Gents,

Looking for a bit of info here. I primarily play with rare Vietnam Era AR-15s but like to have one or two cool modern toys in the safe. I recently traded away my Block II upper in order to get some rare early AR-15 parts and am left without a “go to” SHTF gun. I plan to SBR my LMT MARS-L lower and to put one of the two above uppers on top. I want the adjustable gas because I also plan to get my first suppressor. I am not interested in any other brands so please do not tell me to consider PWS, etc... Already looked, not interested. In the ideal world, HK would bring their 416A5 here but until then, I’m not going with a 416.

The differences I see between these platforms:

The Barrett has MLOK and the piston comes out of the front, which seems like a pro. The barrel on the Barrett is 11.5” vs 10.5” on the LWRC, which is a tossup. I don’t know anything about LWRC’s NiCorr finished barrels, but the Barrett is chrome-lined and hammer forged, which is a process I know and trust. It seems LWRC has a much stronger following, and more established reputation, but I would think Barrett makes good stuff. Barrett’s  marketing seems almost non-existent.

I know there is a HUGE LWRC following here and I am more willing to trust that brand as a result, but I can’t find the upper I want from them available anywhere. I just missed a deal in the EE a while back. The Barrett option is also intriguing but again, I don’t hear as much about them.

What says the hive?

Additionally, since I am buying just the upper and am supplying the lower, what buffer setup would be ideal for these uppers?

Either would work rather well, I'd say it comes down to which features you like more and if a 11.5" barrel fits your wants more than the 10.5".

The biggest perk to the LWRC is their monoforge upper but the trade off to that is proprietary handguard and the need to remove the top rail to access the piston system. Mine has returned to zero, everytime I've used it though and they do now have a flashlight mount that directly threads to the handguard. The LWRC barrel is CHF as well but as you mentioned is Nitride finish, I personally prefer chrome lined.

LWRC also comes with Nickel Boron carrier. The Rec 7 has the DLC, which if anything like the Geissele finish should be superior in everyway.

Barrel length alone would push me to the Rec 7, as I personally prefer 11.5" in 5.56. if you were doing a 6.8, I'd vote the LWRC Six8 setup.

I appreciate the reply. Yeah really don’t think I can go wrong either way but wanted to hear people’s thoughts. The piston thread is less vocal than I thought you guys would be lol. 111 views and I can’t even get 4 votes thus far lol.

I will probably end up buying the one that’s available for a good price.

And I saw the DLC finish. What is it? I have no experience with it but know that I like the look of Chrome, Nickel Boron and the old Barrett Nickel Teflon (I think) finish. Don’t mind the DLC finish, just don’t know much about it.

And I tend to agree in terms of chrome line vs nitride and 11.5” vs 10.5”

Diamond Like Carbon, reduces the friction of the material, reduces wear and makes it more durable. How much of difference it makes over standard phosphate, couldn't really tell you but it seems noticeably slicker to the touch.

The Nickel Boron on my LWRC bcg has begun to stain and turn black, due to use of the silencer. Won't be shiney all that longer.

If you end up in the DFW of Texas, contact me and I can let you pop some rounds off with my LWRC Six8, to help you figure out if you're wanting a LWRC upper or not.

Lol I appreciate it. I forgot how common the 6.8 was amongst piston guys. Wasn’t even something I considered when posing this question haha. Like I said, Vietnam guns are my thing and obviously 55gr “.223” is all those will eat lol.

Nothing wrong with that, I just wanted something a bit more effective out of an 8.5" barrel and feel the 90 grain federal XM68GD performs a bit better than 5.56.

With your preference to M193, I'd heavily suggest the 11.5" Rec 7, squeeze every bit of edge you can from it.

Nah, I have plenty of green tip and 77 gr OTM too, but I agree, 100fps isn’t a ton but it still is an advantage.

Again, thanks for being the only person to reply lol

I can’t speak on the Barretts since I’ve never owned or fired one, but I always thought they looked like they were quality guns.

I do own two LWRCs, one 14.7” pinned and welded IC-SPR, and one 12.7” Oscar Foxtrot.  Neither of mine have adjustable gas blocks.  The SPR I bought new in 2014 and it has run reliably since day one.  Prior to all the BS this year, it would see around 1K-ish rounds per year, and I can’t recall ever having any sort of issue with it aside from one magazine that had some janky feed lips.  The Oscar Foxtrot I got February of this year and only put about 500 through it, but I expect it to perform the same as it’s big brother.

The piston access is pretty easy on them, and they definitely stay clean.  If you’re after one with the adjustable gas, they also make a 12.7” IC-A5 upper alongside the 10.5” barrel, could be a good way to go if you want to squeeze out some extra FPS.  But overall I’m a fan.

i've have/had LW pistons...as was said above, the plated BCG's tarnish fast with a can. i had to use brasso to get it clean and only did so because it started to feel gritty and have some resistance to it. since then i stopped using the can on that upper. its an old M6A3

i sold the other one, a M6 IC. it felt over gassed and too snappy.

both were tack drivers and 100% reliable though.

Yeah, I was aware of the 12.7 but want 11.5” or shorter, and aesthetically, I don’t like how the rail looks on the longer barrel setups with the LWRC. But I guess you guys have confirmed my thoughts though... both are quality, and it just seems like more people own the LWRC stuff.

Interesting. Thanks for the feedback.

If I end up with a Barrett I’ll have to post a review, as it doesn’t seem like there’s a ton out there about them.

As an update, I got a pretty good deal on a REC7 Gen 2 11.5” upper. They retail for $1,929 and I got an upper for $1,225 without a magazine or BUIS... I’ll take it. Review to come in the future I guess!

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Fantastic price, going to post the review to this thread? Genuinely curious to see an update on that upper.

Congrats.
Can you post up where you purchased? I'd be interested in purchasing at that price (if there's any left).

Thanks in advance.

Lucky GB find. Would have been $1050 but I got run up a bit.

And yes, I can do that... if I get to shooting it before it drops into the archive

Subbed for pics at least lol

Won’t have em up until at least the 4th or later since that’s when I get back home in the Springs after the Holidays

I'll wait congrats on the purchase.

Well, it shipped on the 4th and was supposed to be here the 9th... but USPS is all jacked up right now. I have no idea where it is and when it’ll get here.

bummer. Soon, hopefully.

In case anyone was wondering how the Rec7 shoots. I was able to get one of the last 11.5" 6.8 spc uppers. I shot it for the first time today and was pleasantly surprised. Recoil is negligible, works really well suppressed. I experienced zero gas to the face. The recoil impulse is very light and makes it easy to keep the gun on target during rapid fire. Overall very pleased, I have several other piston guns (pws, superlative arms gas block conversion, MCX) and this one is very near the top if not the top.

Very cool, can’t wait to get this build done and shoot it

Yea man, you'll definitely enjoy! Let us know what you think.

Did it ever show up? I know you said elsewhere it was delayed a while back lol

I do have it. Have yet to shoot it though. I’ll post pictures soon

I'll continue to wait patiently. Lol.

Alright so here’s the link to the photo album:

https://imgur.com/a/w7fvx2s

The upper seems to be pretty high quality. On Barrett’s site, this upper would be over $1,900 including a magazine and sights. I got it without both of those, but do have a Dead Air Keymo Brake on the muzzle right now (will be swapped out for SF3P). I paid $1,225 shipped to my door, but USPS was a nightmare.

I am not really a fan of the red in the Radian charging handle, nor the plastic dust cover but that’s because I am a “purist” as mentioned. Will probably swap the charging handle for another ambi one without the red, and will definitely put a metal port cover on. The bolt finish is pretty nice. It appears I need to clean the barrel, as I assume the last owner shot it suppressed but didn’t clean it after the last outing. Nbd.













The piston/transfer rod seems pretty robust. Has a bit more weight to it than I was expecting. Again, it seems very well built.


It appears some gas is always vented out of the front here:


And here are the two regulator gas setting holes.


I thought this was clever... in the suppressed setting, some gas is also vented through this hole...


And out the front of the gas block through this channel (looks like a dimple on the right side here):





The barrel is marked “BFMI 5.56 NATO 1/7”


There is also a marking at the 12 o’clock of the barrel that reads “13 16043 03-17 279” but I can’t get the camera to focus on it.

Oh, and I didn’t show you the broken down BCG because the firing pin retaining pin is slightly bent and is a tough one to get back in. Need to order a replacement.

I would like to get some spare Barrett parts as well but it seems those are hard to come by. I wouldn’t mind one of the Nickel Teflon BCGs as a spare and a spare parts kit (return spring, etc)

Fantastic post and pictures, congrats! That was worth the wait haha. Looks very nice, I'm jealous.

I’ll report range results once I have them.

Damn that is sexy!

What was supposed to be a pistol is not built yet. However, one thing to report. I believe the upper forging comes from the same place as Aero Precision uppers. Now, I hate the strike industries dust cover (and all plastic ones) and replaced it with a mil-spec one. The upper receiver pocket that the mil-spec dust cover’s detent is supposed to drop into is too shallow/ there is not enough wall material to retain the port door effectively. I can’t get the thing to stay closed. A little annoying but oh well. Might have to go back to the plastic port door, which has a smaller, stiffer detent. (Might be the reason Barrett went this route, because their forgings are a little messed up). I might also try to fix it with a little bit of dremel work and aluma-black.

Jk about the dremel. Might try a bit of filing though. Also, yes the new port door is straight and the detent functions properly.

Be sure to let us know what you think once you get a chance to shoot it. I've been shooting my 6.8 when I get a chance, haven't had anything negative to say about it. Did adjust the spring weight in my jp silent buffer though to a stiffer one. I'll let you know how that works out.

Have you got a chance to shoot it? I’m looking at a carbine version of the REC7, but I sold my LWRC IC enhanced because of recoil impulse and the funky rail. Curious how the pistol version  of the Barrett runs.

All, surprised I could hold off this long but I am at least here… put the build together, but still have some changes to make and some accessories to buy. Namely a WARCOMP or SF3P (taking suggestions) because this brake will be ungodly with the 11.5”… not to mention the fact that I don’t own a can (yet). I also need a set of BUIS. If you’re wondering why there’s electrical tape on the bolt catch, it’s because Magpul BAD levers don’t fit like they used to… the past 3 I’ve installed have all needed to be “shimmed” with some tape. The lever is off so I can file the hammer to calibrate the binary trigger once I get some harder files.

Specs for the gun:

Upper is as I received it still, except for the mini radian raptor without red anodizing in it.

Lower:
Spikes tactical stripped lower (I know… I’ll personally put myself on time out for putting a Barrett upper onto a Spikes)
Aero LPK sans the trigger
ITF Defense Binary trigger (still has to be calibrated because my files aren’t hard enough to file the hammer).
    -this trigger is basically a mil-spec trigger with a binary setting in the third position. I’m running a real M16 trigger and 3-position ambi safety, with Semi-Auto hammer… went with a nickel teflon coated hammer because… why not?
KNS Precision anti-rotating pins (due to expected round count and volume)
Colt 3-position ambi safety
MOE trigger guard
MOE K2 grip
POF USA .308 7 position extension with anti-tilt lips. (I’ll put a picture up but I thought this was a great idea suggested by somebody else on the forum. It’s an A5 length buffer tube and it has lips at the bottom to help deal with any potential carrier tilt.)
VLTOR A5H4 buffer (I also have an A5H3 for tuning purposes)
SpringCo Green Rifle Spring (I also have a Wolff XP spring, again for tuning purposes)
QD Endplate
SLGW Castle Nut
Black SBA3 brace
Black Blue Force Gear Vickers Sling that I use on several rifles. I own a grand total of 3 variations of this sling.

Let me know what you guys think! Bear in mind that this is my first and only (nasty, disgusting) Piston AR… I typically deal mainly in 20” Vietnam Era clones. Let me know how I did bearing that in mind

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