Advice on building an upper?

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Advice on building an upper?

Postby jdege on Sat Jan 19, 2019 8:30 pm

I've been thinking about building a takedown AR-15 upper receiver, using Cry Havok's QRB:

Image

Thing is, I've never built an upper, and was looking for advice.

Or, rather, a pointer to a few good resources.

Where should I go for info on parts, tools, techniques?
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Re: Advice on building an upper?

Postby Ghost on Sat Jan 19, 2019 8:42 pm

Midway USA or Brownells videos.

Tools: beam style torque wrench, armorers tool, vise w/clamshell or vise with Geissele reaction rod (preferred)

That’s for normal as I know nothing about that device. Uppers aren’t difficult if you can change your own oil you have the skill set.
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Re: Advice on building an upper?

Postby Holland&Holland on Sat Jan 19, 2019 11:23 pm

Good advice from Ghost.

I have to ask though what is the appeal of taking it down at the barrel? Every ar is already a takedown with 2 pins.
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Re: Advice on building an upper?

Postby jdege on Sat Jan 19, 2019 11:33 pm

Holland&Holland wrote:Good advice from Ghost.

I have to ask though what is the appeal of taking it down at the barrel? Every ar is already a takedown with 2 pins.


Length.

Length of the barrel alone is significantly less than of the barrel+ upper receiver, which means it will fit in a much shorter case or pack.
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Re: Advice on building an upper?

Postby jdege on Sat Jan 19, 2019 11:35 pm

Ghost wrote:Midway USA or Brownells videos.

Tools: beam style torque wrench, armorers tool, vise w/clamshell or vise with Geissele reaction rod (preferred)

That’s for normal as I know nothing about that device. Uppers aren’t difficult if you can change your own oil you have the skill set.


These?

How to Build An AR-15 Video

Thanks.
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Re: Advice on building an upper?

Postby Ghost on Sun Jan 20, 2019 6:01 am

jdege wrote:
Ghost wrote:Midway USA or Brownells videos.

Tools: beam style torque wrench, armorers tool, vise w/clamshell or vise with Geissele reaction rod (preferred)

That’s for normal as I know nothing about that device. Uppers aren’t difficult if you can change your own oil you have the skill set.


These?

How to Build An AR-15 Video

Thanks.

And these

https://www.midwayusa.com/how-to-guides/how-to-build-ar-15-rifle

In the Midway video Larry shows a lot more than has been needed for me. I normally buy uppers with the ejection port cover installed now. Also I buy the bcg ready to run and pre-staked. Also I screw on my muzzle device.

Last upper I assembled was a LaRue ultimate upper, it took maybe 10 minutes.
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Advice on building an upper?

Postby INOR on Sun Jan 20, 2019 7:24 am

Spendy but the F&D XAR folding upper is cool. Folds at the barrel/upper junction. Combine that with a folding stock adapter and it’s a pretty short little package. But I don’t think they sell just the folding parts for the upper. Think you have to buy the full gun or a complete upper.


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Re: Advice on building an upper?

Postby Holland&Holland on Sun Jan 20, 2019 8:24 am

Larry Potterfield does an awesome job with his vids.

I’ve built 9 now but still watch his vids before as a refresher.
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Re: Advice on building an upper?

Postby BigBlue on Sun Jan 20, 2019 9:34 am

Others have posted links to how-tos. I'll just add that building an upper is not complicated. I was worried when I built my .308 last year but nothing is difficult and there are tons of resources to guide you on each part. The most challenging part for me was putting the muzzle device on because I found a bunch of conflicting info on crush washers and torques and clocking and mine was finicky. But it all came together nice.

I have a post about my build: viewtopic.php?f=8&t=59481

I strongly recommend Aero Precision. Great quality stuff!

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Re: Advice on building an upper?

Postby Bearcatrp on Sun Jan 20, 2019 10:22 am

Why not build a pistol, depending on caliber, with a folding stock. 6.5 Grendel would be my vote. Or even a 300BO, depending on your range requirements.
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Re: Advice on building an upper?

Postby Holland&Holland on Sun Jan 20, 2019 10:50 am

Bearcatrp wrote:Why not build a pistol, depending on caliber, with a folding stock. 6.5 Grendel would be my vote. Or even a 300BO, depending on your range requirements.

I would just go sbr myself, but build what you like.

I really wonder how such a removalble barrel assembly holds up over time and maintains accuracy
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Re: Advice on building an upper?

Postby Ghost on Sun Jan 20, 2019 11:07 am

Holland&Holland wrote:
Bearcatrp wrote:Why not build a pistol, depending on caliber, with a folding stock. 6.5 Grendel would be my vote. Or even a 300BO, depending on your range requirements.

I would just go sbr myself, but build what you like.

I really wonder how such a removalble barrel assembly holds up over time and maintains accuracy

A little different system
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Re: Advice on building an upper?

Postby jdege on Sun Jan 20, 2019 3:20 pm

Bearcatrp wrote:Why not build a pistol, depending on caliber, with a folding stock. 6.5 Grendel would be my vote. Or even a 300BO, depending on your range requirements.

I might, as a future build.

Truthfully, I have enough guns. It makes no sense to waste time and resources on another just because I think a takedown would be neat.

It'd make even less sense to build something as pointless as an AR pistol.

So I'll probably do it, some day.
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Re: Advice on building an upper?

Postby Ghost on Sun Jan 20, 2019 5:08 pm

jdege wrote:
Bearcatrp wrote:Why not build a pistol, depending on caliber, with a folding stock. 6.5 Grendel would be my vote. Or even a 300BO, depending on your range requirements.

I might, as a future build.

Truthfully, I have enough guns. It makes no sense to waste time and resources on another just because I think a takedown would be neat.

It'd make even less sense to build something as pointless as an AR pistol.

So I'll probably do it, some day.

You could hunt in the shotgun zone with a pistol.
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