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Abraham wrote:TAM,

That's an intriguing idea.

Thanks.

So, what are the further considerations to doing that?

Gotta buy magazines (not a problem) and reset zero (again, not a problem) every time I oscillate back to 5.56 upper?

What else, if anything, do I need to consider if I go this route?

And, thanks again.

I really appreciate it!

No, you do not have to reset zero, at least with iron sights, because the sighting system is part of the upper......or it should be. If you want to use one optic for both uppers, then yes, you would have to rezero each time you swapped the optic from upper to upper. But the 9mm upper I linked to already has an A2 front sight on the gas block, so you could buy an inexpensive Magpul rear sight — approximately $50 — and leave it on the 9mm upper. Unless you have bad eyesight like I do, iron sights for 9mm would be fine for any distance you're likely to shoot a pistol caliber weapon.

Personally, I'd probably buy a dedicated micro red dot like the one in the picture. Again, you don't have to pay Aimpoint Micro prices ($500-$600) for one. Primary Arms, Vortex, and Bushnell, among others, all offer micro red-dots at cheaper prices.

Here's a link: http://www.9mmar.com/

Have a Hi Point 9mm Carbine I picked up used for $130 including 4 magazines. Ugly as sin, goes bang every time the trigger is pulled on a round, accurate enough for 4-legged or 2-legged varmits out to about 50 yards (never tried further than that). Not my first choice for hunting, self defense, or target shooting, but not a bad thing to have in the back of the ATV when checking cameras and feeders particularly when the weather is nasty and you want a little more reach that is carried on your hip.

TAM,

Oh boy!

I've got the bug for one of these critters!

"She who must be obeyed" will not be pleased.

However, she likes (not nearly as much as me...) to shoot, (was on her high school rifle team) so perhaps I can make it "her's" what with low recoil, lower ammo costs, etc...then, (rubbing my hands together) heh, heh, I'll be the one to find it most appealing...

Oh, I already have a Magpul rear sight as it had to be removed for my scope on the primary AR. No co-witness. The KISS AR would be the one I'd swap uppers.

Man, I use to think AR's were not for me, and now...

Anyway, thanks again!

The Annoyed Man wrote:Why not just get a 9mm upper to mate to your existing AR lower?

http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.ph ... gory/4442/

You'd end up with something like this:
[ Image ]

I've had one of these for some time now and it is a great little gun to shoot.

Just recently SBR'ed it and like it a little more...

I have owned a 9mm version of this for several years that I acquired in a trade--uglier than home made soap, but boy does my family like to shoot them. I can put a bunch of long guns on the table at the range and odds are that the 995 HiPoint will be picked up first and fired at steel targets as long as I have ammo in a can to fit. I also have the .45 acp version and put it on the table with my Marlin Camp 45 and again they choose the 995.

I have the extra ugly early factory stock and factory and aftermarket mags and have never had a fail to feed or fire that I can remember. My mags don't always drop out, but it is not a hot combat gun--it is just fun and cheap to shoot. Add a $20 red dot and you can pop some caps and ring some steel. Last year I had to haul several hundred pumpkins away from our church after the halloween pumpkin patch that were not sold andwe loaded some home cast HPs with large cavities and they would really "destroy" those orange bombs.

I am really ashamed to admit this, but I do not store this with my "good" guns in the big safe. I lock it in the steel locker with some really cheap guns, project guns and gun parts. I guess I could come out of the closet, but the grandkids know where I keep it and make sure it is in the stuff hauled to the range.

I reviewed a number of Youtube videos showing and explaining how to convert an AR15 to 9MM upper.

It looks daunting to me and very time consuming.

Understand, I'm not gifted with mechanical acumen. I have 2 left thumbs. I can swing an ax like a lumberjack or a sledge hammer like a hard working construction guy, but when it comes to fine motor control mechanical things, I suck. Those famous last words of "hey, anybody can do it" is baloney.

I was somehow under the impression one could simply pull the pin on the upper on the AR15 (which is what I do when I clean it) thus separating it and pin on the 9MM upper and bingo you're ready to rock and roll. Maybe taking all of a minute or less. Wrong. It's much more complicated than that. Unless of course I misunderstand.

So, it's back to buying a Hi-Point.

Is there one best model as it appears there's more than one 9MM model to choose from?

So which model to buy?

Is there one with a better aiming system or better stock or ...?

Thanks!

They are all the same rifle. The difference is in what accessories are included. This means your intended use should come into play.

Also, you can buy those accessories directly from their website. They're not very expensive because most of them are not high-end merchandise. Again, the prices are matched to their intended purchaser.

Abraham wrote: Is there one with a better aiming system or better stock or ...?

Thanks!

I picked up an Aimpoint red dot sight at Wally-world for about $45. It has 6 brightness settngs (IIRC) 4 reticles and can be set for red or green. I had to remove the rear open sight because there isn't enough room on the top rail to fit the red dot sight in front of it.
It looks like it should be OK, but I haven't been to the range with it yet. I'm hoping I haven't just blown $45. I'll let you know my impression once I actually shoot it.

ummmmm.

Thanks guys, all of your input is most appreciated.

TAM, I'm sorry, your advise is golden, but for a mechanical, nincompoop like me,
It's single-handededly not doable..

Most of you could probably do the swap out with ease, me I'm sort of a simpleton when it comes to being "cool with tools". I 'm not that guy...I wish like crazy I was...

Abraham wrote:Thanks guys, all of your input is most appreciated.

TAM, I'm sorry, your advise is golden, but for a mechanical, nincompoop like me,
It's single-handededly not doable..

Most of you could probably do the swap out with ease, me I'm sort of a simpleton when it comes to being "cool with tools". I 'm not that guy...I wish like crazy I was...

Don't beat yourself up Abraham, we all have stuff that come with ease, and some things that just don't make sense. I'm so severely technologically challenged that I barely know what a flash drive is! To me computers(and the fancy new cel phones nowadays are like magic to me!) are like totally incomprehensible!

Abraham wrote:Thanks guys, all of your input is most appreciated.

TAM, I'm sorry, your advise is golden, but for a mechanical, nincompoop like me,
It's single-handededly not doable..

Most of you could probably do the swap out with ease, me I'm sort of a simpleton when it comes to being "cool with tools". I 'm not that guy...I wish like crazy I was...

Abraham, here's what is involved, and if you're cleaning your AR after use, then you're already doing what it takes. Your upper and lower receiver are held together with two pins which can be pushed out of the receiver with finger pressure and no tools. They are the rear takedown pin, and the front pivot pin. Both pins are captive in the lower receiver, so when pushed all the way to one side, they don't pop all of the way out of the receiver.

• 1. push out the rear takedown pin and open up the "clamshell" of the two receiver halves. It will pivot on the front pivot pin.
  
  2. push out the front pivot pin, and lift the entire barreled upper receiver off of the lower

.

Your rifle will now be in two main assemblies:

• (1) the lower receiver assembly, containing all the of the fire-control parts, the buffer tube, spring, and buffer, the pistol grip, and the buttstock; and
  
  (2) the barreled upper receiver with the BCG, charging handle, barrel, handguard, and sights/optics.

Now:

• (1) take the complete 9mm barreled upper assembly which you purchased from PSA (or elsewhere), including the 9mm BCG, and line up the holes in the upper and lower receivers for the front pivot pin.
  
  (2) push the front pivot pin into place, and pivot the "clamshell" closed.
  
  (3) push the rear takedown pin into place, locking the upper receiver to the lower receiver.
  
  (4) function check the action.

The only other thing you might need is an adapter block of some kind that fits inside the normal magwell, to take up the space between the larger magwell, and the smaller 9mm magazine.

But honestly, swapping between the 5.56 and the 9mm uppers shouldn't take more than about 20 seconds and can be accomplished without tools.

TAM,

Thanks for the very helpful advice.

I thought that was the way to go about it, but the various videos had guys using itty bitty punches and a variety of other tools that seemed like something if I tried, I'd certainly booger up the rifle. I don't have the patience (or confidence) with using small, fine tools. Heck, it was years and years before I quit using a bow saw and finally bought a chain saw.

Also, I'm not certain if converting a 5.56 AR is as economical as simply buying a Hi-Point.

That said, the 9MM upper that I looked at the PSA link you provided looks to be much higher quality than what a Hi-Point provides. So, even if it is a bit more expensive, it may be worth it considering the increased quality.

Decisions, decisions. I'm still studying which way I'll go on this...

And, thanks again.