SOTA Arms Complete Upper Review

I purchased the 5.56 upper prior to all the chaos and paid $469 for everything. I currently own an M&P and New Frontier w SOTA upper. Neither AR is top tier but both function flawlessly.
It took a month after purchase to receive my upper. Once the upper was shipped, I received a shipping notice w tracking. The upper was wrapped in foam and packaged well, not a single scratch on it.
The finish on the upper is excellent. I had no flaws or dings. The bolt still looks about new after a little over 1500 rounds. I have cleaned the bolt w clp and lubed w mobile one after every use. The barrel is very accurate w my 3 shot groups being around one inch at 100 yards. SOTA uses Wilson barrels (I believe they have another supplier too) and I'm not sure who does the rifling but I'm very satisfied with the overall product. The barrel has a 1/9 twist and has done well w all the ammo I have put through it. I know 1500 rounds is not a ton of rounds to judge the durability of the upper but so far, the product has been top notch

Is it just me... but I think your sight is on backwards.

But back to the review. 3 seperate times I have added an upper to my cart on their website but backtracked since I hadn't heard or read of any reviews about their uppers. I think you've put my skepticism to rest. When I find the one I want, I'll be snaggin' one.

Thank you sir!

Sight is on properly, it's a cheapo $150 dollar Sightmark. Has worked great so far, no issues. Looks backwards compared to EO. Rifle usually has leupold vx 2-7 on it

One more note, if u want a quad rail, SOTA will upgrade the upper to quad for $40 more. They never answered any emails I sent but they did answer when I called. I will definitely give them my future business. After they shipped the upper, it took 4 days to receive

The uppers from the last group buy SOTA let THF guys have are starting to arrive. I ordered a stainless 5.56 and a stainless .300 blk complete uppers. From what I heard it was a big group buy, so there should be a lot of guys that can add info and opinions to this thread soon.

curious to see if anyone in the most recent group buy has gotten their uppers and their thoughts on them.

I got my sota 5.56 stainless upper last weekend and got it all put together with my rock river lower. Everything fit really snug and looks to be very well. I am excited to take it to te range this weekend and see how it performs

I just received mine from the last group buy. I do not believe mine has the decal at the charging handle, but otherwise looks very well made. Now I just have to find time to get to the range and will post comments here.

I've built a few of their uppers (receivers and barrels rest of the parts I supplied) and they all worked great.

Anyone else shot their upper? I put 200 down the barrel this weekend and still no issues. I have been lucky and finding plenty of ammo at wally world. Picked up 1500 rounds of .22 and 300 rounds .223.
Hope u guys post after shooting, I'm interested in the quality control, especially during times like this.
Also, If u purchased a stainless, please post photos of complete build. Remember, even though it is stainless, it will still rust. A clear coat or wax might b something to think about

I bought one of the stainless PiePuncher, what type of coating would you recommend?

Dyna Tek. Check it out. Mobile one for lube.

Thanks puncher

I was part of big ducks 1st group buy. Thanks big duck!!!

I was very pleased with the fit and finish upon opening, and it was packaged well. I ordered a Troy rail (one that used to be on the M&P 15T) threw some magpul buis and loaded some rounds. Mine shot the hornady 110 vmax ok, 1.5" group with irons at 100yds. However with my load for 150 gr Sierra fb spitzer it shot a group best of 0.48", and averaged consistent .8's at 100yds. I couldnt be more pleased with sota. It's built on a psa lower with jp trigger and magpul furniture. It seems to like heavier pills. I have loaded 150 sst, 150 Sierra fb spitzer, 165 sst, 180 interbonds, 155 Sierra palmas, and 180 nosler bt's. haven't had time to get to the range but will give an update.

Don't hesitate to buy from sota or do business with bigduck.

Take care

So I picked up my .300blk and 5.56 SOTA uppers from Bigduck a little while back. Just got my lowers assembled and pinned them on. No optics or sights yet, so I cant comment on accuracy or function just yet.

Initial impression is that the SOTA uppers are well made and well finished, fit tightly on my lower, and look generally really nice. The only thing on mine that I dont like so far is that the finish on my SOTA upper is slightly more blue than black and doesnt exactly match my lower. I bought matched set Mega upper/lowers, so I plan to swap out the SOTA internals into my Mega uppers at some point. The barrels and muzzle brakes are very nicely done, free float handguards are very comfortable, but seem pretty hefty in weight. I may swap them out at some point as well simply to try to lighten it up a little.

I hope to have optics in the next week. Ill try to update on the performance side of things once I do. But so far I like them alot.

Extra note.... Bigduck is an awesome guy to deal with. So if he puts up a deal on here you can trust that he will be honest and do you right. I would deal with him any day of the week.

I've had my SOTA 5.56 stainless upper for just over a year and love it. No problems to speak of whatsoever.

lookin good

Big Duck is first rate. I bought a 5.56 on the first and a 300 on the second group buy.

Sadly I haven't shot either one yet due to all kinds of things blocking my free time.

Glad everyone is happy with them!

Richard

I still have yet to have any issues and I have been shooting it regularly. The accuracy has been excellent and most of my shooting has been at 100 yards.
I still find SOTA to be a quality product.

Anyone have an update? Or a follow up review? I'm looking into getting their 300Blk upper for a PSA lower...

I love my Sota 300blk ....no complaints!

SOTA makes good stuff - and stands behind it with excellent customer service.

My friends have two of their uppers in 5.56 with stainless barrels.
They have been very reliable and hold 1" at 100 yards until you really heat up the barrel.

I had one of their very first batch of 7.62x39 stainless uppers and it is a good shooter easily holding 1" with Wolf HPs.
The bolt spit a couple of lugs after a few hundred rounds.
I contacted JoAnne at SOTA and she asked me to send in the bolt or take pictures.
I took good pictures and sent them in.
She said they had a batch of bolts in 7.62x39 that missed heat treatment and the one I had was one of them.
To my surprise, I had a new bolt, cam pin, firing pin and pin retainer in my hands in 3 days!!!!
And this was back during the crazy times a few months ago.
The upper gets shot a lot with nasty ammo and still runs like a sewing machine.

I am hesitant to purchase an AR upper in 7.62x39 but would buy another one from SOTA!

9 months later, anyone have any issues or complaints? My upper is still rocking and rolling. No issues and it has eaten everything thrown at it. I have mainly used it at the range and used it for beaver, nutria, bobcats, and coots. (I get bored every so often and shoot coots in the cove behind the house....)
I would definitely not have an issue buying another sota upper at the right price.

I didn't buy any SOTA parts on the group buy but did take their parts I assembled to Louisiana on a 3 day hunt this last season and brought back a 180lbs hog, a 150lbs Doe, and a 8 point buck with a 15-3\16" spread. I was using their stainless 300blk barrel and uppers. I hear they are close to releasing their lower rec that will match the profiling of their upper rec here in the next 4-6wks (per Joann).

Their product function well perhaps better than i can shoot. So that would be sub-me (as I am not capable of MOA)...

This is good info. I have debated ordering a 7.62x39 upper from them many times. And yes, I know all the potential issues that a 7.62 upper can have. Still might give it a try.

Does SOTA make a 6.8 SPC II? If so I'll have to jump on the next group buy, IF it happens again.