AR Modular Design

[model4006]

if i had an AR chambered in .223, how hard would it be to switch to 6.8SPC later?

is it true that a couple pins and the upper reciever comes off and i can replace it with the new one? what about the barrel, are they sold with the reciever always, or separate? about how much money are we talking?

if the 6.8SPC gets adopted by the military to replace the .223, or any other more powerful round for that matter, and becomes readily available will it make sense to buy another upper, or just a whole entire rifle?

the only reason im not getting one chambered in 6.8 now is because i cant buy the ammo anywhere locally, and its really expensive, at least compared to wolf .223. when the price comes down ill be more likely to go for a grendel or spc or something.

 

[chrisslamar]

yes its true that its only takes the removal of 2 pins to change the upper. its super easy. its the same operation that you do to clean the rifle. as for getting a whole new rifle to go with this upper I guess that's up to you. if you'd rather spend $200 on a lower instead of ammo or something else than go for it. not my cup of tea though ; ) hope this helps.

--Chris

 

[DMK]

I tend to leapfrog. I buy an upper to try on my present lower. If I really like it, I eventually buy another lower for it. If I kind of like it, I keep it as a spare upper to swap on when I feel like it. If I don't like it, I sell it or trade it to get another or more ammo.

That way it's a smaller investment to try something new.

Just keep in mind that most different calibers will require different magazines so that's an added cost.

 

[model4006]

what about the barrels? are they part of the upper, anyone got any pics of what you get when you buy an upper.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Barrels are part of the upper and a little more complex to swap out, though they are still easily within the skills of most people. You'll need a vise, a receiver block and an armorer's wrench though.

 

[chrisslamar]

The barrels aren't too hard to swap out. Like the previous post said it does take a barrel vise. If you want to see what an upper looks like just do a search for AR uppers and you'll know it when you see it. It looks like an AR without the bottom, hence the reason why they call it an upper

--Chris

 

[CWL]

Look here at ar15.com

http://ar15.com/content/guides/parts/

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

I tend to leapfrog. I buy an upper to try on my present lower. If I really like it, I eventually buy another lower for it. If I kind of like it, I keep it as a spare upper to swap on when I feel like it. If I don't like it, I sell it or trade it to get another or more ammo.

That's such a great idea I am going to have to steal it
I need to get one lower SBR'ed so I can test loud, short, evil uppers

 

[shark3-1]

I just loosen one screw and take out another, switch barrels, followed by switching out a bolt carrier. Voila! it's a 6.8.