Spare upper, opinions needed.

[Ride4frnt]

Since UWone77 graciously got me a CMT billet upper for my 18" build through the giveaway, I now have a spare forged upper at home and I'm thinking about the possibilities for it.

Rifles I currently have are a 14.5" 5.56, 16" 5.56, 16" .300blk and the 18" 5.56. Basically I want to look into my options for another upper, or possibly a pistol.

What would you do with a spare upper in this case? I've thought about the alternatives like 6.5 Grendel, 6.8 SPC etc. it's a possibility but I'm not sure I want to buy ammo for another caliber. Although if I do go 6.8 it will double as a deer gun for me.

Keep in mind that my options are limited to building just an upper and swapping it onto one of my existing lowers, or using an 80% and building that way. Maryland won't let me buy anymore lowers.

Right now I think I may be leaning toward a pistol build on top of an 80% lower (ares, JMT, etc) Does anyone have any experience with these lowers?

[Airborne_EWO]

Wilson Combat .458 SOCOM FTW!

WC usually has their barrel/matched bolt sets on sale. This is what I really want to build next.

Sent from the center of the universe!

[Aragorn]

If you're looking to possibly do a pistol, a 8.5" in 300blk would be a pretty sweet house gun. Or even just in general. It's what I was going to do with mine until I priced ammo.

[UWone77]

Wilson Combat .458 SOCOM FTW!

WC usually has their barrel/matched bolt sets on sale. This is what I really want to build next.

Sent from the center of the universe!

What exactly is the purpose of .458 SOCOM?

[Airborne_EWO]

What exactly is the purpose of .458 SOCOM?

From my own research as I have no practical experience with this round, YET

As the name implies, it was originally designed for the SF community as an alternative to 5.56 for tactical applications. From researching it works great with subsonic and a supressor as well as non-supressed.

Seems like it would be the ultimate 1 shot round for home defense in an AR platform. Works with a standard lower and mag with no issues. Only thing that needs to be done is to open up the ejection port on the upper to provide clearance for the larger brass.

It also would be great for hunting hog with its 300-600g bullets.

Edit: not sure if WC has them in stock or not, but for $500-$600 you get a barrel, BCG, adjustable gas block & tube, and a flash hider/supressor adaptor.

Sent from the center of the universe!

[Ride4frnt]

If you're looking to possibly do a pistol, a 8.5" in 300blk would be a pretty sweet house gun. Or even just in general. It's what I was going to do with mine until I priced ammo.

We do reload at home, and I have a surplus of .300blk, but where that round really shines is suppressed, and I have all supersonic rounds. I have no suppressors nor do I aspire (at the moment) to deal with the NFA. If I do a pistol it will likely be a 10.5" 5.56 on a 80% lower. I could be persuaded into .300blk again but it's not on the top of my list.

Truth be told I'm dealing with A LOT of issues right now, and spare money is what is being used to finance guns. It's what makes me happy. This and fishing. And lord knows I have as much in 2 rods and reels as I do in one of my rifles.

[Aragorn]

Hmmm, just threw that out as it seemed quite a bit different from anything else in your stable. The 6.8 to double as a hunting gun isn't a horrid idea, or you could always do a clone of some sort.

[Ride4frnt]

Hmmm, just threw that out as it seemed quite a bit different from anything else in your stable. The 6.8 to double as a hunting gun isn't a horrid idea, or you could always do a clone of some sort.

Don't get me wrong, it's a fantastic idea, but after the first .300blk build I'm kind of reluctant to do another until I have the funds to buy a can.

[Eric]

Wilson Combat .458 SOCOM FTW!

Seems like it would be the ultimate 1 shot round for home defense in an AR platform.
I typically try to avoid hijacking threads, but this is about some of the worst advice I've seen recently. It's a horrible HD round.
Over-penetration. More recoil. 9 round mag. Not to mention the highly increased cost and limited availability.

[Uffdaphil]

Another upper to consider is a S&W 5.45. The cheap mil spam cans may be banned, but other options are still cheaper than 5.56.

[Airborne_EWO]

I typically try to avoid hijacking threads, but this is about some of the worst advice I've seen recently. It's a horrible HD round.
Over-penetration. More recoil. 9 round mag. Not to mention the highly increased cost and limited availability.


Its understandable that there would be more recoil. However, that can be somewhat mitigated by using a heavy barrel, buffer, and stiffer spring. Yes, it will still kick more.

9 round mag - How many rounds do you need?

I can't disagree with the over penatration.

Only real increased cost would be the price of ammo. If you reload it helps save some money.

Again, I have no hands-on experience with this round and highly recommend that anyone building an AR do their own research first.

Sent from the center of the universe!

[UWone77]

Sounds like you need a 10.5, 11.5 or 12.5"

Contrary to most opinions, there is nothing wrong leaving that upper unbuilt for the time being!

[Ride4frnt]

Most likely will be going unbuilt for a while until I figure out what the financial situation is gonna be. Gotta keep my mind occupied otherwise thinking about it though.

[XACT_ABORT]

I chuckled to myself at the advice to leave it unbuilt because that is really the most practical advice, but I would be tempted to "do something" with it just because I have it. You have a decent variety from my perspective. I guess if it were me in the same situation with no immediate "need", andthe advantage of having been suggested the option to just sit on it, I woulddo just that. If there isn't anything glaringly missing from your lineup just hold on to it. Kick around some ideas, and wait for the clouds to part one day with sunbeams from heaven pointing you to the solution when it presents itself. That's a pretty cool existing stable by the way.

[Ride4frnt]

Well, looks like it's gonna be a pistol after all. Maryland OK'd stripped lowers today, so I'll be ordering one this week and SLOWLY building a pistol.

[UWone77]

Well, looks like it's gonna be a pistol after all. Maryland OK'd stripped lowers today, so I'll be ordering one this week and SLOWLY building a pistol.

Should have taken that San Tan Lower when you had the chance. [:D]

[Ride4frnt]

Should have taken that San Tan Lower when you had the chance. [:D]

Don't think I haven't already thought about that.

I'm very pleased with the CMT upper you guys sent me.

Now I'm in the "which lower do I want" phase.Gonna be a budget conscious build, so it's gonna be a cheaper lower, most likely a Aero blem or a spikes honey badger blem. POSSIBLY a Aero "pew" lower if they will ship them to MD. A lot of places are adamant in their decision not to ship here. JoeBob's for one (who are incredible folks to deal with) have always stuck by is Maryland folks and have said if our FFL agrees to transfer lowers then they agree to ship them, so I think I'll be giving them my business again.

[GaSwamper]

My next build is going to be pistol as well, my first. Got most of my parts already just waiting on the barrel and custom dies which are due by end of month maybe next. Since I reload and wanted something different I decided on a wildcat, the .277 Wolverine through Mad Dog Weapons. Other than the cost of the new dies the supplies are pretty reasonable since it uses .556 brass and .277/6.8 projectiles which I already have plenty of both. Forming the brass is like .300 blk but you don't have to bandsaw since it's a tad longer just size form and trim. He's already got my dies but I told him just ship with the barrel, the 16'' is already shipping but I'm doing 10.5'' so a little longer wait for me.

[avtech850]

Its understandable that there would be more recoil. However, that can be somewhat mitigated by using a heavy barrel, buffer, and stiffer spring. Yes, it will still kick more.

9 round mag - How many rounds do you need?

I can't disagree with the over penatration.

Only real increased cost would be the price of ammo. If you reload it helps save some money.

Again, I have no hands-on experience with this round and highly recommend that anyone building an AR do their own research first.

Sent from the center of the universe!

My Dad has a 458 he had built for killing nuisance hogs, It hits like a freight train.