PDA

View Full Version : Building AR Upper - What does it take?

BattleRifleG3
11-09-2004, 07:16 PM
Basically I'd like to swap out a 16" heavy barrel with free float handguard and A2 front site for a 24" heavy barrel with A2 front site and standard handguard.

So what tools and processes are required to do this?
308
11-09-2004, 07:38 PM
AR-15 Breakdown (http://evilrifle.com/ar15/)

Description:
On the webpage link (above) there are two Colt AR15 rifles being worked on. The first is a 16" with an A3 flattop upper. The second is a 20" with an A2 fixed carry handle upper. My objective was as follows:

1] Remove 20" barrel from the A2 upper receiver
2] Remove 16" barrel from the A3 upper receiver
3] Reassemble the A3 upper with the 20" barrel
4] Reassemble the A2 upper with the 16" barrel
5] Add a free-floated hand guard to the 16" barreled rifle

I hope this helps a bit...photos seem to be self explanitory.
BattleRifleG3
11-09-2004, 10:32 PM
Thank you so much!
thedaledoe
11-20-2004, 03:30 PM
OMG thats it?? Thats as easy as taking apart your lego's. I need a few of those tools but damn. That is easy. ok, gotta add some of those tools to my xmas list for the parents :D
BattleRifleG3
11-24-2004, 07:43 AM
Thats as easy as taking apart your lego's.
Some would say that the AR is in the same category (kids' toys)
!Gator!
01-03-2005, 06:27 AM
Wow!!! I knew it was fairly simple, but damn, that makes it look too easy!!
I've been contemplating a build, I might just go the AR route to get my feet wet before trying to build an AK...
amazingbonzo
03-25-2005, 07:48 PM
In my experience there is nothing similar about build an AR vs. building an AK. AK's you actually have to make the reciever and file it to fit and there is alot of "hands on" building that goes on. With AR's all you really do is choose the parts that you want for your gun and put it together when it comes in the mail. My AR build was fun though, doing the spec. work was half the fun
RyanB
03-28-2005, 08:12 AM
My AR & AK experiences were just the opposite of bonzo's. My AK was the classic "heat'n eat" rifle. Bought the channel receiver and assembled a parts kit. Shazzam, I had an AK. The AR however, was quite a challenge. Using KTOrdnance blueprints I milled the lower receiver from billet 6061. The upper is an A2 in std USGI configuration. The furnaiture is stock A2 as well. The satisfaction I got from building my AR15 is immeasurable. I cannot count the number of rounds/mags that I've fed through it and I trust it'll be good for many many more. I got my tools from an outfit in Iowa, Brownells & some from a place in Minnesota, PantherArms. RyanB
M700Police
03-28-2005, 02:16 PM
Awesome pics .308. Approx. how tight should the barrel be when tightened into the upper?
308
03-28-2005, 05:22 PM
Awesome pics .308. Approx. how tight should the barrel be when tightened into the upper?
The barrel nut will only tighten so far, then you rotate the nut slightly to index\align the gas tube hole. Off hand I'm guessing 10-15ftlbs...maybe a bit less.
thedaledoe
03-28-2005, 06:35 PM
bushmaster video says 35-40 ftlbs. the one jordan did at your house dennis came loose.. he had to tighten the nut up here. lol.. imagine if he had shot that thing.. i wouldnt want to be aroung for that.
thezmanx
03-28-2005, 06:52 PM
Army manual says to torque to 30 ft/lbs, not to exceed 80 ft/lbs.
308
03-28-2005, 07:02 PM
bushmaster video says 35-40 ftlbs. the one jordan did at your house dennis came loose.. he had to tighten the nut up here. lol.. imagine if he had shot that thing.. i wouldnt want to be aroung for that.
That's interesting...How did it come loose when the gas tube would prevent it from rotating?...:letssee:
JE3146
03-28-2005, 07:56 PM
bushmaster video says 35-40 ftlbs. the one jordan did at your house dennis came loose.. he had to tighten the nut up here. lol.. imagine if he had shot that thing.. i wouldnt want to be aroung for that.

Dale... get more sleep.. you mixed up 2 events completely :)

My barrel nut came loose because i had no gas tube installed.... that was with the new barrel...

The OLD barrel stayed on fine, and might I add, took some leverage to get it off :)
308
03-28-2005, 08:26 PM
Dale... :boozer: :boozer: :rotflmao:
Don't do such things to me....
thedaledoe
03-29-2005, 03:46 AM
Sorry. Apparently I was confused. Happens often with Jordan. His communication skills arent that good.. lol... All I remember was me grabing his AR and the nut came loose and it was sometime after he went to your place. So i put 2 and 2 together. My bad. :nutkick: