Barrel replacement

[pgpd3147]

Can I replace my barrel and still keep the same BCG.

[familyman357]

From what I understand, the technical answer is: probably.

What's the round count on your BCG? What's the round count on the replacement barrel?

[bkb0000]

under certain circumstances, yes.. but why wouldn't you just go ahead and replace the bolt? they're like $65... small price to pay for a gun that doesn't blow up in your hands.

[pgpd3147]

the round counts are extremly low. I think under 100. Its a WOA barrel and an LMT BCG. Where would I find a matching BCG and barrel.

[bkb0000]

dont worry about matching bolt to barrel- unless they're being lapped by a smith, im pretty sure "matched" bolts and barrels are nothing more than a bolt/barrel combination that's had headspace verified.

WOA and LMT bolt, with less than 100 rounds- no worries. thats not even sort of broken in.

[sinister]

Probably. You'll need a headspace gage to confirm.

At the AMU we'd replace National Match barrels every 2,500-3,500 rounds, and others around 5,000.

Bolts would go four or five barrels before we'd pre-emptively put in a new one.

[Iraqgunz]

With only 100 rounds I wouldn't be very concerned. But a real headspace gage from billricca.com is a cheap investment.

[familyman357]

the round counts are extremly low. I think under 100. Its a WOA barrel and an LMT BCG. Where would I find a matching BCG and barrel.

That's a practically-new BCG. Personally, if I know that the round count is that low, I'd have no qualms about using it with a new barrel.

[Capt_Tuttle]

Can I replace my barrel and still keep the same BCG.

I just replaced a Colt 16" HBAR for a 16" Daniel Defense M4 barrel and re-used the original Colt BCG/bolt after verifying headspace was in spec. I believe you are good to go provided there are no headspace issues.

[pgpd3147]

awesome, as always thanks for the help guys.

[B52U]

Is ensuring a stripped bolt won't close on a USGI field gauge a sufficient test for this kind of scenario, or do you need the specific go/no go gauges?

[familyman357]

Well, a field gauge will only tell you whether the headspace is so large that it's actually dangerous to fire that weapon. For me as Joe Citizen, who isn't an armorer under wartime conditions trying to get as many rifles as possible back into the field as rapidly as possible, I'd be happier using a no-go gauge (and a go gauge to cover all bases just because I'm anal retentive like that).
But yes, strictly speaking, a bolt that doesn't close on a field gauge will likely be safe to fire.