[Doc_T]

Hi folks, I've been away from guns for a long time but I recently had my grandfather's old colt AR15 given to me when my grandmother passed. Now the only problem is that it's missing the bolt and and the carry handle is bent really bad.

The thing is I know there's a law on anything made after 94 but I need the upper reciever. I tried a bushmaster catalog taht a friend had laying around but I couldn't find any proudct numbers on preban and post ban upper recievers. Everything else just not those. My question is, is there a difference between the pre and post upper recievers? and is it legal to put the new one on an old gun if I keep the barrel and everything else on it?

Thanks for any help folks:)

[Chipperman]

Welcome!

Check out bushmaster.com/ for model numbers, features etc.

It's legal to put a Pre or Post ban upper on a Pre ban lower. (Are you sure it's a PreBan lower?)

The only differences between Pre and Post are the evil features, except for a few guns which have different pin sizes (you can get adaptors if needed).

[Snaps]

Howdy .....

Anyway it's all the same, locks in with 2 pins. You just can't have trheaded barrel, bayonet lug (becuase of all the drive-by bayonete attacks they were having:rolleyes:). Just not sure which size pins are in which so if you've got a colt you'd probably wnat to buy colt. I know somebody will correct me on that but I go for what's the sure fire.

Good luck and welcome back:cool:

[Doc_T]

Thanks folks. Yeah I'm sure it's a preban, I can remember when he bought it.

Thanks again for the help.

[Atticus]

If you want to confirm the pre-ban status check the link below.
Shouldn't be a big deal to replace the upper. Be sure to check headspace when you buy another bolt.

http://www.biggerhammer.net/ar15/ar15serial.html

[Snaps]

Good luck, and make sure you get it right, those ATF guys get mad about making new "assault rifles":scrutiny:

[444]

If I read your question correctly, you need a bolt and a charging handle. Both are readily available and cost significantly less than replacing the entire upper receiver, if that is the only problem.
If you want to buy a new upper receiver, you might have an issue. Some Colts don't use a standard size pivot pin. Everyone in the AR15 industry used the same size front pivot pin except Colt, and Colt didn't do it on all models. Bottom line, you may find that a Bushmaster upper receiver won't fit your Colt lower. All is not lost however because you can buy an adapter pin from Bushmaster (or any number of other places) that will adapt a standard upper to your Colt lower.
Here is a source for genuine Colt parts: http://www.sawlesales.com/
This would be a good place to buy a new bolt or a new charging handle. They also have complete uppers that will fit the large pin Colt lowers without using an adapter pin.
If you do have a large pin Colt lower, here is a bare upper that you could use to build up any upper configuration you want without using an adapter pin: http://www.danieldefense.com/store/cart.asp?catid=1

The difference between post ban and pre ban complete uppers are; flash suppressor and bayonet lug (there is no difference in the upper reciever itself).
The ban on "assult weapons" named several evil features that make a rifle an "assult rifle". Collapsable stock, pistol grip, detachable mag, flash suppressor, bayonet lug. You are allowed to have two of the evil features on a post-ban rifle. An AR already has two ; the pistol grip, and the detachable mag. So, you can't add a collapsable stock, a bayonet lug, or a flash suppressor to a post-ban rifle. All are legal on a pre-ban.

[Atticus]

"it's missing the bolt and and the carry handle is bent really bad."

Charging handle - simple fix. Carry handle is another matter.
If you can't fix the upper- and assuming it's too damaged to use- you could still put your old barrel, gas system and other parts on a new "stripped" upper. As long as the lower receiver was built as a complete rifle (and yours apparently was) prior to the ban, there are no issues with modifying the configuration.

[444]

Carry handle: I read that, charging handle. Wow, how the h e double toothpicks did he bend the carry handle ? I guess you do need a new upper receiver. You may have the option of sending the upper receiver to someone and have them cut the carry handle off converting it into a flat top. But, you probably just want to replace it; it would probably be cheaper and you also don't know what is bent besides the carry handle. Check both those websites I mentioned in my previous post. They probably both have the correct upper reciever.

Do you want to sell that bent upper ? I may be interested. Does the upper you have now have a forward assist ?

[Snaps]

probably meant just beat up and bent or dented. Not actually bent.