Looking for high quality upper receivers, any suggestions?

ScrapMetal

ScrapMetal

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I see all kinds of upper receivers (AR) on the market but it's difficult to determine the quality when it's not "in hand". I'd appreciate getting some opinions on who makes the "better" receivers.

Thanks much,

-Ron
 
Sometimes its hard to say, Bravo company has a very good name and only carries mil spec parts, but they are out of stock on all there uppers, If you can find a Vltor upper anywhere they are very nice uppers indeed....also check out Brownells , they usually have a good selection of name brands............
 
Thanks MetalMole, I will check out Brownell's. As you say, they have a number of name brands (I kind of tend towards Bushmaster's stuff as it's been good to me in the past).

Unfortunately things are always changing so someone that made a quality part in the past may have sourced it out to say money and the parts are quite as nice anymore (I've heard recent gripes about Bushmaster and a couple of others).

-Ron
 
Rainier, Bravo Company, DPMS, PSA, Stag, M&P are just a few that are recommended over at ARfcom. I personally think they are all pretty even nowdays......
 
Forged or milled?

I have 2 Rock Rivers and am very pleased. IMHO the forged lowers and uppers are all about the same these days. I suspect the milled receivers would show more brand difference.
 
a company called LAR Grizzly http://largrizzly.com/ makes ar upper and lowers for a lot of the name brand companies, and sell their blems on their web page. I think there are only a small handful of companies that axtually machine the recievers and put other peoples names in them.
 
My competition upper is a Compass Lake. Rock River, LaRue, Wilson, Clark, any of the custom makers will stand behind their products.
 
Thanks much guys! Guess it's time to go shopping. :biggrin:

-Ron


cdhknives said:
Forged or milled?

I have 2 Rock Rivers and am very pleased. IMHO the forged lowers and uppers are all about the same these days. I suspect the milled receivers would show more brand difference.
Click to expand...

Forged. Oddly enough, I kind of like the "feel" of the forged better than I do the milled.

Thanks.
 
FYI everyone looking at upper receivers,

No company actually makes their own uppers except colts all the rest buy from the following. Look at the right side of the receiver and look for a mark/symbol that will tell you who made it. The final milling might be done at the company you buy it from. To me they are all the same unless you buy a factory second. This applies to standard A1,A2,A4 only uppers of course.

A (splintered) = Anchor Harvey Aluminum

AF = Alcoa Forge

C AF = Colt Alco Forge

C MB = Colt / Mueller Brass

Cardinal (stylized) = Cardinal Forge

CH = Colt Harvey Aluminum

CK = Colt / Kaiser Aluminum

Circle/Crooshairs w/"AR" = ArmaLite

CM = Colt / Martin Marietta

D (stylized) = Diemaco

DK = Diemaco / Kaiser Aluminum

E = Emco

EK = EMCO/Kaiser

E MB = EMCO/Mueller Brass

F keyhole = FNMI / Cerro Forge

FA = FNMI / Anchor Harvey

FK = FNMI / Kaiser Aluminum

FM = FN/Martin Marietta

FMB = FNMI / Mueller Brass

Keyhole = Cerro Forge

L = Lewis Machine & Tool

LK = LAR / Kaiser Aluminum

LM = LAR / Martin Marietta

M (under diamond) = Mueller Industries

PA = Capco / Anchor Harvey

PM = Capco / Martin Marietta
 
If you not going to compete in service rifle competition, there is a company that makes an extra thick side charging handle upper.

Extra thick = less flex= more accuracy

Ranier arms

and LAR Grizzley
 
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