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Posted: 3/17/2015 10:32:27 AM EDT
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I have noticed that almost all billet upper, or lower for that matter, look a little different from forged ones. Mainly billet ones are little more square and straighter and sharper lines. For example, the wedge for forward assist would have a flat surface rather than round on forged ones.
So I got a billet upper from Rock City Arms Assembled Billet Upper. I was a bit skeptical that it was actually billet at this price point, and it looks more like a forged one, but thought it's worth a try. Received it and indeed it looks identical to a forged upper so I thought they might have made a mistake in their description. However, when I looked closer, I see very fine tooling and milling marks so it is indeed a billet milled. It also does not have the forging identifier below the rail. My question is why most billet uppers have a slightly different appearance? Is it for strength? ease or milling? or put it differently, is there any disadvantage to have a billet upper that look identical to a forged one? Other than you can't tell right away it's a billet upper of course. |
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Quoted:
They still have to machine forged ones... That looks like a forged to me. Which is fine, but I think you were right in that they have their description messed up The machine marks on this is very different from anything I have seen on forged ones, much more like a billet lower that I have. For example, there are clear mill lines on the surface of shell deflector, and in all the crests where mill would change direction. Looked at it again, noticed it's made by SOTA arms https://www.sotaarms.com/component/jshopping/product/view/3/11?Itemid=0 There is high resolution pictures that you can see what I am talking about. At this point, I don't doubt that this is indeed billet. Just curious why this one is made to look exactly like a forged while most other billet ones look a bit distinctive. |
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Quoted:
The machine marks on this is very different from anything I have seen on forged ones, much more like a billet lower that I have. For example, there are clear mill lines on the surface of shell deflector, and in all the crests where mill would change direction. Looked at it again, noticed it's made by SOTA arms https://www.sotaarms.com/component/jshopping/product/view/3/11?Itemid=0 There is high resolution pictures that you can see what I am talking about. At this point, I don't doubt that this is indeed billet. Just curious why this one is made to look exactly like a forged while most other billet ones look a bit distinctive. Quoted:
Quoted:
They still have to machine forged ones... That looks like a forged to me. Which is fine, but I think you were right in that they have their description messed up The machine marks on this is very different from anything I have seen on forged ones, much more like a billet lower that I have. For example, there are clear mill lines on the surface of shell deflector, and in all the crests where mill would change direction. Looked at it again, noticed it's made by SOTA arms https://www.sotaarms.com/component/jshopping/product/view/3/11?Itemid=0 There is high resolution pictures that you can see what I am talking about. At this point, I don't doubt that this is indeed billet. Just curious why this one is made to look exactly like a forged while most other billet ones look a bit distinctive. I can buy it, those pics do look just different enough from regular forgings, good price |
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I like it. I think they did the right thing by keeping the price down though. If it was double the price for something that looks the same as a forging, there wouldn't be much incentive to purchase one. I think the style of the typical billet upper's have their place and some look good with certain lowers.
Edit: Anyone remember the name of the company that sold uppers with their "state" on the upper during the last frenzy? This isn't the same company is it? |
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