Deciding on a sub-$400 upper kit

[misterwhisker 4]

Hi all,

 

I'm building my first AR and wanted to keep it below $500 as I don't plan on putting thousands of rounds through it and won't be shooting past 200 yds.

I was looking at the following two kits that you just have to add a bare lower to and would like opinions, good bad and ugly about both. Yes, I know they will need compliance work to make them NJ friendly.

Also if there are better choices out there for around the same price point then let me know as well.

Thanks!!

 

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/108623/ar-stoner-carbine-kit-ar-15-556x45mm-nato-1-in-9-twist-16-barrel

 

http://palmettostatearmory.com/ptac-16-1-7-m4-rifle-kit.html

[Purple Patrick 638]

Delton isn't a bad company for cheap parts

 

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

[High Exposure 5,664]

Slightly over budget but you will be quite happy.

 

You can get a complete TROY upper:

16" midlength barrel with low-profile gas block

13" free float tube (either an Alpha or MLOK)

BCG

Charging Handle

TROY BUIS

Choice of Black or FDE

 

For $529 at Primary Arms.

 

Alpha Tube:

http://www.primaryarms.com/supr-bf1-16ft-00/p/supr-bf1-16ft-00/

 

MLOK Tube:

http://www.primaryarms.com/troy-industries-16-556-upper-w-13-m-lok-rail-and-flip-sights/p/supr-bf1-16bt-00-m/

 

If you bought the parts seperately you'd pay:

- BCG ~ $150

- Alpha Tube with integral front sight ~ $280

- Troy BUIS ~ $180

 

You are basically getting the upper receiver, barrel, gas block, gas tube, charging handle, flash hider (which does need to be replaced with a brake/comp) for free. And it is all assembled.

 

Once you receive it all you need to do is swap the FH for the brake of your choice and slap it on lower.

 

It's the best value in an upper I have seen.

 

You can also sometimes find them during sales for Black Friday, Memorial Day, Labor Day, etc... for ~ $450.

[n4p226r 105]

That is a good deal. The iron sights alone are worth close to $180. but close to $600 with complaince work

[n4p226r 105]

Hi all,

 

I'm building my first AR and wanted to keep it below $500 as I don't plan on putting thousands of rounds through it and won't be shooting past 200 yds.

I was looking at the following two kits that you just have to add a bare lower to and would like opinions, good bad and ugly about both. Yes, I know they will need compliance work to make them NJ friendly.

Also if there are better choices out there for around the same price point then let me know as well.

Thanks!!

 

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/108623/ar-stoner-carbine-kit-ar-15-556x45mm-nato-1-in-9-twist-16-barrel

 

http://palmettostatearmory.com/ptac-16-1-7-m4-rifle-kit.html

The good is that they are in your price range. The bad is they are parts sourced as cheap as possible with little to no quality control so you may get in spec parts. You may get out of spec parts. If you decide to go with a different upper you can get any lower, DSG arms sells a milspec magpul fixed carbine kit for $49 and any decent lower parts kit ( I'd suggest one from Midwest px)

[Krdshrk 3,877]

JSE Surplus has a lot of good custom options.  Can get a brake added on and a gas block without a bayo lug on some uppers.  Then all you would need is a shop to pin the brake.

 

http://www.jsesurplus.com/Custom16M41x75.56CarbineGBUpperNitrideCoat.aspx

 

http://www.jsesurplus.com/custom223.aspx

[Budasac 13]

That is a good deal. The iron sights alone are worth close to $180. but close to $600 with complaince work

All that needs to be done is to pin the brake.

[Budasac 13]

You can also check out Stag.  They'll build you a NJ compliant upper with whatever upgrades you like.  If you just want a basic, inexpensive upper, check out the 3H.  $465 w/o sights but NJ compliant.

www.stagarms.com/model-3h

[ChrisJM981 924]

You can also check out Stag. They'll build you a NJ compliant upper with whatever upgrades you like. If you just want a basic, inexpensive upper, check out the 3H. $465 w/o sights but NJ compliant.

www.stagarms.com/model-3h

Are they still in business?

[Budasac 13]

Are they still in business?

Yeah, why?

[n4p226r 105]

All that needs to be done is to pin the brake.

And buy a brake

[Budasac 13]

And buy a brake

You are correct. I thought that was a Medieval Brake but after looking at the description I see it's a Medieval Flash Hider.

That's one positive about the Stag. They'll do the compliance work for free.

[Krdshrk 3,877]

Are they still in business?

 

Stag's team addressed the legal issue they had and assured everyone they're still open during SHOT show this year.

[misterwhisker 4]

Thanks for all the info, lots to learn about the AR platform.

Today I spent an hour just learning about the difference between a flash hider, compensator and muzzle brake.

[Golf battery 1,223]

Try palmetto state armory. They hit me with atleast 2 emails a day of uppers lowers and everything else for sale.

[rightisright 3]

Last year, I wanted to build a reliable, yet inexpensive AR to use as a beater/truck gun (when out of state, of course).  I bought this setup for $379 w. free shipping: http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-16-stainless-mid-length-1-7-freedom-rifle-kit.html

 

From what I can glean, their Freedom series is a step up from their PTAC series (which does not have a good rep) but below their FN CHF barreled uppers.

 

Is it as nice as my better ARs?  No.  The bolt carrier has some machine marks on it, the gas key screws weren't staked very well (easy to fix) and the trigger wasn't so hot (I did recently upgrade it to PSA's polished trigger pack.. it's better now).  But it goes boom every time and the accuracy is fairly good.

[mipafox 438]

Thanks for all the info, lots to learn about the AR platform.

Today I spent an hour just learning about the difference between a flash hider, compensator and muzzle brake.

3 to 5. Should have just asked