I am looking at 18" or 20" Ar15s and already have a lower on the way. Ive narrowed my choices down to the DPMS Mini SASS upper and to the Sabre Defense SPR upper, Competition Deluxe upper and the Precision Marksman upper. This rifle will be used for general target shooting as well as longer range competitions. I prefer 1:8 twist so I wont have to go load up the really expensive heavy bullets. I don’t care for weight as it will be shot from a bench rest or bipod most of the time. Also im a pretty big guy so lugging around a heavy ar15 will be no problem. I may even do some varminting when I have spare time.
So, to people who have experience with earthier, or who know a little more than I do, which barrel would you recommend out of the two? Also, if you recommend a different 18" SPRish barrel. state why. Money is not much of a issue, so Id like a complete upper, but if there is a barrel out there thats a heck of alot better than eathier the Mini SASS or the Sabre Defense 18" line, I will be willing to get all the parts and put it together myself.
I just read that a week ago and was considering making the call sometime this week but I kept reading more and more range reviews and my mind was over flooded, forgot all about it till now.
Of your two choices listed I would go with Sabre Defence over the DPMS. Given the option of barrels in the 18" SPR(ish) category I would buy something else. I would probably first go with a Noveske 18" SPR barrel with matched bolt. At the moment Noveske products are hard to find to a certain degree (depending on what you want) but IIRC they recently had the SPR barrels in stock. There is at least one new Noveske barrel/bolt combo for sale on another forum. Superior Barrels also make a really nice barrel from a Lothar Walther blank and treated with their "Hard Blue"treatment (tenifer/melonite/something similar) so the barrel is more durable and it also blackens the stainless, which I like. White Oak Arms also makes a nice SPR profile barrel. The Noveske chamber is a 5.56 and the WOA is a Wylde chamber, I don’t remember for sure but I think the Superior is also a Wylde.
So my first choice would be the Noveske or Superior. I own a WOA 18" SPR barrel in 6.8 SPC that I just got (lightly used) but I haven’t built or shot it yet, so obviously I would own a WOA as well. Bravo Company makes excellent barrels as well, although I don’t recall if they make a SPR profile barrel. I own two barrels from Superior Barrels, one 20" SDM barrel which can shoot a 3/4 MOA group for ten shots and I bought an 18" from them as well, the Terebratus, which I haven’t assembled yet.
I’m not sure what the DPMS barrel goes for but I am assuming the Sabre you are looking at is close to $400, $350 at least. I believe the WOA is in that same price range. Noveske will run you closer to $500 and the Superior barrels run around $400. Bravo Company is probably closer to $325. Sabre has a good reputation and I wouldn’t hesitiate to own one but currently don’t have any experience with them. I have heard from others that they are a little pricey compared to quality/accuracy and that they price them what they do because they are a Mil-approved contractor. Take it FWIW as internet speak. As far as I am concerned, Sabre from user reports are a quality barrel and the whole “they charge higher because they are a Mil contractor” is BS, if it’s good and shoots good the prices are comparable to other manufacturers.
Those uppers from Bravo Company look nice. They have some mod 3s and 4s. You guys gotta stop showing me these awesome toys, now I have to wait until Dec to make a final decision.
I guess Im going to wait for a range report for the bravo company mk 12s before I make a decision. Im really liking the larue uppers too. Id rather go ahead and buy a full upper than build one, dont have the time too.
There are some very good complete upper choices, and BCM may become one of them. I can understand wanting a complete upper, but time it actually takes to assemble one, is very minimal. You must be a very very very busy fella.
After reading this site I had made a decision that my first “self build” project will be an SPR type rifle…
I really like the LaRue Uppers as a whole, but was looking to build something on the VLTOR VIS platform… Seeing tha one of the options on BCM’s upcoming SPR will be a VIS based upper… my eyes lit up like a kid on Christmas!
