pat86323
Member
If i were to buy a new upper without the bolt and carrier assembly with no charging handle the ones that are in my current upper will drop in right?
ar 15 upper question
- Thread starter pat86323
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Yes, they will drop right in, but it's usually not a good idea to go swapping bolts. How much of a bad idea it is depends on how many rounds the bolt has seen with the barrel that you've been running it with.
If you are getting a new upper, at least try to get a new bolt to use with your existing carrier and charging handle. If you can't do that at least have the headspace checked. It's probably OK, but it does hurt to be sure. The reason is that over time the locking lugs on the bolt will "mate" with the lugs in the barrel extension of your existing barrel. Putting a bolt worn in with another barrel may in a new barrel MAY create a situation where you have excessive head space.
If you are getting a new upper, at least try to get a new bolt to use with your existing carrier and charging handle. If you can't do that at least have the headspace checked. It's probably OK, but it does hurt to be sure. The reason is that over time the locking lugs on the bolt will "mate" with the lugs in the barrel extension of your existing barrel. Putting a bolt worn in with another barrel may in a new barrel MAY create a situation where you have excessive head space.
pat86323
Member
basically what i have going on is a non detachable carry handle that i want gone for as little cash as possible. If i were to buy a stripped flattop upper i could take all the parts off of my current upper and just rebuild it and have it headspaced? Maybe have that pesty front sight machined off too?
Ditch-Tiger
Member
By utilizing the same parts with a stripped upper receiver (ie. barrel, barrel extension, bolt, etc.) then there is no need to have it checked for headspace issues since all parts will stay "matching". Ar's headspace off the bbl extension and unless you had an issue prior to the new stripped upper being installed, you will be fine.
pat86323
Member
no you didnt misread, that was my question, then after that was shot down i looked at an alternative. Thank you sir.
Well, if I did read it right the first time, I've gotta tell ya. Just using an old bolt with a new barrel isn't ideal and it could lead to some pretty bad consequences, but I'm talking in extreme cases. I don't know how many rounds that bolt has on it. It's likely that you could just use your old bolt and all will be well, although accuracy might suffer a tiny little bit. Take a look at the lugs on your bolt. Are they still square, slightly rounded at the corners, really rounded?
In any case, if you're looking for a complete upper, check out the Spike's Tactical uppers at Aimsurplus.com Nice uppers at a nice price. I've seen and shot these myself. The fit and finish is superb. I'd have a couple if I hadn't gotten into building my own. I do use their parts though.
In any case, if you're looking for a complete upper, check out the Spike's Tactical uppers at Aimsurplus.com Nice uppers at a nice price. I've seen and shot these myself. The fit and finish is superb. I'd have a couple if I hadn't gotten into building my own. I do use their parts though.
pat86323
Member
i basically just feel the need to have 2 uppers. The currrent upper is everything i want it to be except i want the carry handle gone, Which is why i will likely get a stripped flattop and just transfer everything over. I also want a 20 or 24 inch barrel for prairie dogs/coyotes and such. Ive looked at aim and its a bit more then id like to spend. Id love to build my own uppers but for some reason i find the whole process to be extremely daunting. Is there a book or website or something that you might reccomend?
Skylerbone
Member
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=173618
Might be worth a look for a casual shooter. Complete upper for $450.
Might be worth a look for a casual shooter. Complete upper for $450.
pat86323
Member
Ive looked at every upper they have at midway =P id like to avoid the 450 dollar cost if i can use my current parts. Especially when i know good and well that ill never use the carry handle upper ever again.
If you are looking to take your CH and BCG out of upper receiver A, put them in upper receiver B, and then sell upper receiver A and never see it again, then go for it. On a low-round-count gun, swapping internals like this isn't really going to hurt anything.
If you intend to keep upper receivers A and B, and swap the internals back and forth based on what you want to shoot that day, don't do this. A bolt and barrel extension develop complementary wear patterns and once they do, the wear slows down. By swapping back and forth, you never develop those complementary patterns, and the wear on your bolt doesn't slow down. You'll be constantly "breaking in" your bolt, wearing it down at an accelerated rate.
If you really want two uppers then buy the internals to go with the new one. That way you won't be swapping all the time, and you'll have a spare BCG if the other one breaks. You'll be better off in the long run.
If you intend to keep upper receivers A and B, and swap the internals back and forth based on what you want to shoot that day, don't do this. A bolt and barrel extension develop complementary wear patterns and once they do, the wear slows down. By swapping back and forth, you never develop those complementary patterns, and the wear on your bolt doesn't slow down. You'll be constantly "breaking in" your bolt, wearing it down at an accelerated rate.
If you really want two uppers then buy the internals to go with the new one. That way you won't be swapping all the time, and you'll have a spare BCG if the other one breaks. You'll be better off in the long run.
You can still swap the carrier and handle around, you'll just need a new bolt (although having the second carrier and handle will be really convenient).
At what distances are you going to be shooting dogs and coyotes? In any case, I doubt that you'd need more than a 20" barrel. At 24" the rifle really becomes unwieldly. If you aren't going to be carrying it around too much, then big and heavy can be a good thing. If you're going to have to hump this thing around, big and heavy may not be what you want. The barrel doesn't need to be long or heavy to be accurate.
At what distances are you going to be shooting dogs and coyotes? In any case, I doubt that you'd need more than a 20" barrel. At 24" the rifle really becomes unwieldly. If you aren't going to be carrying it around too much, then big and heavy can be a good thing. If you're going to have to hump this thing around, big and heavy may not be what you want. The barrel doesn't need to be long or heavy to be accurate.
pat86323
Member
the only reason id go with 24 over 20 is the aesthetics. Im a sucker for long barrels. I actually had to take the top shelf out of my gun vault to allow for all the barrels.
MrCleanOK made a good post about comp wear patterns. Think Tony has a couple of 20" and I have one. I like the 20" and yes it is heavier than the 14 or 16"..The 20" kicks less and feels more like a quality new car versus an older cheapo.
I am supposed to receive my 24" next week sometime. I was gonna do a post about weight and accuracy compared to my other ARs.
Figure Tony is right about a length/weight combo eventually becoming unwieldy. Again purpose of the weapon and type of shooting makes all the difference.
I am supposed to receive my 24" next week sometime. I was gonna do a post about weight and accuracy compared to my other ARs.
Figure Tony is right about a length/weight combo eventually becoming unwieldy. Again purpose of the weapon and type of shooting makes all the difference.
Another thing to consider is how smooth the rifle is going to shoot. I know that added weight always helps with perceived recoil, but I've never had all of the barrel lenghts available at the same time to do a side by side comparison. I may just be talking out of my a$$ here, but from what I've seen, the dwell time of the gas system has a noticeable impact on how smooth a rifle shoots as it affects the ability to make fast follow up shots.
I do know that a 20" barrel with a rifle length gas system shoots pretty smooth. An 18" barrel with a rifle length gas system shoots even smoother due to the shorter dwell time (determined by the length of barrel that is beyond the gas port). Conversely, I would take this to mean that going to a 24" barrel will increase the dwell time and MAY not shoot as smoothly as a 20" barrel in terms of a follow up shot. The 24" may be a bit more stable for that first shot because of the weight, but the follow up shot may suffer.
I don't know. Can anyone comment? On my "field" AR, I just upgraded from a 16" midlength gas barrel to an 18" rifle length gas barrel because the dwell times are going to be similar, but I'll have the added weight of the extra barrel length while still leaving the rifle a pretty compact size. If my new barrel gets here by Friday, I'll let you know how it shot on Saturday.
I do know that a 20" barrel with a rifle length gas system shoots pretty smooth. An 18" barrel with a rifle length gas system shoots even smoother due to the shorter dwell time (determined by the length of barrel that is beyond the gas port). Conversely, I would take this to mean that going to a 24" barrel will increase the dwell time and MAY not shoot as smoothly as a 20" barrel in terms of a follow up shot. The 24" may be a bit more stable for that first shot because of the weight, but the follow up shot may suffer.
I don't know. Can anyone comment? On my "field" AR, I just upgraded from a 16" midlength gas barrel to an 18" rifle length gas barrel because the dwell times are going to be similar, but I'll have the added weight of the extra barrel length while still leaving the rifle a pretty compact size. If my new barrel gets here by Friday, I'll let you know how it shot on Saturday.
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