AR Upper

[PopcornSutton]

I want to rebarrel an upper to a 6X45. I have a lower, my question is should I buy a complete upper and pull the barrel or buy upper parts? I have a shelf full of 6MM barrels that have been retired from benchrest, so if I buy an upper, I would have everything but a different gas block and barrel adapter to be in business? I can do the machining.

Palmetto State Armory has some good deals on uppers.

[BK7saum]

I have a 16" 6x45 that I built last fall. I purchased a McGowan barrel and have carbon fiber buttstock and forend. It is light. I have only shot 58 grain vmaxs so far, but it is accurate.

My suggestion, if you are hapoy wirh all the extras that come with the PSA upper go for it.

If you plan to change the forend or any parts, then build it from scratch.

I never come out ahead buying something cheap and then changing out parts. All i end up with is parts no one wants and the same money or more in it than if Id just built it from scratch.

You might get $75 or maybe $100 out of an unfired barrel, maybe.

[PopcornSutton]

I really didn't think a factory barrel would be something to recover money. I think I'll buy parts.

[Finster101]

I just did a build with an Aero Precision upper and forearm. I am happy with the way it looks and the was the forearm attaches to the upper itself and not the barrel nut.

[DougGuy]

Palmetto State Armory has some good deals on uppers.

I have a PSA assembled upper in 300, whatever they used to secure the barrel they weren't playing that day, we had the tool that locks into the lugs clamped in a big vise, we heated the barrel nut, and the guy who was torquing on it is a pretty big fella, it refused to budge. It was to the point where any more force against the barrel nut might have permanently damaged the parts so we had to abandon attempts to remove the barrel. JS, YMMV...

[seagiant]

Hi,
Should of saved the pic, but saw where a guy trying to remove a barrel nut...

Ripped the face, with the threads, right off!

To the OP, yes, put it together yourself!

[seagiant]

Delete

[imashooter2]

I’ll never get comfortable with an 18 inch breaker bar wrenching on that flimsy aluminum forging.

[DougGuy]

I’ll never get comfortable with an 18 inch breaker bar wrenching on that flimsy aluminum forging.

If you're doing it right, the forging has no stress against it really, the stress is applied to the locking lugs and to the barrel nut, the upper is just along for the ride.

If you're doing it wrong, clamping the upper in the vise and twisting on the barrel nut, you will learn abruptly that the only thing holding the barrel in alignment in the upper is one tiny little pin, and if it turns it won't shear off, it rips a gob of aluminum loose and carries it with it as it turns, the upper is toast at this point.

[Finster101]

The other possibility is if you do not have a good set of mounting blocks is racking the upper. You won't know until you go to install it in the lower and the pins don't line up quite right. I had it happen on my first build. I had bought the cheapest vice blocks I could find thinking no big deal. The second set were a bit more money, a lot more money if you tack on the cost of the first set and the ruined upper.

[Finster101]

I see our double post glitch is back.

[popper]

Yup, some assy notes include using RED lock tight on the extension. Wow.

[nicholst55]

Yup, some assy notes include using RED lock tight on the extension. Wow.

That's mostly done by people building competition guns, and is intended to keep the barrel from ever moving in the upper, without heat - sometimes a goodly amount. Some builders use epoxy on the barrel extension, as well.

[imashooter2]

If you're doing it right, the forging has no stress against it really, the stress is applied to the locking lugs and to the barrel nut, the upper is just along for the ride.

If you're doing it wrong, clamping the upper in the vise and twisting on the barrel nut, you will learn abruptly that the only thing holding the barrel in alignment in the upper is one tiny little pin, and if it turns it won't shear off, it rips a gob of aluminum loose and carries it with it as it turns, the upper is toast at this point.

The threads are on the forging. You can put a bar into the locking lugs if you like. It doesn’t eliminate torque through the forging.

[DougGuy]

The threads are on the forging. You can put a bar into the locking lugs if you like. It doesn’t eliminate torque through the forging.

Yeah you are right I don't know what I was thinking, maybe that none of the thin part of the forging behind the barrel threads is stressed when you lock the lug tool in the vise.

[imashooter2]

That is true. I have good fixtures, and the Geissele Reaction Rod. I still cringe. [smilie=l:

[Gtek]

Past that one and can't get to the next one is probably the out of the gate problem for some. I have heard the statement "I just tighten till the tube goes through", and one wonders why and how uppers are damaged or destroyed. One can find every piece of information and all the tooling to properly assemble this platform to design specification, some choose not. It ain't a rocket ship!

[Moleman-]

OP, if you have the ability to make your own barrel using a better blank than psa would use than I'd go that route. I've had at least one 6x45 upper since 91-92ish. Accuracy on the current barrel is dropping off but it still around 3/4 inch off of a bench.

[PopcornSutton]

OP, if you have the ability to make your own barrel using a better blank than psa would use than I'd go that route. I've had at least one 6x45 upper since 91-92ish. Accuracy on the current barrel is dropping off but it still around 3/4 inch off of a bench.

I have the means to turn the barrel and chamber it. I'm a bolt guy and have put together more bolt action guns than I can count, but these black guns are new to me (even though they are so popular). I can certainly appreciate the comments of those who have struggled getting a factory barrel off. I've gone though my share removing old military barrels and even some of the modern guns are a b**ch.

I used to make my own 6MM benchrest bullets, so I have those, and a 6X45 will be just the ticket to burn through these.

[PopcornSutton]

OP, if you have the ability to make your own barrel using a better blank than psa would use than I'd go that route. I've had at least one 6x45 upper since 91-92ish. Accuracy on the current barrel is dropping off but it still around 3/4 inch off of a bench.

I have the means to turn the barrel and chamber it. I'm a bolt guy and have put together more bolt action guns than I can count, but these black guns are new to me (even though they are so popular). I can certainly appreciate the comments of those who have struggled getting a factory barrel off. I've gone though my share removing old military barrels and even some of the modern guns are a b**ch.

I used to make my own 6MM benchrest bullets, so I have those, and a 6X45 will be just the ticket to burn through these.

[zymguy]

What is the best block and wrench ?

Sent from my SM-S127DL using Tapatalk

[imashooter2]

I only have tools for flat tops. My only carry handle gun is an old Colt R6600 and my heirs will sell it just as it came from the factory.

I like the Geissele Reaction Rod, and the No-M.A.R. receiver blocks for fixtures. Magpul makes a good armorer’s wrench, but I like the Geissele wrench attached to a good 1/2 inch breaker bar to remove and torque wrench to install.

[hades]

I have the means to turn the barrel and chamber it. I'm a bolt guy and have put together more bolt action guns than I can count, but these black guns are new to me (even though they are so popular). I can certainly appreciate the comments of those who have struggled getting a factory barrel off. I've gone though my share removing old military barrels and even some of the modern guns are a b**ch.

I used to make my own 6MM benchrest bullets, so I have those, and a 6X45 will be just the ticket to burn through these.

Any updates on the project popcorn? I'm curious how it turned out!!

[elmacgyver0]

Just buy a new upper.
Keep your original barrel and upper as is.
If you can't afford the new parts you should not be doing this.
I may sound like a jerk, but some day you may thank me.
Then again you might not.
Whatever you do, good luck, have fun, and stay safe.