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9/30/2016 9:43:00 PM EDT
Hey everyone - working on my AR build, I am wanting to get a complete upper, but my budget is tight since the wife and I are expecting our first child.  

Any recommendations or what to look for even used?

I'd like to stay $500-600 that way I can get amm, pmags and other toys.

Thanks.
9/30/2016 9:53:10 PM EDT
[#1]
I just ordered another complete PSA Freedom stainless mid length upper for $269.99 shipped.
9/30/2016 10:32:35 PM EDT
[#2]
Andro Corp upper

Andro Corp uppers come complete with BCG and CH.  Ready to go.  They have and excellent reputation.
To get these prices you have to email the OP from your ARFCOM email, and pay through PP friends and family.
I bought a 10.5" upper from them and it was perfect.  The price was $460 from the website and $350 through ARFCOM.
Very fast to reply and had it in my hands in 3 days.

ETA: the link was just an example, they have a ton of different option, look around EE.
9/30/2016 10:40:25 PM EDT
[#3]
Palmetto State Armory and Andro are the best deals going.
10/1/2016 6:15:17 AM EDT
[#4]
The guys above have all nailed it. PSA  and Andro are IMO the best quality for the $$$ available today.
10/2/2016 11:13:45 AM EDT
[#5]
Sounds like you want a "pin together" project rather than a "build".
I recommend a PSA blem lower with magpul furniture if you need a lower.
I also recommend a PSA upper with a FF rail, specifically a midlength (lw or govt bbl).
Too many AR owners buy a basic upper just to later modify it and install a rail.
A complete package costs less than $600.

$170+ trsf
http://palmettostatearmory.com/blem-psa-ar15-moe-ept-lower-black.html

$370  Complete upper includes bcg & ch
http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-16-midlength-melonite-5-56-nato-1-7-slim-13-5-m-lok-an.html

add sights
10/2/2016 5:27:51 PM EDT
[#6]
Quote History
Quoted:
Sounds like you want a "pin together" project rather than a "build".
I recommend a PSA blem lower with magpul furniture if you need a lower.
I also recommend a PSA upper with a FF rail, specifically a midlength (lw or govt bbl).
Too many AR owners buy a basic upper just to later modify it and install a rail.
A complete package costs less than $600.

$170+ trsf
http://palmettostatearmory.com/blem-psa-ar15-moe-ept-lower-black.html

$370  Complete upper includes bcg & ch
http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-16-midlength-melonite-5-56-nato-1-7-slim-13-5-m-lok-an.html

add sights
View Quote



I got this upper last week and took it to the range today. Nice and light, a couple guys I shoot with tried it out and are going to look at them now as well.
10/3/2016 7:39:57 PM EDT
[#7]
Quote History
Quoted:



I got this upper last week and took it to the range today. Nice and light, a couple guys I shoot with tried it out and are going to look at them now as well.
View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Quote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
Sounds like you want a "pin together" project rather than a "build".
I recommend a PSA blem lower with magpul furniture if you need a lower.
I also recommend a PSA upper with a FF rail, specifically a midlength (lw or govt bbl).
Too many AR owners buy a basic upper just to later modify it and install a rail.
A complete package costs less than $600.

$170+ trsf
http://palmettostatearmory.com/blem-psa-ar15-moe-ept-lower-black.html

$370  Complete upper includes bcg & ch
http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-16-midlength-melonite-5-56-nato-1-7-slim-13-5-m-lok-an.html

add sights



I got this upper last week and took it to the range today. Nice and light, a couple guys I shoot with tried it out and are going to look at them now as well.


Have you weighed the upper or the whole carbine? I have been interested in getting one of those for a lightweight budget build, but was curius how much less it weighs than a standard M4 upper.
10/3/2016 9:06:52 PM EDT
[#8]
Quoted:
Hey everyone - working on my AR build, I am wanting to get a complete upper, but my budget is tight since the wife and I are expecting our first child.  

Any recommendations or what to look for even used?

I'd like to stay $500-600 that way I can get amm, pmags and other toys.

Thanks.
View Quote



There are Colt LE uppers on the EE in that price range quite often.Just gotta watch.
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_7_22/1588088_WTS__Colt_6720_upper_with_BCG__16_pencil_barrel__M4_receiver__.html
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_7_22/1589366_WTS___Colt_LE6920__upper_Barrel_stamp_1_16.html
10/4/2016 10:04:33 PM EDT
[#9]
Quote History
Quoted:


Have you weighed the upper or the whole carbine? I have been interested in getting one of those for a lightweight budget build, but was curius how much less it weighs than a standard M4 upper.
View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Quote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Sounds like you want a "pin together" project rather than a "build".
I recommend a PSA blem lower with magpul furniture if you need a lower.
I also recommend a PSA upper with a FF rail, specifically a midlength (lw or govt bbl).
Too many AR owners buy a basic upper just to later modify it and install a rail.
A complete package costs less than $600.

$170+ trsf
http://palmettostatearmory.com/blem-psa-ar15-moe-ept-lower-black.html

$370  Complete upper includes bcg & ch
http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-16-midlength-melonite-5-56-nato-1-7-slim-13-5-m-lok-an.html

add sights



I got this upper last week and took it to the range today. Nice and light, a couple guys I shoot with tried it out and are going to look at them now as well.


Have you weighed the upper or the whole carbine? I have been interested in getting one of those for a lightweight budget build, but was curius how much less it weighs than a standard M4 upper.


I haven't but I will when I'm back home next week.
10/6/2016 12:44:09 PM EDT
[#10]
PSA
10/6/2016 9:10:58 PM EDT
[#11]
So I have to ask the question - would you go with a PSA or look for a used BCM in the EE
10/6/2016 10:43:04 PM EDT
[#12]
Quote History
Quoted:
So I have to ask the question - would you go with a PSA or look for a used BCM in the EE
View Quote


I own both, I'll take new with a warranty.
10/17/2016 1:06:48 AM EDT
[#13]
Lots of options and PSA is always good to go.

It also depends on what you may want to do with it afterward regarding resale.

Certain brand names will sell to a larger market down the road and name recognition
will always help get close to your asking price at a later date if you plan to sell it.

A large market of buyers might not know the "builder brands" but google searches
and gun store owners know the bigger players in the industry.

It depends on what you want to build and barrel length, rails, handguard and sites
are always where $ adds up.

I've put some Spikes lowers together and waited for the Spikes LE M4
complete upper to go on sale at PA and when they have the sale I jumped on it .

A complete in the box Spikes  M4-LE goes for around $1000.00..

A full Spike LE M4 upper can be found on sale for $460.00 with M-16 BCG.

You put them together and you have a full Spikes AR that is much easier
to sell than a mix matched upper and lower.

All of it is under the Spikes warranty.

If you are really stealthy you can find a complete Spikes lower at a very reasonable
price and find the LE M4 upper on sale and save big time. Just push two pins in
and you are ready to roll.

10/17/2016 8:23:22 AM EDT
[#14]
I personally would stay away from PSA...just my experience. Lousy customer service & slow shipping...in my instances.
Check out Legal Transfers here for Rock River uppers, great prices
Jason & Josh at Andro are great & have some great quality hardware.
Windham, Anderson,Spikes also have very fairly priced hardware as well.
BCM is probably the best of them all though...My opinion
10/17/2016 10:29:41 AM EDT
[#15]
i went hardened arms.
pretty good prices
10/29/2016 8:19:58 PM EDT
[#16]
Stainless is GTG vs. the chrome lined?
10/29/2016 9:21:50 PM EDT
[#17]
Quote History
Quoted:
I personally would stay away from PSA...just my experience  customer service & slow shipping...in my instances.
Check out Legal Transfers here for Rock River uppers, great prices
Jason & Josh at Andro are great & have some great quality hardware.
Windham, Anderson,Spikes also have very fairly priced hardware as well.
BCM is probably the best of them all though...My opinion
View Quote


I just ordered an upper for my nephew from PSA last Wed. And it showed up Monday this week. Above expectations for a budget upper. Customer service and ship times have improved greatly. Check out their industry forum here.
10/29/2016 9:56:38 PM EDT
[#18]
I also have had good results with PSA, good deals fast shipment.

I recently ordered a $ 299 CHF Carbine upper without BCG, great deal, it was sold as a BLEM, can't find anything wrong with it.
10/30/2016 3:57:58 AM EDT
[#19]
Quote History
Quoted:


I just ordered an upper for my nephew from PSA last Wed. And it showed up Monday this week. Above expectations for a budget upper. Customer service and ship times have improved greatly. Check out their industry forum here.
View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Quote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
I personally would stay away from PSA...just my experience  customer service & slow shipping...in my instances.
Check out Legal Transfers here for Rock River uppers, great prices
Jason & Josh at Andro are great & have some great quality hardware.
Windham, Anderson,Spikes also have very fairly priced hardware as well.
BCM is probably the best of them all though...My opinion


I just ordered an upper for my nephew from PSA last Wed. And it showed up Monday this week. Above expectations for a budget upper. Customer service and ship times have improved greatly. Check out their industry forum here.

I just ordered an upper that I've been waiting to come back in stock for a while now. Ordered it Thursday. Got an email on Friday saying it shipped. Tracking number says it should be here on Monday. This was my first order with PSA, so I am pretty satisfied so far.

What's your guys opinion on this one?

http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-7-5-56-nato-1-7-marauder-pistol-upper-no-bcg-or-ch.html

The flash can looks a little too fancy. MOE hand guard is kinda my style, though.
10/30/2016 10:11:10 AM EDT
[#20]
Andro Corp Industries.

Best quality for the price.

Jason and ACI are great to deal with. Superior customer service!
10/30/2016 3:46:26 PM EDT
[#21]
Quote History
Quoted:


I just ordered an upper for my nephew from PSA last Wed. And it showed up Monday this week. Above expectations for a budget upper. Customer service and ship times have improved greatly. Check out their industry forum here.
View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Quote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
I personally would stay away from PSA...just my experience  customer service & slow shipping...in my instances.
Check out Legal Transfers here for Rock River uppers, great prices
Jason & Josh at Andro are great & have some great quality hardware.
Windham, Anderson,Spikes also have very fairly priced hardware as well.
BCM is probably the best of them all though...My opinion


I just ordered an upper for my nephew from PSA last Wed. And it showed up Monday this week. Above expectations for a budget upper. Customer service and ship times have improved greatly. Check out their industry forum here.


Yeah PSA has GREATLY improved their shipping and customer service game over the last few months. They used to ship whenever they got around to it, generally at least a week or more. But lately they're shipping the next day with fast shipping. I think they'll probably become even more popular than they were before running the way they are now. I don't understand why anybody would knock them either. They make an excellent product and even put out premium products that I believe are just as good as the big name guys. Like their uppers that come with FN made barrels or their premium BCG's that come heavily staked and include an HPT and MPI bolt.
10/30/2016 4:04:42 PM EDT
[#22]
Lots of choices at MAS Defense and you can customize some as well.   I got a 16" and a 10.5 from them this year.  Just got the 10.5 last week.  One week from order to my front door, NC to PA.

http://www.shop.masdefense.com/main.sc
11/1/2016 4:12:08 AM EDT
[#23]
Quote History
Quoted:
Andro Corp Industries.

Best quality for the price.

Jason and ACI are great to deal with. Superior customer service!
View Quote


this.
11/6/2016 12:57:15 AM EDT
[#24]
I have had a good look Hardened Arms and their stuff, and in my personal experience i was not impressed at all. The quality seemed bottom barrel. And their site does the whole "military grade"  or "Top Quality" and "Used by SWAT teams".
11/6/2016 1:03:31 AM EDT
[#25]
I just ordered two of the Midlength Mock Dissipator Mag-pull Rifle Kits from Palmetto State Armory.  I think someone messed up and listed them for 379.00. Which is why i bought TWO!  No less than 15 min later they were "Out of stock" and another 15 min they were back listed at 559.00.  They shipped within three days and should be here Wednesday.
11/8/2016 3:36:30 PM EDT
[#26]
Quoted:
Lots of choices at MAS Defense and you can customize some as well.   I got a 16" and a 10.5 from them this year.  Just got the 10.5 last week.  One week from order to my front door, NC to PA.

http://www.shop.masdefense.com/main.sc
View Quote


I can vouch for these guys. I've seen 10+ barreled uppers and all shot perfectly and were probably the cleanest upper assembly jobs I've ever seen.
11/13/2016 1:08:15 PM EDT
[#27]
This thread is kind of old but primary arms has Troy complete uppers with FF rail and front and rear Troy sights for $525. Sounds like an excellent value!

I have never tried Troy uppers.
11/13/2016 1:59:27 PM EDT
[#28]
I just built a 223 wylde varmint barreled upper for $350.

You guys are spending too much money

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