Whats involved in changing barrels?
- Thread starter kx592
- Start date
Carne Frio
New member
Here is a link to a very long and comprehensive post on another site.
The actual work to swap barrels is not too difficult, but does require
some specialized tools. Might be the easy way is to buy a new upper
and keep or sell your current one. Good luck with your project !
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_4/22...__GAS_BLOCK___Step_by_step_instructions_.html
Here is a Youtube tutorial:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCxa0JJU4Iw
The actual work to swap barrels is not too difficult, but does require
some specialized tools. Might be the easy way is to buy a new upper
and keep or sell your current one. Good luck with your project !
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_4/22...__GAS_BLOCK___Step_by_step_instructions_.html
Here is a Youtube tutorial:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCxa0JJU4Iw
Last edited:
Would this get the job done? Am I forgetting anything?
http://www.bushmaster.com/cgi-bin/cart32.exe/bushmaster-itemlist
http://www.bushmaster.com/cgi-bin/cart32.exe/bushmaster-itemlist
madcratebuilder
New member
Brownell's has a excellent set of videos on building the AR.
Easy peasy...
Getting a whole new upper, especially if your'e not changing calibers, is an absurd waste of money.
Headspace needs to be verified with a set of gauges unless the new barrel comes with a matching bolt. Also check the feed ramp configuration to be sure it is what you want with the new barrel extension.
And ditto what madcratebuilder said on the Brownells videos. My son built his first AR from stripped components in one evening using those videos and Glen Zedicker's book.
Getting a whole new upper, especially if your'e not changing calibers, is an absurd waste of money.
Headspace needs to be verified with a set of gauges unless the new barrel comes with a matching bolt. Also check the feed ramp configuration to be sure it is what you want with the new barrel extension.
And ditto what madcratebuilder said on the Brownells videos. My son built his first AR from stripped components in one evening using those videos and Glen Zedicker's book.
Best to get both.
While some guys will get a go gauge and then use shim(s) to check for tolerances, I think it's best-and safer- to just get the no-go as well.
The "odds" are that a new barrel will headspace properly with the bolt you have installed. But I'm not one to play the odds. When I buy a milsurp firearm, I check the headspace. If I change a bolt/boltface or barrel, I check the headspace...
While some guys will get a go gauge and then use shim(s) to check for tolerances, I think it's best-and safer- to just get the no-go as well.
The "odds" are that a new barrel will headspace properly with the bolt you have installed. But I'm not one to play the odds. When I buy a milsurp firearm, I check the headspace. If I change a bolt/boltface or barrel, I check the headspace...
Just my PERSONAL Opinion here:
I bought myself my first AR around this time last year, it was a present to myself for surviving anterior artificial total disc replacement surgery at the age of 29. A Bushmaster I saw on a local NJ forum caught my eye, and I put a deposit down and bought it.
It was very very unique, actually a limited special edition model for some major midwest gun store, that this guy in NJ got. It was a A3 "flat top with carry handle" upper, full size A2 stock, but with a 14.5" HEAVY BARREL (HBAR) and AK-74 Muzzle Brake permanently attached... the AK-74 piece is actually 3 full inches so its definitely legal.
I got a lot of flak for not only having a Bushmaster (Wow was I not prepared for the amount of hate on Bushmaster) but also for having such an odd config, a 14.5" carbine barrel should not be heavy, you should only have a 1.5" muzzle device not 3", it shouldn't be an AK piece, shouldn't have an A2 stock on an M4 config carbine , etc. I thought seriously about changing the barrel and or the device. -- But as far as the end of the barrel, it's $150 minimum for a BattleComp, plus $100 min for the gun smith work. $250? Sheesh! On Bushmaster dot com, it's $270 for an M4 type barrel and muzzle brake. Plus of course install. None of this is even feasible.
So my dissertation is a heartful suggestion/recommendation to you is, Stay with what you have- trust me. IF You really can't stand what you have or need/want something different just, save the money to buy a new upper in a different style. Like for me, I would not do anything but buy a new upper and make it a longer barrel upper, 18-20" etc. It would really make no sense to me to get another carbine just to have the M4 cut out or even a 16" Mid Length, its great looking but defeats the purpose to me.
Save your money for another upper brotha!
I bought myself my first AR around this time last year, it was a present to myself for surviving anterior artificial total disc replacement surgery at the age of 29. A Bushmaster I saw on a local NJ forum caught my eye, and I put a deposit down and bought it.
It was very very unique, actually a limited special edition model for some major midwest gun store, that this guy in NJ got. It was a A3 "flat top with carry handle" upper, full size A2 stock, but with a 14.5" HEAVY BARREL (HBAR) and AK-74 Muzzle Brake permanently attached... the AK-74 piece is actually 3 full inches so its definitely legal.
I got a lot of flak for not only having a Bushmaster (Wow was I not prepared for the amount of hate on Bushmaster) but also for having such an odd config, a 14.5" carbine barrel should not be heavy, you should only have a 1.5" muzzle device not 3", it shouldn't be an AK piece, shouldn't have an A2 stock on an M4 config carbine , etc. I thought seriously about changing the barrel and or the device. -- But as far as the end of the barrel, it's $150 minimum for a BattleComp, plus $100 min for the gun smith work. $250? Sheesh! On Bushmaster dot com, it's $270 for an M4 type barrel and muzzle brake. Plus of course install. None of this is even feasible.
So my dissertation is a heartful suggestion/recommendation to you is, Stay with what you have- trust me. IF You really can't stand what you have or need/want something different just, save the money to buy a new upper in a different style. Like for me, I would not do anything but buy a new upper and make it a longer barrel upper, 18-20" etc. It would really make no sense to me to get another carbine just to have the M4 cut out or even a 16" Mid Length, its great looking but defeats the purpose to me.
Save your money for another upper brotha!