Spawned from the desire to create a powerful .22 centerfire cartridge for the AR-15 platform, Nosler just announced the creation of its 22 Nosler.
The idea builds off the AR’s modular design, making the conversion from .223 Remington/5.56 NATO to the 22 Nosler simple for users. Shooters swap the upper and switch out to a 6.8 Rem SPC magazine. The two-step retrofit enables users to experience the new cartridge while still utilizing the existing .223 bolt carrier group.
The Oregon-based company said the popularity of the AR-15 rifle pushed them to create the new cartridge with the hopes of granting more options to shooters across the globe.
“It was important to us that every AR-15 owner could instantly customize their existing rifle to 22 Nosler without any fancy gunsmithing,” John Nosler, executive vice president for the company, said in a statement. “In keeping with that goal, a simple switch of the magazine and upper will do the trick.”
Nosler added, “With a cartridge innovation this significant, any shooter running other .22 cals in their AR-15, will at the very least, have to reconsider their efficiency.”
With velocities approaching 22-250, the 22 Nosler yields nearly 25 percent more capacity than the .223 Rem/5.56 NATO round.
The new Nosler ammo will be loaded in the company’s popular Match Grade and Trophy Grade Ammunition lines starting at $14 per box. The company does have with plans to chamber their full line of M48 bolt action rifles in 24-inch barrel configurations in the future.
Complete uppers and mags for Nosler conversions will also soon be available at major sporting goods retailers.
