I have this cracked Colt A1 upper receiver…
Can this be fixed / welded ?
Is there a certain way it should be fixed/welded ?
I am a noob with M16/AR15’s. Just started with them 6 months ago and really like the Retro types.
Thank you for your time.
I recommend replacing it.
Just buy another.
Don’t try to fix it - throw it in the trash. Stripped uppers are so cheap there’s no reason to consider fixing that type of material failure.
Looks like someone was a little to enthusiastic with a vice block.
Replace it with this:
http://www.fulton-armory.com/upperreceivera1usginofanocd.aspx
It’s not exactly a collectible piece, and restoration would cost more than straight replacement anyhow.
If the crack penetrates all the way through the receiver, trash it. It’s not worth the risk of injury given the location of the crack.
Welcome to the club. If you shoot long enough, you will have to replace a receiver or a worn out firearm.
7075 is basically impossible to weld. Its considered an unweldable alloy(the family of 7xxx series aluminum’s). There are a few guys that have had success with it(machine gun Joe I believe was his name if he is still in business), but generally no you cant weld 7075.
What rjacobs said.
Had a lower come in with problems, worn out holes. Same problem. 7075 is unweldable, and there is no correct filler rod for it.
I think the guy I am thinking of(machine gun Joe) bushed a lot of holes that were worn out. I also remember seeing some of his work that I KNOW was welded up 7075. I also think he would never share his secret to welding 7075.
ETA: I just looked it up its M60Joe that does the repairs I am thinking of.
Yes, you can bush holes. You could weld them with whatever aluminum filler you choose, the holes aren’t under near the stress of where that upper is cracked.
But all the weld supply places I checked, there isn’t even a filler made to weld 7075.
Machine gun Joe has either experimented enough that something more or less works, or just guessed and ran with it.
I could see that with an irreplaceable transferable machinegun lower.
This wasn’t such an animal, when I told the guy what I found, he said just scrap it and start over. Lowers then were still close to $100, but he takes his rifles kind of seriously.
7075 is an unweldable grade of aluminum. Pretty much guaranteed to fail even for low stress parts. People have welded over roll marks and whatnot on 7075 successfully but even that leaves me second guessing the part as it can form stress cracks on a simple surface weld even. An aluminum brazing process should work fine.
Sent from my SM-G900T using Xparent BlueTapatalk 2
I’d bet money it’s not a welding process.
Sent from my SM-G900T using Xparent BlueTapatalk 2
It looks like trying this might be a bad idea.
I asked a guy who has welded ferrous metals for me in the past, he agreed to try it. But I figured I better look into it so I know what I’m asking from him.
Starting to regret passing on the few A1 uppers on G.B 2months ago for $125-$150, I kept hearing guys talk about how cheap uppers were so I passed.
Royal is selling the cracked uppers for 39.99 but shipping is an extra $18.00:blink: They also list them on GB so I won one there for 31.95+ shipping.
Anyway I figured I buy a cracked one and have it welded for now more than $50 and have a stripped A1 upper for around 100.