I have a relatively high volume (7,000) round barrel on my AR-15. When I need to replace the barrel, what else besides the barrel, bolt, and has tube needs to be replaced? How long do upper receivers last?
Rebarreling an AR-15
- Thread starter Jerry m
- Start date
Impossible to say without knowing what barrel you have.
All barrels are not created equal.
Something like a CL CHF barrel from Daniel Defense or Geissele is going to far outlast something from Bear Creek Arsenal or some other trash manufacturer.
What is your firing schedule? Are you shooting groups or doing mag dumps?
A quality barrel that hasn’t been abused should last far more than 7000 rounds.
When the time comes for replacement, I would also replace everything in the BCG except the bolt carrier itself.
I would also replace the action spring if you haven’t replaced it before then.
I have never seen an upper receiver that has needed to be replaced due to wear.
All barrels are not created equal.
Something like a CL CHF barrel from Daniel Defense or Geissele is going to far outlast something from Bear Creek Arsenal or some other trash manufacturer.
What is your firing schedule? Are you shooting groups or doing mag dumps?
A quality barrel that hasn’t been abused should last far more than 7000 rounds.
When the time comes for replacement, I would also replace everything in the BCG except the bolt carrier itself.
I would also replace the action spring if you haven’t replaced it before then.
I have never seen an upper receiver that has needed to be replaced due to wear.
1) I do not think of it as a number of rounds fired, I replace barrels when the groups start to open up. I usually look when this happens and it's because I shoot the throat out. I had to replace a DD MK18 barrel at around 12.5k rounds, I am over 20k on an SR15 and still going strong.
2) I usually replace the barrel, the muzzle device, the gas block, the gas tube. I have also had to replace the barrel nut.
3) I don't think of the BCG as part of the barrel. I do take my BCG out and clean it and inspect it probably more than anything else on the rifles. I will change pins, springs, gas rings, as needed. I do check headspace when I rebarrel.
4) I have never had to replace an upper receiver, unless I do something really dumb they seem to last forever.
I've ran bolts, gas tubes/blocks, springs etc. for the life of two barrels multiple times. Sometimes after they've been through two barrels I've thrown them in the parts drawer only to have them morph into a new rifle and keep on trucking.
I've also got one upper receiver that was retired due to wear. Pretty sure I made a post about it here.
I've also got one upper receiver that was retired due to wear. Pretty sure I made a post about it here.
Id be curious if the circular shaped cam pins like the one lantac offers could extend the life of the upper. Has anyone ever used those?
What is your definition of when the barrel needs to be replaced?
Depending on what kind of barrel it is and for what purpose, 7k may not be considered a high round count.
One chrome lined barrel has less one CM barrel has more ~7,000. Used in three gun, plinking and two prairie dog shoots, which added the majority of the shots. How many shots can be expected, while maintaining enough accuracy to hit a prairie dog at 350-400 yards?
I know this may sound pedantic but have you done any accuracy testing with known "good" match ammo and a x10+ scope to determine if it meets your accuracy needs.
Or
Do you just want a new barrel?
Nothing wrong with that.
A quality chrome barrel should go at least 10k rnds but the accuracy will degrade somewhere along the line.
Ya know, the old "your mileage may vary".
Avg size of a prairie dog? 7x12?
Napkin math says a rifle under about 1.8-2.0 MOA should do the job.
Yes, it's shooting MOA at 200. I was just wondering how many more shots I can expected, before things go south.
thanks for all the replies.
thanks for all the replies.
I use and re-use parts as long as there isn't a reason not to. If I rebarrel and check headspace with the bolt I have. If it checks out, I continue running that bolt.
I do change the gas tube, if the round count on the existing one is unknown.
As for changing the barrel, are you changing it because you think it's shot out or because you're worried about your rig being good to go in the event of a SHTF scenario? In the former case, the barrel will tell you when it's shot out. In the latter case, I just keep a back up barrel for that. Actually, an upper with a barrel installed.
I do change the gas tube, if the round count on the existing one is unknown.
As for changing the barrel, are you changing it because you think it's shot out or because you're worried about your rig being good to go in the event of a SHTF scenario? In the former case, the barrel will tell you when it's shot out. In the latter case, I just keep a back up barrel for that. Actually, an upper with a barrel installed.
I did not read all the replies. I have found accuracy drops off after 5000-5500 rds of mk 262. Vertical stringing at longer ranges and higher SD’s and ES.
I was told by a reliable source from Crane found the same thing.
YMMV.
I was told by a reliable source from Crane found the same thing.
YMMV.
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As stated above, mainly for hitting prairie dogs. It's shooting fine now, just wanted t to know if it would be ok to go next trip.
thanks
thanks
