SSK Upper Receivers

[PurdueRifleman2008]

I'm getting ready to build my first AR and right now I'm considering getting an SSK upper in .300 Whisper. It's a bit esoteric, I know, but it interests me. It will be suppressed provided the sheriff signs off which I understand isn't a problem in Indiana. So enough on that.

Anyway, I spoke to them the other day about getting an upper in LH configuration and they said they could do it at no extra charge ($1100) with the 8-12mo wait. That seems expensive to me, but maybe it's worth the price. I really don't know. So my quesion is, are they worth the price? Or are there other manufacturers that offer the 300/221 or .300 Fireball in a quality upper for less money?

 

[Ranb]

I bought one from SSK back in 2000, for $1100. It was one that a customer backed out of, so I did not have to wait. It was my first platform made to be suppressed. It has the 18" barrel with the last 6" machined for a two point mounted silencer. I should have had it cut down to 16". It has a raised flat top receiver. It has an adjustable gas port and came with dies and some brass. I made a form 1 silencer for it.

I am very satisfied with it, but have not been able to compare it to other 300 whisper uppers.

Ranb

 

[drgrenthum]

i am in line with delton right now, 11 weeks and counting. I chose to go with them because I have a 223 upper of theirs i like and because I have heard that the SSK cahmber is fairly tight and has some issues with chambering brass that was made from .223. Something about the neck on LC brass or the like was to thick and need some reaming.

With that being said I wanted a rifle i could use realitively inexpensive once fired .223 brass and not have to by .221 fireball and neck it up. SSK has a wonderful reputation and if i had the money i would have gone ssk and purchased a few thousand pieces of .221 and been very happy.

Check quarterbore and they should be able to substantiate the claims i have made or call me crazy. In either case the experts seem to be over there.

 

[Ranb]

If you plan on shooting subsonic 240 grain Sierra bullets, then 1-8 twist or faster is required. My SSK arrived with brass formed from once fired 223 Remington. The SSK chambers (I have AR and Contender) are loose enough to use the thicker 300 whisper brass that is made from military 5.56 brass with no problems at all. It will split the neck after ten reloadings, but this is not unusual.

I made a little wooden clamp to hold a dozen 5.56. I cut off the tops, size then trim with a 3-way cutter and the brass is ready to load. While it is more time consuming than using 221 fireball, it is much cheaper.

Ranb