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Can you just switch tops on an AR?

mogley98mogley98 Member Posts: 18,291 ✭✭✭✭
edited February 2007 in Ask the Experts
It looked to me like some guy at the range was using a lower and putting all kinds of different tops on it just pushing out the pins and changing do these fit any lower like that?
Why don't we go to school and work on the weekends and take the week off!
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Comments

  • nmyersnmyers Member Posts: 16,892 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    For the most part, yes.

    Except for Colt, all makes use large pin holes which allow uppers & lowers to interchange. Another problem may be with older guns that have a double screw at the front pivot, but these screws can be replaced with a push pin.

    Some receivers are not quite made to spec, so a little wedge may be necessary to get a tight fit.

    Neal
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  • ern98ern98 Member Posts: 1,725 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Yep you sure can swap uppers, within reason. My AR has both a 16" dissapator type Bushmaster upper as well as a 24" scoped flatop varmint style upper. To keep mine compatable I stayed with the basic milspec type lower and got compatable uppers to go with it. The push pins being the most obvious issue. I got the extra upper at a local gunshow and I actually took my stripped lower in with me to check the fit of the various uppers to it. IMHO the flexibility of the AR family of rifles is one of their better features. Other options are different calibers. I've been seening adds for barrels in 17rem and 204ruger as well as others.
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  • rock,roll,n,loadrock,roll,n,load Member Posts: 698 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have a 204 Ruger upper, the only other thing you have to change out is the bolt head.
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  • fastcarsgofastfastcarsgofast Member Posts: 7,179
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by nmyers
    For the most part, yes.

    Except for Colt, all makes use large pin holes which allow uppers & lowers to interchange. Another problem may be with older guns that have a double screw at the front pivot, but these screws can be replaced with a push pin.

    Some receivers are not quite made to spec, so a little wedge may be necessary to get a tight fit.

    Neal
    What Neal said.
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  • nyforesternyforester Member Posts: 2,575 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Yes - its that easy. Everyone should own 3 or 4 of these !
    Abort Cuomo
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  • cpermdcpermd Member Posts: 5,273 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Actually, all makers except Colt use SMALL 0.250" hinge pins at the front and rear pivots. These are MilSpec. Colt M16s also use the 0.250" hole as expected.

    Colt civilian AR types uses a 0.312" pin at the front hole which requires screws, an adapter, or a KNS quick release pin.
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  • agostinoagostino Member Posts: 414 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    If you change to a 9MM you have to change the hammer also. This may be true for all the pistol calibers.
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