AR upper swap

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Dan Forrester

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About 10 years ago I purchased a complete upper from Noveske. It was a 10.5” upper with one of their N4 barrels with the extra thick chrome. The upper receiver assembly works 100% but I want to turn it into an A2.

I’d like to purchase one of the A2 uppers with M4 feed ramps that White Oak Armament has for sale and do a simple upper swap leaving the barrel and everything else the same. Would this work?

Since I have a F marked front sight base I would need to use a .270” front sight post correct? Beside the shorter front sight post would this work?

Thanks Dan
 
I’m a little confused.
Is that the length of the barrel or the handguard. Based on the age I’m guessing handguard. But it would be best if you clarified.

If it’s barrel length please be aware of SBR restrictions and legality issues.

As for your question. Is there a reason you want to change this vs build a new one? Parts are cheap right now and it might be wiser to build a new upper. Or it might be wise to sell the other and pay for parts.
I say that as I am of the opinion that one can’t have enough ARs. So a new upper build is an excuse to build a new AR.
 
Just so I understand, you just want to transfer the barrel and forend from your flat top upper to an A2 upper correct? Should be no problem doing that.
 
Hokie_PhD: the 10.5” is the length of the barrel. I do have a registered SBR and also a pre 86 transferable m16 lower which is what I intend to put this on so the length won’t be an issue.

Good point in just building. I guess the reason is I’d like to keep the barrel since it doesn’t look like these are available anymore. They were made from M249 barrel blanks according to Noveske and had extra thick chrome. Just be something nice to play with in full auto.

I figure if I did a swap I could always just sell the stripped at upper when it’s all over. But I would never do that. I’d just throw in on the pile of AR-15 stuff I already have for a future excuse to start another project.

someguy2800: yes that is exactly correct. I want it just like it is now only with an A2 upper. I want to take everything forward of the existing receiver off and put it onto a new A2 receiver.

I’ve been wanting to do it for some time but couldn’t find A2 uppers with M4 feed ramps until I saw White Oak Armament was making them. From what I read the F marked front sight base issue can be midigated with a shorter front sight post.

Thanks, Dan
 
Either / or. There's only about a 6-click or so different between the two posts on a carbine or shorter.
 
Fulton Armory offers A1 uppers that give you the choice of M4 or rifle feed ramps.
 
Dan Forrester said:
Hokie_PhD: the 10.5” is the length of the barrel. I do have a registered SBR and also a pre 86 transferable m16 lower which is what I intend to put this on so the length won’t be an issue.

Good point in just building. I guess the reason is I’d like to keep the barrel since it doesn’t look like these are available anymore. They were made from M249 barrel blanks according to Noveske and had extra thick chrome. Just be something nice to play with in full auto.

someguy2800: yes that is exactly correct. I want it just like it is now only with an A2 upper. I want to take everything forward of the existing receiver off and put it onto a new A2
Click to expand...

You can still get genuine FN cold hammer forged barrels cut from M249 blanks from psa, but they are only in stock periodically.
From PSA's website:
"Barrel: A proprietary blend of Hammer forged chrome molly vanadium made by FN that is referred to as "Machine Gun Steel" by virtue of its required use in FN's M249 and M240 weapons. The hammer forging process work hardens the steel, making it more durable. In addition, the chrome process for the bore allows for a lining almost twice as thick as a standard M16 for enhanced durability"
 
Dan Forrester said:
About 10 years ago I purchased a complete upper from Noveske. It was a 10.5” upper with one of their N4 barrels with the extra thick chrome. The upper receiver assembly works 100% but I want to turn it into an A2.

I’d like to purchase one of the A2 uppers with M4 feed ramps that White Oak Armament has for sale and do a simple upper swap leaving the barrel and everything else the same. Would this work?

Since I have a F marked front sight base I would need to use a .270” front sight post correct? Beside the shorter front sight post would this work?

Thanks Dan
Click to expand...

I’d leave your Noveske upper as is, since it sounds like it was made when John Noveske was still alive and running the show.

Just acquire or build another upper.
 
How is Fulton Armory? I’ve heard of them before but never bought anything from them. Do they have a good reputation? Thanks for letting me know they make A2 uppers. Nice to know?

Looks like Noveske still offers the same 10.5” barrel on their web sight. I stopped going to their web sight years ago since they were always out of stock of everything.

I think I’m just going to leave this upper as is and build a new upper as everyone suggests.

Thanks, Dan
 
I'm a little confused... my upper recievers have no feed ramps. The barrel extensions contain the feed ramps, and they are all attached to the barrel.

As I'm understanding, that's all you want to swap is the upper reciever shell?

Or just put an A2 carry handle on it?
 
Your uppers are M16 uppers then. M4 uppers have feed ramp cuts that correspond to larger feed ramp cuts on the barrel extension of an M4.

This was done because of the higher cyclic rate of fire of the M4 and the higher bolt carrier speeds. It was determined that rounds would sometimes nosedive into the barrel extension or receiver bellow the feed ramps causing a stoppage.

So the military came up with the M4 receiver feed ramps and larger feed ramps on M4 barrel extension.

With modern magazines with good anti-tilt followers it’s probably overkill, but it’s in the TDP and certainly doesn’t hurt anything.
 
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