AR barrel fitting question

prproulx

prproulx

I ask too many questions
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The Blue Part of Ontario
I just got a used 20" Colt barrel assembly and put it on a used A2 upper. There was a little play, and I THINK the barrel is canted slightly in a clockwise direction to the upper. I say I think because it depends on what angle I'm looking at.
It cycles dummy ammo fine but I don't want to shoot it if it's not safe.
AR.com mentions filing the notch in the upper, but does not say how. It says shoot it first.:eek:
Anyone had this problem and how did you fix it?
Thanks
Pat
 
From the AR15.com site:

This is a very common problem with a very easy fix. It's caused by small differences between the upper receiver notch and barrel pin. And here's how you fix it:

Unscrew the barrel nut. With the barrel in the upper receiver, check the sight alignment by eyeballing it. If it's canted to one side, try and twist the barrel in the upper. If it won't move far enough, then take a jeweler's file and very carefully file the side of the upper receiver notch to open it up until the front sight can sit up straight.

Before reinstalling the barrel nut, you have to tighten up the receiver notch so the barrel won't move around while you're cranking down on the nut. With the barrel in the receiver, take a small hammer and punch and very lightly peen down the loose side of the notch. Careful, tap lightly because it doesn't take much. What you'll see is a slight flattening of the threads right next to the barrel pin. That's it!

This really easy, and doesn't entail doing anything to the FSB.
Click to expand...
 
Nice way to write off an upper this fix is not to be done by just anyone,espescially if you don't have a clue how to do it from the get go. Drop the file Bubba and take that rifle to a 'smith before you screw it up any more.
 
Reaper said:
Nice way to write off an upper this fix is not to be done by just anyone,espescially if you don't have a clue how to do it from the get go. Drop the file Bubba and take that rifle to a 'smith before you screw it up any more.
Click to expand...

I don't think the local guy works on ar's. Who in Canada can do this fix?
 
Take it to Ellwood Epps....or send it there.

They ought to be able to sort that out.

Or, if you're shipping it instead of driving it, send it to Wolverine, The Shooting Edge, or one of the other biggies.

NS
 
A simple test for you to try (may work)

Put the barrel in a vise, horizontally. (light pressure, just enough to hold it)

Put a level across the top of the 2 rails of the handguard (the top of the "U")

Put another level across the top of the front sight's protective ears.

Are they pretty damn close???

Try and shoot it....it might just work, eh?

NS
 
UPDATE. Shoots great. I had to drag the rear sight three clicks away from far left to put shots right on target.
My final question is this;
Do I send it away to be centred, or leave well enough alone?
I'm probably going to sell the entire upper for a new project anyway.
 
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