Heavy Duty AR Parts + quick swap barrels?

[fitz19d]

Few questions for any experts or armchair theorists.

I've seen trigger parts and other things advertised as for auto's or high volume of fire. (IE for those with pre 86 lowers etc)

Was wondering, if I build something meant for say shooting 500+ rounds in the space. of a couple hours. What kind of parts are there that I can upgrade to help stand up to that kind of abuse?

As far as barrels, is there a way of building an AR-15 to make barrel swaps much more convenient? Maybe not at the range easy, but I mean with very simple tools from home to swap out cheap $200 barrels after they get used up?

Or if no such thing exists would I then be better served with a very pricey hard chrome, ultra heavy barrel of some kind and hope the 10-15k round life doesn't go by *that* quick?



Reason I ask, is that I have an army friend, loved his m249, wanted to get a tat of it. I convinced him not to, but recently had the epiphany of mixing a Valkrie belt fed conversion with the SlideFire stock while it is still legal.Then bulk the rifle up however possible, maybe go sbr/suppressed, but most likely just a really good brake and call it good for a non rich civi.


Not the exact rifle setup I would use for parts, but it has the key belt feed + slidefire to demonstrate what I'm going for. Would likely use the m249 200 round drum which with conversion can be attached.
(First 20 seconds is with belt feed, rest is random slidefire clips.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72USc0hXFcU&feature=player_embedded#at=0 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72USc0hXFcU&feature=player_embedded#at=33)

If someone could embed in a reply that would be cool, I'm always terrible at getting it to work.

[Graves]

500rds over the course of an hour? Just clean it when you're done.

[DFBrews]

500rds over the course of an hour or so isn't that rough on an AR. Just clean it when you're done.

The wallet on the other hand might suffer a bit[Beer]

[fitz19d]

500 in an hour is conservative. Would hope I'm not doing like full belt dumps repeatedly. Then again might go nuts with $500 in tennonite and set up the hillside with lots of 1/4 lb targets for my own 4th o july.

[jscwerve]

Or if no such thing exists would I then be better served with a very pricey hard chrome, ultra heavy barrel of some kind and hope the 10-15k round life doesn't go by *that* quick?



If you are only getting 10-15k rounds througha chromed barrel, something is wrong.

[trlcavscout]

I seen a quick disconnect barrel setup on gunbroker dot com a while back, dont know if its any good or not? Any quality AR can handle the hard use you are talking about without trouble. My first BCM (16" middy) I ran 19 30 round mags though it as fast a I could just to see if it would choke (thats all the ammo I had) it got so HOT I couldnt hold onto the MOE handguards anymore and had to set it on a bucket to finish, but it never choked. The next weekend I went and checked my sites out to 200 yds and went coyote hunting, no problems.

[fitz19d]

If you are only getting 10-15k rounds througha chromed barrel, something is wrong.


Maybe I'm wrong, just thought that's what I've seen quoted for barrel life often. Maybe that was unchromed. Or perhaps that was the minimum guarantee.


@ TRL, good to know. Maybe if I get the cash to do it for myself and not just for my friend I'll have my LWRC converted, be nice to shoot that kind of rounds and because of piston not be getting it all dirty like with a direct impingement.

Also, just a fan, or a real 19Delta?


Edit BAD LINK IN ORIGINAL POST, skipped past the belt fed part, correct link added: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72USc0hXFcU&feature=channel_video_title First part is correct part, rest is just slidefire with standard ar15's

[Circuits]

There is a quick change upper out there, from Ares. Essentially a shrike without the belt feed (and upgradeable to belt feed).

[Great-Kazoo]

this one is better and not the alleged bs you may get from ares (as read on other forums)
i had an early version of it but sold it when the offer was too good to pass up. now i just have various dedicated SBR caliber uppers.

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=22152/Product/AR_15_M16_M4_QCB_UPPER_RECEIVER

[Fromk]

http://www.tenpercentfirearms.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=16_71&products_id=665 is the quick-change setup I've seen in action. I know the guy who runs that shop and another one of my buddies bought one of the briefcase setups from him. It's super cool and goes back together without losing its zero too much. It doesn't sound like this is exactly what you're looking for but shows that the idea is in practice for installing barrels quickly.

As a side note, there are some pretty neat things going on in Cali (which is where he's located) in spite of the crazy regulations.

[Gritty]

If you want a serious barrel change out platform, a few AR manufacturers make uppers with quick change barrel systems. The other option is to use a retro fit kit.

LMT MRP (Both in DI and piston)
Cost: Upper around $1400; Rifle: around $2000
Spare barrels (MSRP): $346
http://www.lewismachine.net/media/CQB-PistonManual.pdf
http://www.lewismachine.net/media/MRPBarrelInstructionManual.pdf

5.56 Shrike (just FYI)
Currently GOV contract only.
http://www.aresdefense.com/
http://www.dndguns.com/shrike.htm

Quick change retro fit kit
Cost: $50-60
http://ar15tactical.net/qcb.htm
http://www.mapartsinc.com/productsDetail.asp?id=1415

[Mobat555]

Watch This (http://video.nytimes.com/video/2010/01/12/world/asia/1247466496261/m-4a1-firing-test.html)

[trlcavscout]

Maybe I'm wrong, just thought that's what I've seen quoted for barrel life often. Maybe that was unchromed. Or perhaps that was the minimum guarantee.


@ TRL, good to know. Maybe if I get the cash to do it for myself and not just for my friend I'll have my LWRC converted, be nice to shoot that kind of rounds and because of piston not be getting it all dirty like with a direct impingement.

Also, just a fan, or a real 19Delta?

I was. I hate piston systems though.



Watch This (http://video.nytimes.com/video/2010/01/12/world/asia/1247466496261/m-4a1-firing-test.html)

That is way cool!

[fitz19d]

Depressing, swear can see barrel even dropping at end. Hoping that wasn't a pre 86 lower/sear they are potentially ruining. (IE some new made dealer sample that doesnt matter.)

[fitz19d]

Went with Spleify and his friend to shoot today. Finally got some real rounds through the slidefire stock. Makes me really want the belt feed conversion. Maybe they can add their video's they got of themselves also.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_qLCE16Ox0

(if Someone better with stupid forum posting code could imbed that I'd be indebted to you.)


Also had some stupid antelope come within 50 yards before the shooting. Made me very sad and hungry.

[bobbyfairbanks]

Only way I would want to do it is on a lower that has the mag well cut off like on the single shot ones for 50 cal AR's. Sounds like a lot of fun and Something that I will look at as well. Thanks for bringing it up and I hope they start selling those belt fed uppers!

[fitz19d]

The belt feed feeds in through top/side, wouldnt use the magwell if that's what you mean by cutting it off. It is used though to mount the m249 box for the belt though somehow.

[bobbyfairbanks]

Ya I looked at the picture as well that is why I said I would prefer a single shot AR lower to a standard one.