammo
- Less Felt Recoil
- More Trigger Time on your AR Pattern Rifle
- Great for New Shooters
- More Practice time on Trigger Control & Sight Alignment
The cost of ammo is the biggest one plus side of this conversion kit. Secondly, the smallest and most recoil-shy shooters can easily handle an AR with the Bravo installed without a loud report or intense recoil impulse. Sure, it won’t teach them how to properly manage recoil, but they’ll understand sight alignment, trigger control, and how to properly use the gun without dropping $100 plus in ammo each range trip.
CMMG Bravo 22 LR Conversion Kit FAQ
Can you convert an AR-15 rifle to fire 22 LR ammunition?
The answer is yes! With an after-market conversion kit, like the CMMG Bravo, you can change out your rifle’s bolt carrier to one compatible with 22 long rifle ammunition.
What is a 22 LR conversion kit?
AR conversion kits typically consist of magazines and a bolt carrier group that allows you to fire alternate or cheaper caliber ammunition through your AR pattern rifle, getting you more trigger time on your favorite black gun.
What is the CMMG Bravo Kit?
The CMMG Bravo 22LR conversion kit is a purpose-built aftermarket accessory you can use within your AR platform rifle to shoot 22 long rifle caliber ammunition through your 223 REM or 5.56 caliber firearm.
Can you shoot 22LR ammo out of a 5.56 or 223 caliber rifle barrel?
Yes, you can with the proper rifle conversion kit. 22LR is smaller in caliber, or diameter, than 223 rem or 5.56 NATO caliber gun barrels and works great for casual plinking and shooting range fun.
What is the diameter of a 22 rimfire bullet?
22 LR, or long rifle, rimfire ammunition bullet diameters are measured in thousandths of an inch with the 22 round measuring .223, and that includes all the related rifle cartridges, 22 Short and standard Long that use bullets of the same diameter.
Does an AR15 rifle’s stock BCG or bolt carrier group work with 22LR ammo?
The answer is NO. But you can purchase a rifle conversion kit like the CMMB bravo that replaces your BCG with one that works with 22 rimfire ammo.
Is the CMMG’s Bravo .22 LR conversion kit easy to install?
Yes! Ar15 rifle conversion kits are very easy to install in your firearm. Just remove the stock BCG from your rifle and replace it with the CMMG-provided bolt carrier. Load and insert the kit-specific magazine, and your gun is ready for the range. To convert your rifle back to its original caliber, remove the conversion kit’s BCG and replace it with your factory’s original bolt carrier group.
Do AR15 .22 LR conversion kits use the same magazines as my standard 223/5.56 PMAG?
No, they are different. Typical .22 LR conversion kits use alternate magazines that hold smaller 22 rimfire ammunition rounds, but the mags are designed to work just like your factory original AR rifle magazines and fit in your Mil-spec magwell.
The CMMG Bravo 22 LR AR Conversion Kit is available at several well-known online gun retailers. Also, check our daily deal link at the top of this page for tips on how you can save $$.
Buy it now from these fine retailers: Brownells, Primary Arms
About Jim Grant
Jim is one of the elite editors for AmmoLand.com, who can wield a camera with expert finesse in addition to his mastery of prose. He loves anything and everything guns but holds firearms from the Cold War in a special place in his heart. When he’s not reviewing guns or shooting for fun and competition, Jim can be found hiking and hunting with his wife Kimberly and their dog Peanut in the South Carolina low country.
CMMG Bravo Final Verdict
CMMG’s Bravo .22 LR conversion kit isn’t revolutionary because it reinvents the wheel or is available in some super cool finish or is endorsed by door-kicking pipe-hitters. It’s revolutionary because it just plain works and fulfills the original intent of the design – allowing shooters to hone their shooting skills without breaking the bank. How would you rate the CMMG 22 lr conversion kit?
I just purchased the CMMG Bravo kit, the weekend before this last. Last night, I finally had opportunity to take it to our indoor range. The unit installed in under a minute. It took me longer to load the magazine, than to install the kit. My AR’s zeroed at 200 yards to be dead on POA/POI. Since our indoor range is a 50′ lane, I expected my shots to be high, and they were, but not as high as my original estimate. Only between 2.5 to 3 inches at 50′. Windage was still spot on. I ran 300 rounds of… Read more »
I bought my CMMG Bravo almost 3 years ago. I purchased it with a lot of trepidation. Fearing that I’d just blown $200 for nothing. Was I mistaken and wrong? Hell yeah, and I’ve no problem admitting it. The Bravo’s performed flawlessly. I now have no issue being an unpaid brand advocate, as I will sing its virtue to anyone that will listen. At our Municipal indoor range, we’ve only a 25 yard line. Across a rest, no problem with 1″ groups with my scoped AR 3 X 9. In my other AR with the 2 MOA Red Dot, it… Read more »
I had one of these. Yes reliable. Not accurate enough for meaningful practice. Good for soda cans at 50ft.
I bought one several years ago on a Black Friday Sale online from I forget where, maybe Midway USA? Under $200 with one 25 round magazine.
I only had one fail to extract in all the time I’ve shot it. Case got hung up ejecting.
The nice thing about it is I can remove it and put the regular 5.56 BCG back in and shoot.
According to SAMMI, the bullet diameter of a 22LR and a 223 are minutely different, they are not the same. This does have an effect on accuracy. A very small affect but it is there, nothing to worry about if you are shooting at short range steel. But if you are shooting at a NRA A-17 target in a match, you better have a proper sized bore.
I’ll hazard a guess and say if a person were shooting in a match they would be using a dedicated .22LR barrel rather than a conversion kit. If not they’d deserve to lose said match.
correct. 22LR projectiles are actually .22″ where 223/556 projectiles are .224″ in diameter. the result is the smaller rimfire rounds kinda bounce down those barrels before exiting. that extra gap and the common 1/7 to 1/9 twist rates only hinder any accuracy potential.
Being nitpicking but .22 S, L & LR are all .219 while the .22 WMR and .223 Remington are.,224
maybe i need better calipers but the author needs a better education on Stoner’s design, the history of 22 rimfire kits and proper maintenance. thanks!
Standard specification for .22 rimfire bullet diameter is .2255 – .223 inch diameter (the bullet body – the fluted “lands” of the bullet behind the nose that form the grease grooves add another .001″ to the diameter, to .224). Allowable production tolerance is up to -.004, but rarely found. Barrel groove diameter is nominally .223 to improve obturation, with a land diameter of .212. The .223 Remington is, in fact, specified with a .224 diameter bullet, free bore, and groove diameter – so why not name it the .224? Go figure. Note that .223 and 5.56x45mm NATO chamber specs differ… Read more »
I have a ss kit I bought from cmmg rep at a show around 2006 paid less than 100$ ,it gets used until i get a miss-fire then cleaned lots of fun was a replacement for m261 that i think has worn out springs (jams )
We have owned one for about four years. It is a great little add-on for target practice. The best running ammo for it has been Aguila high velocity copper coated. The only time it failed to fire was the first shot through it, and when I have used lead tipped ammo like Blazer. Even then it happens less then once for every three mags put through it. We have never had a problem with getting all 25 rounds in the mags, not even when they were brand new. I have never cleaned it, just oiled it up before shooting it.… Read more »
Several years ago we bought one of these for my wife’s RRA AR-15. We found it to be sensitive to both ammo and magazines.
If we used standard exposed lead .22LR ammo we would get the occasional jam. Ditto for the magazine that came with it.
However, with plated bullets and Black Dog magazines it became very dependable.
YMMV
Elite Editor? riiiiiite!! simply firing a full power 223/556 round to clear any buildup inside the gas tube shows your ignorance with Stoner’s system. after firing 200-300 rounds of 22 rimfire, what about the buildup of raw lead thats now inside the barrel’s lands and grooves? even better copper clad 22LR bullets shed lead due to the overfast twist rates on modern ARs and no, you cant shoot that out, it must be removed the old fashion way by scrubbing. hint #1) a quick shot or two of birchwood-casey Gun Scrubber down the gas tube does that and much more… Read more »
Strange question but I’ll ask anyway: Does anyone know if the magazines for an S&W M&P 15-22 are interchangeable with the CMMG magazines in one or both directions.
nope. MP15-22 mags are different and will not work.
Excellent conversion kit! If you have any problem, it is probably due to extremely cheap ammo. Shoots any and all name brand ammo without fail in my M&P.
Just buy an M&P 15-22 “549.00” still !! and it’s a good lil shooter, I’ve heard quite undependable stories about this item in
LGS
The M&P 15-22 is a nice enough dedicated .22LR rifle but first and foremost is isn’t really an AR in any sense of the name beyond general appearance and control locations. And, of course, it costs at least double what the CMMG conversion costs. That extra $250 dollars will buy a lot of .22LR ammo. And, if you like to believe random fourth-hand stories about “I know a guy who said he met a guy who had one” then you might want to remember that the M&P 15-22 was banned from multiple rimfire training and competition programs a few years… Read more »
CMMG is running 10-15 weeks out. Defense caliber Ammo is too golden to shoot in these times. .22s are a great way to train until that dries up too. So, I strongly suggest what Iv done was source CMMG ARC dedicated barrels , & ARC bolts , bits & pieces from those Listed outstanding suppliers. Secure & run with black dog XForm mags. Pray ammo manufactures get with the program -now & stop the price rapers.
Let’s hope & pray.
Given biden’s executive order on imported guns, I wonder whether he has ability to also ban imported ammo. If that occurs we are in for even more dramatic price rises. Even more dramatic sticker shock for those who currently choose to use “cheap” bimetallic Russian ammo such as Tula, Monarch, and the three bears (brown, silver and gold).
if Clinton could ban all the Chinese ammo in 1993, there’s not much to hault Biden from banning ammo from other sources outside the US.
I have had one for a couple years. Yesterday was the first time it jammed on me on chambering a round. Gee, maybe I should oil it more often. Yup, it needed cleaning.
The only complaint I have is that it is almost impossible to load 25 rounds into the magazine without getting the follower stuck down inside. 20 rounds is it. Even after taking the magazine apart and cleaning it.
QUESTION: How much click bat can AmmoLand cram into one article?
ANSWER: Read the above article to find out!
Starting with the brilliant headline describing the CMMG kit as “The First Kit That Doesn’t Suck” — when we are talking about virtually the same kit that the US Army has been using for half a century!
CMMG has been cranking out these kits for decades. Yes, they have evolved, yes they have gotten slightly better, but the bottom line is simply that the CMMG kits have always worked and have never sucked.
Thanks for restating why this kit Doesn’t Suck when so many others do…
Don’t forget that you need the right charging handle with this. If you use the standard charging handle the shell can jam when it is ejected. The difference is the standard charging handle is hollow and the needed handle is filled in. Turn a standard charging handle over and you see that a 22 shell can and will fit in the underside sometimes.
This is 100% false. In this kit the top of the conversion kit sits inside the charging handle.
With a solid charging handle you would be unable to even insert the kit into the upper.
I would have to guess that Mr. Bobocat has experience with one of the cheap imported copies of the CMMG conversion — probably bought on Wish or somewhere equally reputable
CMMG sells a filled polymer handle to avoid the brass jam described. I have had it happen a couple times. It was a PITA, but not TEOTWAWKI. The link says 22ARC, but the item description says also for 22LR. I would say it is not a NEED, but might be worth modifying a spare charging handle with RTV. https://cmmg.com/charging-handle-assembly-22arc