Picking an upper.

[10-Ring]

I'm going to be building my first AR, and could use some advice on the upper. I'm thinking of a 16"-20" (.223) barrel with a flat top. I'm leaning towards the Safari Arms 16'' with a fluted barrel. Anyone have experience with this brand? Anything or brands I should avoid?

[Yugo]

what ever you get buy 5.56 not .223 that way you dont have to worry about what caliber to shoot. The 5.56 barrel can shoot both but the .223 can only shoot .223

[10-Ring]

I thought they were the same. Guess I've been away from the shooting world far too long. I've got some catching up to do.

[Hakoomay]

the difference is in the pressures of the round when fired.

5.56 has higher pressures when fired than .223, but they look 99% identical on the outside and their dimensions.

so 5.56 uppers can shoot both 5.56 and .223 but .223 uppers cannot shoot 5.56

edit: .223 uppers can shoot 5.56 but the repetitive high pressure will ruin the upper much quicker...

[Pimpin007]

Like they said just to be safe get a 5.56 upper

[SuperSet]

Too many good ones to recommend just one. As a general rule, get stainless if you want to go for precision and chrome lined for durability.

[IPSICK]

Too many good ones to recommend just one. As a general rule, get stainless if you want to go for precision and chrome lined for durability.

Don't forget nitrided barrels.

[t0kie]

No experience with the brand you mentioned, but a lot of great manuf. out there, so again it depends on your budget.

[10-Ring]

I don't want to go too crazy, but then again, I've gone cheap before and regretted it. Most of what interests me seems to run in the $600-$800 range. By the way, it will be mostly used for plinking, but if someday I actually have some spare time, I will use it to thin out the coyotes around here.

[The Virus]

PSA Dissipater

[negolien]

Try a new frontier armory g-tach in 18" I' am very happy with mine and their a calguns vendor.

[10-Ring]

No experience with the brand you mentioned, but a lot of great manuf. out there, so again it depends on your budget.

I Don't know what I was thinking. It's actually Olympic Arms.

[10-Ring]

This is what I have in mind, but would prefer 18"-20".

http://http://olyarms.net/index.php?...emart&Itemid=5

[Winchester 73]

Noveske

[pinoy916]

nitride, melonite, stainless, chrome lined...lol

you dont need a $450 Noveske barrel, even though thats my barrel of choice along with many others. most important is a good barrel, quality bcg and good billet reciever.

Noveske if you can, Black Rain Ordnance brrels, Wilson Combat, FN, YHM, DD, Spikes FN M249, Sabre Defence (if you can find one), Krieger... Too many...