{"id":19784,"date":"2026-01-04T22:58:04","date_gmt":"2026-01-04T22:58:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nationalgunowner.org\/index.php\/2026\/01\/04\/this-ar22-rimfire-upper-borebuddy-apogee-review\/"},"modified":"2026-01-04T22:58:06","modified_gmt":"2026-01-04T22:58:06","slug":"this-ar22-rimfire-upper-borebuddy-apogee-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nationalgunowner.org\/index.php\/2026\/01\/04\/this-ar22-rimfire-upper-borebuddy-apogee-review\/","title":{"rendered":"This AR22 Rimfire Upper- BoreBuddy Apogee Review"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

<\/svg><\/span>Estimated reading time: <\/span>7<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/p>\n

The BoreBuddy Apogee Match Gen 2 isn\u2019t just another rimfire AR upper, it\u2019s a precision-tuned .22LR machine that shoots tighter than some bolt guns. After serious testing, it proved fast, quiet, and scary accurate.<\/p>\n

Meet the AR22 Rimfire Upper That Thinks It\u2019s a Centerfire<\/h2>\n

The BoreBuddy Apogee Match Gen 2 AR22 is a dedicated .22LR AR upper built from the ground up for accuracy and reliability. Unlike typical rimfire conversions, it\u2019s a true match-grade system with premium components and thoughtful engineering that squeezes the most performance possible from .22LR. It\u2019s suppressor-ready, works with standard AR lowers, and is offered in multiple barrel lengths to suit different builds. After testing the 16.1\u2033 model extensively, it\u2019s clear this upper delivers centerfire-like precision in a lightweight, rimfire package.<\/p>\n

<\/source><\/picture><\/figure>\n


\n \ud83d\uded2 Check Current Price for AR Lower on GunsAmerica
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

Unboxing the Apogee: Premium Parts, Zero Guesswork<\/h2>\n

The Apogee Match AR22 ships as a complete upper assembly and arrives with everything needed to run except a lower. Included are BoreBuddy\u2019s upgraded bolt group (crescent firing pin, power extractor, Gen 2 standard collar), a premium Apogee Match 416R stainless barrel finished in nitride with a knurled thread protector, and BoreBuddy\u2019s AR22-specific dust cover upper with a shortened .22LR ejection port. Also in the package: an ambidextrous 22LR-cut charging handle, a free-float M-LOK handguard with QD points, and all the hardware to mount to a standard AR lower. Just don\u2019t pair it with a Magpul B.A.D. Lever. It\u2019ll cause malfunctions.<\/p>\n

Handguard Fit & Finish: Built Like a Custom Race Gun<\/h2>\n

The free-float M-LOK handguard doesn\u2019t just look good, it fits so precisely that it feels like one continuous receiver. M-LOK slots on five sides let you mount lights, bipods, and sling points anywhere you want, and the front QD sockets make quick transitions smooth. Roughly 1.5\u2033 of barrel threads stay exposed for easy suppressor swaps, meaning no clearance headaches or banged knuckles.<\/p>\n

\"M-LOK<\/source><\/picture>
BoreBuddy\u2019s handguard sits flush with the upper and uses M-LOK slots on five sides for full accessory coverage.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Upgraded Upper & BCG: Tuned for Rimfire Reliability<\/h2>\n

The Apogee upper ships with BoreBuddy\u2019s upgraded BCG, designed to be reliable out of the box. Each bolt includes a hardened round firing pin, a hardened extractor, and a 6-lb recoil spring. BoreBuddy offers different bolt versions for quiet suppressed work, conversions, and left-hand shooters. The Gen 4 adjustable bolt weight makes tuning effortless: just swap internal weights to slow bolt velocity and tame that classic rimfire gas puff. With tungsten inserts, you can hit up to ~2.7 oz for smoother cycling and less fouling. The result? Cleaner ejection and near-flawless reliability, even with subsonic or hyper-velocity ammo.<\/p>\n

\"BoreBuddy<\/source><\/picture>
Shown: tool-less adjustable bolt weight and full-auto trip kit, simple, smart, and effective.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Match Barrel Performance: Accuracy That Defies .22LR<\/h2>\n

The Apogee Match barrel is 416R stainless and nitride-finished for longevity. Threaded 1\/2\u00d728 and topped with a knurled protector, it\u2019s suppressor-ready out of the box. During testing, this 16.1\u2033 barrel consistently punched groups tight enough to rival bolt guns. It stabilizes 40\u201342 grain match loads beautifully while keeping the platform light and maneuverable.<\/p>\n

\"BoreBuddy<\/source><\/picture>
The BoreBuddy 16.1\u2033 barrel comes fluted, threaded, and match-ready for precision .22LR work.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Precision Testing: AR22 Accuracy That Shocks<\/h2>\n

Most of the ammunition for this test came from AmmunitionToGo.com<\/a>, whose fast shipping made running multiple loads easy. With a Vortex Strike Eagle 3-18x on top and 5-shot groups fired at 48.2 yards, several loads hovered around 1 MOA, outstanding for a semi-auto .22LR.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Five-round<\/source><\/picture>
Five-round groups from 48.2 yards with 5\u201315 mph crosswinds, impressive for any semi-auto rimfire.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lower Setup: Compact, Clean, and Functional<\/h2>\n

Paired with a Brownells BRN-180M lower and a Midwest folding stock, this build stays light and folds cleanly for transport. The stock locks solidly and can even fire while folded, a slick setup that trims weight and boosts portability.<\/p>\n

\"Apogee<\/source><\/picture>
Apogee upper on a BRN-180M lower with Midwest folding stock, compact and range-ready.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

An American AR Gold fixed flat-faced trigger completed the setup with crisp, 2-pound break, short reset, zero creep. It\u2019s a trigger I trust across multiple rifles for good reason.<\/p>\n

\"American<\/source><\/picture>
The American AR Gold flat trigger delivers a perfect 2-pound break and lightning reset.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Reliability, Tuning & Full-Auto Madness<\/h2>\n

Reliability is solid for a dedicated AR22. Clean it often if suppressed, and it\u2019ll hum. On full-auto testing, maintaining forward pressure on the bolt group proved key. With BoreBuddy\u2019s adjustable trip kit tuned, the Apogee dumped 25 rounds in 1.02 seconds, flawless cycling at a wild cyclic rate.<\/p>\n

\"BoreBuddy<\/source><\/picture>
Unburnt powder builds up fast when shooting suppressed. Keep it clean for best reliability.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

BoreBuddy recommends Kriss mags for the best results. Black Dog mags work but won\u2019t lock back on empty. During testing, the Kriss 25-rounders ran perfectly.<\/p>\n

\"Kriss<\/source><\/picture>
The Kriss 25-round mag ran flawlessly during testing, no jams, no drama.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Final Verdict: Precision, Speed, and Pure Rimfire Fun<\/h2>\n

The BoreBuddy Apogee Match AR22<\/a> is one of the most refined .22LR AR uppers on the market. It\u2019s accurate enough for competition, reliable enough for training, and smooth enough for full-auto grins. Offered in 12.1\u201d, 16.1\u201d, and 21\u201d options at $699.50\u2013$749.50, it\u2019s a high-end rimfire setup that outperforms its price tag.<\/p>\n

\n

Available on GunsAmerica Now<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/listings\/search<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\"Mitchell<\/source><\/picture><\/a><\/div>\n
\n
\n

Mitchell Graf is a dedicated hunter, competitive shooter, and firearms enthusiast. As a former instructor and president of Oklahoma State\u2019s Practical Shooting Team, he has a strong foundation in marksmanship and competition shooting. These days, he spends as much time as possible chasing pigs and coyotes with night vision and thermal optics.<\/p>\n

When he\u2019s not in the field or on the range, Mitchell works as a full-time Mechanical Engineer in the Aerospace and Defense industry and manages a part-time farming operation. Whether he\u2019s behind a rifle, designing parts, or working the land, his drive for precision and performance remains the same.<\/p>\n

Experience:<\/strong>
\u2013 Mechanical Engineer \u2013 Full-time professional in the Aerospace\/Defense industry.
\u2013 Competitive Shooter & Instructor \u2013 Former President and Instructor of Oklahoma State\u2019s Practical Shooting Team.
\u2013 Night Vision & Thermal Hunter \u2013 Passionate about night time predator and hog hunting.
\u2013 Part-Time Farmer \u2013 Working to provide for my family, and raise food for this great nation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes The BoreBuddy Apogee Match Gen 2 isn\u2019t just another rimfire AR upper, it\u2019s a precision-tuned .22LR machine that shoots tighter than some bolt guns. After serious testing, it proved fast, quiet, and scary accurate. Meet the AR22 Rimfire Upper That Thinks It\u2019s a Centerfire The BoreBuddy Apogee Match Gen 2 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19785,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-19784","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-uncategorized"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nationalgunowner.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19784","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nationalgunowner.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nationalgunowner.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nationalgunowner.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nationalgunowner.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19784"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/nationalgunowner.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19784\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19786,"href":"https:\/\/nationalgunowner.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19784\/revisions\/19786"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nationalgunowner.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19785"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nationalgunowner.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19784"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nationalgunowner.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19784"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nationalgunowner.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19784"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}