AR-15 Upper Receiver advice

[discounteggroll]

Hey fellas, recently got my first Bushmaster AR-15 (.223 Rem) and am in love. It has a fixed handle and I was reluctant at first to only have iron sights on it, but strangely like it now.

I am looking into getting a second upper receiver with a flat top so that I can mount optics to it. Are there any recommendations or things/models I should avoid because of incompatibility or downright lousy performance? I have seen good praise on the CMMG uppers and they are a little above what I would **like** to pay for one, but will do so anyway if that's what it takes.

 

[chadintex]

Bravocompanyusa.com has a pretty good rep and decent prices. They are who I will be using when I finish my other project.

 

[briansmithwins]

You do know you can swap out just the upper receiver for around $100? Plus you can sell the fixed carry handle upper receiver and have enough cash to get a removable carry handle if you want to go that route. BSW

 

[discounteggroll]

You do know you can swap out just the upper receiver for around $100? Plus you can sell the fixed carry handle upper receiver and have enough cash to get a removable carry handle if you want to go that route. BSW

can a noob do the replacement himself, or should it be done by someone more experienced? I think your idea of getting a flat top with a removable carry handle/iron sights (should I have the desire to revert back on the cheap) is far more economical than mine

 

[Zerodefect]

AGI makes a good Ar building DVD. But without some reseach I wouldn't recommend it.
Read this:
http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=4&t=226782


BCM has everything you could possibly want in a 5.56 upper.

 

[discounteggroll]

great...first order of business if I were to replace the upper...

M4 or non M4 feedramps? I'm coming from a Bushmaster XM15-E2S (which is Connecticut ban-compliant blah blah)

 

[Zerodefect]

LOLz, your screen name rocks! Just noticed it.

M4 ramps are a must have. They help the rifle feed ammo better. Companies that still don't offer them bring up the question:" What else have they skipped that I don't know about?"

Not a big deal for 5.56 in a semiauto 20". But shorter (m4) barrels need them. Also if you decide to rebarrel in the future to the better 6.8spc or 6.5 Grendel, then they are very important. Those new larger rounds are much harder to feed.

 

[SHvar]

Most manufacturers of carbine ARs use M4 feedramps in them, I dont know which dont use them. Bushmaster calls the M4 feedramp an M2 feedramp (just their trademark name). I believe many manufacturers just cut them in, and dont call them anything, or mention the m4 feedramp being there.

 

[discounteggroll]

Thanks so much for the advice. I have decided to go with a 20" complete upper, and now I am looking to go for a lower (most likely complete). My question is this:

I have seen complete lowers for around $200 but being in CT (and it's evils), if I get a collapsible stock with it, must it be pinned, and if so, does it need to be done before being received by the FFL in CT or can the FFL in CT do it, or can I even do it on my own terms since a telescoping stock is a single evil?

I plan on getting a complete upper shipped to myself and joining it to a separate complete upper with a telescoping stock (which will be shipped to CT FFL).

As always, any advice/input is greatly appreciated