AR upper dilemma/questions

[squatting_caveboy]

Pricing out my first AR and don't want to spend a ton of money. Wanting to build a very basic 20" M16 style AR w/ detachable carry handle, A2 buttstock, etc...

I already have a line on a Spikes lower for $89 bucks. It's the upper I need some advice on.....

Can anyone chime in and give your 2 cents on brands of complete uppers that are decent and won't break the bank? Are Stag 4H's or DPMS's ok? Any others?

And finally, a dumb question....should I look for a .223 or a 5.56 NATO upper? DPMS and other's have them listed separately - I thought .223 and 5.56 were one and the same??!!

Thanks!

[Noobert]

Stag and RRA are your best bet

[818gtiguy]

Get a Bravo Company upper and call it a done deal! A lil more than a RRA or a Stag, but you get ALOT more!!They are some of the best quality out there.. Check em out bravocompanyusa.com

[technique]

Get a 5.56 chamber with whoever you go with.
You can then shoot 5.56 and .223. Not the other way around.

[818gtiguy]

5.56 has more pressure so the chamber is different..It has more space in it..Like tech said,get a true 5.56 chamber unless you wanna make it a precision sniper rifle, get a Wylde chamber...Both of my ARs are BCMs with 5.56 chambers..

[cmaynes]

Get a Bravo Company upper and call it a done deal! A lil more than a RRA or a Stag, but you get ALOT more!!They are some of the best quality out there.. Check em out bravocompanyusa.com

BCM and LMT make great reasonably priced uppers....

you could troll around for a Colt as well- the 20" configuration is not as popular as the M4 style. Check out Shotgun News for more info on that.

[squatting_caveboy]

Thanks guys!

The RRA 20" uppers are .223 chambered

http://www.rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=267

I must be missing something here....assume they make a 5.56?

[Noobert]

However it is a wylde chamber, so you can use both

[BlackMark]

Del-Ton makes a reasonably priced upper. My son just finished his build using one and it is quite nice. Spikes also makes a great upper. I just finished a dedicated .22lr Spikes AR using a Spikes upper and lower and it is beautiful,with a very tight fit between the upper and lower.

[aplinker]

.223 Wylde is not the same as .223Rem

.223 Wylde is designed to take 5.56 but to be accurate like a .223.

Your needs and uses are better indicators of what upper you should get. 20", to me, should be geared toward accuracy. I would use a SS barrel, 1/8, and a Wylde or Match chamber in a medium-ish profile - something along the National Match or Predator Pursuit from RRA - or get one from White Oak (even better). Sabre has some nice stuff, as well.