Hi there! I’m Dwayne Paschke from MidStateFireArms, and in this post, we’ll discuss whether it’s better to purchase a finished AR upper or construct your own.
So, let’s ask: should you purchase a finished AR Upper or should you purchase each of these upper components separately and then construct it yourself?
These days, both have benefits. You may create a fully customised AR Upper by buying each component separately and assembling it yourself. If you decide to go with a full AR Upper, all you need to do is take the upper, use the two pins to secure it to the lower, and you’re ready to go.
Building an AR-15 Upper
Select Your Rifle Construct and Remove the Upper Receiver
Let’s examine the components required to construct an AR complete upper receivers and determine whether it’s the appropriate choice for you.
The first thing you should do is choose the type of gun you wish to construct. Naturally, you will need to choose if your AR-15 is intended for sport shooting, plinking, or even something as basic as varmint hunting. That will greatly assist you in determining the parts you require for your build.
It’s time to choose a stripped upper receiver as the base for the remaining parts when you’ve narrowed it down.
You may base your AR Upper on any of the several types of stripped uppers available. Each one has specific features and a unique set of capabilities for the purposes for which you want to use it.
The AR-15 A1 is the first one. This upper is perfect for constructing a vintage civilian M16 from the Vietnam period. Its distinctive characteristic is also a fixed carry handle.
Luth-AR Stripped A1 Slick-Side Upper Receiver.
The AR-15 A2 is the next one up. When constructing a rifle for use in combat, this upper is frequently used. There is a permanent carry handle on this one as well.
Forged NM A2 Upper Receiver Assembly by Rock River Arms. Rock River Arms image.
An AR-15 flat top or an AR-15 A3 may be the third choice. The flat top is now exactly what it sounds like—it has no carry handle. On top of it is a picatinny rail. Because it can accept any type of optic, the flat top is perfect for building any kind of varmint or target carbine rifle.
Select Your Upper Elements
To finish the construction, you will need to choose components from the following list after you have finished choosing your stripped upper receiver.
You will need to locate the following higher sections:
- a barrel
- forward assist assembly
- a handguard
- a bolt carrier group
- a charging handle
- a gas tube
- a gas block
- some kind of muzzle device (be it a flash suppressor, compensator, or muzzle brake)
That’s not all, though. After obtaining all of these components, you will need to assemble them.
Tools Needed to Build an AR-15 Upper
Unlike assembling a model train or automobile, you will want specialised equipment to complete this task. To construct the AR-15 Upper, you will need the following equipment:
- AR-15 upper receiver block
- punch set
- a vice
- a headspace gauge
- hammers
- an AR-15 combo tool
- different types of torque wrenches
- feeder gauge
Clearly, this appears to be a bit more involved than simply purchasing the components and assembling them. Some people love doing this because they have a strong mechanical bent.
Muzzle Device
Choose a birdcage muzzle device if this is your first upper and you don’t need anything special; they’re inexpensive and quite effective. A compensator will annoy the person next to you, but it will reduce recoil. A flash hider is great for nighttime shooting. Purchase a suppressor if you wish to profit from all of the aforementioned; they are well worth the investment! Order a suppressor if you want several of these advantages plus noise reduction, but be aware that the current average wait time for a Form 4 certification is 7-8 months.
Pros and Cons of Building Your Own AR-15 Upper
As previously mentioned, the main benefit is that you get a completely unique AR Upper after you put everything together.
The drawbacks are as follows:
- To create it, you will need to purchase the necessary materials and equipment.
- There could be some adjustments made to the flow and attempts to fit components here and there because not all of them fit together correctly.
- You won’t be able to construct it all at once since you will need to wait for each of these components to arrive at your home separately.
Again, perhaps making an AR-15 Upper is for you if none of these factors seem like a significant drawback or obstacle.
So, Is It a Complete Upper Right for You?
On the other hand, you have two options if you purchase an entire AR-15 Upper: one that includes a charging handle and the bolt carrier group, and one that does not. This allows you a little more customization.
In any case, the main benefit is that you may obtain the AR-15 Upper, insert the pins into the lower, and be ready to go. The device is plug-and-play.
Since not all AR-15 uppers are made equal, you will need to conduct study on that topic. It’s likely that if it’s really cheap, the parts won’t be of high quality, and you’ll eventually have to replace them, which kind of makes the purchase pointless.
Final Thoughts
In any case, you will have something that is special to you and will meet your demands whether you decide to construct an AR-15 Upper or buy one.
That covers what to look for when buying an AR-15 upper and its basic components. Purchase a whole upper from PSA if you are brand-new to AR-15s; they are incredibly reasonably priced and long-lasting. Build it yourself if you enjoy tinkering or if this is your second or third upper. It’s a wonderful sensation to fire something you’ve worked so hard for.
That concludes this article. I am Dwayne Paschke, and I am coming to you from the MidStateFireArms Workshop. I hope this article was enjoyable, and I hope to speak with you soon.