Hunting upper receiver

jimbobborg · Sep 12, 2015

What's your opinion on the upper receiver for hunting deer/pigs/javelina. Does it really need a dust cover and forward assist, or will it be fine without them? I'm still debating adding yet another caliber for me to reload (300 BLK) but $100 barrels is hard to pass up. I'll be matching said upper with an Aimpoint Pro. What do you think, sirs?

iH8DemLibz · Sep 12, 2015

DPMS

Thicker and more durable than a standard upper.

Jerry M · Sep 13, 2015

No need for Forward assist or dust cover. I know that there is a plug manufactured that fills the froward assist hole that highpower shooters use on their space guns to keep dirt out of that area.

Good luck

Jerry

Sticky · Sep 13, 2015

Most of the time, no.. not really needed. The FA is nice if you ever have an issue, sometimes the only option to resolve a jammed AR, but... I have one setup with an FA hole just plugged and it has been fine, cause it's never jammed up... That said, after taking Chad's class last night, I'll probably stick a FA in there, cause it sure is nice if you ever need it.

One thing I have found using the AR for hunting is that often times you need to be quiet, typical in hunting anything and if you have to drop the bolt, it is really loud, so.. I typically will ease mine forward with the CH. This can be an issue, cause you don't have the force needed to drive the bolt fully closed and locked. The FA will allow you to pull this off, just tap it home fully and it is very quiet compared to just dropping the bolt home from a locked open position. For this reason alone, all of my hunting AR's have a forward assist installed.

outrider58 · Sep 13, 2015

Sticky said:
Most of the time, no.. not really needed. The FA is nice if you ever have an issue, sometimes the only option to resolve a jammed AR, but... I have one setup with an FA hole just plugged and it has been fine, cause it's never jammed up... That said, after taking Chad's class last night, I'll probably stick a FA in there, cause it sure is nice if you ever need it.

One thing I have found using the AR for hunting is that often times you need to be quiet, typical in hunting anything and if you have to drop the bolt, it is really loud, so.. I typically will ease mine forward with the CH. This can be an issue, cause you don't have the force needed to drive the bolt fully closed and locked. The FA will allow you to pull this off, just tap it home fully and it is very quiet compared to just dropping the bolt home from a locked open position. For this reason alone, all of my hunting AR's have a forward assist installed.

This!

j_h_smith · Sep 13, 2015

I personally believe you need both. The dust cover will keep anything out of the bolt area when hunting in woods.

The last thing you want is your firearm to jam if you have a hog charge at you after either a miss or wounding the pig. That forward assist could be the difference in you gutting the pig or the pig gutting you.

Sure, everything I've mentioned is far fetched, but it can happen. YMMV and it's what you feel comfortable with. My 50 Beowulf has both. I haven't hunted hogs, but I bought the Beowulf with the expectation of this firearm being my hog gun.

BossmanPJ · Sep 13, 2015

I just set up a .300 Blackout for deer hunting this winter. It has both FA and dust cover. I typically walk through a lot of brush to get to my hunting area and I don't want anything smacking into my bolt. However rare that may be... Why not just have it covered? The FA just because it is a good idea. Either way it will be fine... But why not have both features?

Orthogonal · Sep 13, 2015

Anyone have recommendations on a hunting 300 BLK off the shelf upper ?

BradMacc82 · Sep 13, 2015

j_h_smith said:
I personally believe you need both. The dust cover will keep anything out of the bolt area when hunting in woods.

The last thing you want is your firearm to jam if you have a hog charge at you after either a miss or wounding the pig. That forward assist could be the difference in you gutting the pig or the pig gutting you.

Sure, everything I've mentioned is far fetched, but it can happen. YMMV and it's what you feel comfortable with. My 50 Beowulf has both. I haven't hunted hogs, but I bought the Beowulf with the expectation of this firearm being my hog gun.

Who'd you find that made a dust cover to fit the enlarged ejection port opening?

j_h_smith · Sep 13, 2015

BradMacc82 said:
Who'd you find that made a dust cover to fit the enlarged ejection port opening?

Some guy off of AR15.com. I can't remember who. It was a few years ago.

BossmanPJ · Sep 13, 2015

I had thought about a .50 Beowulf for a deer rifle in the past. I am going to try the .300 first. If I don't like it I may still go the .50 route.

j_h_smith · Sep 13, 2015

BossmanPJ said:
I had thought about a .50 Beowulf for a deer rifle in the past. I am going to try the .300 first. If I don't like it I may still go the .50 route.

I have never considered the 50B for deer. I either use a 12 ga shotgun with rifled barrel or my 270 TC.

I don't know if I'm going to get to go out with the firearms this year. The knee still won't allow me to walk on uneven terrain. I guess I'll have to just be content with the crossbow in my backyard.

If I can only see that 10 pointer during legal hunting hours...

fidelity · Sep 13, 2015

Orthogonal said:
Anyone have recommendations on a hunting 300 BLK off the shelf upper ?

I had Scott's put together one with components that I selected with a friend (who built his).

Prior to taking this path, I was checking out options from PSA ...

http://palmettostatearmory.com/inde...-sqr-13-5-without-bcg-or-charging-handle.html

(this one doesn't include the BCG or charging handle - but if you have a regular AR-15, these components are interchangeable)

At Slickguns, people seem to be happy with 300 BLK uppers from the following lower cost builders (that usually have 16-inch barrel options) ...

http://www.slickguns.com/content/hardened-arms
http://www.slickguns.com/content/radical-firearms
http://www.slickguns.com/content/runner-runner-guns

Another option is to get a 7.62x39 upper. The 7.62x39 round similar power as 300 BLK (7.62x35), and can be used for deer. One needs a different BCG and mags. PSA has one that sells out quick that includes BCG and charging handle and often is priced $340 or less ...

http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/psa-pa47-16-7-62x39-upper-w-bcg-and-charging-handle.html

(see comments in the reviews about mag options)

ETA: for the cost of a complete upper, and more simplicity in planning/preparation, when in stock, the Ruger American Ranch 300 BLK bolt action is a great alternative.

outrider58 · Sep 13, 2015

Orthogonal said:
Anyone have recommendations on a hunting 300 BLK off the shelf upper ?

No desire to build one your self? Plenty of us to lend a hand with tools and know-how.

Pinecone · Sep 13, 2015

Anderson has some .300 Black Out uppers.

BossmanPJ · Sep 13, 2015

Radical Firearms makes a nice .300 Blackout upper for around $400 also. Has a Seekins long Keymod rail and they are built on Cerro Forge receivers. Pretty nice for the money.

jimbobborg · Sep 14, 2015

I'm still waffling on the 300 BLK (which I have nothing for except some 5.56 brass) or 6.8 SPC (I have 500+ rounds of hunting ammunition and tons of reloading supplies) barrel. The 6.8 Noveske barrel is almost triple what the KAK 300 barrel runs.

Blaster229 · Sep 14, 2015

So, this being in the handgun thread, a .300 blk pistol for hunting??

jimbobborg · Sep 14, 2015

Blaster229 said:
So, this being in the handgun thread, a .300 blk pistol for hunting??

That is correct.

jimbobborg · Sep 21, 2015

I just bought a flat top upper receiver, with dust cover, FA, and a charging handle, from another member here. Glad I checked the classifieds here

I'm going with a 6.8 build.

Hunting upper receiver

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