Switching AR to Flattop. Recomendations

[keederdag]

I have a pre-ban AR in an A2 Configuration, since I generally use optics I'm gonna switch it over to flattop config. Can anyone tell me the pro's/cons of Brands? Armalite, Bushmaster, Ect? It has to accept the carry handle w/standard sights. Thanks Keeder.

 

[DragonRider]

Part of it depends on what kind of bullets you are going to shoot out of it. I am currently trying for the Group buy at AR15 for a Bushmaster 16inch 1/7 barrel, and then build my own. IF ,and it looks like it will fail, I am going with a CMMG flattop with 16inch 1/7 barrel. Provided you dont need the 1/7 twist for heavier bullets then a Bushmaster flatop with 1/9 would serve you well, check out AR15 and make a decision.

John

 

[keederdag]

I only intend on switching the upper. I curently have a Bushmaster Match Heavy BBl. with a 1-9 twist. I'll stick with that.

 

[KW]

If you are just going to be swapping your barrel onto a new upper reciever, I'd say stick with Bushmaster just so the finish matches perfectly. Otherwise they are all the same basic part built to the same spec.

 

[E=MC^2]

One point to consider if you look into DPMS-

DPMS receivers use a darker shade of parkerizing. It's nearly pitch-black. Function is the same but you get a two-tone look when mixed with other companies. I prefer the DPMS finish on a complete rifle but it looks a little 'cheesy' when uppers and lowers are mixed.

FWIW-Les Bear uses the same dark-parkerizing grey finish as Bushmaster. I have receivers from the 3 companies I've mentioned and find them all equal in quality.

 

[buttrap]

Well you can always get a can of Gun Kote and make the top match the bottom..if you have it taken down to put the new barrel on the upper and lower will fit in the oven just fine.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

I made that decision myself a year or so ago and went with Bushmaster as I already had a Bushmaster lower and was pleased with my past experiences with them.

Having said that, almost any reputable manufacturer turns out a good flattop upper with not much difference between them. One thing Bushmaster does offer that only Colt matches is a dry lube film in the upper receiver to help insure reliable functioning right from the box.

I wouldn't worry too much about matching colors as even the same brand will often have different shades of uppers and lowers due to the difficulty in maintaining the same shade across several different batches of parkerizing. My Bushmaster flattop upper is slightly darker than my lower; but you have to look close to see it.

On the other hand the A2 upper was a perfect match even though it was purchased separately from the lower.

 

[Onslaught]

I did the same a few years ago... except I swapped the whole upper. I went from the Bushy A1 with 11.5"/5.5" bbl to a bushy flat-top with a 14.5" fluted bbl and Phantom supressor. I've been very VERY happy with this move.

I had recently decided to swap over to a RRA 16" mid-length handguard barrel, but I"m still going to use this bushy upper.

For the record, my personal experience has been that the RRA uppers match my pre-ban bushy lower very well. In fact, the 6 year older upper from Bushmaster was a darker black than the lower, and the RRA matched it better.

But I WILL SAY THIS... The 2 armalite Uppers I recently had in my posession were a TERRIBLE fit to my Bushmaster lower. The slop was unbelieveable. The first was a return because it was shipped as a post-ban by mistake, so I hoped the fit was an anomoly too. But the pre-ban replacement was just as sloppy. I sold it to a man who had an Armalite lower, and he says it fit like a charm. Go figure... The RRA uppers I've had experience with fit VERY well on my Bushy.