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Posted: 12/28/2014 4:15:38 AM EDT
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Hey all.
It's been a while since I posted up on here. I do a lot more thread lurking and reading than I do posting. So I have decided to get back into the AR game... because another build would be fun. There are some features that I am trying to nail down. First: It's a pistol. I am going to build it to 10.5". Barrel will at least be melonited, though I am considering getting a 16" carbine length system barrel (chromed), and getting it chopped down. The melonite/nitride treated barrels are very affordable, and I'll take anything that extends barrel life over nothing that does. I am using an Aero Precision Ghost Gun lower for laughs. They are also local enough to me...and I like supporting local when I can. Getting Sig Brace kit this paycheck. Upper... this is where I just hit a snag. I would like to get a slick sided upper. From what I can tell, there are three that are within my means, and the price variance is wide on them. Aero makes one, and it looks nice. It's roughly 100 bucks. DPMS makes one, but for less money, I can support a business in my own state. Spike's has one, Roughly $120, but read that it is probably an Aero with spider roll marks. Lol. If that is the case, why not buy at the source? Anderson Manufacturing. Budget player. Know little about them. Make a slick side with deflector. No FA, no dust cover. I like this idea. Anyone use this upper in a non-blemish capacity? They are cheap, like $40-50 cheap. Does anyone know how their finish matches up with other makers? Quality of actual part? I like the minimalist look, and the lack of features I generally don't use. Trying to mix up budget and features where they matter. The Anderson is half the price of the Aero, but does that mean that it is by nature going to be a lower quality piece? Looking to snag the stripped upper within a week. |
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I think Aero is a truly great value, and you could be confident that any variance in the finish between your upper and lower wouldn't be glaringly obvious.
I recently bought three Anderson uppers to use for upcoming builds. This is my first experience with their receivers and to be honest, I feel like it's quality made, although the finish is unique. That isn't to say it's substandard, but it doesn't really match any of my other lowers (Aero, ARFCOM, Spikes, Palmetto). It looks evenly applied and consistent. It would probably match an Anderson lower, but the texture just isn't quite the same as any lowers that I own. I picked up the uppers stripped for I think $39.99 each, plus $18ish each for an UPK for an approximate total of $60 in each sans shipping. If I had it to do over again, I probably would have just ponied up the extra $40/ea for Aero uppers. 
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I was thinking either a Radical, or AR Stoner barrel. Either of those are Melonited.
Are you saying use an Aero barrel for the QPQ/Nitrocarburizing process? Or that it would be the best possible fit given their parts? I don't like the FSB, and wanted to go with a low profile gas block. I know I could always cut that block down, give the cuts a clean up, and bury it under a quad rail... Just wanting to know what gives the Aero barrel the edge? I'm not opposed to buying Aero stuff at all, and the barrel meets my desires of: some form of treatment, 1:7 twist, and 4150 steel. |
Well, the Aero non-FA receivers blew out fast. I watched the blems sell out first. The next day, the stripped ones went. Today, I watched the assembled uppers go out of stock. My funds deposit to my bank in the morning 
As much as I would like to get all Aero stuff for the core of the gun (upper, lower, barrel, BCG, gas block)... I put in an order for an Anderson slick side at AIM. If the finish doesn't match either: I will deal with it, or I will paint them to match. A pair of OD Green receivers and black everything else would look nice. Lol. Ordering the pistol brace kit in the morning. |
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Ballistic Advantage also has quality value barrels. Similar to Rainier, they have different product lines to accommodate different budgets. The finish on their barrels is more of a shiny black (which I prefer) as opposed to some of the matte black finishes on say a PSA barrel.
I think you'll be pleased with the Anderson slick side uppers. |
| Thanks for the heads up. Pinned the barrel for later reference. The way things are going...I'll take whichever is in stock when the funds are there. I'm really building to a set of desired specs anyway. As long as the specs are what I want, I supposed I shouldn't be so manufacturer picky... plenty of franken-guns run great. Lol. Put in the order for the Sig Super brace kit from KAK. Everything that I have read says they are GTG. I liked the overall look and ideal behind the product. |
| Ok. Got the upper and brace kit today. The upper fits pretty nice on the lower (though not pinned yet, because I don't have LPK). The finish is darker on the Anderson upper, vs. the Aero lower; it isn't overly noticeable in normal light. The camera flash really accentuates it though. All in all, seems a decent part for a rather wallet friendly price. Sig Brace kit is what it is. I am not overly impressed... but it is exactly what I thought it would be, and that isn't a bad thing. The KAK kit seems decent. No instructions... but if you need instructions for that sort of thing... you should be lobotomized with a rock. Lol. |
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