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Posted: 12/2/2014 11:13:11 PM EDT
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Hey guys, I was looking into picking up a new upper for more of long range/hunting so I was thinking of maybe a 18" or 20" with a free float.Found this one while I was looking around and thought it fits what I wanted, a little high of a price more me at the moment but I know they won't come cheap but if possible I would like to stay sub $450.
All I am looking for is a 18"-20" upper that has a free float, NO bcg or charging handle is required as I would use my own if none comes with it. Please post if you have any favorites or suggested uppers. Thanks in advance!! 
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You could always build one This is what I'd do, save a little bit more money, and spend the extra money on a known quality barrel. Specifically one with a 1:7 or 1:8 twist so you can step up to the heavier 70+ gr pills. You can get yourself a cheaper FF rail after that. I'm pretty sure the majority of cash for the upper you listed is going into the rail and BCG, not the barrel. |
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Thanks for the replies guys.
On the subject of building my own, I would really love to but I don't have the money right now and I don't know all that I would need. What would be a good guess of how much an upper that I build would cost? If I do decide just to save and build my own what would be a good barrel to use? I hear stainless is a good choice for long range? |
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Thanks for the replies guys. On the subject of building my own, I would really love to but I don't have the money right now and I don't know all that I would need. What would be a good guess of how much an upper that I build would cost? If I do decide just to save and build my own what would be a good barrel to use? I hear stainless is a good choice for long range? I just built a complete 18'' upper with 15'' Midwest Industries freefloat handguard for $485 + tax/shipping where applicable and the barrel is guaranteed to shood 1MOA or better. You can get a cheaper handguard such as UTG Super Slim Pro (they're actually very nice handguards) and save some cash to put towards something else. Plus - building your own is fun. You'll need a muzzle device, which is a couple bucks. I had another YHM QD mount laying around for my suppressor. My build was - 18'' Odin Works DMR barrel w/ free gas block - $250 MI SS15G2 - $170 Armalite rifle length gas tube - $15 And I got an Anderson assembled upper for $50 on sale IIRC. Still waiting on the scope/mount to come in. It's going to be a 500-750 yard gun. 
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I just built a complete 18'' upper with 15'' Midwest Industries freefloat handguard for $487 + tax/shipping where applicable and the barrel is guaranteed to shood 1MOA or better. You can get a cheaper handguard such as UTG Super Slim Pro (they're actually very nice handguards) and save some cash to put towards something else. My build was - 18'' Odin Works DMR barrel w/ free gas block - $250 MI SS15G2 - $170 Armalite rifle length gas tube - $15 And I got an Anderson assembled upper for $50 on sale IIRC. Still waiting on the scope/mount to come in. It's going to be a 500-750 yard gun. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7504/15862005752_447e45d939_b.jpg Quoted:
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Thanks for the replies guys. On the subject of building my own, I would really love to but I don't have the money right now and I don't know all that I would need. What would be a good guess of how much an upper that I build would cost? If I do decide just to save and build my own what would be a good barrel to use? I hear stainless is a good choice for long range? I just built a complete 18'' upper with 15'' Midwest Industries freefloat handguard for $487 + tax/shipping where applicable and the barrel is guaranteed to shood 1MOA or better. You can get a cheaper handguard such as UTG Super Slim Pro (they're actually very nice handguards) and save some cash to put towards something else. My build was - 18'' Odin Works DMR barrel w/ free gas block - $250 MI SS15G2 - $170 Armalite rifle length gas tube - $15 And I got an Anderson assembled upper for $50 on sale IIRC. Still waiting on the scope/mount to come in. It's going to be a 500-750 yard gun. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7504/15862005752_447e45d939_b.jpg Nice lookin gun that's for sure! 
Ya my biggest thing is that I want to be on a new upper so I can just swap mine out if need be. So I either need to find a very cheap upper somewhere (always watchin those sales!) or just pick-up a upper that fits what I want. |
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Primary Arms just had the Anderson uppers already assembled for $60 but the sale ended Monday night.
There are plenty of stripped uppers for $40-50 and a parts kit is around $12. then you can assemble exactly what you want and take time as money allows. I've gone through so many pre built uppers that weren't exactly what I want. I end up selling them all to buy something else. Finally got tired of that cycle and made my own with the components I wanted. Here's a blem from PSA for $40 link Just pick up an upper receiver kit and you'll be good to go. |
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Primary Arms just had the Anderson uppers already assembled for $60 but the sale ended Monday night. There are plenty of stripped uppers for $40-50 and a parts kit is around $12. then you can assemble exactly what you want and take time as money allows. I've gone through so many pre built uppers that weren't exactly what I want. I end up selling them all to buy something else. Finally got tired of that cycle and made my own with the components I wanted. Here's a blem from PSA for $40 link Just pick up an upper receiver kit and you'll be good to go. Would you mind pointing me to a good parts kit? Also how does a Anderson A3 stripped upper sound? |
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Would you mind pointing me to a good parts kit? Also how does a Anderson A3 stripped upper sound? Quoted:
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Primary Arms just had the Anderson uppers already assembled for $60 but the sale ended Monday night. There are plenty of stripped uppers for $40-50 and a parts kit is around $12. then you can assemble exactly what you want and take time as money allows. I've gone through so many pre built uppers that weren't exactly what I want. I end up selling them all to buy something else. Finally got tired of that cycle and made my own with the components I wanted. Here's a blem from PSA for $40 link Just pick up an upper receiver kit and you'll be good to go. Would you mind pointing me to a good parts kit? Also how does a Anderson A3 stripped upper sound? That's what I used in that build. Here's a link to an upper assembly kit, but they can be found cheaper Primary Arms also has assembled Anderson uppers for $70 regular price. Link |
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That's what I used in that build. Here's a link to an upper assembly kit, but they can be found cheaper Primary Arms also has assembled Anderson uppers for $70 regular price. Link Quoted:
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Primary Arms just had the Anderson uppers already assembled for $60 but the sale ended Monday night. There are plenty of stripped uppers for $40-50 and a parts kit is around $12. then you can assemble exactly what you want and take time as money allows. I've gone through so many pre built uppers that weren't exactly what I want. I end up selling them all to buy something else. Finally got tired of that cycle and made my own with the components I wanted. Here's a blem from PSA for $40 link Just pick up an upper receiver kit and you'll be good to go. Would you mind pointing me to a good parts kit? Also how does a Anderson A3 stripped upper sound? That's what I used in that build. Here's a link to an upper assembly kit, but they can be found cheaper Primary Arms also has assembled Anderson uppers for $70 regular price. Link Is that really all I would need for the upper?? Thought there would be more to it :P Thanks for the help man! I think i'll just throw together a build list and either post it up here or in the custom builds thread for everyone to comment. |
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Is that really all I would need for the upper?? Thought there would be more to it :P Thanks for the help man! I think i'll just throw together a build list and either post it up here or in the custom builds thread for everyone to comment. Quoted:
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Primary Arms just had the Anderson uppers already assembled for $60 but the sale ended Monday night. There are plenty of stripped uppers for $40-50 and a parts kit is around $12. then you can assemble exactly what you want and take time as money allows. I've gone through so many pre built uppers that weren't exactly what I want. I end up selling them all to buy something else. Finally got tired of that cycle and made my own with the components I wanted. Here's a blem from PSA for $40 link Just pick up an upper receiver kit and you'll be good to go. Would you mind pointing me to a good parts kit? Also how does a Anderson A3 stripped upper sound? That's what I used in that build. Here's a link to an upper assembly kit, but they can be found cheaper Primary Arms also has assembled Anderson uppers for $70 regular price. Link Is that really all I would need for the upper?? Thought there would be more to it :P Thanks for the help man! I think i'll just throw together a build list and either post it up here or in the custom builds thread for everyone to comment. That's it! Then you just slide your barrel in (properly greased, of course), install the barrel nut, torque to 30ft/lbs at least 3 time (preferably a couple more), do your final torque until the nut lines up correctly, install gas block and tube. Done! ETA : Oh, and your handguard 
Handguards like the Midwest Industries SS series come with a proprietary barrel nut wrench so you don't need to purchase one. The only real tool you'd need is an upper receiver vise block that can be had for ~$20 on Amazon and a vise which most people have somewhere in their garage. Or know a friend that has one. |
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That's it! Then you just slide your barrel in (properly greased, of course), install the barrel nut, torque to 30ft/lbs at least 3 time (preferably a couple more), do your final torque until the nut lines up correctly, install gas block and tube. Done! Quoted:
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Primary Arms just had the Anderson uppers already assembled for $60 but the sale ended Monday night. There are plenty of stripped uppers for $40-50 and a parts kit is around $12. then you can assemble exactly what you want and take time as money allows. I've gone through so many pre built uppers that weren't exactly what I want. I end up selling them all to buy something else. Finally got tired of that cycle and made my own with the components I wanted. Here's a blem from PSA for $40 link Just pick up an upper receiver kit and you'll be good to go. Would you mind pointing me to a good parts kit? Also how does a Anderson A3 stripped upper sound? That's what I used in that build. Here's a link to an upper assembly kit, but they can be found cheaper Primary Arms also has assembled Anderson uppers for $70 regular price. Link Is that really all I would need for the upper?? Thought there would be more to it :P Thanks for the help man! I think i'll just throw together a build list and either post it up here or in the custom builds thread for everyone to comment. That's it! Then you just slide your barrel in (properly greased, of course), install the barrel nut, torque to 30ft/lbs at least 3 time (preferably a couple more), do your final torque until the nut lines up correctly, install gas block and tube. Done! Why would you grease an AR barrel to insert it into an upper? |
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Complete upper - https://www.primaryarms.com/Anderson_Manufacturing_A3_AR_15_Flat_Top_Upper_Rec_p/ar15-a3-upper.htm
Barrel - 55D660A FF rail - http://www.joeboboutfitters.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=ODIN-F-KM So how do you guys think this list will do? It's about the same price as a upper with a FF (not adding shipping) which is good. Anything else I will need that i'm forgetting? |
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Complete upper - https://www.primaryarms.com/Anderson_Manufacturing_A3_AR_15_Flat_Top_Upper_Rec_p/ar15-a3-upper.htm Barrel - 55D660A FF rail - http://www.joeboboutfitters.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=ODIN-F-KM So how do you guys think this list will do? It's about the same price as a upper with a FF (not adding shipping) which is good. Anything else I will need that i'm forgetting? Looks good to me. Don't forget your A2 flash hider and a crush washer. ETA: You'll need a low profile gas block and a gas tube. |
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Just about every guide I've seen recommend a light grease on the barrel extension when sliding it into the upper. Makes it easier to disassemble in the future should the need arise. Then greasing the threads on both the upper and barrel nut are a given. Well I have never seen any guide suggest this and would not do it. The barrel / upper joint is not an operating part and doesn't need lubricating. Frankly I would advise against it so as not to encourage any rotational movement at this point. Some high power guys actually lock this joint with bedding compound or locktite to discourage any motion. It is probably overkill for most shooters to use adhesive here, but lubricating this joint is not called for or needed. Insert the barrel and following standard torquing procedures with lubricated threads, done. |
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Looks good to me. Don't forget your A2 flash hider and a crush washer. ETA: You'll need a low profile gas block and a gas tube. Quoted:
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Complete upper - https://www.primaryarms.com/Anderson_Manufacturing_A3_AR_15_Flat_Top_Upper_Rec_p/ar15-a3-upper.htm Barrel - 55D660A FF rail - http://www.joeboboutfitters.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=ODIN-F-KM So how do you guys think this list will do? It's about the same price as a upper with a FF (not adding shipping) which is good. Anything else I will need that i'm forgetting? Looks good to me. Don't forget your A2 flash hider and a crush washer. ETA: You'll need a low profile gas block and a gas tube. Man, just 2 more parts to add to the list haha, How big of a gas tube am I going to want? just the standard carbine length? Also will I need the gas tube kit or will I just need the tube? Complete upper - https://www.primaryarms.com/Anderson_Manufacturing_A3_AR_15_Flat_Top_Upper_Rec_p/ar15-a3-upper.htm Barrel - 55D660A FF rail - http://www.joeboboutfitters.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=ODIN-F-KM Gas block - http://www.brownells.com/rifle-parts/gas-system-parts/gas-blocks/ar15-m16-ar-style-308-micro-936-gas-block-prod54725.aspx Gas tube - http://www.brownells.com/rifle-parts/gas-system-parts/gas-tubes/ar-15-m16-gas-tubes-prod44888.aspx Flash hider - http://www.brownells.com/rifle-parts/muzzle-devices/flash-hiders/ar-15-m16-a1-flash-suppressor-prod45241.aspx (revised list) |
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