UKWildcatFan
Member
Preach, son. BCM all the way.
How to Choose Good Quality AR Upper
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NWcityguy2
Member
Offering balanced opinions, backed up by shooting experience, is one of the most underrated aspects of giving advice online. I should start going around posting "P-S-A".
OP
OP
BSA1
member
eldon519,
Good idea which I thought about. I am a little nervous about buying a used AR though. That fella named Bubba sure gets his hands on a lot of guns.
I'm not worried much about resale. If the gun is decent quality one of my kids will claim it. All said I am not much a fan of the .223 and really would rather have the 300 Blackout.
Good idea which I thought about. I am a little nervous about buying a used AR though. That fella named Bubba sure gets his hands on a lot of guns.
I'm not worried much about resale. If the gun is decent quality one of my kids will claim it. All said I am not much a fan of the .223 and really would rather have the 300 Blackout.
NWcityguy2
Member
What's pulling you toward the 300?
wally
Member
Unless you really like to reload or want to shoot suppressed using bullets with a better BC than a 9mm can do IMHO 300 Blk is a trendy mistake.
Easy to change though if he doesn't like it, just swap the barrel. Kind of hard to call it a mistake when there are such minimal repercussions.
OP
OP
BSA1
member
Bigger bullet, subsonic for surpressor, efficient in SBR, makes nice holes in hogs, I don't care for .223. Plus I reload 98% of my ammunition so it gives me something to do during the winter.
OP
OP
BSA1
member
I would LOVE a 9mm sub gun like the SIG MPX.
But alas my poor bank account.
But alas my poor bank account.
Mike C2
Member
Back to my previous post, if cost is important, the PSA melonited gun with the $300 optic for $500 is a smokin' deal.
The etched reticle lets you use it without batteries in the daylight. And it comes with everything to put together ANOTHER lower for that price.
The etched reticle lets you use it without batteries in the daylight. And it comes with everything to put together ANOTHER lower for that price.
This is most certainly a buyers market in what will be known as the glory days of AR15's. There are a ton of excellent options on the market, most already mentioned above.
Choose the rifle for the mission.
- Barrel length?
- Gas system length?
- Piston or DI?
- Rail preference?
- Twist? > ~69gr go with 1/7
- Fancy coated or plated bolt required?
Then go with a reputable brand that fits your needs and falls within your budget.
DD - Colt - BCM - Noveske - LMT - FN -S&W - Ruger are all really solid choices that should fall within most anyone's budget.
Choose the rifle for the mission.
- Barrel length?
- Gas system length?
- Piston or DI?
- Rail preference?
- Twist? > ~69gr go with 1/7
- Fancy coated or plated bolt required?
Then go with a reputable brand that fits your needs and falls within your budget.
DD - Colt - BCM - Noveske - LMT - FN -S&W - Ruger are all really solid choices that should fall within most anyone's budget.
Buzznrose
Member
You can spend $300, you can spend $700, and you can spend much more, but you will likely get what you pay for. The only upper I'll buy from now on is either a BCM (9/10 times) or a White Oak if I want a serious tack driver...
I've seen and know of way too many guys who deeply regret buying PSA. Not everyone who I know that owns PSA had problems, but enough that I'll pass.
I've seen and know of way too many guys who deeply regret buying PSA. Not everyone who I know that owns PSA had problems, but enough that I'll pass.
AJumbo
Member
*PSA has 16" Midlength 5.56 NATO 1/7 SOCOM Melonite Freedom Rifle Kit w/ Vortex Spitfire 1x Prism Scope for $499 right now. If you Google the Spitfire, most places have it for $300.
This is a great deal for a good upper complete with etched reticle illuminated optic. Oh, and the rest of the rifle parts except a lower.*
I just ordered this very upper, and for all the reasons listed by Mike C2. I'm also ordering a PSA "blem" complete lower. I will eventually build another AR, but this gives me a "pin-together" rifle and a stash or spare parts (or foundation parts for the build.) All I'll really need to add is a rear sight.
This is a great deal for a good upper complete with etched reticle illuminated optic. Oh, and the rest of the rifle parts except a lower.*
I just ordered this very upper, and for all the reasons listed by Mike C2. I'm also ordering a PSA "blem" complete lower. I will eventually build another AR, but this gives me a "pin-together" rifle and a stash or spare parts (or foundation parts for the build.) All I'll really need to add is a rear sight.
wally
Member
The OP seemed to be wanting a complete upper, while changing an AR barrel is easy with the proper basic tools, it can be an obstacle the first time.
If swapping a barrel is no problem, then start with a stripped upper and get exactly the parts with the price/performance desired in your exact configuration. This is almost always cheaper in the long run than buying something "close" and swapping out what you don't like.
NWcityguy2
Member
For under 50 yards, and really out to 100 yards, 9mm does what 300BLK does when shooting recreationally. It'll punch paper and clang steel with the best of them, but will be much safer on close-up steel than any rifle round. Much quicker and cheaper to reload as well.
I agree with Wally, that changing around barreled uppers is a pain at first. After having assembled some, I still don't like it.
The same can be said for every brand. Take a look at M4C's equipment exchange, that place is full of buyers remorse as people sell of their barely used BCM/DD/LMT/Knights/Noveske gear. The internet is full of people buying stuff, only to regret it later.
OP: Even though you reload, I'd still encourage you to get a 223 over a 300blk as a first AR. "Trendy Mistake" is a very accurate way to describe a 300blk for about 90% of the people who buy it. If over the life of the gun you plan on shooting less than 10k rounds, look at some of the more affordable options like Ruger/S&W/Del-ton/PSA Freedom. They'll come with a lower that will last forever and a barrel that you aren't going to shoot out either way. Generally, lower priced barrels shoot just as accurate as mid-level ones, they just don't last as long.
OP
OP
BSA1
member
NWcityguy2,
I have a .223 carbine along with a ammo can full of factory ammo, a large bucket of several thousand rounds of brass, thousands of bullets and two sets of reloading dies. I have shot enough .223 over the years to have strong feelings about it.
What's wrong with being "trendy" anyway? I suppose my custom Ruger in wildcat 41 Special is trendy.
I have a .223 carbine along with a ammo can full of factory ammo, a large bucket of several thousand rounds of brass, thousands of bullets and two sets of reloading dies. I have shot enough .223 over the years to have strong feelings about it.
What's wrong with being "trendy" anyway? I suppose my custom Ruger in wildcat 41 Special is trendy.
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NWcityguy2
Member
90% of the people who buy the 300blk, from my experience, use it for something that a 223 could do as well, or better. Or they use if for something any bolt action rifle in 243/7mm-08/308 could do better. Or they suppress it, mostly for the sake of suppressing it. There are very few things the 300blk does, that something else doesn't do better, for cheaper. On paper, it is an interesting round, but I don't think that always translates in the real world performance.
Owning/Shooting something unique is fun, but the downsides add up real quick as round counts go up. For example, I own a 6.5x55mm bolt action, but I'd probably pass if a company made a semi-auto with a 30 round magazine in 6.5x55mm.
I'm not saying "it can't be done." I'm just saying, is that really your best option?
Owning/Shooting something unique is fun, but the downsides add up real quick as round counts go up. For example, I own a 6.5x55mm bolt action, but I'd probably pass if a company made a semi-auto with a 30 round magazine in 6.5x55mm.
I'm not saying "it can't be done." I'm just saying, is that really your best option?
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Quickdraw McGraw
Member
that's a good deal!
d2wing
Member
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I tried out two Del-Ton uppers with the idea I would replace the barrel for more accuracy, but I was very surprised to find the one I kept shoot .60 MOA with factory Black Hills ammo. The fit and finish were very good as well. The barrel is the key to accuracy.
I bought this same upper and was very pleasantly surprised. In fact the prices at the point where Im looking to buy an AR pistol just as a range toy.
OP
OP
BSA1
member
There are some really strange shooters out there for sure.
Some don’t like semi-auto pistols with polymer frames.
Some don’t like Glocks (gasp!)
Some like having custom guns made to their specs.
Some like have having custom guns that shoot wildcat cartridge to their specs.
Some like to try new cartridges and gun combinations.
Some don't measure their fun by what the 90% of others think.
Some say why not instead of don’t.
Yep those some of us are strange indeed.
Some don’t like semi-auto pistols with polymer frames.
Some don’t like Glocks (gasp!)
Some like having custom guns made to their specs.
Some like have having custom guns that shoot wildcat cartridge to their specs.
Some like to try new cartridges and gun combinations.
Some don't measure their fun by what the 90% of others think.
Some say why not instead of don’t.
Yep those some of us are strange indeed.
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