Suggest A BUDGET AR 7"-10.5" Complete Upper in .223/5.56

**PA1936MN** · April 29th, 2016, 11:54 PM

Continuing to search for an upper for completion of my upcoming AR pistol build. I have come across options from cheap under $290 to well over $1k. This is my first build & I am not looking to break the bank here. This is a budget build. I would like to find a complete upper between $250-$399, that's the budget no more. I see many of them don't come with a CH or BCG. That is fine. I have the CH taken care of and I am more then likely picking up a BCG here in the next week or so.

Wants
- 7" to 10.5" (If you recommend something else please suggest it but give evidence of why you suggest it. Not just because it's what I have, etc...)
- Full top rail, A4
- No front Iron sight on the gas block (I plan on using MBUS)
- .223/5.56 caliber

**phill** · April 30th, 2016, 12:25 AM

You might try Karri"s Guns or Karrisguns.com. We have two of their complete uppers with BCG/CH they were in the price range mentioned. They seem fine and both have been trouble free. Check out their website to see what they have.

**PA1936MN** · April 30th, 2016, 12:43 AM

Originally Posted by phill

You might try Karri"s Guns or Karrisguns.com. We have two of their complete uppers with BCG/CH they were in the price range mentioned. They seem fine and both have been trouble free. Check out their website to see what they have.

Thanks will look into them more.

**phill** · April 30th, 2016, 01:26 AM

We have a 7.5 in 556 and a 10.5 in 300 Blackout. Being pistols I bought for short range steel neither have been put on paper but doo what I want.

**bigandy1966** · April 30th, 2016, 08:11 AM

PSA had a sale the other day I pounced on, 10.5" complete pistol kit for $389.
Plus a blem lower for $45
But it wasn't a railed flat top.

**pennlineman** · April 30th, 2016, 08:32 AM

You seem pretty determined on 5.56mm. But if I were to build a pistol with a barrel less than 10.5" I'd go .300 Blackout. If you ever decide to get a suppressor this along with sub-sonic ammo is just plain sweet. Ammo and brass is radially available, fits stand AR15 mags. Of course you could pick it up as a spare after the initial project is done. I have one and plan on doing a suppressor and SBR on it. For now I can just swap it out with my 5.56 SBR.

I've seen some good deals from PSA on uppers, I'd probably start there.

**PA1936MN** · April 30th, 2016, 08:42 PM

Originally Posted by pennlineman

You seem pretty determined on 5.56mm. But if I were to build a pistol with a barrel less than 10.5" I'd go .300 Blackout. If you ever decide to get a suppressor this along with sub-sonic ammo is just plain sweet. Ammo and brass is radially available, fits stand AR15 mags. Of course you could pick it up as a spare after the initial project is done. I have one and plan on doing a suppressor and SBR on it. For now I can just swap it out with my 5.56 SBR.

I've seen some good deals from PSA on uppers, I'd probably start there.

.223/5.56 is the caliber I want because I already have a rifle in it. So I have all the mags I need plus the ammo to shoot in it.

I really don't want to buy another caliber at this point. What's nice though is I can buy a 300 BO upper at any point and ammo and pew pew.

**danhr** · April 30th, 2016, 08:47 PM

You might want to shoot a 7.5" barrel and ~10" barrel first, before making a commitment. The muzzle blast/concussion between the two with 5.56 rounds is quite substantial. I'm not saying the blast from a 7.5" barrel is completely unmanageable, but it is something, imo, that you should see if you find it acceptable for your use.

**solrac7** · April 30th, 2016, 11:54 PM

I have an 8 1/2 " and a 10 1/2 inch upper from Palmetto - both are reliable and fun to shoot. Something to consider is the considerable velocity drop in the smaller barrel - those 2 inches can make all the difference in bullet performance (crazy I know ! ) the 10 1/2 allows for bullet cavitation wounds reliably, due to faster velocity, whereas the 8.5 does not. For range toys, they are both a lot of fun !

just my 2 cents...

Cb

**chkrdflg** · May 1st, 2016, 07:51 PM

MAS Defense has a selection of reasonably priced uppers in both 7.5 and 10.5 inches. I got a 16 rifle upper from them earlier this year and it seems pretty good. Of course there is always PSA. I am looking to get a 8.5 or 10.5 at some point (hopefully in the not too distant future).

http://www.shop.masdefense.com/556-223_c53.htm