Bolt Action Upper Question

Old Jalopy

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So this is something I've been pondering for a while now, and have not found a definitive answer to the question I keep wondering. If I bought a complete bolt action AR upper, can it go on any lower?

I mean, the lower would have nothing to do with the cycling of the rifle, and seeing it would be a dedicated complete upper there shouldn't be any altering the gas tube or anything. Should be drop and go correct?
 
kev74

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Old Jalopy said:
So this is something I've been pondering for a while now, and have not found a definitive answer to the question I keep wondering. If I bought a complete bolt action AR upper, can it go on any lower?

I mean, the lower would have nothing to do with the cycling of the rifle, and seeing it would be a dedicated complete upper there shouldn't be any altering the gas tube or anything. Should be drop and go correct?
Click to expand...
Might depend on the upper, but if it says it works on mil-spec, you would be good to go.

None of the gas system is in the lower. It's all self contained in the upper.
 
Old Jalopy

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kev74 said:
Might depend on the upper, but if it says it works on mil-spec, you would be good to go.

None of the gas system is in the lower. It's all self contained in the upper.
Click to expand...
That was my thoughts too. The lower is just the fire control group, grip, mag well, and buffer tube. If the upper was already set up without the gas system, it should be, just lock it on and run with it. All the info I came across was converting the upper from gas to bolt action.
 
Tisto

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Disclaimer first : I am not a lawyer, so this advise is worth exactly nothing.

Technically speaking, if you had a standard AR type platform rifle and it contained a Kali-Key bcg or something like that, you could have any features including detachable mag, flash hider, bayonet lug, shoulder thing that goes up, or any other evil thing that would make an AR into an "assault rifle" and it would be legal here in PRNY.

Now, convincing the purple tie that has you in custody may be more difficult than simply telling him it's legal because it's not a semiauto. This could be fought and won in court. BUT, If you also had in your posession at the time a standard bcg that, if installed, would convert the rifle back to a semiauto, they would claim "constructive intent" and you could be screwed.

Other more traditional rotate and pull type bolt action uppers are available and could in fact be installed on any standard AR lower without issues. It would be far easier to convince a purple tie of the legality of these. ( still no guarantee )

What exactly are you trying to build while attempting to remain compliant with Hochul and her henchmen ?
 
Tisto

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If your concern is simply the mechanics of it all, any standard AR upper would fit on any standard lower. 2 pins.
 
Old Jalopy

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Tisto said:
Disclaimer first : I am not a lawyer, so this advise is worth exactly nothing.

Technically speaking, if you had a standard AR type platform rifle and it contained a Kali-Key bcg or something like that, you could have any features including detachable mag, flash hider, bayonet lug, shoulder thing that goes up, or any other evil thing that would make an AR into an "assault rifle" and it would be legal here in PRNY.

Now, convincing the purple tie that has you in custody may be more difficult than simply telling him it's legal because it's not a semiauto. This could be fought and won in court. BUT, If you also had in your posession at the time a standard bcg that, if installed, would convert the rifle back to a semiauto, they would claim "constructive intent" and you could be screwed.

Other more traditional rotate and pull type bolt action uppers are available and could in fact be installed on any standard AR lower without issues. It would be far easier to convince a purple tie of the legality of these. ( still no guarantee )

What exactly are you trying to build while attempting to remain compliant with Hochul and her henchmen ?
Click to expand...
Not building anything. But I have contemplated getting a bolt action upper as a just in case spare part.
 
Tisto

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A friend of mine has a traditional style bolt action upper that snaps onto a standard AR lower. His is a UINTAH. It seems to shoot ok, but he's not winning any benchrest matches with it. Then again, he might just be a shitty shot.
 
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Old Jalopy

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Tisto said:
A friend of mine has a traditional style bolt action upper that snaps onto a standard AR lower. His is a UINTAH. It seems to shoot ok, but he's not winning any benchrest matches with it. Then again, he might just be a shitty shot.
Click to expand...
For hunting all it needs is to group 3 in a quarter off elbows or in a half dollar off hand and I'm good. Cloverleaf from a rest isn't usually a cloverleaf in hunting circumstance.
 
Loworange88

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FWIW, I bought a Bear Creek left side charge upper, and a heavy barrel. Built the upper with the gas block installed backwards and no tube. It functions as a straight pull bolt action. No semi auto, and the charge handle needs to be manually cycled every time.
 
Old Jalopy

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Loworange88 said:
FWIW, I bought a Bear Creek left side charge upper, and a heavy barrel. Built the upper with the gas block installed backwards and no tube. It functions as a straight pull bolt action. No semi auto, and the charge handle needs to be manually cycled every time.
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Thank you for the feedback. The only reason I would even consider a bolt upper would be for hunting. Pulling back the charging handle would mean having to break the cheek weld on a follow-up shot, to cycle. Going that route, it would be more cost-effective to just buy a Kali-Key at less than 1/3rd the cost of a whole new upper.
 
Loworange88

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Old Jalopy said:
Thank you for the feedback. The only reason I would even consider a bolt upper would be for hunting. Pulling back the charging handle would mean having to break the cheek weld on a follow-up shot, to cycle. Going that route, it would be more cost-effective to just buy a Kali-Key at less than 1/3rd the cost of a whole new upper.
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That’s why I got the lefty….can keep right hand on the grip and the cheek weld can stay as well. Operate with left hand. Works pretty good.
 
nortatoga

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You could do something like I have here Ruger American Ranch in 5.56 ( or 762x39 takes mini 30 mags ) takes AR mags. The iron sights are from Nodak Spud which was bought by PSA not long after I bought them in early 2021, this is a good little shooting rifle. MSRP was $549.00 when I picked this up in Jan. 2021 now $729.00

1743600580598.jpeg

1743600850757.jpeg
 
Old Jalopy

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nortatoga said:
You could do something like I have here Ruger American Ranch in 5.56 ( or 762x39 takes mini 30 mags ) takes AR mags. The iron sights are from Nodak Spud which was bought by PSA not long after I bought them in early 2021, this is a good little shooting rifle. MSRP was $549.00 when I picked this up in Jan. 2021 now $729.00

View attachment 262282

View attachment 262283
Click to expand...
Nice looking rig.
 
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