Good but economically priced AR15 upper for predator calling?

C

CaliCoyoteCaller

New member
Guys,

I wanna build a good shooting AR for predator calling. I have my lower, and Im ordering a 3# Velocity trigger to put in it, but I dont know much about building AR's and there are so many complete uppers out there. Any suggestions on a decent made upper than dont cost a kidney to purchase. I would like the gun to shoot sub moa, which is not asking a ton, considering I have a stock, Wyndham Weaponry that will shoot it and I paid $800 for the whole rifle. Thanks.
 
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what kind of budget do you have planned? what kind of ranges are you planning on shooting it at?
does your budget include optics or is that separate from the upper budget?
 
Watch for DPMS full uppers when on sale they have a 20 in match grade that is very accurate, I got one and put it on my Bush Master I use it for target shooting I reload my own so that way I can make up a load that shoots very good in it. good luck
 
Originally Posted By: Plant.Onewhat kind of budget do you have planned? what kind of ranges are you planning on shooting it at?
does your budget include optics or is that separate from the upper budget?

I was hoping to keep it around $400 for the upper, and that does NOT include the optic. Just the complete upper with BCG. Distances are at least 350 yards. I dont shoot much past that cause I call'em as close as possible, but if I need to, I want to hit the mark.
 
Originally Posted By: BEN25.06Watch for DPMS full uppers when on sale they have a 20 in match grade that is very accurate, I got one and put it on my Bush Master I use it for target shooting I reload my own so that way I can make up a load that shoots very good in it. good luck

Thanks. Ive heard good things about the dpms uppers. Ill check them out.
 
with a $400 budget... thats going to be a little tight for a quality upper right now. i'm not saying its not possible, but... ya.. its gonna be tight. Maybe one of the vendors here can help you out though
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if you go el-cheapo on a couple mil spec parts you might be able to pull off a build with a respectable barrel for close to that price though.

this is a $500 build that will probably exceed your expectations. again if you bargain shop the [beeep] out of some of the stuff (find used in the classifieds, etc) you can probably drop this right [beeep] near to your $400 budget.

$225 barrel - white oak 20" 'pre ban' service rifle barrel - the barrel is where you want to invest your $$ in an upper. thats 90% of the accuracy game right there.


$80 upper - Aero Precision AR15 Assembled Upper Receiver-Black-W/ Forward Assist & Dust Cover Installed (joebobs)

$99 bcg/ch combo - PSA (runs as a daily deal all the time)

$30 - gas block / gas tube (joebobs has them, so if you're ordering stuff anyway... combined shipping and all that)

$65 - Matrix Arms Foxtrot KeyMod Handguard 13" (includes barrel nut) (joebobs)

$5 A2 birdcage flash hider




midway has AR Stoner barrels on sale right now.. there's a 20" SDM barrel for $120 right now, but i dont know how the quality is on them. Would put you a LOT closer to your budget... maybe someone can chime in on this or other good barrels that are on sale.


i can say this much though, if you go the WOA route and spend a few extra $ i dont think you'll be unhappy with the result. They have a great reputation and mine is MOA Or better with factory ammo and i still havent had a chance to see how it does with handloads (hopefully i'll get to ladder it this weekend!) i've seen more than a couple reports of them being capable of bughole type groups with handloads!
 
Id suggest a ar15performance barrel. I have several from him and they all shoot great 223 Wylde, 6.8spc, and 5.56x42.

Im using one of his 18" 223 Wylde 3R 8 Twist that shoots amazingly good.

Took a doe this season at 510 yards with a 77gr TMK. I was goin to shoot it in a 600 YD Fclass but time got tight and had to put the FLIR back on it for hog hunting.
80Gr SMK got down to 6.75" 10 shot groups at 600yds on one day of load development.

52 Gr AMAX in new LC brass with Benchmark would hold 5 rounds on half of a hot hands at 300 yards so a little under 2" with the FLIR Thermal. I couldn't ask anymore than that from a Hunting rig.

Dropped another doe with it at 625 yds on the first shot on a Deer Depredation. It cleans up really quick with the R rifling and im up past 700 rounds since the last cleaning i think.
 
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That's a tight budget for a complete upper with bolt, you've probably heard the old saying "you get what you pay for". You want to spend $400 on something sub-moa which "isn't asking a ton" yet you paid $800 for a complete Windham which must not be sub-moa and I wouldn't expect it to be. You essentially want a better rifle for less money.

Check out aero precision, you can usually get a complete upper from them (minus bolt) for $400. In my opinion $400 will get you something that will go bang but not much else. Other than that i'd suggest spending a little more an getting a complete upper from a reputable manufacturer like rock river/stag/dpms etc. that will back the accuracy you're looking for.

If your building one, pick up a Larue barrel for $225.
 
Originally Posted By: LARUEminatiThat's a tight budget for a complete upper with bolt, you've probably heard the old saying "you get what you pay for". You want to spend $400 on something sub-moa which "isn't asking a ton" yet you paid $800 for a complete Windham which must not be sub-moa and I wouldn't expect it to be. You essentially want a better rifle for less money.

Check out aero precision, you can usually get a complete upper from them (minus bolt) for $400. In my opinion $400 will get you something that will go bang but not much else. Other than that i'd suggest spending a little more an getting a complete upper from a reputable manufacturer like rock river/stag/dpms etc. that will back the accuracy you're looking for.

If your building one, pick up a Larue barrel for $225.

I thought about it a lot last night, and decided to wait a lil longer and buy a better upper. Save a lil more money, and not regret what I buy.........Thanks for all the help guys. Ill be checking out the vendors you mentioned...As for the Wyndham being sub-moa, I will tell you that shooting off a table with towels as a rest, it is sub-moa with good ammo. I didnt shoot handloads through it, but with quality factory stuff, it will certainly shoot sub moa.
 
start buying parts now. get what you can afford and save up for the rest.

uppers are stupid easy to build - with a very minimal tool selection - especially with a free float handguard setup.

just a thought
smile.gif
 
Originally Posted By: Plant.Onestart buying parts now. get what you can afford and save up for the rest.

uppers are stupid easy to build - with a very minimal tool selection - especially with a free float handguard setup.

just a thought
smile.gif





I been looking and I can buy a White Oak Armament barrel, and upper receiver, and build a nice upper cheaper than buying it....I think thats the route im going.....Ill just have to watch lots of Youtube to know how to build it lol
 
You do get what you paid for..

However..

I was building one for a back-up and wanted it for the kids to use as they are now getting big enough to come with me.

I built out the lower and made sure to put in the RRA 2 stage competition trigger, colapse stock and all.

But for the upper, i figured, it's for the kids..
i got this
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/221905/...-nato-16-barrel
for $330
It has the 9 twist and i put the 4-12 bdc nikon on it..
I went to range and prayed it would shoot 1" groups..

When i was done with break in, with factory 53vmax hornady ammo. I was completely stunned at the first group. See for yourself. I haven't even bothered to start working up a load for it yet. Why? when you are getting groups like that, for now I am just using the factory ammo.

 
Originally Posted By: CaliCoyoteCaller

I been looking and I can buy a White Oak Armament barrel, and upper receiver, and build a nice upper cheaper than buying it....I think thats the route im going.....Ill just have to watch lots of Youtube to know how to build it lol




if you buy an assembled BCG and are building a flat top upper you wont need but a hammer, some drift pins, the torque wrench, an armorers wrench, some masking tape, antiseize & pliers. roll pin starter punches arent necessary but they are a BIG help - especially for getting the roll pin through the gas block/tube.

putting an upper togther takes... 20-30 mins depending on how well the roll pins cooperate for you
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as long as you're going to be building this is a great starter tool kit to put uppers together

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/491335/...-essentials-kit


trust me when i say once you build one and realize how easy it is... its a lot like Lays potato chips... nobody can eat build just one
smile.gif
 
Originally Posted By: Tbone-AZYou do get what you paid for..

However..

I was building one for a back-up and wanted it for the kids to use as they are now getting big enough to come with me.

I built out the lower and made sure to put in the RRA 2 stage competition trigger, colapse stock and all.

But for the upper, i figured, it's for the kids..
i got this
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/221905/...-nato-16-barrel
for $330
It has the 9 twist and i put the 4-12 bdc nikon on it..
I went to range and prayed it would shoot 1" groups..

When i was done with break in, with factory 53vmax hornady ammo. I was completely stunned at the first group. See for yourself. I haven't even bothered to start working up a load for it yet. Why? when you are getting groups like that, for now I am just using the factory ammo.



wow wow wow...very impressivE! who needs high dollar barrels or reloads with those groups....wowzers! what distance is that group? 50 yards?
 


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