Advice needed for AR 22 conversion = Bolt or dedicated upper?

[Curio Bill]

Advice needed for AR 22 conversion. I had my mind made up to get an LTR when you guys pointed the conversions out to me!!!

Should I get just the Bolt unit ($199) or buy dedicated 22LR upper ($610)

Will the bolt only unit be accurate enough for AQT purposes??

I have pretty much decided on the Spike's version.
Thanks, Bill

[fepowered]

The downsides to the bolt conversion have convinced me to stick with a 10/22 LTR and pull my AR out for KD and even AQT at 25M.  I have no interest in buying a dedicated .22lr upper either as my money is better spent on other firearms.  You can buid 2 complete 10/22 LTRs all tricked out for the price of a dedicated AR .22lr upper.  Accuracy is often 4-6MOA+ with the bolt conversions which would be difficult to make Rifleman.  There is considerable leading of your barrel with non coated .22 rounds.  It is possible to clog your gas tube if you are not cleaning it with a bore brush and solvent after each use. 
Everyone is different, but I have no problem practicing with my 10/22 and its tech sights and then picking up my AR and being a better shot because of the 10/22 practice.  All of the basics apply no matter what rifle you have.  A true test of your progress is to pick up a rifle which you are not familiar with and knocking out an AQT with it.   

[1911Ron]

A 10/22 with a pistol grip (AR15) stock and Tech-sights will serve you better than a bolt conversion would, plus for the money you could get a whole lot of .22 ammo and a 10/22 for the price of the upper, just my .22 cents worth.  1911Ron

[bedford]

I have had good luck with both the drop in units (I have 3) and the dedicated uppers (I have 2).  My dedicated uppers are slightly more accurate than the conversions, but it is barely noticeable.  I have used the bolt conversion in the 1/12, 1/9, and 1/7 twist barrels and all have shot well at 25M, certainly within 4 moa.  I have not had any problems with leading in the barrels, but my barrels are chrome lined, I shoot only copper plated .22s, and I shoot a few full power rounds every 1000 rounds of .22 just to be safe.

I would do the bolt conversion.

[txpirate]

The dedicated upper is too rich for my blood. I agree with the above posters: if you have the coin for a dedicated ST upper, why not trick out a 10/22 (or 2)?
That being said, I have the M261 type bolt conversion. There isn't any definitive evidence on the damage that does occur, but everyone has their own anecdotes about the conversions and leading etc. If you think about it, upon ignition that .22 bullet accelerates for ~2" and then hits the rifling. I only postulate that this bullet is traveling at least 200 fps when it slams into the rifling. Who knows what it actually does to bullet and rifling their at the throat? I don't like the thought of it in my good barrel, though.
What I did was build myself a 16" bbl upper that I will use mostly for the .22 kit. This upper is 100% usable as a 5.56 upper, too, if/when I need something shorter and lighter than an A2. I did a lot of shopping and ended up spending about $300 for the whole upper. (I already had the conversion bolt assembly) That is definitely cheaper than Model 1 or Spikes dedicated upper.
I like my conversion though. I think it shoots about 2MOA at 25m. When I run it wet, it functions flawlessly. However, I have not run it through an Appleseed.

[VAshooter]

If you just need an Appleseed Rifle I would  buy a 10/22 and trick it out. Especially if money is tight.

If you want a really fun toy and have the money, get a dedicated upper. I have two of them and love them both.

If you are an AR guy and you prefer 223 then buy a conversion. I talked to many people who have them and made Rifleman with them.

VAshooter