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Posted: 1/11/2003 6:05:31 PM EDT
| While at the gunshow today I stopped by the M&A tables and was looking at their uppers. I was told that although some people just swap their bolt carriers between uppers, it is best to have a dedicated bolt to each upper. After thinking about it, these guns are just headspaced on an milspec bolt, am I right? That would mean to me one bolt should work just about as well as any other, or else they wouldn't sell them without bolt carriers. After I have more cash, I will buy a new lower and a parts kit then have two ARs!! Thanks! |
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You could check each bolt you own against each upper you own to ensure that you don't have a headspace issue. A headspace gauge runs about $15, bolts run about $50, complete rifles about $650, and eye surgery about $10,000. You really ought to have a bolt for each upper to reduce the amount of wear - like a new car, the bolt will wear the barrel extension to match. Swapping them around would be like mixing your pistons around every time you drove the car. You don't need a bolt carrier - just the bolt if you're really hard up for bucks. |
| Sorry if I wan't clear. One can buy uppers either with or without bolt, meaning that these uppers were headspaced with a bolt that obviously would not be the one to come with the complete upper. I would not even think of swapping bolts in one of my bolt guns. They are headspace with a serial numbered bolt that matches that rifle, and should never be used in another rifle without checking headspace. I take it AR's are not that precise so bolts can be switched between uppers. I just want to be safe and do things the right way, I don't mean to sound stupid. |
| New with little use, it really doesn't matter much if the bolt is in spec and the upper spaced. The Army doesn't change the two cause they shoot the rifles till they fall apart before replacing them. Worn by thousands of rounds, it is not adviseable to change bolts with uppers. The theory and experience shows that they will wear together. There are more issues with a full automatic in this area than a semi-auto due to the increase rate of fire and subsequent more rounds fired. I hope this helps. |
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