BarrelXChange Mini UZI .22 review.

[Mr.Burns]

Any plans for a steel insert? It seems like the steel will wear down the aluminum sooner than later, just sayin........

 

[tonytdmd]

Using the spring that came with it, unmodified mag.

 

[FlaSport]

Thanks for the update....I'll wait!

Originally posted by BarrelxChange:

If you requested a threaded barrel, I held those back. The guy is threading them this week. Should have them back this weekend and will ship then. Also is helping let me get last minute tweeks in.

 

[Mike26038]

Tony, what ammo were you using?

 

[tonytdmd]

winchester cheapo bulk pack. (forget the name but it is the black/gray box walmart sells, w/ hollowpoint) If I get some time I am going to test it with different ammo, its just what I had handy. I also have original GI .22 mags, vector .22 mags, and of course BDM mags that I will test it with. My fullsize uzi .22 kits seem to like Dynapoints the best, but they have been hard to find, and expensive when I do.

 

[S&W1076]

Thanks for the videos. I'm using it to persuade my wife(ulsd grad also) that I should be allowed to build a pseudo .22 range in the basement

 

[tonytdmd]

I gotta tell you, it's a tough sell. ULSD '99

 

[tonytdmd]

I just went home for lunch and noticed my neighbor was letting his grandson shoot some, so I took the mini over and let them hose some mags through it. He took a video to show all of his friends back in Atlanta. Worked like a charm using dynapoints and a .45 uzi can!

 

[Mr.Burns]

Troy I just got in tonight and checked the mail and found the spring and modified Black Dog mag I will try them ASAP. Thanks for the fast service Troy, you the man!

 

[robino]

from reading all this, am i to understand that basically NO .22 conversion is trouble free, or at the least very reliable?

 

[Mike26038]

from reading all this, am i to understand that basically NO .22 conversion is trouble free, or at the least very reliable?

That is what I am guessing as well. I went out today, and had mixed results with ammo that worked 100% last weekend. I guess I can live with some jams, even though it does tale away from the fun.

 

[Vegas SMG]

Worked like a charm using dynapoints and a .45 uzi can!

My FS Vector loved the Dynapoints and they stay subsonic in the 10" barrel. I used my CAC-9 suppressor and it was very quiet... large, but quiet.

Yes, .22 conversions CAN be problematic but are worth the headaches to get them running correctly.

Here's a couple of photos of my Brother-in-law with my .22 conversion kits.

_________________
Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys. -P.J. O'Rourke, Civil Libertarian

 

[barrelxchange]

Let me nip this in the bud now.

Time to give away the fixes for FA 22 conversions. Read and learn.

I make no claims to be an expert, but I feel that I really understand the mechanics and how this system works.

The Vector 22 conversions have a particular problem with them, it is the milled out channel in the top of the bolt which allows the bolt to ride too high between the reinforcing ribs on the top cover (up to 0.060") when firing and can cause the extractor to mis-grip the fired round and impact on the rear of the barrel (causing broken extractors). Why this was put there I have no idea, but Vector copied the Group Ind conversions.

It's an easy fix, just epoxy or drill/thread and screw an 1/8" x 3/4" pc of aluminum over the top of the bolt to keep it running true. But be aware that this can cause issues with the mags. If the mag runs high in the mag well (extends over the top of the 9mm ejector) the bolt can/will hit the mag and cause jambs or failure to feed.

Next. There can be variations in how high a mag sits when locked in your gun. This is caused by the front tab on your trigger group (lower). Depending on how "used" or "new" your gun is, the trigger group/lower is adjusted for tightness to the reciever by bending the front tab up or down, (you can also adjust the front tightness by peening the notch on the reciever). On the trigger group, if you bend it down you will effectively raise the height of the magazine easily 0.010+ or more. There can also be minor variations in the height location of the rear lug for the retaining pin.

Though this has little or no effect on 9mm (because the round is tapered and the bolt face funneled) is can cause problems with small straight sided cases like the 22lr.

It has already been stated (to me)that several (not all post here) of the people with the mini 22 conversions are running without any real issues (I do not suggest hollow points) and others are having problems with the bolt clearing the magazine...... What does that lead you to? The Magazine? I by no means am directing anything derogatory towards BDM (God bless them for making a polymer mag).

Here's an easy test. Put the bolt (without the recoil assy) in the gun and the barrel. Set the selector to FA (happy switch). Now squeeze the trigger and rock the gun forward and back.... Does the bolt travel freely? If yes, now insert the mag and try it again. If there is resistance or "NO GO" it is the mag height that is the problem, not the bolt or barrel. I can correct the mag for you.

Which brings me to another potential issue, Top cover gap. I believe the correct gap between the top of the bolt and the top cover is around 0.020" (RD please correct of wrong). If you have problems with the conversions this could be an area to look at. If top cover gap is too great and you have the top milled out on your bolt, the bolt can/will ride too high causing problems with misfeeding/stripping rounds.

Why all this didn't this get corrected way back when I have no idea. In my illogical method of thinking, if the bolts needed more top clearance, why didn't the regular bolts have the tops milled out?

Enough rant. Try the suggested fixes and see where you are. If you have any questions, Please email or PM me, I will try my best to give you a straight forward answer.

Sincerely

Troy

 

[Mike26038]

Troy, I gave the new mag you snet me a good workout today, and I had several bolt over rides with the modded mag, and that was with several types of ammo.

 

[tonytdmd]

Tested mine with different ammo and mags
Today, and I can say this is the least ammo sensitive .22 kit I have ever had, and I've had them all. Perfect with GI mags, 90 percent with tuned vector mags, 80 percent with BDM. I modified one bdm mag by lowering it .03 (just enough to let thebolt ride over smoothly) and it ran 90
Percent or better. I love the kit, I think it is my new favorite .22 next to my sample BF1. Used federal bulk pack, dynapoints, blazer, win bulk pack, mini mags. The kit worked semi and full with all. Nice.

 

[RoverDave]

Why this was put there I have no idea, but Vector copied the Group Ind conversions.

They were similar, but not a copy of the Group Industries bolt. I don't know if they were trying to avoid GI's patent or if there were other reasons, but they never quite lived up to the original.

Which brings me to another potential issue, Top cover gap. I believe the correct gap between the top of the bolt and the top cover is around 0.020" (RD please correct of wrong).

0.010" would be the normal gap. Anything over 0.015" is likely to cause runaways.

 

[tonytdmd]

That's true, ihave gen2 and 3 GI bolts, and a vector, and all 3 are very different. Mike, the owner of GI is a friend of mine, and helped
Me tune my mags and bolts (back in the day). I also have the one andonly GI 40 rd mag (it was in the machine gun news article from 85 or so) and it works 100 percent in the mini!

 

[SecondAmend]

Regarding the channel on the top of the .22 LR bolts, one thing that comes to mind is that .22 LR is far more dirty than 9 mm. The bolt channel may be a way to reduce residue build up near the chamber.

Not legal advice, MHO, YMMV, etc.

 

[barrelxchange]

Regarding the channel on the top of the .22 LR bolts, one thing that comes to mind is that .22 LR is far more dirty than 9 mm. The bolt channel may be a way to reduce residue build up near the chamber.

Not legal advice, MHO, YMMV, etc.

I'm sorry, but that's funny:roflmao

 

[Doctor_Evil]

Nice Shrike in the background!