A2 Upper to Flat top conversion

[glockhead23]

Hello all,
I'm an extreme newbie to the black rifle world and it is a great rifle platform. I bought a DPMS carbine from a friend a couple of years ago.It has an A2 fixed handle upper and miculek comp. I would like to change it to a flat top upper.Can I buy a stripped flat top upper from DPMS and strip the A2 and use the parts to build the flat top with. Any and all advise would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

[space_weazel]

To do this you will need an Armorers Wrench, you will need to use that wrench to take off the barrel nut pull out the barrel, take your new complete flat top upper, put in the new barrel, and barrel nut (and all the small parts), swap over the gas block, and tube. Then you need to head space it to make sure its safe, it should be. Then you should be about done.

Are you mechanically inclined?

[glockhead23]

To do this you will need an Armorers Wrench, you will need to use that wrench to take off the barrel nut pull out the barrel, take your new complete flat top upper, put in the new barrel, and barrel nut (and all the small parts), swap over the gas block, and tube. Then you need to head space it to make sure its safe, it should be. Then you should be about done.

Are you mechanically inclined?

I've had my glock's since the late 80's and take them completely down for cleaning and parts replacement. I thought about getting the AGI AR-15 dvd. I have the glock dvd and its pretty informative. Any other how to dvd's worth giving a look at?

[RainierArms]

I'd recommend a Olympic Arms barrel wrench & DPMS panther claw. That's what we use at the shop and both of those tools work very well.

[desertfox]

To do this you will need an Armorers Wrench, you will need to use that wrench to take off the barrel nut pull out the barrel, take your new complete flat top upper, put in the new barrel, and barrel nut (and all the small parts), swap over the gas block, and tube. Then you need to head space it to make sure its safe, it should be. Then you should be about done.

Are you mechanically inclined?


couple things here. my impression is he is planing on just swapping upper receivers from the sounds of it. in that case, he will not need to remove the gas block (front sight base). he will need to remove the gas tube though. since he is not messing with the barrel extension, he will not need to head space the barrel. there really is never a need for 99% of the people out there to mess with the barrel extension. the barrel will have been head spaced by the manufacturer (sub-contractor for the firearms manufacturer) of the barrel.

Barrel wrench, some sort of clam shell (quite a few brands out there) for holding the upper. roll pin punched (one for gas tube roll pin and one for the forward assist roll pin.

[space_weazel]

couple things here. my impression is he is planing on just swapping upper receivers from the sounds of it. in that case, he will not need to remove the gas block (front sight base). he will need to remove the gas tube though. since he is not messing with the barrel extension, he will not need to head space the barrel. there really is never a need for 99% of the people out there to mess with the barrel extension. the barrel will have been head spaced by the manufacturer (sub-contractor for the firearms manufacturer) of the barrel.

Barrel wrench, some sort of clam shell (quite a few brands out there) for holding the upper. roll pin punched (one for gas tube roll pin and one for the forward assist roll pin.

You sir are correct I just started running on that one..... :embarassed:
Buy the wrench, pop that barrel off, screw on to new upper, rock out!

[glockhead23]

Thanks for the advise guys. Greatly appreciated.:thumbsup:

[glockhead23]

Hey guy's,
If I do this swap over, will I need to use a certain style/size rear sight on the flat top receiver since I will be using the factory front sight/gas block? What rear sight do you recommend? Fixed or fold down?

[jrs93accord]

Hey guy's,
If I do this swap over, will I need to use a certain style/size rear sight on the flat top receiver since I will be using the factory front sight/gas block? What rear sight do you recommend? Fixed or fold down?

I use a A.R.M.S. #40 A2. There are other options such as Troy, MI, GG&G, LaRue, and a few others.

[desertfox]

that is really a big personall preference there.....I have removeable carry handles, ARMS flip ups, troy flip ups, GG&G flip ups......they all work for me.