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LAR OPS-4 upper, Is it worth it (please post your experiances)
1/4/2012 10:34:41 AM
Im starting my first AR build, currently I have a Spike's Tactical lower with a DPMS parts kit. I just ordered a Vltor "club foot" butt stock for it, so at this point I think my lower is complete.
I have been looking at building an 18" upper, I want to use the L.A.R. OPS-4 mainly because of durrability and cleanability
The side charging handel is just a plus to me and not needed, but its nice to have.
If you have any experiance with it please give me some feed back, It seems like a rugged starting point for an upper.
and a picture for fun
I have been looking at building an 18" upper, I want to use the L.A.R. OPS-4 mainly because of durrability and cleanability
The side charging handel is just a plus to me and not needed, but its nice to have.
If you have any experiance with it please give me some feed back, It seems like a rugged starting point for an upper.
and a picture for fun
1/4/2012 1:10:11 PM
There are a few threads on Snipers Hide that review the side charging upper. Go dig through the gas gun section.
Clifs notes: dude likes the upper.
Clifs notes: dude likes the upper.
1/4/2012 1:15:51 PM
Originally Posted By OIF_Vet08-09:
There are a few threads on Snipers Hide that review the side charging upper. Go dig through the gas gun section.
Clifs notes: dude likes the upper.
There are a few threads on Snipers Hide that review the side charging upper. Go dig through the gas gun section.
Clifs notes: dude likes the upper.
thank you for your suggestion!
1/4/2012 1:35:20 PM
I have an LAR OPS 4 upper with the left side charger. It is a fantastic upper. Super accurate. The only differences are the upper receiver and the carrier. The bolt, gas key, cam pim, etc. are the same as a standard AR. I have mine on a 16 inch barrel but I am going to re-barrel it to a 20 inch when funds permit.
1/4/2012 2:10:05 PM
this is exactly what I wanted to hear, especially since I intend on running a longer AR barrel1/4/2012 11:36:05 PM
Let me expand on what I said earlier. If you are building the rifle for match-grade accuracy, the OPS-4 upper is the only way to go, IMHO, for a 5.56/AR15 platform. The fit is a lot tighter to your lower. There is a lot more material so the upper is also very rigid. I built the rifle for the accuracy, not as my SHTF rifle. My SHTF rifles are mid-length 16 inch carbines. I wouldn't hesitate to take my OPS 4 if my others were down, but they were built for different purposes.
I live a few miles down the road from LAR. I've been to the factory and seen what they do. I wouldn't hesitate to buy anything from them. Now if only they would get there SR25 pattern .308 finished....
I live a few miles down the road from LAR. I've been to the factory and seen what they do. I wouldn't hesitate to buy anything from them. Now if only they would get there SR25 pattern .308 finished....
1/5/2012 5:48:02 AM
Originally Posted By UT-ARShooter:
Let me expand on what I said earlier. If you are building the rifle for match-grade accuracy, the OPS-4 upper is the only way to go, IMHO, for a 5.56/AR15 platform. The fit is a lot tighter to your lower. There is a lot more material so the upper is also very rigid. I built the rifle for the accuracy, not as my SHTF rifle. My SHTF rifles are mid-length 16 inch carbines. I wouldn't hesitate to take my OPS 4 if my others were down, but they were built for different purposes.
I live a few miles down the road from LAR. I've been to the factory and seen what they do. I wouldn't hesitate to buy anything from them. Now if only they would get there SR25 pattern .308 finished....
Let me expand on what I said earlier. If you are building the rifle for match-grade accuracy, the OPS-4 upper is the only way to go, IMHO, for a 5.56/AR15 platform. The fit is a lot tighter to your lower. There is a lot more material so the upper is also very rigid. I built the rifle for the accuracy, not as my SHTF rifle. My SHTF rifles are mid-length 16 inch carbines. I wouldn't hesitate to take my OPS 4 if my others were down, but they were built for different purposes.
I live a few miles down the road from LAR. I've been to the factory and seen what they do. I wouldn't hesitate to buy anything from them. Now if only they would get there SR25 pattern .308 finished....
would you mind posting some pictures of it
this is the reciver I do intend on getting, I just need to figgure out what barrel would be best suited for it
1/6/2012 6:29:39 PM
Sorry it took me a bit to get the photo. I made a trade with a friend and got a 20 inch barrel for it. Haven't shot the new barrel, but I have shot the upper. I put the A2 carry handle on it for the pic but am saving up for an ACOG to mount on it. The carrier that these come with are hard chromed.
ETA: I built my dad one at the same time as this build but his is a carbine with a YHM flip-up front sight/gas block. I will get a pic of his and put here this weekend.
ETA: I built my dad one at the same time as this build but his is a carbine with a YHM flip-up front sight/gas block. I will get a pic of his and put here this weekend.
1/28/2012 2:55:52 PM
I spoke with a gentleman at LAR two days ago about the difference between the LAR Billet and forged upper receivers.
The LAR website only showed a pic of the billet machined upper, but there was a $100 price difference.
He said there really is NO difference in strength and it is all cosmetic. If you put the forged upper next to the billet machined upper, the billet upper would have sharper corners. ALL wall thicknesses and dimensions are the same between the two.
He said they are built like a tank, not like a lot of the thinned walled upper receivers from years ago which cracks at the slot end due to flex.
The aluminum on the LAR's is the 7075, a bit more ridgid and slightly harder than the 6061. Once I told him I was a machinist, and I also used to have one of the Grizzly .50's he really started chattering.
He also added that the BC is proprietary, and that the charging handle is threaded on both sides for the side charging handle, regardless of which side charging you order. SO the left, right, or ambi BC's are all the same. Also the left side charging model does not have the long slit past the ejection port on the right side.
The LAR website only showed a pic of the billet machined upper, but there was a $100 price difference.
He said there really is NO difference in strength and it is all cosmetic. If you put the forged upper next to the billet machined upper, the billet upper would have sharper corners. ALL wall thicknesses and dimensions are the same between the two.
He said they are built like a tank, not like a lot of the thinned walled upper receivers from years ago which cracks at the slot end due to flex.
The aluminum on the LAR's is the 7075, a bit more ridgid and slightly harder than the 6061. Once I told him I was a machinist, and I also used to have one of the Grizzly .50's he really started chattering.
He also added that the BC is proprietary, and that the charging handle is threaded on both sides for the side charging handle, regardless of which side charging you order. SO the left, right, or ambi BC's are all the same. Also the left side charging model does not have the long slit past the ejection port on the right side.
1/28/2012 7:11:09 PM
My Precision Operator was pretty accurate.
10 rounds, 75 grain Hornaday, 100 yards.
10 rounds, 75 grain Hornaday, 100 yards.
3/27/2012 3:54:40 PM
Just an update on the OPS 4 upper.
I received mine last week.
It is well machined, and the upper is very STOUT!
One thing that I can see already is that I will have to retrain my purchase to the front foregrip, since I tend to hold where the magwell meets the foregrip. It is possible for the reciprocating lever to stick my thumb.
I am preparing all my parts to do a major upgrade to my Franken-SGW AR-15 that I carry everywhere.
-Removing and fluting a Armalite (T) barrel to try and shed some weight. I was considering 'Dimpling" the barrel but it does not shed as much weight as fluting.
I have a machine shop so I have the tools available to do the work myself.
-Routering some slits in my Armalite Fiber handguard.
-Installing an updated trigger (Still looking)
-Installing the LAR OPS 4 upper
- I have a friend that just started the Cerakote operations and will design a camo pattern.
I will post pics of the process, and then review the upper's performance.
This is all being done on my Kal. Registered AW. A 1985 Shutzen Gun Works lower.
I will be spending the next week getting some groups from my current set-up so I can use it as a baseline for comparison.
I received mine last week.
It is well machined, and the upper is very STOUT!
One thing that I can see already is that I will have to retrain my purchase to the front foregrip, since I tend to hold where the magwell meets the foregrip. It is possible for the reciprocating lever to stick my thumb.
I am preparing all my parts to do a major upgrade to my Franken-SGW AR-15 that I carry everywhere.
-Removing and fluting a Armalite (T) barrel to try and shed some weight. I was considering 'Dimpling" the barrel but it does not shed as much weight as fluting.
I have a machine shop so I have the tools available to do the work myself.
-Routering some slits in my Armalite Fiber handguard.
-Installing an updated trigger (Still looking)
-Installing the LAR OPS 4 upper
- I have a friend that just started the Cerakote operations and will design a camo pattern.
I will post pics of the process, and then review the upper's performance.
This is all being done on my Kal. Registered AW. A 1985 Shutzen Gun Works lower.
I will be spending the next week getting some groups from my current set-up so I can use it as a baseline for comparison.
3/29/2012 3:50:48 PM
I just finished assembling a LAR OPS-4 carbine upper onto an Essential Arms lower. Beautiful finish match btween the upper / lower. So far, I really like it. Added the AA carbine piston conversion with the MI free float rail. I won't be shooting it until sometime next week, and will post more after the range trip.....
