A .22 conversion like the x39 VZ58

[BullOnParade]

I was just thinking about the old VZ58 conversion kits that consisted of a barrel insert and I think there was a replacement bolt too(?). I never used one, but I remember them being popular when I was new to the community.

Was there a reason these fell out of favour or just the cycle of the industry? I would think the market is becoming pretty well saturated with .308 rifles using AR 10 bolts, is there a place for a barrel insert based .22 conversion kit anymore?

 

[chanrobi]

I was just thinking about the old VZ58 conversion kits that consisted of a barrel insert and I think there was a replacement bolt too(?). I never used one, but I remember them being popular when I was new to the community.

Was there a reason these fell out of favour or just the cycle of the industry? I would think the market is becoming pretty well saturated with .308 rifles using AR 10 bolts, is there a place for a barrel insert based .22 conversion kit anymore?

I know CMMG makess their popular .22LR conversion for 5.56 rifles -- i'm not aware of any for AR10's

 

[.30/06 FTW]

I was just thinking about the old VZ58 conversion kits that consisted of a barrel insert and I think there was a replacement bolt too(?). I never used one, but I remember them being popular when I was new to the community.

Was there a reason these fell out of favour or just the cycle of the industry? I would think the market is becoming pretty well saturated with .308 rifles using AR 10 bolts, is there a place for a barrel insert based .22 conversion kit anymore?

I think the problem was more with the execution of the Vz 58 kit. IIRC the company went out of business and they were not easy to get running reliably. I’d say .22 conversions and uppers are reasonably popular for the AR15. I would say a complete Stag 10/BCL 102 type .22 upper would probably be better than trying to do the open bolt barrel sleeve type thing that was done with the Vz 58.

 

[BullOnParade]

I never played with the conversions, I had the VZ in 5.56. But the industry at the time was really pushing .22 conversions and trainers, it was a contributing factor to the ammo shortage in 2013.
I'm still a fan of the concept. I have .22 versions of most of my favourite firearms. Hence my interest in a conversion kit for the Stag or 102s.