I’ve wanted an SBR since I first got into AR’s 10 years ago. I’ve never had one. I currently have an all Daniel Defense rifle that sports a 16" LW midlength upper. It’s a great rifle. For HD, though, shorter and lighter would be nicer. (this is really the driving force behind this thought) My dealer has a DD MK18 upper for $950. DD will Form 4 the lower to an SBR if I send it back with the upper when I purchase it.
What are your thoughts on keeping the 16" upper in the safe just to have for out of state classes, etc, but keeping the gun in SBR config. 99% of the time. I’d rob my T1, KAC sights, light, and handstop off the 16" as well.
I don’t really shoot the AR that much due to lack of a local range beyond 25 yds and cost of ammo. Most of my shooting is done with rimfires and shotguns(Benelli M1 @ the clays range).
Does anyone else do the multiple upper thing? PITA or a reasonable compromise? FWIW, Cost is really the driving factor. I simply cannot afford to have 2 rifles setup; especially when 1 would just sit all the time.
Thanks!
ETA: Here’s what the rifle looks like now. Just take those accessories (minus the magnifier) and slap them on the MK18 upper.
I have a target style AR and a target style .22 upper
I have no problem sharing the lower and it works well for me since I didn’t have to buy two 2-stage triggers/target stocks. The one thing you have to factor in is that you’ll have to rezero the aimpoint whenever you switch (or buy another aimpoint).
I realize that general purpose lowers can be much cheaper than target style lowers, so in your instance it may make sense to save up for another lower over time (doesn’t sound like you’re in a rush).
I did the multiple upper thing in my service rifle comp days and it worked very well. Not only did I not have to buy another match trigger, but I didnt have to deal with any possible slight differences between them. It can work.
As far as HD/SD rifles have gone, my 2nd upper sprouted a lower in a matter of weeks, but mostly because I could. I do Like the redundancy and having a spare just in case or if I take someone shooting. But I dont think having a 2nd whole carbine is critical. I would however look into finding a deal on a used older model aimpoint and set it up on your 16" upper. Swapping sights around and rezeroing sucks.
Seeing as how you can build a lower for under $200 for somewhat decent parts(AeroPrecision/Palmetto State Armory lower) with a Palmetto State Lower Build Kit, I would personally have 2 rifles.
Other than the tax stamp the upper is where the dollars live. I’m also of the opinion that uppers left to their own devices grow lowers. You have a very nice carbine as is. If you can afford or justify the cost my vote is another rifle. I generally build them, shoot till about 5,000 rounds, then start another. There’s no reson why, just how it seems to go for me. By that time there’s always new barrels, rails, or other stuff I want to try. Sometimes I think I need to be in a 12 step program.:eek:
I’d go with the factory DD NFA lower/MK18 upper option now. You can always build a 2nd non-NFA lower for the 16" upper later at your leisure as funds allow.
Cameron, yes that’s a 16’’ barrel with the DD Lite 14.0.
I understand what folks are saying about lowers being cheap, but then I’d also have to form 1 it and get it engraved. It’s nice that DD will form 4 it at the factory, hence staying with DD.
The only real issue I see is trying to use one optic with two different length uppers.
That will most likely cause a change in the zero of the optic. And unless you can remember to write down the zero for each one, it could be a headache.
Coincidence seeing this thread now cuz I just took delivery of a second upper to do exactly what you are thinking about doing. My civvie gun is a DD M4V2 but just received my Centurion Arms 14.5" C2 middy upper. I plan on keeping both uppers running-- and just switching them on the DD lower. This isn’t that big of a deal for me cuz I would deploy with and extra upper (a Mk 18) along with my M4 and switch according to the mission. I have a two gun carry case which will accommodate an extra upper and a complete carbine which will give me options in the field when I train. I will have separate setups for each respective upper (Eotech 553 on the carbine; Aimpoint T1 on the middy) so all I’m doing is slapping on uppers and not transferring kit back and forth. IMO, I don’t need 2 complete guns, so this option is the most efficient for me. It’s what I’m used to and it’s worked for me. YMMV.
I’ve been recently considering the multiple upper option as well. Since I live in California and I have one Colt lower as a registered assault weapon, any other lowers I own will have to be bullet button or fixed mag (no fun there).
I’d like to have several different uppers for different purposes, so I might do something similar as you are posting. However, I can’t get an SBR… I saw go for having 2 uppers first and if you find a good deal on another lower in the future, go for it!
Unfortunately optics are the expensive part, and the biggest pain to switch.
SBR your lower now, you can still use your old upper on it. When you can get a second optic to dedicate to one, a red dot on the SBR, and a ~4x on the 16" would be ideal.
Some where along the line the 16" upper will grow a lower.
You may not have the money for all of it now, but you have your whole life ahead of you, one day you will.
I second this. No matter how much restraint I try to show, every upper eventually becomes a complete rifle.
And while the MK18 is nice, as C-grunt pointed out, you could go with G&R/BCM and get a complete rifle for the same price as that upper WITHOUT sacrificing quality.
