Side Charging Upper Options

[NorCalFocus]

I'm doing research for my next build. Its going to be built mostly with my son in mind. I'm going to make it into a manually operated rifle by blocking off the gas port and not putting in a gas tube. Because I/he will need to cycle the bolt every time, I want to make it easier to do.

I know about Gibbz Arms and their product is damn nice. But $250 for their upper is money I can put into other parts of the gun that matter more. I also found the Gun Fighter side charging drop in, but for $150, I might as well go with the Gibbz by time I buy a upper receiver on top of that. Then you have your basic knob on the BCG and milled upper. Which being this would be a manually operated rifle wouldn't be bad because its not going to be moving. But where can I get one of those? Can I install a knob myself on a BCG?

So any thoughts, opinions, concerns, experience, or just mall ninja wisdom would be appreciated.

[phase1]

Tagged

[L84CABO]

Doesn't JP Enterprises do a side charging setup? They might have something that would work for you. I'm sure it's not cheap though.

[Fozzie TheBear]

I rolled the dice on this one from MAS Defense. Haven't built an upper with it yet but it looks nice and works with a number of different caliber BCGs as is.

[justjeff]

I have the LAR OPS-4 side charging upper on mine.


Here are the specs of my rifle 20". They made a right side, left side and ambi charging for the uppers. They are gtg!

[ttshooter]

I have not seen any of these but I would not get one made of 6061 alum. 7075 is 60% stronger! And will hold up better when sliding the charging handle back and forth. The ano will hold up better on 7075

https://www.onlinemetals.com/productguides/aluminumguide.cfm

http://www.xproducts.com/x-15-scu-side-charging-ar-upper

Not sure what alum it is made of.

http://www.americanspiritarms.com/upper-receivers/asa-ar-15-m4-side-charger-upper-receiver-without-carrier/

Made of 7075 alum.

https://www.matrix-arms.com/product/556-side-charging-upper/

Made of 7075 alum

https://newfrontierarmory.com/shop/side-charging-ar-15-stripped-billet-upper-receiver/

Made of 6061 alum

I do have a Gun Fighter side charging handle and got a Nickel Teflon Upper Receiver so it would slide nice and smooth.

[NATEWA]

JP makes one but it's very expensive.

http://www.brownells.com/rifle-parts/receiver-parts/receivers/upper-receivers/ar-15-psc-11-side-charging-upper-prod45166.aspx

JP also makes an adjustable gas block that you can shut off. This may be a good option if your son wants to make it a semi auto later on.

[NorCalFocus]

Doesn't JP Enterprises do a side charging setup? They might have something that would work for you. I'm sure it's not cheap though.

I think I did see that. JP stuff is awesome, but I'm not spending JP money on this rifle.

I rolled the dice on this one from MAS Defense. Haven't built an upper with it yet but it looks nice and works with a number of different caliber BCGs as is.

I have not seen any of these but I would not get one made of 6061 alum. 7075 is 60% stronger! And will hold up better when sliding the charging handle back and forth. The ano will hold up better on 7075

https://www.onlinemetals.com/productguides/aluminumguide.cfm

http://www.xproducts.com/x-15-scu-side-charging-ar-upper

Not sure what alum it is made of.

http://www.americanspiritarms.com/upper-receivers/asa-ar-15-m4-side-charger-upper-receiver-without-carrier/

Made of 7075 alum.

https://www.matrix-arms.com/product/556-side-charging-upper/

Made of 7075 alum

https://newfrontierarmory.com/shop/side-charging-ar-15-stripped-billet-upper-receiver/

Made of 6061 alum

I do have a Gun Fighter side charging handle and got a Nickel Teflon Upper Receiver so it would slide nice and smooth.

All those are just like the Gibbz, which I'd rather go with if I go that way. They're here in AZ so thats why.

How does the GF work for you? Ever feel like your torquing it sideways or any flex in it?

I have the LAR OPS-4 side charging upper on mine.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/junior00jay/DSC_0221_zpsb009926f.jpg

Here are the specs of my rifle 20". They made a right side, left side and ambi charging for the uppers. They are gtg!

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...psa6fd9568.jpg

That looks great and at $300 including the BCG, its not a bad deal. But a quick google search and it looks like they're not available any longer.

[NorCalFocus]

JP makes one but it's very expensive.

http://www.brownells.com/rifle-parts/receiver-parts/receivers/upper-receivers/ar-15-psc-11-side-charging-upper-prod45166.aspx

JP also makes an adjustable gas block that you can shut off. This may be a good option if your son wants to make it a semi auto later on.

If I won the Power Ball, I would have JP build me a rifle. LOL

[strongpoint]

I've got a featureless build going around a Crosshill Technologies ambi side-charging upper.

[NorCalFocus]

I've got a featureless build going around a Crosshill Technologies ambi side-charging upper.

Again that looks great, but Google Fu says they're not avaliable any longer either.

[strongpoint]

Side Charging Upper Options

Again that looks great, but Google Fu says they're not avaliable any longer either.

What are you looking at? I bought it brand-new, direct from the company, not two weeks ago. Their online store shows both the older XSR-15 and the newer XSR2 as available. They're sold out at the moment, but they're not out of production.

[elemenope]

I just ordered a New Frontier Armory side charger. It basically looks just like the Gibbz/xproducts and several others. Non reciprocating upper for $225 is not bad at all. Gonna put it on a 9mm 80% i'm building.

[NATEWA]

I have not seen any of these but I would not get one made of 6061 alum. 7075 is 60% stronger! And will hold up better when sliding the charging handle back and forth. The ano will hold up better on 7075

https://www.onlinemetals.com/productguides/aluminumguide.cfm

http://www.xproducts.com/x-15-scu-side-charging-ar-upper

Not sure what alum it is made of.

http://www.americanspiritarms.com/upper-receivers/asa-ar-15-m4-side-charger-upper-receiver-without-carrier/

Made of 7075 alum.

https://www.matrix-arms.com/product/556-side-charging-upper/

Made of 7075 alum

https://newfrontierarmory.com/shop/side-charging-ar-15-stripped-billet-upper-receiver/

Made of 6061 alum

I do have a Gun Fighter side charging handle and got a Nickel Teflon Upper Receiver so it would slide nice and smooth.

The matrix upper look nice! I like their complete uppers.

https://www.matrix-arms.com/product/5-56-complete-upper/

[NorCalFocus]

What are you looking at? I bought it brand-new, direct from the company, not two weeks ago. Their online store shows both the older XSR-15 and the newer XSR2 as available. They're sold out at the moment, but they're not out of production.

Ah okay, thanks. I looked at Joe Bob's and then their site and thought WTH.