Converting a Colt AR to run 3 gun

Status
Not open for further replies.
M

mopar92

Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2008
Messages
708
I have a carbine AR by Colt, and I want to get into 3 gun. Mine has an H bar fixed upper now, and I'd like to go with a rifle or mid length upper, 18"-20" barrel, etc. I know some guys bark at me " just buy a 3 gun rifle"... Well, I don't want to spend $1200 on a rifle IF one of mine can be converted to work as a beginner in an entry level class. Anybody done this? I know I'm limited on this stupid different pin size thing..
 
My first bit of advice would be to go shoot a few matches with what you have.

You will probably still want to change, because a longer gas system will give you a flatter, softer, and faster shooting rifle.


Is your upper a flat top or a carry handle? Do you want to shoot with iron sights or optics?

You don't need to spend $1200 for a good 3-gun rifle. But depending on how many parts you will need to change, you may be ahead to just sell your colt and put together a quality budget rifle.

All that aside... assuming that the upper receiver that you currently have is of the type you want to use in the future... all you need is a new barrel (18 inch with rifle gas is my recommendation for an optics upper), with a gas block and gas tube, and an inexpensive comp on the end of it. And a new bolt to go with your new barrel. You can use your current bolt carrier... but a bolt should not be swapped between barrels for any extended round count.


I have had good accuracy and good results with BCM SAM-R barrels (expensive), and DPMS MK12 barrels (inexpensive).

Bolt ~$50
Barrel ~$150
Miculek comp ~$30
Gas tube ~ can't recall

If you have a carry handle upper you will need a clamp on fsb to go on the picatinny gas block that comes with the DPMS barrel.


Otherwise I presume you currently have an optic on your colt.

You could sell your colt barrel on the AR15.com equipment exchange and recoup a lot of your new parts expense.


If you have a carry handle upper and you want to shoot optics you should probably just sell the colt and start over. Get that whole large pin BS out of the way.
 
As stated, it's a fixed H bar, I'd like to run a flat top with optics. Does anybody make a sub $1,000 gun setup for 3 gun, sans optics, etc??
 
It is a fixed H bar upper, as opposed to a removable H bar like the 6920 LE. I want to run a longer barrel and flat top, hense asking about just changing the whole upper/barrel. I'm
On the fence about just building a whole new rifle. But again...$$$ ;(
 
It just occurred to me that those parts I linked to wouldn't do you any good. They would only work if you wanted to put a small pin lower on your colt upper.




Dealing with the large pins I don't really know what to tell you. Easiest thing would be to sell the colt and start over but I don't know how attached you are to it.
 
So it's not easy to put on a small pin upper on a large pin lower such as mine? Pretty lame why the large pin thing happened ;(
 
Any flat top upper will work. Sight system may be most important, then a good trigger. Probably a good comp. Fancy rails are not useful in 3-gun.

Well, I don't want to spend $1200 on a rifle IF one of mine can be converted to work as a beginner in an entry level class.
Click to expand...
"Converting" means swapping out so many parts that you may as well buy a new complete upper, or a rifle, because a good trigger costs, too. Meantime, shoot what you got until you figure out what you want.
 
So, regardless of the pin size, you state ANY upper will work, or any Colt upper?
 
Sorry about that; if you are talking to me, I do not know about Colt pins. That is one of the reasons I do not own any Colt rifles. The other reason is Colt left a bad taste in my mouth after I had numerous problems with a Colt Gold Cup made in the 80's. Granted that was a long time ago, but there are so many good AR's there is no reason to buy a Colt.

Also, I may have heard that Colt dropped the funny pin size a while back, so a "new" Colt is normal, but I did not care to investigate it.
 
I wonder how I can tell if my 6920LE has smaller pins? Thanks for the help.
 
What exactly is a "3 gun rifle?" At our local 3 gun matches, you'll find ALL KINDS of different AR's.

Bring your gun as is and run it through a match. After seeing the different gear in action, it may make your mind up FOR you as to how you proceed.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top