Del-Ton Rifle Kit Question

[tacstar]

I'm interested in purchasing a Del-Ton 16" mid-length upper for a build. I have read that it is advisable to upgrade the charging handle & bolt carrier group to a M-16 full auto as the the bolt carrier group & charging handle are mediocre.

Anybody have any experience with these uppers?

 

[NWcityguy2]

While I don't have any direct experience with Del-ton, the difference between a semi-auto bolt carrier and a M16 bolt carrier is minimal. It's around half an ounce, or about a 3% weight difference when you combine the weight of a BCG and a carbine buffer. It has very little if any overall effect on the function of the rifle.

 

[dvdcrr]

I have experience with them and feel that nothing needs an upgrade. They function very well out of the box for me.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

It may be fully legal but I don't like having FA parts around, likely will never be an issue but since I see no gain I don't want to mess with it.

TONS of charging handles out there on the market now. I honestly see little gain to them and I carried a M16 or M4 for more than 2 decades.

The AR is like a Barbie for guys. You can spend a lot of $$$ to change things around but it's all preference. Off the top of my head I'm not sure of anything I think has to be done to the rifle (if it's quality to begin with).

 

[JFtheGR8]

I bought the Del-Ton mid length rifle kit right before Obama was elected to his first term. I have had zero problems with mine without any upgrades. I did add Magpul furniture and that is it.

 

[az_imuth]

I also bought one of the 16" midlength kits before O was elected. It has run flawlessly all this time and I haven't had any issues with the bolt or charging handle.

 

[G.barnes]

The bolt carrier in no way can make the gun full auto. The difference in the fa vs the sa is that the sa has a notch cut out of the tail. If the gun had a full auto trigger group "which will not fit into an ar 15 receiver" the tail of the bcg would work the disconnector. On civilian models it is used for the added weight. There is nothing illegal with having a fa bcg. The actual bolt material is what matters not the carrier.

 

[nipprdog]

*I have read that it is advisable to upgrade the charging handle & bolt carrier group to a M-16 full auto as the the bolt carrier group & charging handle are mediocre.

Then why buy it?

 

[Inebriated]

BCM has their mid-length upper for $439... Add their BCG and extended charging handle for $70, and you're golden. Better barrel, better BCG, better charging handle, minimal difference in cost.

Either way, an M16 carrier weighs a little more, which can help slow the cycle rate and give the magazine more time to feed, and it also carries more momentum, which is helpful in feeding from gritty/dirty mags. It's marginal, and nothing I would care much about. The charging handle, on the other hand... once you use a quality extended one, it's hard to go back. If you're a guy that sits at a bench and shoots, the factory charging handle will be fine. If you do a lot of malfunction clearing drills and whatnot, then having one that is easier to grab and can be worked with one hand without risk of breaking the pin is great.

 

[d2wing]

I have a Del-ton kit. It is accurate and functions like it should. As far as charging handle, if you have a flat top with a scope you will wan an extended handle. True of all flat tops. I bought mine with the idea, I would upgrade parts if needed. There has been no need, it is good to go.

 

[Tirod]

The barrel is more important.

Charging handles on M16's and M4's haven't radically changed in 40 years. If it's a milspec handle, it's combat tested and proven tough. What some attempt on a 3Gun course with a bad round on the clock isn't combat - a competitor can drop in the standings with just a few seconds added to his time. a soldier can drop behind cover and work out the kink.

If you are breaking off charging handles you are doing it wrong anyway. Practice how to do it right. And in that vein, how many pics of broken charging handles do we ever see? Almost none. But the interweb is full of recommendations to upgrade and spend 5-10x the amount of a Gi handle. Smell any marketing or one-upmanship in that?

As for the FA bolt carrier, it's a moot point with the ATF, they aren't making any noise about it. It was an AWB anti gun agenda item and the market now largely supplies them across the board. A semi bolt carrier is known to be a source of potential malfunctions if the hammer hangs up inside the larger opening, and it's a very difficult repair. Nonetheless, rare.

BCG's don't wear out and which one it is makes so little difference no one can document any point to it.

 

[Jeff H]

If you haven't made up your decision yet, I'll weigh in that I've had a stock Del-Ton kit for 4-5 years now and there have been no issues at all with the charging handle or the bolt. I see no reason to upgrade those parts.