Legos, Tinker Toys, K’Nex—whatever it was you grew up with, those sort of modular build-what-you-want toy sets tend to be some of the most lastingly popular for kids. If we’re really being honest, many of us never quite grew out of loving them, even as we hit adulthood. If you’ve ever wondered what, exactly, makes the AR-15 so popular, it’s pretty much the same reason Legos remain one of the most popular toys: they’re modular. It’s not necessarily just that ARs are modular, it’s that the modular nature—and the separation of the upper and lower receiver—that means every AR owner can customize their firearm to their specifications, from the barrel length right down to rifle handguard options. So, if you’re asking whether the barrel of your AR-15 can be swapped out for another option, the short answer is yes.
Interchangeable Components
As most AR-15 owners know, in most cases and with a vast majority of firearms the lower receiver is the only part of an AR that is technically the firearm, which means that’s the only part of your AR that needs to be serialized and requires licensing and hoops to jump through in order to both sell and own. Everything on the upper receiver can be bought and sold online, at your local garage sale, or whatever method you choose to make that exchange of goods and money. It also means that manufacturers, like the team here at RailScales, can focus on making specific and functional AR-15 parts or accessories and excel at what they do because of that specialized attention. Of course, with the abundance of custom AR parts and accessories on the market, the biggest issue most manufacturers face is how to ensure they’re making the best products while keeping them compatible with as many different variations on the market as possible.
Swapping Barrels
Whether you decide you’re interested in changing to different caliber rounds or you want to go from a Picatinny handguard to MLOK rail panels, changing out the barrel (and basically any other part of your upper receiver) should be easy enough as long as you take the time to match like with like. This means that, if you’re sticking to the same caliber and only switching to, say, another barrel length, the parts should be easily interchangeable. Changing to a set-up that allows for a different caliber size can usually be done, but will require a bit more legwork to make sure all the converting components are doing their job. While NATO rounds are still overwhelmingly the most popular options available on the market, the last few years have seen a host of new variations on caliber that fit a more niche shooter. From .224 Valkyrie to the increasingly popular .300 Blackout, there are nearly infinite options for customizing and expanding a weapons specific performance parameters. Generally, if you’re unsure whether a specific component will work with your current set-up, ask the manufacturer before buying or get help from a knowledgeable gunsmith.
Need A Barrel Swap?
RailScales builds its product lineup around this same idea of modularity. While known for its namesake G10 RailScales panels that reduce the heat transfer from barrel to handguard, RailScales has added a number of modular products to its lineup that help to build a custom setup for any AR-15 user. The Karve handstop can be used in multiple locations, and setup in a push or pull configuration depending on the end-users shooting preference. It can even be combined with other RailScales products like the RSBM-P to create a perfect indexing point to bring the weapon consistently on target every time and protect the shooter's hand from going in front of the muzzle. Components like the XOS-H not only protect from heat and provide extra grip texture to keep the forend secure and on target, but the patented cutout hole allows for a number of RailScales products to mount inside the scale footprint providing a modular set of combinations to fit almost any shooter. If you’re looking for custom AR parts to outfit your AR 15, shop RailScales online for rifle handguard and hand stop options that work with both M-LOK and KeyMod rail systems. Our RailScales offer lightweight but high-performance hand protection with a choice of different textures for grip. Shop RailScales online today or contact us if you have questions!
