Hello, I am looking for a 16" M4 upper. I don’t have a-lot of cash to spend, or enough knowledge to make the right call. I have a E.A. lower and a Bushmaster upper with a 20" heavy barrel. Should I go with a chrome lined barrel? Thanx.
whats your budget?
I have about $550 to spend, any more would be risking divorce.
and you’re probably looking for a complete setup- bolt group, handguards, sights?
that’s gonna be tough to do, and end up with something acceptable.
this gets you $20 over budget at $570 with the BCG and charging handle option, and you still need a rear sight- but it’s the both the bare minimum and one of the best, at the same time. http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-16-Mid-Length-Upper-Receiver-Group-p/bcm-urg-mid-16.htm
oh, you’ll still need to get handguards too.
Another vote for BCM. Check out USMC03’s website for more info.
The BCM would be the best quality for your application. If it boils down budget you have two choices.
- Save a little while longer and get the BCM, bolt, CH, Handgaurds.
- Look at another brand like RRA, Stag. They can be had complete for less $. I think PK Firearms online has complete Bushmaster and RRA uppers starting at $485ish.
I would save my pennies a little longer and go BCM but you still have choices.
Thanx for the quick responses. Tell me if this makes sense. I want to order the upper in a flat top because I want to put the flat top receiver on the 20" barrel for optics, and the bushmaster receiver on the M4. I have A2 sights on the Bushmaster receiver. Would I run into any problems with this approach?
I think I know what you are saying. You want to swap barrels from your current 20" A2 upper to a flattop upper correct? Then take that A2 upper and put it on an M4 Barrel/upper that you will be ordering?
Does that sound right?
If that is the case I would just purchase a flattop upper (NO BARREL) and do ONE barrel change converting your 20" A2 into a flattop A3. Then buy the M4 upper and be done with it. This all hinges on you having the tools and knowledge to pull off the barrel swap. Not hard but needs to be done correctly. Or find a smith who will do it for you or a buddy who has the tools. Don’t do this on your own unless your ready to do it and have studied how to do it. Worse case is you kill yourself if you do it wrong.
To answer you first question about chrome lining. Its a matter of choice. Some say chrome or go home. Chrome does clean easier and will have a longer life but most people who only shoot casually would probably never shoot enough to wear out an AR barrel. Guys who shoot ALL the time, LEO, 3gun, the rich, will shoot enough to eventually wear out a barrel. Chrome will not be as accurate as nonchrome due to the slight imperfections/unevenness during the chroming process but again you will not notice the difference. Unless your interested in shooting bug holes it really wont matter to you. Most commercial AR uppers have chrome chambers and bores. Chrome barrels are usually considered an upgrade and cost a smidge more.
That’s exactly what I was trying to say, are they compatible or would machining be required? I would be studying the procedure and doing it myself. I figured that would save me some money, Of course I would still have-to buy hand guards, charging handle, and whatever else. I will be taking your advise in the brand you guys suggested because I am no expert. Thank you all for steering me in the right direction, there are so many manufacturers it is very confusing to know what is what.
Ok. Then you need to buy some stuff and your budget is blown.
http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/Upper-Receiver-Assembly-Flat-Top-p/flat%20top%20upper1.htm
This is one option for changing your A2 upper into an A3. Reuse all of your exsisting parts and you are GTG.
Then
http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-M4-14-5-Upper-Receiver-Group-A2X-p/bcm-urg-m4-14%20a2x.htm
Add an MPI bolt and Charging handle for $145 and some $20 handguards.
This would give you what I think you are after. Two complete uppers and one complete lower.
Eventually I would buy another lower either stripped or complete and then have two rifles. Its just more fun that way rather than swapping two uppers on one lower.
You will need some tools unless you have them or can borrow them.
AR barrel wrench - $40ish
Barrel vise or upper reciever vise block - $40ish
Torque wrench - ? Harbor Freight has them cheap for a one time use or rent one or borrow one.
Marine Corps Tech manual is nice place to start or there are many other books/manuals on the subject. Internet forums also have some nice detailed “how to” guides.
Good luck. Have fun. It is a pretty good feeling building your first AR.
I am planning to get another lower some time just like you said. I guess this will be a project that may take a few months to complete because of the budget, That is just fine, I’m sure it will be worth it. For now I’m just gonna have fun with the A2. I already bought the ar multitool, and have a torque wrench, just need the vise. Thank you very much you have been very helpful.
Weaponsparts.com has complete 16" LMT M4 uppers for $529; this includes the BCG, Charging handle & M4 hanguards. It was the best buy on the internet for a top tier upper.
I bought one for my new LMT lower & it came quickly and worked great.
I looked at the LMT uppers they have on Weaponsparts.com, and for some reason they all have Wilson barrels with a 1/9 twist. The ones at Bravo company have the LMT barrels with a 1/7 twist. I have the 1/7 twist on the Bushmaster and was told that is the better rifling twist, is this true?
they could still be the fake LMT uppers that have been circulating for the last year, but these have 1/7, CL, and i doubt they’re wilson.
I think you are looking at the wrong one. Here is the link and yes, I also believe that 1/7 is a better twist rate. LMT makes great stuff and you will never see one with a 1/9 wilson unless someone put it on themselves.
Semper Fi
Tim
First of all greetings, new here and reading and learning. I have a Bushmaster Predator which is fun (killed some paper) but I want to pick up another upper more for lighter, closer fun. May at some point add a lower so that I have two units. This Bravo Company upper was the middy I was considering at $425 I know I need the bolt carrier group and a few odds and ends but it seems like a pretty good topper for south of $575. My question, BCG has the exact same except that the barrel is “Hammer Forged” for an added $100. Is this a worth while upgrade? I’m kind of a long term keeper of things, don’t mind paying a bit more, just looking for some opinions to go along with what I read.
ThanX
the hammer forged barrels are definitely worth the extra $100 if you’re going to put a lot of rounds through it. they also seem to offer more accuracy over button/broach in the CL barrel category.
an estimated example- if a given BCM standard 4150 CMV barrel lasts ~25,000 rounds, depending on how it’s used… a BCM BHF barrel might last ~35,000+ with the same firing schedule.
it might just be voodoo, unless you’re a high-volume shooter… but there’s never anything wrong with buying quality.
I got my complete lmt 16" upper for $400 last month. Add bcg for $150, rear mbus, m4 handguards, and ch and you’d be right at $650… that’s the least expensive great quality upper you can build that I can think of. Maybe buying used would help you. I just sold a really nice A-1 upper for 2 bills.
Thanks for the reply guys. I’m in the process of returning a CMMG upper, the ad said 1/7 Hard Chrome 4150 but sent a WASP 4140 1/9 (seems he will honor the return).
Kind of thinking I’ll go with the Bravo with the HFB upgrade. Might just hold off on the bolt carrier yet, maybe shop a gun show. Correct me if I’m wrong but seems from my reading that the barrel is far more critical and money better spent than the bolt carrier group?
The Predator is still pretty new to me, dang, it’s cold out too. However, I was out at the range a couple times last week. I just thought I’d got a “deal” on the CMMG but turns out somewhere there was a flaw in the communication process. However, perhaps in the long run the few bucks more for the Bravo will work. I really wanted a middy setup more than an M4, mind you everything subject to change.