All posts in AR15 Uppers

AR15 Complete Upper Receivers, Modify existing or buy another one?

AR15 Complete Upper ReceiversEvery since the Magpul MOE handguards came out we saw a huge decline in sales of the metal quad rail systems.   The Magpul MOE accessories really was a major changing in the way accessories are added to an AR15 or other firearm like an Remington 870 or whatever else Magpul Inc is making.   There are plenty of reasons to keep your rail system on you gun because I’ve recently witnessed some “rate of fire” tests where many plastic accessories just burnt right up so always know the operating limits of any firearm alteration.

Even though sometimes the cost of buying another complete AR15 Firearm vs just buying  AR15 Complete Upper Receivers might only be a few hundred dollars, if you are thinking about stripping down your enter upper receiver think about the cost of all of the parts you are removing and if they are re-sellable or not.   I would suggest thinking about buying another upper receiver and if you like it a lot, then consider buying a lower receiver for it later to complete the 2nd firearm. Its a much better idea then regretting selling off a firearm.

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Slinging an AR15, things to think about and Spikes Tactical Upper Receivers might be for you

Spikes Tactical Upper ReceiversWe are often asked if we “sell slings” because everyone that takes a carbine course is going to have to have one, but there really is a lot to think about and we are often opening up boxes or showing them in display with one of our plastic black rifles at work just so the customer comprehends why you might want one over the other.    The most popular sling we sell are the Elite Survival Systems Single Point bungee slings but even though I have one on one of my carbines, I’m liking the Magpul MS3 Sling more and more each time I use it that I might do an eventual overhall of the firearm.   The most common problem we find people have when looking for a sling is finding out they have to get a sling attachment plate and the next thing is not knowing how to remove the plate they have.   It’s not a hard thing to do, but i have to admit that I know of 2 incidences where the detent on the rear take down pin of an AR can easily be lost because it will fly out of the back of the rifle when you are taking the castle nut off and replacing the Sling Attachement plates.   You just have to watch it on Youtube before you do it, and then take it slow and do it right.

Now that machining firearms is such an easier process, some of the quadrail systems out there like the Spikes STU5025-S2S have the QD (quick detachment) holes in them that you have multiple points on these Spikes Tactical Upper Receivers where you can place your sling.   Between have an MS4 sling and an AR15 with this type of AR15 Complete Upper Receiver, you are going easily be able to transition the firearm in multiple situations like climbing up ladders, kneeling positions or just standing guard.   It might not just be what type of sling you have anymore, the stocks, upper receiver rail systems, can all give you a edge in being a highly productive operator.

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Suggestions on AR15 builds

We have a very large customer base that are very mechanically inclined, from engineers to various types of mechanics, it’s ofter surprising to some of my friends that think that gun owners are red necks that buy these types of firearms because they think the world is going to end or that it’s about military weapons and violence.   There are always wack jobs on both sides of the Political spectrum, but there is something about the AR15 that the mechanically inclined tend to be drawn to.  It’s not all about accessorizing andAR15 Complete Upper ReceiversAR15 rail systemsAR15 uppers for sale G.I. Joe, it’s about proficiency, efficiency, customization and pushing designs.  There is not much differencSpikes M4 Upper receivere between Aeronautics, Ballistics and Rocket science.   The discussions about cubic inches of pressure, twist rates, air pressure, humidity levels and sea level are every day discussions amongst our clients.

The biggest draw to our store as far are parts are the Magpul Industries accessories and Spike’s Tactical upper receivers and various types of 300 blackout.    There are always price levels to consider with certain AR15 Complete Upper Receivers and if you aren’t ready and ask specific questions on what is best, expect there to be stick shock.  Colt Firearms have a proven track record, probable more so than any other AR15 but when you get into suppressed firearms, you have preferences in types of rail systems, there are other companies offering better platforms.  Don’t forget about our rewards points and free shipping on orders over $150.   For some of the upper receivers that we sell, you can get $20-$30 back in rewards points just by setting up an account.

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Daniel Defense Upper Receivers for self defense and hunting

Daniel Defense Upper ReceieversWe are often asked questions that are simple questions but open us up to a lot of liabilities because in this industry, if you don’t know what you want, we can’t tell you what to get.   We can give you suggestions based upon your questions but questions like “I want a comfortable holster” and “what’s better, S&W upper receivers or Daniel Defense?”   There are some major advances it technology that have made military style rifles  much stronger and lighter than ever before and Daniel Defense is probable the leader in those regards.  Some of their upper receivers are in the 4lb range and are incredible durable.   The cold hammer forged barrels are incredible strong and a great many of these are used in Special Forces.

The barrels come pre-threaded so these are suppressor friendly which is a major plus since so many people are realizing the value of having suppressed firearms.     There are a lot of differences in Daniel Defense Upper receivers but the best thing to do when shopping for a build or hunting rifle is to go to a store that stocks them or hang out at a gun club with your friends that own them.   The Ambush line of Daniel Defense is geared more towards hunting because even though the AR15 started out as a military style weapon, it has been widely accepted as a good coyote or varmint rifle.   The versatility of the AR15 is in it’s ability to swap  out different upper receivers that can be  used for long range, different bullet weights and different optics.

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Some thoughts on what happened after a year of the panic buying

Spikes Tactical Upper ReceiversWe don’t get the phone calls from the panic buyers anymore because things seemed to have calmed down.  The thing we dealt with a year ago were all the people price gouging on Magpul Pmags and on AR15’s.   Some people were completely off their rockers and lacked the foresight to know the political climate we were in, that no major so called “assault weapon” bill was going to pass.   I know some many people that were buying 2-3 guns, sometimes for their sons because they thought they might not get them in another year.   Well, that’s not going to happen without a revolution in this Country and considering how many people just armed themselves, it’s a little too late to try and pursue new gun laws when everyone practically owns everything.

We always dealt the the customers that were very particular about what they wanted and when you are dealing with the “gun build” guys or gals you will get specific product numbers.  One little gem that we found in the AR15 complete upper receiver sales are the Spikes Tactical Upper receivers.   All of the upper receivers we sell are complete uppers because that’s  how most people are going to want them.  Sure you can save some money buy doing parts kits, but you gotta know what you are doing otherwise the “Franken Gun” term will apply.   There are still plenty of customers buying A2 style uppers with standard plastic handguards, but the real high demand with spikes are there STU5025-R2s with the QD sling attachment points and the very lightweight rail systems.

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Re-arranging the furniture on your AR

AR15 Complete Upper ReceiversIn this business we can see who the obsessive compulsive people are and who the clean freaks are, but we also know how hard it is to know what work for  you.   We normally do a lot of listing but giving our 2 cents about the products we sell is why we are here.   Magpul firearm accessories is a good product line to consider purchasing although we know there are a lot of good products from VLTOR, Tango Down and many others. It’s very easy to over accessorize and the reality checks in when the gun becomes too heavy.   Some events we have attended were proof to this because we saw bipods and flashlights taken off firearms because of how much weight they were to lug around and how hard it was to clear corners depending on where you placed the accessory.

 

There are cool things you can use to their designed effectiveness but just like gun holsters, a lot of us have a pile of stuff sitting in a box, somewhere in our home that we aren’t using anymore.   The brilliance of the M4 design is that customization can easily occur and if you own an AR15 and want something different all you need to do is buy another AR15 Complete upper receiver and be able to use it with just a few pin snaps.   The Magpul MOE handguards are very easy to put on but you’ll need to measure your present hanguard to make sure you know if  you have a Carbine, Mid-length or a rifle one.  There are always tools you can get, (Tapco makes them) that can make most AR15 modifications easier.

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AR15 Complete Upper Receiver Piston designs

adams arms uppers9We get phone calls from customers maybe 1 out of every 500 we sell that ask us things that we thought were obvious to them when they purchased an upper receiver from us, but it didn’t click with them.  The reason your LWRC upper receiver came with a buffer spring is because YOU NEED to replace the buffer spring when  you go from a direct impingement design to a short stroke upper receiver.   The same thing happened we sold the Smith & Wesson 5.45×39 upper receivers and the LWRC M6AK uppers.   All of the 5.45×39 uppers we have sold so far came with a new hammer spring because you need more energy to strike the primers on the 5.45×39 ammo that most people were shooting.

We have been a parts dealer for LWRC for a long time now and still very big fans of their product line especially after taking a tour of the manufacturing facility.   In the last 2yrs we have to say the Adams Arms company has done a very good job of getting a durable piston design that is different than LWRC but seems to be well received.    All of the Adams Arms Uppers we sell are complete upper receivers and their 5.45×39 uppers have been the most hunted upper receiver in the last year.  If you look at the cost of the 5.45×39 ammunition in comparison to the 5.56 in cost, there is a big difference and  you’ll get the money back  on the upper receiver you purchased in just a couple thousand rounds.

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Bushmaster firearms and upper receivers for builds?

Bushmaster upper receiversI remember back in the day it seemed like everything was either Bushmaster, Olympic Arms or Colt when it came to AR15 rifles.   There were cheap AK’s, Cheap SKS’s and the guys with the AR15’s were the guys that had money.   Now that the AR15 is the number #1 most popular rifle in the Country, it’s the difference between lincoln logs and legos as far as the changes they’ve made.   Every AR15 out there is made of metal that is sometimes 7x’s stronger or more than barrels made 10yrs ago.   I still have a Bushmaster XM15E2 that I got which is the heavy barrel AR15 and that is almost a dated firearm.

Most operators are going for lighter firearms, but lighter does  not mean weaker.   The Bushmaster upper receivers that we get in now feel and look nothing like the gun I had from 15years ago and the price points still make them a competitive firearm for those that want something new, are doing a new AR15 build or just want a quality AR15.   There are many calibers of AR15’s from the 450, 5.45×39 and the 556mm and now 6.8SPC.    The 308 has really taken some ground now that companies like Magpul are putting out quality 20rd magazines which was something that was pretty scarce previously.

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Now that the anti-gun movement has stalled, the panic buying has stalled

AR15 Complete upper receiversWe have gotten a steady influx of Spikes Tactical Upper Receivers as well as LWRC M6A2 uppers for several months now so it’s safe to say that if you wanted a new AR15, nobody is going to ban the AR15 in this Country.  If you are one of those that thought that, the AR15 is probable the safest gun to own because it’s popularity amongst hunters, target shooters and Law Enforcement is so common that nobody is going to put up with a gun grab.    The AR15 5.56mm round has so much versatility that many ballistics tests have shown that it is a much safer round to use in an urban environment than a 9mm pistol carbine.  Over penetration with a 5.56mm fragmenting round is not going to be as bad as a 9mm MP5 round.

We still deal a large number of gun owners that just like to build their own custom rifles.   There are so many AR15 complete upper receivers for sale  in our inventory that price ranges, quality, styles, handguard variations are so different that it’s really like going to a restaurant where you can have Chinese, Italian, Mexican or an seafood you want.   Customizing the AR15 to the users style of shooting is also one of the positive features about the gun.   Many of our local police departments are just getting around to getting these for their patrolman because of the proficiency that these guns can be  used in amongst less trained shooters.

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Are you paying for a name or a paying for a higher quality product with LWRC?

LWRC upper receiversI had a few customers say that to  me when they were picking up an Adams upper receiver but I just kept my mouth shut and let them speak.  With so much of this industry it’s about the task you are using your gear for and sometimes it just comes down to preference.   Since Osama Bin Laden was killed there was a lot of talk about the H&K 416 and why special forces guys use them, and some of the reasons why they do are exactly why people buy LWRC products.  Sure there is not a  lot of reliability differences between the direct impingement products and the  piston designs until you get into extreme conditions or you are running an SBR.   There are also maintenance differences.  Sure you can run DI guns dirty but there is a certain point you aren’t going to be sure how dirty it is and at what point it needs to be cleaned out for security reasons.

I have been an LWRC fan for a long time and back 8yrs ago they were making a very different product compared to what the LWRC M6A2 rifles are today.   The machining and finish of these guns and the LWRC upper receivers we stock feel so different and tough compared to their competitors.  There have been several lightweight upper receivers and the spiral and stretched designs.   The New Special Purpose or SPR is one of the fastest selling M4 complete upper receivers.  You are going to be spending about 40%  more for an LWRC rifle compared to others but you will know why people buy higher end AR15’s like this when you actually hold one in your hand.

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