Replace just barrel or entire upper?

[Todd.K]

I’ll say complete upper, unless it’s just a range beater/training gun. If you shoot a barrel out you should replace the bolt, and you can’t depend on gun you are running to failure in an emergency.

Just make sure you get someone reputable to change the barrel if you go that route.

[GH41]

Smart man! I don't care what every other person says. You cannot buy the tools for a barrel change for anywhere near what a good smith would charge you to do it correctly. Is the S&W upper a flat top or does it have a FSB?

[czgunner]

I'd be really surprised if somebody didn't live near you was happy to help you out.

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[neil0311]

Smart man! I don't care what every other person says. You cannot buy the tools for a barrel change for anywhere near what a good smith would charge you to do it correctly. Is the S&W upper a flat top or does it have a FSB?

It's a flat top. I have an Magpul MBUS rear sight with a RDS primary sight.

[neil0311]

I'd be really surprised if somebody didn't live near you was happy to help you out.

No offense to anyone...lots of smart and capable people out there...but any work done to my guns that could impact safety is done by a professional for legal reasons.

[neil0311]

I’ll say complete upper, unless it’s just a range beater/training gun. If you shoot a barrel out you should replace the bolt, and you can’t depend on gun you are running to failure in an emergency.

Just make sure you get someone reputable to change the barrel if you go that route.

The S&W M&P was our first AR and is just a range beater. But that's good to know about changing out the bolt as well. I didn't realize that was the case.

I've got several other more expensive ARs that won't need new barrels for a while, but wanted to know best practice and what others did. :-)

[Inkslinger]

No offense to anyone...lots of smart and capable people out there...but any work done to my guns that could impact safety is done by a professional for legal reasons.

Then if you have someone do it for you, look for someone with armorer certifications and not just a “gunsmith”.

[alx01]

6k rounds is not that much for a nitrided barrel.

I would just get a new upper with a new BCG (or at least a bolt) if you decide to go that route.

[czgunner]

No offense to anyone...lots of smart and capable people out there...but any work done to my guns that could impact safety is done by a professional for legal reasons.

Its your rifle, do your thing. Barrel change isn't rocket science though.

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[RMiller]

It's good to learn and have the tools to do things yourself.

Get a good vice, something to hold the receiver or one of the reaction rod type devices, and an AR tool.