Any 20" pencil barrel uppers?

[Mosin Bubba]

I am trying to knock together a retro build - not 100% authentic, but just something to get the look and feel of the old school M16s. I've got a lower built with a fixed stock on it, and now it's time to get the upper.

The plan was just to buy a 20" pencil barrel upper from Del-Ton and put an A2 carry handle receiver on it, but the A2s were out of stock. I emailed Del-Ton about that, and they said the A2 receivers have been out of stock since 2016. Ouch.

Other than that, I'm not really sure where you can buy a retro style upper at. The only place I've seen them for non-insane prices is Del-Ton. Worst case I could just get a flat top and stick a screw-on carry handle on it, but that would look kind of fugly. I don't have the tools handy to build an upper either.

Anyone know any other options available?

 

[kcofohio]

Midsouthshooters list this (Del-Ton) A2 upper as backorderable.
https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item/00173ur1019/complete-ar-15-mil-spec-a2-upper-receiver

Since they probably only do limited runs.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Brownell's is doing a line of "Retro" ARs, selling components and complete rifles. Might be just your ticket. I'd love an M16A1 clone myself, or an M16A2 like I used in basic.

 

[FL-NC]

I was thinking the other day, that I wish I hadn't sold my SP-1 all those years ago

 

[<*(((><]

Stag Arms has A2 stripped uppers in stock for $90. (LINK)

 

[someguy2800]

I see a few with flat top receivers but I don't see anything with an A2 receiver for an economical price.

http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-...1-7-upper-with-bcg-and-charging-handle-1.html

http://blackthorneproducts.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1218

If you want an A2 upper you might have to put it together yourself from a stripped receiver.

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

I got the bug to build a full A2 rifle last year, and boy... it's an adventure. You can of course get White Oak Armaments to build you an A2, but for most peoples needs, that is a bit of an overkill. I went to several gunshows to try to find one... and ended up having to explain to several people selling AR parts what an A2 upper was. In the end, I eventually found an old ban era DPMS carbine upper and stole the receiver from it. Short of buying a stripped upper and building it up, A2 uppers are like ghosts of a bygone era.

Rock River claims to have some in stock right now: https://www.rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=279
So, maybe give them a call.

Edit: Finding and building a true A2 upper is way better than a bolt on carry handle.

 

[Mosin Bubba]

All right, if I was to roll my own upper, what kind of parts and tools would I need? Just trying to price it out and see if it's an economical option. Getting an assembled Del-Ton upper (with a flat top) would be $415, so they're not exactly offering a screaming deal. I would be willing to spend that much to build my own, though that would pretty much be my top dollar.

I'm surprised to see how rare A2s actually are. I saw the other day that Brownell's had A1 style uppers in stock for $150 - I thought that sounded really high when everyone and their mother is selling stripped flat tops for $40 a piece, but when A2s are $120-some each, maybe that's not so bad. If I were to roll my own upper, I'd probably start with one of those.

 

[<*(((><]

Parts Needed
-Complete upper receiver (rear sight post, forward assist and dust cover included)
-Barrel with front A2 sight post installed w/ headspaced bolt will prevent you from having to buy go/no go gauges to check headspace
-Bolt carrier minus bolt (bolt will come with barrel)
-Gas tube for length of gas system (carbine, mid-length, rifle) I assume you are going with rifle length for a 20"
-Muzzle treatment (flash hider, compensator, brake)
-peel washers (for clocking)/crush washers for muzzle treatment
-handguard matched to gas system length
-charging handle


Tools Needed
With a barrel with sight post installed you will need:
-Vice and barrel jaw kit to use when installing muzzle device.

-some people torque the muzzle device with the upper receiver in the vice, however this puts a lot of torque on the indexing pin that is unnecessary when one can lock the barrel in the vice which isolates the indexing pin from the torque.​

-Upper receiver vice block
-1/2” torque wrench
-Barrel nut tool to accept 1/2” torque wrench
-Aero grease for barrel extension and threads
-Go/no go gauge (unless buying a headspaced barrel bolt combo)
-Roll pin punches
-Brass/delerin hammer

It’s really not difficult. I'm sure there are plenty of youtube videos that will give you an idea, if one can turn a wrench and has an understanding of how one works one can "assemble" an AR completely.

 

[someguy2800]

I would say the minimum required tools is a bench mounted vice, a set of punches and a hammer, and a vice block and barrel wrench combo. I use petroleum jelly to lube the threads and I've never used a torque wrench, but I'm a mechanical guy and I have the feel for that. Its easy. I've installed barrels on my 2 uppers about 8 or 9 times and it takes me like 20 minutes now.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Tactical-S...894932&hash=item5443367d02:g:EhUAAOSwjM5aBZ9O

 

[.455_Hunter]

I appreciate the older style weapons.

My military experience encompassed use of worn out Colorado National Guard M16A1's through "normal" M16A2's and almost NIB M4's that replaced my units M3A1 Grease Guns in 1998. All of the above were, of course, sans optics or other doodads.

Not real interested in the "Barbie for Men" over-accessorizing of trendy AR-15 builds.