Mini UZI

.22 LR Conversions for the Semi Automatic UZI Carbine

Like most UZI conversions, the .22 LR conversion consists of a barrel, a bolt (with recoil spring) and a magazine. Action Arms sold two completely different .22 conversion kits. Additionally, Group Industries also made a .22 conversion for the semi automatic UZI Carbine.

IMI .22LR Conversion Kit

The first .22 conversion kits that Action Arms sold were manufactured by IMI. The all metal bolt sits towards the middle of the receiver with the back of the bolt resting on the bolt blocking bar.

The IMI conversion kit included a 6" barrel liner rather than a replacement barrel. It was inserted into the chamber end of the 9mm barrel and rotated so the vertical flats aligned with slots in the bolt housing.

The new metal bolt housing was inserted into the receiver before the barrel. It was held firmly in place between the bolt blocking bar and the barrel insert.

The bolt moved back and forth inside the housing and fires from a closed bolt position. A cocking lever was attached directly to the bolt and protruded out the ejection port and stuck up above the gun.

Metal magazine for the IMI semi automatic kits.

Magazine loader for the .22LR. It's a standard .45 mag loader with a small block welded on to fit inside the feed lips on the .22 magazine.

Action Arms.22LR Conversion Kit

After initially selling IMI conversion kits, Action Arms designed their own .22 conversion kit. It came in the same long plastic box as the .9mm and .45 conversion kits and had a complete replacement barrel.

Action Arms promotional photo of their .22 conversion kit. (Click here to see their sales flyer on this product.)

The .22 bolt completely replaced the 9mm bolt, carrier and recoil assembly. The .22 bolt consisted of a hard plastic shell that held a miniature bolt and striker assembly that functioned just like the full size 9mm assembly. The original cocking knob pushed back on a bar at the top of the bolt housing, which in turn pushed back on the bolt assembly. The striker was held back by the sear while the bolt returned to the forward position before firing. The bolt housing did not move at all during cocking or firing. The spring loaded firing pin was in the bolt rather than on the striker assembly.

On the left is the steel bolt face, showing the extractor and firing pin hole. The chamber end of the barrel was originally flat (with the exception of the extractor groove on the right), but the owner of this one ground a small feed ramp below the chamber to improve feeding, which was originally terrible. The custom feed ramp did help but the unsupported bottom of the cases began to expand after firing.

20 round magazine that shipped with the Action Arms .22 kits.

Installation instructions

1991 ad for the Action Arms .22 conversion kit.

Group Industries .22LR Conversion Kit

Group Industries advertised .22 conversion kits for the semi automatic UZI. It has not been confirmed if any of these kits were actually sold. For more information on the first model Group Industries .22 kits, see the information in the full auto .22 kit section.

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