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I have seen a few post about barrels being changed out by gunsmiths. Here is one that I bookmarked. http://www.m4carbine.net/archive/index.php/t-89987.html

I would contact Ruger

Think the whole upper is special due to the gas piston design. If you put a different upper on it with barrel, i think it would work fine... think that is Any AR gunsmith could quickly tell you, and you can buy uppers at a bunch of on line places. Well, Ruger sells piston uppers to put on your lower, so it should work just as well the other way.

Tim, I would advise you get accurate information from the straight "Horses mouth". Ruger Customer Service : Telephone: 336-949-5200 - (Monday through Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm ET)

Owning a Ruger 556 and having replaced the barrel with an AR-Stoner medium contour 20" fluted mid length gas system barrel, I can with confidence say yes it will take almost any barrel designed for an AR15. Get an armorers wrench and make very sure you line up the gas tube and remember the torque limit on the barrel nut is 40 ft lbs..

I would contact ruger customers service.