AR caliber conversion - anyone with experience?

[pcgunner]

Just wondering if anyone has had experience converting an AR to an alternate caliber such as a 45 ACP?

I think most of these AR rifles (I have no experience with them BTW) come in .223/5.56 caliber yes?

I like these Ruger AR-556 guns (actually I like the price ) but I'm really not interested in having to buy another set of dies and would like to try and use what I already have.

I've seen conversion kits to .45 ACP for these guns - anyone have experience with these?

Are they easy to convert?

Do I need to get a gunsmith involved?

Thanks as always in advance

 

[model70hunter]

Just wondering if anyone has had experience converting an AR to an alternate caliber such as a 45 ACP?

I think most of these AR rifles (I have no experience with them BTW) come in .223/5.56 caliber yes?

I like these Ruger AR-556 guns (actually I like the price ) but I'm really not interested in having to buy another set of dies and would like to try and use what I already have.

I've seen conversion kits to .45 ACP for these guns - anyone have experience with these?

Are they easy to convert?

Do I need to get a gunsmith involved?

Thanks as always in advance

Nope it is pretty easy, start doing homework. My son has built one in 6.8 and we both did a 6.5 Creedmore.

What you will need is a new upper for the lower you have. I am not sure of the pistol round conversions, I know there a are 22 LR and 9mm units. So hold on for a few, I will goggle and be back.

First watch this one, it is a legal slide fire in 45acp.

For all you guys who yearn for a Thompson you need to look
at this.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sA5d0GiBUaw[/ame]

Slide fire is legal, I ko a guy who put the stock on his AR 15, wow, if you like to expend ammo quickly this is your baby. Notice on the 45 acp video, the guy does a couple of rounds the first time, when he gets after it his large self is moved backwards.

Uppers, and now you have me thinking, I was going to get an extra 5.56 light upper for the toy. BUT!

Read this one on ammo costs as a decision maker.
https://www.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=3&f=15&t=261098

Since itis open I won't post the link but there is an Olympic with 3 mags for sale on Guns America for buy it now under $501 dollars.

 

[Brian in Oregon]

There are two basic pistol caliber lowers.

Those that are dedicated lowers, meaning they can only be used with the pistol caliber they were designed for. These are usually altered with an ejector setup pinned to the lower and magwell modifications.

And those that use a drop in magwell conversion block, which contains all necessary parts and does not permanently alter the existing lower.