AR557 barrel swap

[salover]

I'm thinking about buying a ar557 and was wondering if there are any barrels that interchange with it, say a 300aac blackout or even a larger caliber? This will be my first AR so I have a lot to learn, starting by reading the owners manual.

 

[pleadthe2nd]

What's an ar557 ?

 

[22/45 Fan]

What's an ar557 ?

A typo.

 

[Aqualung]

I figure you mean the AR556.

One major benefit of the AR platform is that you can modify it as you want it.

What you propose would be possible, but would require a good bit of dismantling the rifle.

What would be better would be to find an upper receiver assembly, which is the entire top half of the rifle. This "upper" would then snap right on top of your Ruger lower. If you do searches for "AR15 Upper", you'll find a ton. I've heard good things about Palmetto State Armory.

I started out thinking I wanted to build an upper in .300 Blackout for my AR556. I built it up and then was "encouraged" by Mrs. Aqualung to build the lower as well. Of course, I am a well-behaved husband and did what I was told.

My advice is to just get the AR556 and shoot it in its current configuration before modifying it. Have some fun with it.

Aqualung

 

[steelshooterco]

You can go up to .50 caliber if you want something big. The 458 SOCOM or 450 Bushmaster (basically the same thing) are 2 two the more popular really large bore cartridges and uppers.

Having fired the SOCOM you will notice a difference in the recoil LOL - good boar gun.

 

[salover]

Thanks for the feedback. I do plan on using it in the 556/223 configuration, just wondering what might be possible down the road. If I ever do make any changes it will be in the small caliber range, don't think my arthritis would handle the big stuff. I haven't been able to fire long guns/shotguns for about forty years (hands, wrists and shoulders won't twist right) but I found that an AR with the grip on the forearm lets me shoulder one in good fashion. Really looking forward to being able to shoot a rifle again, although I do love all my handguns.

 

[pleadthe2nd]

Ahh, a typo, sorry just thought I missed something new. Yes you can change the barrel to the 300 b o , you'll need a vise block and a few other specialty tools, and I would recommend changing the ruger barrel nut too, so you can upgrade your handgaurd too , also you'll have to change the gas block because the pins are in a different location on the ar556, barrel from ruger.