User Panel
Posted: 5/26/2024 8:49:49 PM EDT
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[#1]
I am interested
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[#2]
The finish on them is embarrassing. I’m debating buying a MR556 and throwing the Brownell’s barrel in it though.
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https://instagram.com/_odiegreen_?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
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[#3]
I think he's pushed me over on building one.
That Geissele Mk15 handguard is pretty sweet on there too. |
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Support the Firearms Policy Coalition and help save the Second Amendment: https://www.firearmspolicy.org
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[#4]
Originally Posted By -OdieGreen-: The finish on them is embarrassing. I’m debating buying a MR556 and throwing the Brownell’s barrel in it though. View Quote This. The uppers are billet and supposedly have horrendous tooling marks, and I also saw some people posting on HKPro that were having issues with the BCG as well. |
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[#5]
If you get one be aware that some people, myself included, have had the gasrings on the piston fail at about 400 to 500 rounds. If you get one I would suggest you buy some OEM HK rings from Haus. They're $12, only $2 more expensive than Brownells and I haven't had the HK rings fail yet.
https://www.haus.us.com/product/gas-piston-ring-set-g36-sl8-416-417-mr-series-hk-%F0%9F%87%A9%F0%9F%87%AA/ |
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[#6]
I was waiting for them to release a lower but after all the qc issues I've been seeing I just ponied up for an intmilco lower
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[#7]
Caracal 816 is the answer here.
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[#8]
Attached File
Went with a chrome 16" and a B+T MLOK handguard while waiting for the Geissele HK416 Mk15 to go on sale somewhere. Pretty crazy when a Swiss-made handguard is a lot cheaper than a US one. My first piston AR after years of resisting and buying native piston guns. You can see the machining marks on the receiver but I think the reaction is a little overblown. Overall quality beyond that seems pretty good. I did pick up some of the German piston rings just in case. I have some RAL 8000 spray paint I did the MOE grip and trigger guard with, I'll have to hit the front grip and a PMAG with it at some point. Probably need to bump the PA 4x back a bit but I don't want to lose the BUIS. |
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Support the Firearms Policy Coalition and help save the Second Amendment: https://www.firearmspolicy.org
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[#9]
Originally Posted By Findsman: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/35747/PSA_M4A1_BRN-4_JPG-3244700.JPG Went with a chrome 16" and a B+T MLOK handguard while waiting for the Geissele HK416 Mk15 to go on sale somewhere. Pretty crazy when a Swiss-made handguard is a lot cheaper than a US one. My first piston AR after years of resisting and buying native piston guns. You can see the machining marks on the receiver but I think the reaction is a little overblown. Overall quality beyond that seems pretty good. I did pick up some of the German piston rings just in case. I have some RAL 8000 spray paint I did the MOE grip and trigger guard with, I'll have to hit the front grip and a PMAG with it at some point. Probably need to bump the PA 4x back a bit but I don't want to lose the BUIS. View Quote @Findsman Can you post a closeup pic of the machining marks? I only ask because I have seen some examples that are horrendous, if they aren't too obvious on yours then maybe they fixed it and I'd consider getting one. |
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[#10]
Originally Posted By Zeebz: @Findsman Can you post a closeup pic of the machining marks? I only ask because I have seen some examples that are horrendous, if they aren't too obvious on yours then maybe they fixed it and I'd consider getting one. View Quote I will definitely do so for you tomorrow! Some areas are definitely, uh, rougher than others. The contour at the rear where it mates with the lower in particular. The upper all together scratches the “tool” itch which is good enough for me though. I could understand a collector not wanting to deal with it - and I couldn’t say I’d never rebuild it if I stumbled on a cheap stripped 416 upper. |
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[#12]
Originally Posted By Zeebz: Appreciate it! This is one of the worse offenders I've seen in terms of tooling marks, and mainly where my concern stems from: https://i.redd.it/got-my-brownells-brn-4-and-not-that-happy-v0-a5t998hohezb1.jpg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=de2d0b5357d4ac791161dfa184f300c3d59a8bd6 View Quote Oof wow. |
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[#13]
Originally Posted By Zeebz: Appreciate it! This is one of the worse offenders I've seen in terms of tooling marks, and mainly where my concern stems from: https://i.redd.it/got-my-brownells-brn-4-and-not-that-happy-v0-a5t998hohezb1.jpg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=de2d0b5357d4ac791161dfa184f300c3d59a8bd6 View Quote There’s “we had to compromise for the price point” and then there’s this. Can you imagine the guy running the machines and how little he must care about his job to be okay with making that? Ouch. |
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https://instagram.com/_odiegreen_?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
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[#14]
Attached File
Attached File Attached File Attached File As requested! The most egregious thing to me is the misalignment of the details between the upper and the lower but for all I know the MR556/HK416 lower would line up perfectly. Obviously not as much for a PSA M4A1 lower. It isn't as terrible as the internet makes out in my opinion. I do think the choice to machine a billet upper to look like a forged one is pretty silly but I don't know the first thing about making forged uppers so silly choice may be better than no choice. The market is not exactly awash in MR556/HK416 stripped uppers. Haus US looks like they do an A5 upper but its only available as part of a complete upper for multiple thousands. |
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Support the Firearms Policy Coalition and help save the Second Amendment: https://www.firearmspolicy.org
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[#15]
Originally Posted By Findsman: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/35747/IMG_7064_JPG-3246140.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/35747/IMG_7065_JPG-3246141.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/35747/IMG_7066_JPG-3246142.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/35747/IMG_7067_JPG-3246143.JPG As requested! The most egregious thing to me is the misalignment of the details between the upper and the lower but for all I know the MR556/HK416 lower would line up perfectly. Obviously not as much for a PSA M4A1 lower. It isn't as terrible as the internet makes out in my opinion. I do think the choice to machine a billet upper to look like a forged one is pretty silly but I don't know the first thing about making forged uppers so silly choice may be better than no choice. The market is not exactly awash in MR556/HK416 stripped uppers. Haus US looks like they do an A5 upper but its only available as part of a complete upper for multiple thousands. View Quote They sell the A5 upper receiver separately as well: Here |
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[#16]
View Quote Ha, I couldn’t find that to save my life the other day! Only one left right now and a cool $650. A project that will wait for another day, as cool as an A5/A8 build might be. Makes the price of the uglier Brownells receiver (and entire upper assembly!) a little easier to swallow. |
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Support the Firearms Policy Coalition and help save the Second Amendment: https://www.firearmspolicy.org
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[Last Edit: Amish_Bill]
[#18]
Originally Posted By Brownells: We appreciate all of your feedback on the receivers. Having customer insight and firsthand experience with our products is incredibly valuable to us, and as such, we've taken your concerns about visible tool paths directly to our vendor to minimize them in future production. We do have some exclusive images of the receivers we are planning to transition to. They are still billet receivers, but with requested mods. You can expect to see them with the BRN-4 uppers sometime in July. Also, stay tuned for additional BRN-4 releases later in 2024. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/126709/IMG_1288__1_-3247250.jpghttps://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/126709/IMG_1289__1_-3247251.jpg View Quote Any chances of the 'substandard stock' being clearanced out to make room for the pretty ones? |
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Disclaimer - OP is bad at knowing things, and might catch on fire.
... Every other species kills off their stupid......we cater to them. -- spin-drift Nobody ever called 911&said I just did something smart. -- TheFlynDutchman |
[#19]
Originally Posted By Findsman: As requested! The most egregious thing to me is the misalignment of the details between the upper and the lower but for all I know the MR556/HK416 lower would line up perfectly. Obviously not as much for a PSA M4A1 lower. View Quote Even HK’s sill have that stagger - well, not as dramatic but it is clearly evident there is a misalignment. Both, the uppers and lowers, are machined from forgings and depending on where they index from there can be that result. Whoever drew the model for that probably worked from a staggered one and then the tolerances stacked from there. |
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[#20]
Originally Posted By Brownells: We appreciate all of your feedback on the receivers. Having customer insight and firsthand experience with our products is incredibly valuable to us, and as such, we've taken your concerns about visible tool paths directly to our vendor to minimize them in future production. We do have some exclusive images of the receivers we are planning to transition to. They are still billet receivers, but with requested mods. You can expect to see them with the BRN-4 uppers sometime in July. Also, stay tuned for additional BRN-4 releases later in 2024. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/126709/IMG_1288__1_-3247250.jpghttps://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/126709/IMG_1289__1_-3247251.jpg View Quote Awesome. Like Amish_Bill said it's awesome to see you guys taking the customer feedback seriously and making changes based on said feedback. It means a lot. Those receivers look really good and I'll definitely snag an upper now once those new receivers are out. |
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[Last Edit: JTM20]
[#21]
Originally Posted By Brownells: We appreciate all of your feedback on the receivers. Having customer insight and firsthand experience with our products is incredibly valuable to us, and as such, we've taken your concerns about visible tool paths directly to our vendor to minimize them in future production. We do have some exclusive images of the receivers we are planning to transition to. They are still billet receivers, but with requested mods. You can expect to see them with the BRN-4 uppers sometime in July. Also, stay tuned for additional BRN-4 releases later in 2024. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/126709/IMG_1288__1_-3247250.jpghttps://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/126709/IMG_1289__1_-3247251.jpg View Quote How about some chrome lined M27 barrels |
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[#22]
Originally Posted By Brownells: We appreciate all of your feedback on the receivers. Having customer insight and firsthand experience with our products is incredibly valuable to us, and as such, we've taken your concerns about visible tool paths directly to our vendor to minimize them in future production. We do have some exclusive images of the receivers we are planning to transition to. They are still billet receivers, but with requested mods. You can expect to see them with the BRN-4 uppers sometime in July. Also, stay tuned for additional BRN-4 releases later in 2024. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/126709/IMG_1288__1_-3247250.jpghttps://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/126709/IMG_1289__1_-3247251.jpg View Quote That doesnt help us that bought the Fd receivers. |
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[Last Edit: Uys]
[#23]
MGW has stripped MR556 uppers in stock.
https://www.midwestgunworks.com/page/mgwi/prod/50235980 |
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[#24]
Originally Posted By Brownells: We appreciate all of your feedback on the receivers. Having customer insight and firsthand experience with our products is incredibly valuable to us, and as such, we've taken your concerns about visible tool paths directly to our vendor to minimize them in future production. We do have some exclusive images of the receivers we are planning to transition to. They are still billet receivers, but with requested mods. You can expect to see them with the BRN-4 uppers sometime in July. Also, stay tuned for additional BRN-4 releases later in 2024. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/126709/IMG_1288__1_-3247250.jpghttps://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/126709/IMG_1289__1_-3247251.jpg View Quote Man, the ones posted by customers are horrible, by any standard. That's probably the worst machining I've ever seen on any AR receiver and the alignment is pretty far off. Glad to see you guys are recognizing the problem and doing something about it, but where was QC in all this???? |
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[Last Edit: Findsman]
[#25]
Originally Posted By Wolfy42: That doesnt help us that bought the Fd receivers. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally Posted By Wolfy42: Originally Posted By Brownells: We appreciate all of your feedback on the receivers. Having customer insight and firsthand experience with our products is incredibly valuable to us, and as such, we've taken your concerns about visible tool paths directly to our vendor to minimize them in future production. We do have some exclusive images of the receivers we are planning to transition to. They are still billet receivers, but with requested mods. You can expect to see them with the BRN-4 uppers sometime in July. Also, stay tuned for additional BRN-4 releases later in 2024. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/126709/IMG_1288__1_-3247250.jpghttps://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/126709/IMG_1289__1_-3247251.jpg That doesnt help us that bought the Fd receivers. @Brownells Do you suppose you could find customers that bought the first-gen uppers (complete group, stripped, whatever) from order history and perhaps offer them discount on the revised receiver? As long as you guys didn't Rocksett the barrels into place or anything I think I'd be fine swapping the receiver out myself. I got the barrel wrench last week so I feel like I have some BRN-4/HK416 mad skills now, haha. ETA - Got a blemished Mk15 handguard from the Geissele July 4th sale. Really really nice upgrade! Attached File |
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Support the Firearms Policy Coalition and help save the Second Amendment: https://www.firearmspolicy.org
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[#26]
The BRN-4 complete BCG is now listed as, "no longer available" on Brownell's. Curious what that is about.
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[#27]
Are these worth checking out? Or am I better off just going with an HK factory MR556?
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[#28]
Originally Posted By wayfaerer320: Are these worth checking out? Or am I better off just going with an HK factory MR556? View Quote I have owened both and currently own 3 HKs, 1 Factory MR 556 and 2 Clones that are most HK parts The BRN-4 is a very affordable alternative to a real HK but you can't build one without a BCG, which Brownells no longer offers So there's that |
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[#29]
Brownells response on the Industry page -
"No plans to sideline the BRN-4 on our end and we welcome you to the fan club!" |
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[#30]
Originally Posted By wayfaerer320: Are these worth checking out? Or am I better off just going with an HK factory MR556? View Quote Unless Brownells starts offering lowers, I’d say go for an MR556. The current options are very expensive and either hard to get (IntMilCo) or have a very spotty track record (STS). |
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[#32]
Brownell's said they would have other offerings. I'm not sure if that means Lowers also.
Not a big fan of the HK lower due to the flat (non-angled) magwell, but I do like that its flared. |
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[#33]
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[Last Edit: JTM20]
[#34]
Originally Posted By BobaDebt: What's "spotty” about STS's track record They have had minor quality control escapes but they seem to quickly remedy all issues they are told about I have a factory MR 556 A1 and two A5 clones, one of which is complete except for an HK BCG The only way to get the A5 version is to go with a clone receiver set My 14.5 has an STS lower mated to a Haus upper and I plan to buy another STS lower to complete my SBR https://i.imgur.com/nIN93Pw.jpg View Quote Then i guess I’m just unlucky. I’ve gotten 2 lowers from them (the second was a replacement) and both have been out of spec. I placed my order back in November of last year and as of now I still don't have a usable lower. And while I appreciate the owner’s good communication, it’s been an incredibly frustrating process, especially considering how much these lowers cost. |
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[#35]
Originally Posted By BobaDebt: A HK A5 lower is tapered like a mil-spec ar lower View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally Posted By BobaDebt: Originally Posted By 0351: Brownell's said they would have other offerings. I'm not sure if that means Lowers also. Not a big fan of the HK lower due to the flat (non-angled) magwell, but I do like that its flared. A HK A5 lower is tapered like a mil-spec ar lower Yeah, I’d like them to do a run of A5 style lowers, even if not ambi. |
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[Last Edit: BobaDebt]
[#36]
Originally Posted By G3k: Yeah, I’d like them to do a run of A5 style lowers, even if not ambi. View Quote The Magwell and the ambi features are what set the A5 lower apart from the A1 Plus most manufacturers are moving toward truly ambidextrous lowers and people seem to be evolving to learn how to use ambi features is ways they were not designed to be used I’m right handed and I prefer to use my right hand to operate the bolt and mag functions |
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[#38]
I am glad the "No Longer Available" listing was wrong. I have not gotten one, curious of the quality and fit.
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[#39]
Originally Posted By Uys: I am glad the "No Longer Available" listing was wrong. I have not gotten one, curious of the quality and fit. View Quote The one I recived today moves freely in my Factory upper and both of my Haus A5 Uppers It's on sale for $199 plus you can use a 15% off coupon so it's worth at least that much |
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[#40]
My upper is dead, again. The original Brownells gas rings survived a nominal 400 rounds before they failed and I replaced them. Survived 70ish rounds on the new OEM HK gas rings . When I get around taking it apart I'll post pictures and see what @brownells has to say but there must be something wrong with the gas system
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[#41]
Originally Posted By R3dundantC: My upper is dead, again. The original Brownells gas rings survived a nominal 400 rounds before they failed and I replaced them. Survived 70ish rounds on the new OEM HK gas rings . When I get around taking it apart I'll post pictures and see what @brownells has to say but there must be something wrong with the gas system View Quote Was this a complete BRN4 upper from Brownells or are you using a combo of HK and Brownells parts? I was thinking about getting a barrel and BCG, but I am having second thoughts. |
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[#42]
I ordered it in December 2022 and it is an apparent mix of parts. Lucked out and got one of the HK receivers. Honestly, the BRN4 has been a shitshow since the day I purchased it, so much so that I made a thread in the Industry forum about my problems just ordering it. Read the drama here if you want https://www.ar15.com/forums/Industry/BRN-4-Ordeal/333-303564/ which by the way Brownells never did any followup on despite me sending them the info that they requested. I didn't fuss about that because at that point the damage was done and the situation was more or less resolved.
The scary part now is the fact that these uppers are not holding up and I nearly had to use it in a legitimate self defense scenario against a mentally ill man in body armor on the 31st which I will not get into further details on as its not relevant. Even if we get all the issues with the BRN4 worked out at this point I have firmly moved it from "tool" to "toy" in my mind. I'm not gonna freak out and pull a buttblasted Boomer and scream and yell over this. However, I am sitting here with my mouth ajar and awestruck at just how badly Brownells has fucked this up. The BRN4 should be in textbooks as the prime example of product development and customer service failure. |
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[#43]
Good to know. I have an MR556 upper receiver, bbl nut and gas block that I thought about making another complete upper with a BRN4 bbl and BCG.
There are a few reviews on the Brownells website regarding the barrels that have given me pause. It'd be around $1300 if I held out for an NA chrome-lined bbl and HK BCG. A while back I got an MR carrier for $379 on sale and a new HK bolt for $269. Haven't seen any decent prices lately. I've had no issues with HK complete uppers/parts or the NA barrel I got a few years back. |
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[Last Edit: JohnnyLoco]
[#44]
I got a Sig 516 contract overrun 14.5 upper, cl barrel, fa bolt, for 499 I think directly from Sig. LMT lower, pin and weld fh/suppressor mount. I like HKs but I’ll pass.
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[#45]
Originally Posted By R3dundantC: My upper is dead, again. The original Brownells gas rings survived a nominal 400 rounds before they failed and I replaced them. Survived 70ish rounds on the new OEM HK gas rings . When I get around taking it apart I'll post pictures and see what @brownells has to say but there must be something wrong with the gas system View Quote Are you using a suppressor? I had a 416 clone line 8 years ago that would eat it's piston gas rings because it was overgassed af with a silencer. |
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[#46]
I must be the exception. Granted, my BRN upper is a mix of parts - mostly HK at this point. Upper receiver was an actual HK in the package.
That's what I wanted. Barrel is Brownells - bolt is now HK and, again, most parts are HK. It's been working magnificently. Suppressed or unsuppressed. I am sorry to hear about people's misfortunes with theirs. Mine: 416 Clone and Staccato C2 ACRO by Solo__, on Flickr |
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