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Posted: 1/19/2003 7:00:29 PM EDT
| Is it worth it,have Oly plinker 16" A1 upper,I like flat top A4 better for opic.How much trouble to change? |
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I would say its worth it, especially if you find an A4 receiver cheap, as oppossed to just buying a J&T 16" A4 upper ($289.95 http://webcats.net/store/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=J&Category_Code=BU )and then having 2 to choose. If you have the proper tools and some mechanical ability, its a very straight-forward conversion. Same with the lower assembly. You may want to check the "build it yourself" forum, and search for links to the upper assembly pages. For my first barrel/ receiver swap, I bought a copy of the US Marine Corps Tech manual (TM 05538C-23&P/2 It should be for sale just about everywhere for less than $10) and followed the instructions. Some recommend a better wrench than the $12 mil-spec combination wrench, due to lesser chances of slipping, which I can sympathize. Some would even debate whether you'd need a headspace guage in that you'd be using the same bolt carrier group and your original (presumably properly headspaced) barrel, but I leave that up to you. The only real snag I've encountered is getting the gas tube loose from the front sight housing after drifting out the pin on a particular ASA upper. (no comments on ASA parts nec. I neither recommend nor decry them) AR's are really fun to "mix&match" once you get into them. Don't be too intimidated. Good luck. |
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Please don't go just on my say-so. Its alot cheaper to buy the manual and/or read the posts in "Build It Yourself" forum here, and price the tools, [if you don't already have them,] and then decide whether to buy the upper receiver alone and change it yourself, or buy a complete upper already assembled for about $150 -$200 more. If you only plan to do this once, it may be much more cost effective to buy the complete flattop upper and barrel assembly [from J&T or others], and skip the tool costs. This has the advantage of getting to choose which upper to shoot, fixed sights or scope, with just exercising the take-down and pivot pins. FYI see http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=4&t=144270 on the tools required Someone else may have the exact link to the upper assembly page archived here. |
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