What would you do with these two free colts with welded chambers.

[marZ1]

The back story is I helped my uncle move his gun collection fro CT to GA where they are retiring. In payment he gave me a Colt AR-15 A2 HBAR Sporter and a Sporter Match HBAR. The wrinkle is that at some point the were both "Demilitarized" via a bead of weld in the chamber. Both are slab sides and have the screw in instead of a front takedown pin and fixed carry handle. The welds look to have not affected the integrity of the upper on visual inspection and I believe the barrel was removed to put the bead in.

My thoughts are;
1. Replace the barrels which are both marked C MP 5.56 NATO 1/7 HBAR. With a new colt barrel assembly.
2. Buy 2 PSA/FN 20" barrels then take it to someone to drill the FSB holes.
3. See if the weld can be removed.

What would you guys do? With a few 6920's and 6933's and other AR's these will be low in the list as far as range time goes so I would prefer to keep them as original as possible. Also I don't know squat about the HBAR.

Any ideas will be greatly appreciated.

[markm]

Can you have the weld reamed out? Not sure why someone would de-mil a civilian AR.

Being that they're Large take down pin, I really would probably make them wall hangers before pouring a ton off money or effort into them.

[marZ1]

My thoughts as well. I figured $150-$200 each to have them operational is all I would put into them. Thanks

[ViniVidivici]

Replace the barrels, if the uppers aren't too damaged. Easiest and cheapest way, I think.

[TomMcC]

Dont know, but would the weld affect the heat treat at all?

[Doc Safari]

I agree. Replace the barrels if you can do it inexpensively and make them shooters.

[marZ1]

What about this? $200 per and they shoot.

https://www.brownells.com/rifle-part...1=20%2522%7c20

[marZ1]

My guess is yes on the heat treating.

[mark5pt56]

Looked it up, 3000-20000c on tig around 6500f on arc(tip), I would replace the barrels.

[Sry0fcr]

Before you start dicking with it, find out if they're preban in CT. Maybe you can melt some snowflakes and put them back into circulation up there (if legal).