Best 3 or 4 AR15 Upper Receiver Types?

[Rocketvapor]

Big name barrels, if you can afford them will obviously give the best results.
Matters more that upper receiver.
I bought a few ARP barrels but they spec'd and contracted to have them built.
Currently running X-caliber (wait for one of the 20% off sales).
For my 22N No-gas the BCA bolt works. For the wife's 22 NOSGAR I use a LWRC 6.8 bolt.
Haven't started on the new barrel yet, but it will have gas like the wife's.

BTW;
I just ordered a BCA Blem rear charging upper. WHY? No idea other than still had a little left in next year's COLA
From the pictures looking at the profile/side views seems to be a heavy walled slick side rear charger.
Look at left side cut out for Bolt Release.
$30 + shipping. How can I lose

BC-15 | .223/5.56 NATO/300 Blackout/350 Legend/6.5 Grendel/7.62x39 Stripped Sporter Slick Side Upper Receiver | BLEMISHED

Please note that item is non-refundable/non-returnable and not Eligible for Bear Den Guarantee and may vary in color from cerekote, powder coat, or anodization

www.bearcreekarsenal.com

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Ok here goes, Ive been looking and have questions. Wilde comes in set only, I already have lowers. Loved that they are owned by veterans. BCM like the description, but is it a thick walled receiver? BCA rocket removed from list, was this due to it not being a thick-walled receiver? Rock River EOP could not find this on rock River site, is it still made? Aero enhanced really liked it but thought the handguard mount system might limit me to a hard to find and expensive handguard. Vltor made no mention if it was a thick walled receiver but mentioned that the shell deflector was pinned on and would void warranty if removed. I liked the idea of the Nordic being extruded and they stated that if you were building a bench gun or varmint rifle it was the one to use, so I assume it is thick walled. no dust cover , but uses a standard charging handle. It was reasonably priced. I would think that being extruded it would be stronger and less apt to have metallurgical issues, but what do i know.

Wilde comes in a set only because they are a matched pair and hand fit.

 

[lancexxx]

I use aero precision on most, M4E1 enhanced . 6MM ARC Just finished

 

[cotntop]

I have built a lot of top tier AR rifles, barrel and trigger are most important items. The caliber plays a lot in where I shop. Lately Larue Tactical has been one of the most accurate assembled uppers on the market for the money. I have set up about a dozen Grendel uppers and all were impressive for the $799 pricetag. Geissele triggers are hard to beat also. Read somewhere that someone is building tight tolerance uppers that have to be heated and barrel cooled to assemble, that definitely would help. Personally I like Seekins upper and lowers.

 

[lancexxx]

I use the trigger tech trigger diamond 1.5-4 pound for trigger. It is very nice. The tight fit upper is JP enterprises.

 

[VA_XTC_Shooter]

Fit doesn't matter much to me as I use a true thermal fit with a spray on shim. Won't go together without heat and cold.

What's the spray on shim? Got a link?

 

[Jet]

Aero produces great quality for a very good price.

 

[karrarararararar]

You don't need a heavy upper receiver. I picked one because my barrel is 5.3 pounds and figured a little more aluminum would help. Both rifles are right close to 17 pounds each, about 20 pounds with a home made bipod..
The barrel you pick will make more of a difference in group size.
The wife and I don't regularly do 1/2 inch groups. Closer to an MOA. Maybe with a little more practice
This was 100 yards yesterday at Soarsa Acres range near me.
Wife on the left target, me on the right. Little red dot is 0.6"
Wife is using a Bushnell XRS-2, 4.5-30X56 FFP, I used my new scope an Athlon Cronus BTR Gen2, 4.5-29X56 FFP. Shooting Berger 85.5s @ 2970fps or so.

View attachment 1390466
View attachment 1390467


If I were you, I would go with the Nordic instead of the BCA. Pick a good BCG/Bolt, a good trigger, and a good barrel. Pick the BCA and you will blame me.

On the argument of thick vs thin wall uppers, I have a White Oak match upper and it is just a milspec upper that has been milled for side charging. That should be enough proof that thick wall isn't necessary.

 

[brokeasajoke]

Vltor MUR specifically says it is thicker. From midway,
"The MUR was developed to give the customer a Mil-Spec correct upper receiver with a thicker wall, making the MUR upper receiver a stronger platform."
This thread has been interesting.

 

[jelenko]

Vltor MUR specifically says it is thicker. From midway,
"The MUR was developed to give the customer a Mil-Spec correct upper receiver with a thicker wall, making the MUR upper receiver a stronger platform."
This thread has been interesting.

I'd like to see some tests with mil spec vs thicker uppers.

And, I love it when marketing claims a version of 'better'. Even if it is better, the question always is 'how much difference?'

 

[Rocketvapor]

Just another post on those heavy walled cheap BCA uppers.
Don't know if heavy = better but I just feel better using one with a heavy barrel.
Ordered a Blem rear charger for $30 just to have on hand (now out of stock).
Has dinged finish on threads. Weighs about the same as the side charger stripped of the rear plug.

 

[wbm]

Just another post on those heavy walled cheap BCA uppers.

Does inexpensive mean cheap also?

 

[Rocketvapor]

Does inexpensive mean cheap also?

Expensive High End means High Quality.

 

[wbm]

So High End always means High Quality and there is no such thing as Inexpensive High Quality? Just asking.

 

[VA_XTC_Shooter]

Expensive High End means High Quality.

not necessarily. Seen quite a few "expensive high end" ARs have issues. The odds are better you will get a solid product from them, but everyone has an issue every now and then.

A lot of the AR snobs piss on Aero. Aero generally makes good stuff, but their QA/QC has let some not so great stuff pass through. All of mine have been good, but I have seen a few out of spec.

BCA has a pretty bad wrap. Entice you with cheap prices. For a while you had to play the game of keep sending a barrel back for replacement until you got a decent one. It is my understanding, BCA is improving, but is still, IMO, a buyer beware and ready to address any shortcomings.

Companies like WOA and SOLGW make a big QA/QC effort and only use quality parts. SO the odds of a better complete rifle are higher.

 

[wbm]

Reason I asked is that I have both a "High End" AR upper and a "Low End" BCA upper. Both are great. FWIW: the BCA is great both in quality and performance.

 

[whatsupdoc]

The stiffens of the upper is irrelevant if there is flex in the barrel attachment
point.

 

[ebb]

Rocket vapor I looked at the BCA upper and what a deal. But the fine print got me " works only with BCA gen 2 BCG." i have a bolt and carrier already.

 

[wbm]

If you are talking about the BCA right side charge the "works only with BCA gen 2 BCG.", I think this is referring to the charging handle attachment. It is different than the Gen1.

 

[Rocketvapor]

I'm running a Gen 2 BCG in a Gen 1 Upper.
I had to relieve the front of the slot a tiny bit.


Barrel flex in the attachment point is NOT controlled by the threaded nose. The threaded nose is used to apply clamping force to the extension. Most of the support for a barrel extension is the next 0.6" of the receiver. The thin nose holds the handguard. The receiver holds the barrel. When you "thermal fit" an extension, make sure the barrel doesn't slip in most of the way without heat. That MIGHT indicate the extension is loose in the heavy part of the receiver and the nose is tight.