AR Complete Upper

[RileyMartin]

Hi,

I have a Bushmaster A2 style rifle and looking to buy an A3 flat top style complete upper in .223. I’m finding some more reasonable prices from lesser known online retailers and was hesitant to commit my hard earned dollars. Can anyone recommend any that provide good quality at lower prices?

Thanks

[zukiphile]

I bought a Palmetto State Armory and a BCM in 2012. I think they are both quite good. By quite good, I mean at 100 yards groups of three inches or so with steel cased Wolf and a couple of inches with OK brass cased ammunition, and those are my best five shot groups. This isn't like a good free floated barrel and pricey ammunition that will shoot sub moa. Also, I can't get 62gr penetrators to group well in any rifle I own.

Figure out what you want in barrel specifications and pay close attention to the detail in Palmetto adverts. They sell good cold hammer forged chromelined stuff as well as some more affordable items.

[konstan]

I like PSA and I also like Primary Arms. Both run sales that are sometimes too ridiculous, or so I tell myself...

[kymasabe]

Palmetto State Armory is my first choice, Bear Creek Arsenal is next.

[jglsprings]

I built a PSA lower and put one of their uppers on it. Works great - accurate, more accurate than I am.

It also can get swapped to my Bushmaster lower just fine.

[weblance]

I have 4 uppers from Hardened Arms. I bought the first one in 2014(?) and have countless rounds through it. Its held up very well. It is a 7.5" 556, and has NEVER malfunctioned. I got BCG and CH with it. I believe it was around $300. I have also bought from them a 16" 556, a 10" 300, and a 20" 6.5G

If you watch them for sales, you can usually get complete upper packages for around $300

If I were looking for another upper, it would be from them.

[ndking1126]

I purchased a 300 BLK upper from CBC Industries. With cheap S&B ammo, it's surprisingly accurate and consistent. Fit and finish is fantastic. Only complaint is it seems to be overgassed and really likes ammo that isn't loaded as hot like S&B. Others, like Hornady, crater the primer and eject at 2 o'clock instead of 4 o'clock.

[MagnumWill]

Big fan of Palmetto. My 20” CL Palmetto Premium upper has undergone a couple modifications (I free floated it), and with glass the best i’ve shot was .6 MOA.

[Kvon2]

Palmetto State Armory is my first choice, Bear Creek Arsenal is next.

my exact thoughts when I read the OP. Could also get a good deal on a stag arms blemished upper.

[youngridge]

Heard nothing but good things from PSA uppers.

[riffraff]

If you look just below this (or maybe above this when I comment in a minute) there's another post going on uppers.

By A3 do you really want the sight on the gas block or are you more saying you just want the flat top? It's funny to me I've decided my long term plan is to swap my A3 receivers out for A2's - seems like with a classic A2 you got yourself a nice integral carry handle & sight, perfect SHTF utility rifle. An A3 w/ the sight on the gas block you lost the best part of the whole thing, add an optic and like the human tail bone there is this historical remnant left there with no purpose .. Gas block with a little rail on it then you got options that make sense either way, free float guard then you got lots of options that make sense.

One issue w/ anywhere popular you are shopping at the moment (ie PSA, BC both included) is lots of uppers got scoffed up, mostly out of stock versus anything available - seems to be a combination of gun buying season and people stocking up in states threatening various levels of AWB. Probably not the best time to find great deals.

For the $$ and what I looked into mid state firearms seemed like a good bet and they have blems. This blem is $309 complete w/ BCG and CH, free float, and their shipping is < $10. Not a whole lot more to get fancier options or a longer guard up to 15 inches, possibly cheaper options for less. I'm going a different way but they are very tempting for the $$ and recommendation I got.

16" m4 Contour 4150 Chrome Moly Barrel
.223 Wylde chamber (shoots 5.56 and .223)
1:7 Twist
.750 Gas Block
Carbine Length Gas System
M4 Feed Ramps
Dust Cover, Forward Assist
7075-T6 Aluminum Upper Receiver
Free Float Aluminum M-Lok Rail (if we run out of 10" we might put a longer one on)
A2 Flash Hider, 1/2-28 Threads
M16 Bolt Carrier Group
Charging Handle

[jonnyc]

Another + for PSA.

[jdc1244]

I have 4 uppers from Hardened Arms. I bought the first one in 2014(?) and have countless rounds through it. Its held up very well.

Agreed.

I have two Hardened Arms complete uppers – one in .223 and the other in .300 BLK. Both have performed flawlessly.

[Mobuck]

I bought a Bear Creek 6.5G upper on a cost basis. It's not as good as I'd hoped.
On the flip side, I've never had a poor performing DelTon .223/5.56 upper and recommend those first.

[BWM]

I have an Anderson upper that has done me good and keeps a good grope 3/4 in at 100 yards I have a Timney trigger in the lower 3lb

[BWM]

An Anderson upper SKU B2-K611-AF01 is a good upper 240.00 or SKU B2-K611-AH00 226.00 both are very good uppers

[2wheelwander]

karrisguns.com

[RileyMartin]

Any info on barrels? One place I saw, JSE Surplus has Wilson Arms barrels which I thought was a better grade of barrel and would be more accurate. Many other retailers say they make their own barrels or don’t list barrel manufacturer and I was suspect of their quality.

I was looking at either a 20” or 24” SS .223 Wylde heavy barrel. I’m in the socialist state of NY so to pair with a semi auto lower I have to go with a target crown.

I do like the carry handle A2 upper but also would like a flat upper with an optic. Rather thank buy a 2nd AR I figured I could just buy a 2nd upper and switch back and forth.

[Mobuck]

"Any info on barrels?"

I'm totally satisfied with both of my ARP(erformance) 5R barrels.