There’s nothing like a day at the range with an AR, but the cost of the ammo can be a real downer. An AR chambered in .22 LR may seem under-powered compared to a traditionally chambered AR-15 or AR-10, but there are many smart reasons why you may want to rethink that. We've listed just a few below.
 

AFFORDABLE AMMO

ARs chambered in .22 LR are more economical to shoot. Not only is your initial purchase price of the rifle itself generally less, a .22 LR round is a lot less expensive than a .223/5.56 or .308 that standard AR-15s and AR-10s are chambered in.
 

Train smarter...

They have the same profile as an AR-15. Both types of rifles look basically the same, and because they have the same basic profile as their bigger brothers, training with them will get you the same muscle memory you’ll use when you decide you want another AR in a larger caliber. 
 

...and harder

You’ll train more due to the softer, more manageable recoil of a .22. You’ll gain confidence and skill because you’ll be back on target faster, and you won’t get sore after a few shots of a harder-hitting caliber with the heavier recoil that some ARs can bring. As a bonus, if you happen to be brand-new to the AR platform, one chambered in .22 LR will get you used to how they work and when you do decide to buy another in a larger caliber, you’ll be confident in its operation. 

A word of warning though: getting an AR chambered in .22 LR is like a gateway drug. It may or not be your first AR, but it surely won’t be your last. In no particular order, here is our list of the best ARs in .22 LR.