Hello gang,
 I have a carbine upper that I want to convert
to a flat top with a FT rec'r that I bought a few
months ago. While I'm at it I would like to
replace the front sight & the delta ring,
because they're both marked up a bit.
I did read the excellant thread on the
subject, but I wanted the clarify some
issues.  Here are my questions.
 1) Should I buy a new gas tube, or
      use the existing one?
 2) The barrel is what I would call
      a pencil barrel, but I know there
      are several variations, so how
      can I be sure to get the correct
      front sight base.
  3) Should I re-use the roll pin, the
       FS pins, and the delta ring spring?
  4) Please make recomendations on
       which mfg to buy, FS base. I'm sure
       I can find plenty of these at the next
       fun show, but I'm sure there is a lot
       of junk out there, & I want to do this
       right the first time.
  5) How is the front hand guard keeper
       retained? Is attached to the FS base?

I think I can borrow a block & wrench.
Any other comments welcomed!
Thanks!

Johnny C!

i think you are about to be disappointed.



front sights are usually drilled for the taper pins after they are installed so that said you will have better luck finding a needle in a haystack then finding a predrilled front sight that will match those on your bbl.

the delta ring and fsb with a bit of scratches wouldnt be a reason to change it all but thats your choice. personally if it really bothered me i would probably just paint it.



but its your rifle and you will do what you please.


gas tube will probably not need replacing unless you destroy it while removing and the pins if they fit it will be fine.

eklik,
 The main reason I wanted to
replace the FS is that the new
rec'r is beautiful. I intend to
use new handgaurds, so a
maked up FS will look out of
place. However, I have never
collected guns. I don't have
any safe queens. I buy them
to shoot, so plan B maybe
change the rec'r & go.
I have a friend who is qualified
to do all of this, but since he
has aquired a contract building
M-16's for the G'ment, he's been
a little hard to get hold of.
Thanks for the input on the
taper pins.

Johnny C!

P.S. Because I'm too lazy
to retype the above...
How would you paint the
FS base & what kind of paint?
Come to think of it, I do have
some flat black hi temp paint.
Mask it & shoot it? That might
match the rec'r just fine!
Let me know what you think
about that.

Thanks again!

krylon, gunkote, norrells, stuff from brownells

Quick!
I like it!

Later!