Getting new AR15 upper/BCG...do i need to check headspace

[Lucky Strike]

So i should hopefully be getting a new upper (bravo company) and BCG (LMT) in the next month and was just of the mindset that i'd take my old upper off, slap on the new upper put the LMT BCG in and everything will be fine and dandy.

Well i was talking with a coworker and he said that was a good way to blow my gun up. I guess I just assumed since it's all mil-spec that it'd be fine but I suppose just because companies say it's built a certain way doesn't make it true. Was he feeding me a line or is he speaking the truth?

If he's right would I need both a Go and NoGo gauge to double check things or would just a NoGo gauge be ok?

 

[taliv]

well, you're both right.

if it IS all milspec, you'll be fine

but if somebody made a mistake somewhere... could be kabluooie!


i always check mine and have never had a new bolt/barrel combo be out of spec, but i will always check

a field gauge will tell you if it's safe. having all 3 is not expensive and will tell you more

edit: btw, if you're getting a 5.56 NATO chamber, get a 5.56 NATO gauge.

 

[Lucky Strike]

yeah i guess I'll buy some gauges just for the piece of mind. Given the cost and time i had to wait for this stuff i'd hate for any random one in a million type of manufacturing mistake to make the stuff get damaged. I can always sell the gauges after using them to recoup most of the cost.

 

[taliv]

or... use them on the next 10 rifles you buy...
or use them every few thousand rounds to verify

 

[Lucky Strike]

LOL....i wish i'd be able to get 10 more.....keeping them to use down the road for maintenance checks though sounds a good idea

 

[rcmodel]

How about just getting a new upper with it's own carrier and headspace checked bolt?

Putting an old bolt in a new barrel extension or switching it back & forth between two uppers always seemed kind of a bad idea to me.

They tend to develop their own wear patterns matched to each other.

So, an old bolt in a new extension is mating in slightly different places when locked.

rc

 

[Lucky Strike]

Both the upper and the bolt will be brand new....i'll be selling my current upper and bolt to help finance the purchase of the new higher quality parts

I'd love to buy both as one unit from the factory but bravo company only sells their uppers without bolts and i know a guy that can get me new LMT bcg's without a super long wait.