AR15 complete upper

JamesBarto · Mar 25, 2019

Hello,
I need suggestions for purchasing a complete upper receiver for an AR15. I’ve been eyeing Del-Ton just because of the reviews but I heard the wait time is somewhat long. Any suggestions about it? Having to deal with Del-Ton in the past? Or any other manufactures that are highly recommended as an alternative? Looking at something in the $300-$700 range which is pretty broad. Thanks for your feedback

Bountied · Mar 25, 2019

Troy makes some budget nice uppers. There are also a few for sale in the classifieds.

DutchV · Mar 25, 2019

Del-Ton is decent for the price.

Bountied · Mar 25, 2019

There is a colt upper for sale in the classifieds as well as a few others.

IMBLITZVT · Mar 25, 2019

What lower do you have? IMHO, resale is better if the gun looks like it was suppose to go together. Plus there is less chance that they don't fit together.

zoopal · Mar 25, 2019

JamesBarto said:
Hello,
I need suggestions for purchasing a complete upper receiver for an AR15. I’ve been eyeing Del-Ton just because of the reviews but I heard the wait time is somewhat long. Any suggestions about it? Having to deal with Del-Ton in the past? Or any other manufactures that are highly recommended as an alternative? Looking at something in the $300-$700 range which is pretty broad. Thanks for your feedback

Palmetto state armory (PSA) is cheap and good for me. I bought some in the past and had never had any problem.

JamesBarto · Mar 26, 2019

IMBLITZVT said:
What lower do you have? IMHO, resale is better if the gun looks like it was suppose to go together. Plus there is less chance that they don't fit together.

Right now I have a spikes lower

Speed3 · Mar 26, 2019

If you want accuracy, please take a look at white oak armament. The varmit complete upper will be in the $700 price rang but should be a real shooter! I have one, worth the $ and wait time if your looking for a longer range type upper.

IMBLITZVT · Mar 26, 2019

JamesBarto said:
Right now I have a spikes lower

Well, I would first look at Spikes if I was you unless you have reason to look elsewhere.

Standard upper... should be fine if this is a Pre-2013 lower. If a new lower, than maybe they can toss a Heavy Barrel on it for you?:

https://www.spikestactical.com/collections/complete-uppers/5-56-m4-carbine-16/

If you want to run optics in the future...get one with a rail where you get no front sight.

Frankly, there is not a ton of difference between the standard uppers. We shoot MGs and I have guys showing up with real expensive upper and junk. Most work ok. You get a bit of tolerance difference between them. That and resale is why I would try and stick with the same brand.

All this said, you don't really say what you want to use it for? General shooting, the above upper will work fine. Target shooting? 9mm? 300 blackout... I mean there is a ton you can get. However for a standard gun, the above upper will give you a complete rifle that makes sense and should work. If you ever need to sell, its not a mismatched rifle begging the question to the buyer of what the hell was happening with this gun.

That said, I have a Spikes lower (Pre 2013) that I bought for my youngest kid to shoot. Well he turned into a lefty... so I ended up with a left handed Stag upper on that lower. My older son who I already knew was a lefty I bought a Stag lower for and so his gun is matching Stag gun. Who would have guessed 3 left handed kids... If the youngest would have been right handed, he would have gotten the upper above. I figured this was a good start and we can change things from there as they grow up.

budman93 · Mar 26, 2019

IMBLITZVT said:
Well, I would first look at Spikes if I was you unless you have reason to look elsewhere.

Standard upper... should be fine if this is a Pre-2013 lower:

https://www.spikestactical.com/collections/complete-uppers/5-56-m4-carbine-16/

If you want to run optics in the future...get one with a rail where you get no front sight.

Frankly, there is not a ton of difference between the standard uppers. We shoot MGs and I have guys showing up with real expensive upper and junk. Most work ok. You get a bit of tolerance difference between them. That and resale is why I would try and stick with the same brand.

All this said, you don't really say what you want to use it for? General shooting, the above upper will work fine. Target shooting? 9mm? 300 blackout... I mean there is a ton you can get. However for a standard gun, the above upper will give you a complete rifle that makes sense and should work. If you ever need to sell, its not a mismatched rifle begging the question to the buyer of what the hell was happening with this gun.

That said, I have a Spikes lower (Pre 2013) that I bought for my youngest kid to shoot. Well he turned into a lefty... so I ended up with a left handed Stag upper on that lower. My older son who I already knew was a lefty I bought a Stag lower for and so his gun is matching Stag gun. Who would have guessed 3 left handed kids... If the youngest would have been right handed, he would have gotten the upper above. I figured this was a good start and we can change things from there as they grow up.

I could be wrong but I'm guessing this is probably a post 2013 lower.

Edit: Looks like according to the OP's post here he just bought the lower this year. https://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?p=5517354#post5517354

so that M4 profile is a no go.

PorP · Mar 26, 2019

I have a few Del-ton's, PSA, radical firearms, and some home mades.i don't think you can go wrong with any of them. I have no intention of being a 700yd shooter and therefore focus on them firing every time, which the all do.

One note, the radical firearms took a lot of grinding on the feed ramps for it to cycle right. That said, it is 7.62x39 which are notorious for feed issues in the AR platform.

All that said... you're budget would yield a really nice upper build, a really nice barrel and nickel BCG are sub $200 each. The rest can cost around $110 (muzzle break, charge handle, upper reciever, forward assist, dust cover) or so and the tooling you need is less than $100 (upper receiver clamp and barrel nut wrench).

Steve_Zissou · Mar 27, 2019

JamesBarto said:
Hello,
I need suggestions for purchasing a complete upper receiver for an AR15. I’ve been eyeing Del-Ton just because of the reviews but I heard the wait time is somewhat long. Any suggestions about it? Having to deal with Del-Ton in the past? Or any other manufactures that are highly recommended as an alternative? Looking at something in the $300-$700 range which is pretty broad. Thanks for your feedback

If you want something a little unconventional, try going with one of the Taiwanese T91 piston uppers that Wolf is importing now. I've heard nothing but good things about them, and right now Atlantic has the 16" one for $449.

https://www.atlanticfirearms.com/products/wolf-a1-upper

As far as deals go, that's in Poverty State Armory territory.

And because it's a piston upper, you don't have to worry about HBAR compliance because in the eyes of MSP it isn't even an AR15.

Furthermore, they look filthy, almost like a Sig 556, and doubly-so with an M4 stock, A2 grip, and a carry handle rear sight. And fwiw, because of its Taiwanese provenance, you're buying an upper literally designed to repel communism. I've got no horse in this game, other than having a half-taiwanese girlfriend in highschool, I guess, but the t91 upper is definitely on my "buy soon" list.

Boondock Saint · Mar 27, 2019

No love for BCM? They make high quality stuff from what I understand.

bkuether · Mar 27, 2019

Steve_Zissou said:
If you want something a little unconventional, try going with one of the Taiwanese T91 piston uppers that Wolf is importing now. I've heard nothing but good things about them, and right now Atlantic has the 16" one for $449.

https://www.atlanticfirearms.com/products/wolf-a1-upper

As far as deals go, that's in Poverty State Armory territory.

And because it's a piston upper, you don't have to worry about HBAR compliance because in the eyes of MSP it isn't even an AR15.

Furthermore, they look filthy, almost like a Sig 556, and doubly-so with an M4 stock, A2 grip, and a carry handle rear sight. And fwiw, because of its Taiwanese provenance, you're buying an upper literally designed to repel communism. I've got no horse in this game, other than having a half-taiwanese girlfriend in highschool, I guess, but the t91 upper is definitely on my "buy soon" list.

My only concern is lack of shell deflector, being left handed.

Edited:

Not left handed friendly.

WESTMD · Mar 27, 2019

My son just purchased an upper from Bear Creek Arsenal https://bearcreekarsenal.com/upper-assemblies it really is a nice upper for the money!

Steve_Zissou · Mar 27, 2019

bkuether said:
My only concern is lack of shell deflector, being left handed.

Edited:

Not left handed friendly.

There's always rail-mounted shell deflectors, I guess...

calicojack · Apr 3, 2019

Windham Weaponry makes HBAR uppers

https://shop.windhamweaponry.com/product/ur16a4b/
https://shop.windhamweaponry.com/product/ur16da4b/

AR15 complete upper

The #1 community for Gun Owners of the Northeast

Member Benefits:

Member

Ultimate Member

Ultimate Member

Ultimate Member

Ultimate Member

Active Member

Member

Ultimate Member

Ultimate Member

Ultimate Member

Active Member

Ultimate Member

Attachments

Ultimate Member

Judge not this race .....

Member 2006

Ultimate Member

American Sporting Rifle

Users who are viewing this thread

Log in

Forum statistics