Budget .223/5.56 "Precision" Upper?

General Firearms Precision Rifle - Semi-Auto
1

Briefly:

I’m thinking of putting $500-800 into a “budget” precision-y upper, and wondering (1) whether it would be worth it, and (2) what are the best options in that price range.

Long version:

I have a couple 14.5" lightweight uppers that are reliable and accurate enough within 100yds. Both are 1:7 and 5.56-chambered, and have USGI-style handguards and 6-position stocks.
One is iron-only (A2 receiver), and the other has a 2-8x32 Nikon on it. The latter shoots 3-4" groups at 200yds with match ammo (Norma or FGMM), but doesn’t like Hornady’s TAP or Black Hills well enough to shoot less than 5-6" groups.

I bought an extra (third) BCM lower and registered it before California banned them. (No, I do NOT want to talk about California’s gun laws here.)

So, with that third lower sitting around, I keep thinking that I might buy a complete “precision” upper to play with…

I’d be happy with something that would shoot 1.5moa with match factory or handloaded ammo, and I’d be thrilled with something that would shoot 1moa. My local range is 300yds, soon to be expanded to 600yds (!).

(NB: This is a “would be nice” or “would be fun” project to punch paper, not a “I need” or “I must have” to shoot bad guys or jump out of helicopters. I’m a middle-class guy who reads books for a living.)

In preparation for all this I bought a Nikon “Black” 4-16x50 scope, though it would be easier to use that elsewhere, if this project doesn’t happen.

Perameters:

  1. I want a complete upper… I don’t want to “build” anything. I just want an upper that I can put on that BCM lower (which already has BCM’s upgraded trigger, and to which I’ll add a MagPul PRS).

  2. 16-18" barrel… I’m ambivalent, but definitely don’t want 20" or longer.

  3. M-Lok handguards, free-floated.

  4. Prefer Wylde and/or 5R barrel.

  5. Less than $800, better would be less than $600. If I can’t do this for less than $800ish, then I’ll probably just do something else. (I’m also thinking of a dedicated .22lr upper, and/or a Ruger American bolt gun in .223/5.56.

I’m looking at…

  1. BCM… I’m a fan, I figured a BCM SS410 would be the “go-to”:

https://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-SS410-16-Mid-Length-Upper-MCMR-15-p/bcm-urg-mid16-ss410-mcmr-15.htm

Pros:
a. It would match my spare lower…

Cons:
a. It costs $250-$300 more than the other options (>$900, out the door, with BCG and charging handle), and
b. I’m not that thrilled with the MCMR handguard, and
c. Having seen this thread, there doesn’t seem to be any guarantee of good accuracy…

https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?189415-Are-these-results-standard-for-the-BCM-SS410-barrels/page2&highlight=budget+upper

  1. Aero Precision:

https://www.aeroprecisionusa.com/ar15-complete-upper-w-no-forward-assist-16-223-wylde-fluted-barrel-15-m-lok-atlas-s-one-handguard-anodized-black

Pros:
a. It’s $600ish out of the door, and <$650 with a BCM Gunfighter charging handle.
b. It’s stupid and superficial of me, I know, but I love the look of the Atlas S-One handguard.
c. Aero owns Ballistic Advantage and uses their barrels. (Right?)

Cons:
a. Mixed reviews of Aero’s quality control and customer service… Buyer beware?

  1. Savage:

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/102006974

Pros:
a. It’s <$600 out of the door, and $625ish with a BCM Gunfighter charging handle.
b. 5R rifling, and a Wylde chamber.
c. Everything that people don’t like about Savage’s Recon (the stock and the trigger) aren’t part of the upper.

Cons:
a. The “standard” barrel profile is skinny behind the gas block, and then fat forward of it, which I think is stupid.

Questions:

  1. Am I missing anything about these options?

  2. What other options am I missing?

2

To 700 yards a 18" upper is not going to do anything any differently/better than a 16" upper. Sure, a 18" SPR upper is a fun, niche rifle, but for 99% of shooters it does zero that a 16" rifle cannot do. A stainless steel “recce” upper with a LPVO would punch the ticket. If you want to remain budget conscious and buy complete, I would get the BCM SS upper.

3

If nothing else, now is the time to shop around, but wait until Thanksgiving and black Friday specials. What is presently outside the budget may fall within the budget.

4

Get a good SS barrel. Quality ammo will also make quite a difference; provided you are doing your part.

5

Your missing White Oak’s SPR upper which is better than the BCM and Aero options IMO. If i was buying a complete upper for an SPR this would be it

https://www.whiteoakarmament.com/shop/complete-uppers/spr-sdm-uppers.html

They have options for different twist and gas lengths. If you choose a regular upper with no fluting they are $675 and include BCG. Come with ALG v3 handguards which are solid

If you didnt already have a complete lower teh Larue Ultimate Upper kits are a great value at under $800 for everything but the lower receiver

6

Definitely WOA. I do not like the look of their complete uppers, but you cannot argue their quality.

7

The White Oak uppers linked above will probably be your best bet. They have a good rep for accurate barrels. I’d skip the BCM if I were looking for tight groups. Before the fan club gets riled up, I’ve owned 3 BCM uppers including one of their stainless “precision” versions and was not impressed.

8

Another vote for WOA although I can say my 16” SS410 BCM is just as accurate. YMMV.

9

Your note on Aero barrels re Ballistic Advantage is partially true, from my look it seems Aero and Ballistic Advantage became sister companies but neither is in direct ownership of the other? They do however use their barrels, as of about 2016 all Aero marked barrels are made by BA. I have one of their uppers with a BA made Aero 16” medium profile barrel and it is great. I also have a BA Hanson barrel and it is better, but you want fully built upper so maybe consider BA uppers as well.

Andrew - Lancaster, CA
NRA Life Member, CRPA member, Calguns.net contributor, CGF / SAF / FPC / CCRKBA / GOA / NAGR / NRA-ILA contributor, USCCA member - Support your defenders!

10

Did you look at the SPR uppers? They use ALG rails which are GTG and look like most others IMO. I am sure they would put on another rail if you sent one or wanted something they have in stock

The service upper obviously look different so they comply with the competition rules

11

^^^ This.

You did say you wanted “precision” but you didn’t say you needed “long range” capability.

To gain accuracy, it’s not necessary to go with a “longer” barrel, just a “better” one.

12

I know you said you wanted a pre-assembled upper; but…

I was doing a similar mental experiment for a 16-18" comp/SPR upper. For my research it appears there are two different tiers of barrels. First you have the $200-$300 barrels from Ballistic Advantage, Larue, White Oak, Triarc or even BRT Optimium MPC barrels. For “the best” you are looking at past $400 for a Krieger, Bartlien, or Rainer Ultra Match. Personally I think I am a $200 barrel shooter, because I simply don’t bench rest that much and most of my shooting is lesser ammo from lesser shooting positions.

One of the reasons I suggest building an upper, is besides Rail, Barrel, and muzzle device, everything else should be pretty standard. For those 3 items you get to pick exactly the components that you want, and then you have absolute control over the assembly. Just my preferences for a precision set up.

13

Yeah, I get that. I would only consider 18" if there were some screaming deal on a good upper that was only available in 18"… I’m trying to be flexible.

The MV and ballistics of 16" vs. 18" aren’t different enough to matter (I think I figured out 50fps and <3" of drop at 500yds).

That’s just it: BCM isn’t “budget-conscious.” BCM is ≈$250-$300 more than the other options, which is 40-50%.

I’m a BCM fan, but I’m not convinced that BCM is going to be so much better than the others, or that the others are such junk that I need to step up and pay $900+ for a BCM upper.

Actually, this is a “longterm” plan, and I definitely won’t do anything before January, maybe not before midyear 2020.

I’m still trying to figure out what my options are…

Really? Tell me if I’m wrong, but what I’m reading is that quality steel barrels are just as accurate as SS barrels.

I forget where I read it, but AFAIK the big difference is that SS barrels “go off” all at once, which makes it easier for serious shooters to realize that the barrel is shot out. (NB: I don’t think I’m that serious.)

Correct me if I’m wrong…

OK, this is now on my list…

One me-being-stupid quibble: I really wanted M-Lok slots at 3 and 9 o’clock, and the White Oak uppers seem to have them at 8, 10, 2, and 4 o’clock.

OK, at $555 out the door (<$600 with a GunFighter CH), this looks like a good deal:

https://www.ballisticadvantage.com/16-556-hanson-mid-length-atlas-ar15-complete-upper.html

I only wish they sold an upper with a Hanson barrel and the S-One handguard…

14

Me, too…

Actually, there are really just two variables: the (1) barrel and (2) rail.

I can install my own muzzle device, and I know exactly what I want there. (Don’t laugh: a KVP linear comp.)

In other areas of life I embrace the DIY ethic, but since there are several good options out there with decent barrels and rails I like, it seems easiest/best to just buy something off-the-rack.

15

Not sure what WOA is currently offering in chambers… but my 16" WOA has a wylde chamber that isn’t 5.56 pressured ammo friendly. (I get case buldge with hot ammo)

I like the option of shooting hot ammo in a “precision” style AR.

16

Jeez, that’s weird… “Wylde” chambers are supposed to have enough leade to be 5.56-friendly.

I definitely want to be able to shoot 5.56 with this, so this is mildly concerning…

17

I hate to keep hammering this, because I really am a BCM fan, but for what BCM charges for a SS410 upper, I could buy a complete upper from Compass Lake with a fancy Douglas match barrel:

http://compasslake.com/product/spr-tactical-upper-16-douglas-ss-mid-length-gas-system/

18

SS isn’t necessarily more accurate. Chromolly barrels tend to see accuracy degrade over the life of the barrel whereas a SS barrel will maintain its accuracy until all of a sudden it degrades rapidly.

19

I understand that SS to easier to machine well, so it is theoretically easier to make an accurate SS barrel. As far as 16" vs 18", if the goal of the rifle is target shooting on a flat range at longer distances, I still like my 18" barrel for the added velocity. If I wasn’t shooting past 400, I’d probably do a 16". That being said, I’ve made hits to 800 with my 16" w/69gr TMKs and my 18" w/77gr TMKs.

20

When it comes to precision, I’d go with the best option you can afford. When my Sionics 18" barrel is shot out, I’ll probably go higher end and get a Krieger.