AR Varmint upper

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primalmu

primalmu

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Anyone have any recommendations on an AR Varmint upper? Preferably one that won't have a 3 month lead time? Right now I'm considering a Red X Arms upper (which I've read some good reviews on) for $410. Alternatively, for an extra $300 I could get a RRA varmint upper off Gunbroker (which I'm not seriously considering because the seller is price gouging - direct from RRA they are $610).
 
Thanks for the suggestion. I emailed them to see what their lead times are. If its reasonable I might just go with them.
 
primalmu, for a varmint upper, I think the RRAs are pretty hard to beat. Their Wilson barrels really do get the job done. It's been a long while since I've dealt with them, but I had good luck dealing with Legal Transfers. I think it's ar15sales.com Give them a call and see.
 
Varmint upper

I have a RRA 20" varmint upper on order for my SBR lower, ordered April 1 of this year, still on backorder. I tried calling Friday but the lines were busy, finally got through but was put on hold for 10 minutes before my break ended and had to hang up. I love RRA, but these backlogs are starting to bother me.

I refuse to go with another manufacturer (as I don't like to mix makes), so I will have to tough it out. I'm dying to get it in. Hopefully this will be the last major component I have to order from RRA anytime soon.

Not to mention, RRA is the only manufacturer I've ever dealt with in AR15s. The only other manufacturer I would trust (in terms of price vs. quality) would probably be Stag Arms, as they are Armalite.
 
I have a 204 ruger and 223/5.56 and much prefer the 204 if you reload and/or don't mind paying for the ammo. It is the perfect Varmint round IMO. Mine is a DPMS upper and is scary accurate.
 
Have you called White Oak Armament to check their lead time? For what it sounds like you're going to pay for the RRA, the WOA is a much better upper with a National Match pedigree.
 
I used an 18" RRA bull barrel for my first build. It's a tackdriver; however, if I had it to do over again, I'd have gone with the RRA Predator Pursuit. It uses RRA's NM barrel and shoots as well as my bull barrel, plus it's lighter. Don't know about availability, though.
 
Well, I think I'm gonna pull the trigger on the YHM upper. From what I've read you really can't go wrong with them, and there's no lead time to worry about if I buy from MidwayUSA.
 
Does the upper play that big of a role in the accuracy. I mean assuming the barrel doesn't move within it, how does it help accuracy?
 
The upper itself plays a very tiny role. As long as it's within spec it's GTG. Many precision builders will lap the upper to ensure a square and perfectly flat front edge on the upper where it mates with the barrel extension to ensure even clamping force but that's as far as the role that the upper receiver housing plays goes. Just like the lower, it merely holds parts. The barrel is far and away the most important part in a precision AR. The barrel extension needs to be square, nothing more; the bolt merely in spec.

However, what the OP and others are discussing here is a complete upper receiver assembly, including the receiver, barrel, BCG and fore-end. Most all of them use exactly the same forgings for the receiver, the difference is in the assembly (lapped or not) and the barrel.
 
Ahh. That makes sense then. I thought the OP was just asking about an upper and I wasn't getting the importance of it. Thanks, Helotaxi.

Did you (the OP) give White Oak Armament a call? They have some nice looking complete uppers. I wouldn't mind getting one of their service rifle ones.
 
Rock River Arms Backorder update

Just received this email in regards to my current RRA order:

Unfortunately the barrels are on extended backorder from the supplier, I do not have an exact time frame when they will be available at this time.

Thanks,

Amy H

Rock River Arms, Inc.
1042 Cleveland Road
Colona, IL 61241
Ph: 309-792-5780 Fax: 309-792-5781

I'm gonna stick it out, but I really wish Wilson Arms would cough up the barrels (or blanks) so I can get my upper. Anyone else here have an 'extended' backorder with RRA?
 
primal, are you looking for a Varmint upper meaning that you want one with a bull barrel and all of that? Or are you just looking for something to go shooting varmints with? I'm asking because I've built several precision ARs and found the Bravo Company SS410 stainless barrels to be very accurate. They are higher quality barrels than the Wilson barrels that RRA uses on their Varmint builds. I've shot my BCM barrels to smoking hot states and they maintain their accuracy very well. An upper with an 18" barrel and rifle length gas system would do very nicely.
 
I ended up ordering a YHM upper with 20" barrel and free float hand guard. I'm very pleased with the fit and finish. I haven't had a chance to see how accurate it is, though.
 
OOPS you said upper!

AR Performance has 20" Melonited 223 Wylde 1:8 twist barrels & Muzzle devices in stock now.
If that is what your looking for?
 
greyling, are you getting these results shooting and letting the barrel cool or are you heating the barrel up?
 
barrel stays pretty cool. never gets too hot to pick up by the barrel. I'm too cheap to burn enough ammo to get hot. mostly I'm just using up my current batch of reloads using up whatever powder I had on hand. acc 2015 and 2020 or something. I'm bad remembering specific loads with the numbered powders. using a 55grn bullet. They shot very tight in the spikes 1:7 and my bolt gun, but not so good in the RRA.

also ran some pmc bronze through it.
 
grey, I was asking about how hot you got the barrel because RRA sometimes puts their rifles together pretty hastily and they don't always have a square fit between the barrel and upper.

From what you're saying, it sounds like you just haven't found the load. As I said, I don't think that the Wilson barrels are the best, but under circumstances as you describe, I've found them to shoot quite well.

If you want to keep using ball powder and those 55gr projectiles, try some Ramshot TAC powder. I got decent results with that stuff. If you want to go all out, try (assuming a stainless barrel with 1:8 twist) the 77gr Sierra Match Kings with 24gr of either Varget or Reloader 15.
 
I have a RRA varmint upper with the 24" heavy barrel and brother it IS HEAVY! Rifle with Magpul PRS stock and Weaver super slam 4 ~ 20 weighs in at over 12 lbs. (shoots sub moa easily with half decent ammo too)
I have on order for my latest build a White Oak 20" NM barrel. WO quoted 18 ~ 20 week delivery time (as of 6 weeks ago) Part of the reasoning for the
20" is to save some weight. Note a custom lower from York Arms is due in three days & was an 8 week wait, exactly the wait time they claimed.

Roger
 
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