Ultimate Versatility: Rimfire .22 LR Conversion for Centerfire Rifle
Shoot Rimfire Ammo from your Centerfire Rifle
Wouldn’t it be cool if you could shoot .22 LR rimfire ammo from your regular hunting/tactical rifle. That would be ideal for low-cost training right? Well, this IS possible, provided you have a rifle that was designed with a .22 LR conversion in mind. One such firearm is the Sauer 202 from Germany. This impressive centerfire rifle is available with a factory-engineered .22 LR rimfire conversion. Read on to learn how it works…
Sauer 202 Rifle: .308 Win/6.5×55 with .22 LR Conversion
Forum member “Tooms” sent us a report on his very special Sauer 202 with a .22 LR conversion kit. Sauer 202 rifles feature a “Quick-change barrel system”. The barrel is clamped into the receiver with crossbolts providing tension. This allows barrels to be swapped in a few minutes with simple tools. Tooms, from Denmark, explains: “The rifle began as a Sauer 202 Avantgarde Gold in .308 Win. I have added a 6.5×55 match barrel, plus a wide flat-bottom match fore-arm with rail for handstop and bipod. The .22 LR system [originally] cost $1000.00 [including] barrel, bolt, magazine well assembly, and magazine. The barrel is attached by three cross-bolts and the magazine well assembly is attached by one screw that fits into the barrel.”
Using this “Quick-change system”, Tooms can easily remove his centerfire barrel and swap in a .22 LR barrel. Then he places the factory conversion kit into the magazine well. This kit provides a rimfire bolt, a fitted sleeve for the rimfire bolt, and a magazine housing. This is a full Sauer factory-designed system so it works flawlessly. With the bolt closed, you can see the “new” .22 LR chamber in the front section of the loading port. On the silver section of the bolt you can see the rimfire extractor on the side.
The 22LR Conversion Really Works
The Sauer 202 Varmint rifle shoots very well with the 22LR conversion, as the 50m target at right shows. Though quite expensive, the conversion kit essentially transforms your centerfire rifle into fully functional, mag-fed precision rimfire. That makes the Sauer 202 much more versatile as a hunting platform. It also allows you to cross-train with inexpensive ammo. You don’t have to purchase another scope, trigger, or stock. And you enjoy the exact same stock fit and ergonomics whether you’re shooting centerfire or rimfire. In some countries where gun ownership is severely restricted, it may be easier, from a legal standpoint, to purchase a 22LR conversion kit than to obtain a permit for a second rifle.
To learn more about the complete line of Sauer 202 rifles visit the J.P. Sauer USA website. You’ll also find more information on the primary J.P. Sauer & Sohn German website, www.Sauer.de.
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Tags: .22 LR, .308 Win, Denmark, J.P. Sauer, Rimfire Conversion, Sauer, Sauer 202, Sig Sauer, Smallbore, Tooms
I had a Sauer 200TR with the 22lr conversion and a 308 Win barrel kit. I can attest to the accuracy of both systems. The 22lr would easily hold 1/2 MOA or better (depending on how I could read the wind) out to 100 yds. I now have the 22lr conversion in my Sig SSG3000 (same action as the Sauer 200TR and the Sauer 202 listed here). The action and trigger are as good as any I have ever used to include custom actions, AIAW, AIAT, TRG22. I never had 1 malfunction from the 22lr over many thousands of rounds. They are truly top shelf systems!
Very cool.
Been doing this since the 80’s with my .22LR conversion kit for my HK 91.
it would really be cool, other than the fact that you can buy one of the new 52’s for a little over half that…
Blaser made a conversion kit for the R93 for a few years. It was available in 17HMR, 22 Mag, and 22LR. My 17HMR version has fired well over 17,000 rounds at prairie dogs and has scored kills in excess of 250 yards on many occasions.
Possibly the best thing ever for practicing with your big game/match rifles.
Question for Rich Kayser – what “52” are you referring to?
The part that interests me is the rifle being available in what I feel is the best caliber ever 6.5×55