Upper on the cheap...

WideLoadTimmy

WideLoadTimmy

Well-Known Fanatic
Joined
Oct 18, 2010
Messages
154
Location
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
I'm almost done getting my parts together for my lower. I plan on buying a Spike's Zombie lower ('Cause I can) as soon as I get these 2 guitars sold. A friend of mine has been looking at Uppers with me. I've settled on a 20" upper w/ a rifle gas system w/ pic rail on the gas block, Heavy Barrel, free float hand guard and a Primary Arms 1-4x scope.

So far, I have a DPMS lpk, JP trigger springs, Magpul ACS Stock, and an MOE grip. I have my buffer, buffer spring, buffer tube and all, I just forgot what brand I bought. The only thing Missing from that is the lower which I should have in a couple weeks. I also plan on taking a dremel and grinding the tail off the top of the hammer so that it looks like (and hopefully, works similar to) the JP hammer (I know I'm gonna get elephant dung but it's an experiment and if I **** it up, I'll buy a new hammer). What I wanna do is get some advice from a few people that I know have way more experience building ARs then I do as to what might work well with what I have without killing my wallet. I'd like to spend between $400 and $500 if I can get away with it.

EDIT: I forgot to say what I planned on doing with this rifle. I cheaped out because I wanted to build it myself and didn't wanna mess up anything expensive on my first rifle. I plan on getting started in practical rifle and 3 gun as well as just plinking and random range trips. Once I have a little more time and money and a bit more confidence In my own abilities, I'll build a nicer, more game oriented rifle.
 
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If I were you, I'd go with an Ergo grip. It's not like it will change your shooting, but they are really nice and inexpensive. It's the least useful upgrade I've made, but still my favorite.
 
Dustin Cantrell said:
It's rumored that PSA will have a real cheap upper on Black Friday. Might check them out.
Click to expand...

Is there supposed to be a specific one or is it just a sale on all of the uppers?

Mitch Gibson said:
If I were you, I'd go with an Ergo grip. It's not like it will change your shooting, but they are really nice and inexpensive. It's the least useful upgrade I've made, but still my favorite.
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The MOE I got in trade for an old 1911 holster that I no longer have a need for.
 
I imagine it will be a specific upper. I think it's just people speculating. I have no facts and doubt anybody else does either. I've seen no announcements. Might be worth watching their site, though.
 
Mitch Gibson said:
If I were you, I'd go with an Ergo grip. It's not like it will change your shooting, but they are really nice and inexpensive. It's the least useful upgrade I've made, but still my favorite.
Click to expand...

To each is own on this. I used to have an Ergo grip and switched to the MOE. I like the MOE a Helluva lot better.
 
So, I got the MOE grip. What about other components? Does anyone have any thoughts on some decent parts at good prices that will compliment what I already have? Everything is "Mil Spec", FWIW.
 
$400-$500. Bang for the buck is huge right now. I'd be willing to try some brands that people may not be familiar with yet to get a good deal.

First post should have all the pertinent information. Let me know if anything is missing.
 
Thats the price of a good barrel.

Get the PSA Black Friday deal and see if you can shoot the barrel out of it.
 
Jesse Tischauser said:
Thats the price of a good barrel.

Get the PSA Black Friday deal and see if you can shoot the barrel out of it.
Click to expand...

Believe me, I'd love to build a High end AR but I've never built an AR at all. I'm looking for suggestions on both complete uppers and components for assembling one. I'm hoping to get reliable enough to never shoot the barrel out of it but I'm not yet looking for top of the line. I know I can't have my cake and eat it, too, and so I'm kind of wanting some advice on what the compromises might be, as well. Answers like that, while light-hearted and not offensive, aren't really what I was looking for. No offense, Jesse. One day, I'll be there but for now, I'm statring from here.
 
What is the deal here? You just need to know what upper to buy in your price range? Del-Ton is in your price range. My upper started off 100% Del-Ton, and it was great, and still is, but I've only shot a couple thousand rounds through it. The only major change I made to it was free-floating it. I'm not sure you'd find one free-floated already in the $400-500 range. Maybe here: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/173618/dpms-ar-15-flat-top-upper-assembly-223-remington-1-in-8-twist-20-bull-barrel-stainless-steel-with-free-float-handguard
 
I think you misunderstood Jesse. Shooting out the barrel means to wear out the bore until it's no longer accurate and you do that by shooting a TON. I don't know how many rounds it would take. 30k? 50k? It'd depend on the quality of the barrel. I took it as him saying buy a PSA upper and run it like you stole it enjoying the heck out of it.

I'll post some info for you when I get home. I'm no expert but I'll try to pass along what I do know.
 
Dustin Cantrell said:
I think you misunderstood Jesse. Shooting out the barrel means to wear out the bore until it's no longer accurate and you do that by shooting a TON. I don't know how many rounds it would take. 30k? 50k? It'd depend on the quality of the barrel. I took it as him saying buy a PSA upper and run it like you stole it enjoying the heck out of it.

I'll post some info for you when I get home. I'm no expert but I'll try to pass along what I do know.
Click to expand...
This is how I understood it as well
 
First, I'd like to ask why you're set on a 20" heavy barrel. You mention practical rifle and 3 gun. I wouldn't want a heavy profile barrel for that. I may be wrong, but I think most would want a light profile barrel or one that is gov't profile that has been fluted to reduce weight.

I really don't think you're going to find a decent complete upper (I assume you're including a BCG and charging handle in the $400-$500) within your budget that is free floated and has the other items you want.

If I wanted to just put together a general use AR with spending under $500 on a complete upper with BCG I'd buy this 16" midlength upper for $320 and add a BCM BCG for $160 and get a $20 charging handle if you were strict on the $500 limit. The BCM Gunfighter charging handles are $50 and really nice but would put you over $500. http://palmettostate...ing-handle.html

For building yourself with a 20" barrel this is what you might spend:
You can get a 20" A2 profile Green Mountain barrel to your door for $180.
PSA blem stripped upper $50
BCM BCG $160
Charging handle $20
Gas tube $10
Gas block ?
Rear sight?
Upper parts kit $35

That's $455 without gas block, front or rear sights or a free float handguard. If you can only spend $500, I'd seriously think about just putting together an AR that you can upgrade later with a free float handguard and railed gas block if that's the way you want to go.

Even from Del-Ton a 20" heavy barreled chrome lined complete upper with YHM free float handguard and YHM single rail gas block is going to be ~$625 and that's without sights. You'd also have questionable parts. I've heard too many bad things about Del-Ton. Maybe they've fixed them now, but they aren't for me. Not knocking them at all.

You're going to either have to make some compromises or spend more and piece it together over time.
 
WideLoadTimmy said:
Believe me, I'd love to build a High end AR but I've never built an AR at all. I'm looking for suggestions on both complete uppers and components for assembling one. I'm hoping to get reliable enough to never shoot the barrel out of it but I'm not yet looking for top of the line. I know I can't have my cake and eat it, too, and so I'm kind of wanting some advice on what the compromises might be, as well. Answers like that, while light-hearted and not offensive, aren't really what I was looking for. No offense, Jesse. One day, I'll be there but for now, I'm statring from here.
Click to expand...

My apologies. I was trying to convey that for under $500 you aren't looking at a lot of options. You should grab up the cheapest one you can find such as the PSA Black Friday upper and then use the extra money to buy all the ammo you can and shoot it until its not fun to shoot anymore. For our local club matches you can shoot anything really. The 1-5 shots per match we shoot over 100 yards doesn't require anything but a 2-3 MOA gun.
 
I found a used upper on SnipersHide for $625 with a Knights rail and ARMS buis, both of which I sold, bought a Nordic handguard, and came out just over $500 total.

Mine is a CMMG 18" HBAR with rifle gas. Not what I wanted (preferred medcon or lighter), but at the price, I'm not complaining. It's plenty accurate for me now.

I'll upgrade later, but that got me going and didn't break my budget.

I haven't dealt with them, but PKFirearms sometimes has decent deals on budget uppers.

FN 18" Govmt profile barrel $545. Add free float handguard.
http://www.pkfirearms.com/without_options/new/2408

DPMS Mk12 18" HBAR, YHM TJ free float, $589
http://www.pkfirearms.com/without_options/new/2533
 
Just putting some parts together @ JoeBob's.

Parts list:
LAR A4 Upper Assem
JoeBob BCG
YHM LoPro GB
Nordic HD CH
YHM Rifle FF HG
Nordic Tactical Comp
Nordic 18" SS Rifle gas barrel

Total with BS.com discount (+ Free shipping!) is $585.

It's all in stock right now too.
 
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