Need a 16" 5.56 upper for a lonely receiver. Budget friendly.

I'm considering:

TRYBE Defense from Optics Planet. $270 without bcg.
-4140 CMV steel barrel with 5R rifling

AERO Precision from a few places. $325 without bcg.
-cmv barrel by Ballistic Advantage

I've never heard of TRYBE. Anything else to consider?

Please Lord dont let anyone bring up PSA.

Good luck with that Optics Planet order getting to you before 2023.

I’ve had several from Palmetto State Armory and they were well made and arrived quickly

Don’t push his button.

What’s the issue with PSA?

Lol I didn’t see the psa part when I posted hahaha

I was coming to post PSA when I read the title.

Aero is what I use on all my builds these days. The bang for the buck with Aero is above the rest of the “budget” parts.

PSA, nothing wrong with PSA. Why do you hate PSA so much Chickenman? Show us on the doll where PSA touched you

Bear creek are pretty affordable but they can be iffy on accuracy. I’ve had good and bad from them

Also look at Radical Firearms. Primary Arms has uppers for around $300 minus BCG and ch. But those can be found for less than $100 for both

Avoid Optics Planet...they are the worst.

Thanks for the suggestions so far except Ox190

My experience with PSA is their lack of QC. I kept all their lowers but nothing else. I ain't mad at'em.

Ive got a Bear Creek Arsenal that has shot groups from .77-.97

200 rounds and 5 groups measured

Cant beat that for a budget gun

I would go aero because it’s aero and to not buy from optics planet

AR15 Discount, CDNN, Joe Bob's, Arm or Ally, Right to Bear and a host of others


Check the classifieds at AR15.com for vendor specials

You can assemble pretty much anything that will exceed any of the budget friendly assembled uppers.

There isn't a damn thing Bear Creek sells that I would ever consider, the same with Optics Planet.

Hard no to Radical, and like others, dont really want to fart with Bear Creek either. Since PSA is out, Aero is the answer.

For manufacturing Radical should always be NO. I'd rather have Bear Creek Arsenal by 1000%.

My first budget attempt was with Del-Ton. I still have it. I used it to hit an 8" gong from 190 yards with a carry handle sight and steel Tula ammo. That's accurate to me.

I have used PSA parts to build uppers and lowers but I have never used a complete from them (I don't think). No issues here.

Aero seems to be a half step above PSA and BCA. Does Aero make barrels?

My go to for cheap parts was Right to Bear but they're out of the "Best Deal" upper kit.

Anybody have any opinions of Diamondback products?

If I were building a mid-level sporting rifle today, it would be mostly Aero. I really like the Atlas s-one handguard and the Gamma brakes.

I don't know if APR is still making any 5.56 or if they are strictly 6.8 now. May not be budget friendly though.

https://www.ar15performance.com/

I bought a couple of these one time, no issues

https://moriartiarmaments.com/ar-15-6.5-grendel/upper-assemblies/

I bought a Sons Of Liberty upper without the hand guard and installed what I like.
They are a Texas company and good quality products. I learned about them from my son whose department uses them.
I bought mine from Brownells on sale. It’s shoots great with my reloads and I have shot my sons and it shoots well too.

These threads are funny....I've had excellent luck with both Radical and PSA.

I had good luck with PSA and my Radical Arms 300 has been great.

I bought an 18” 3 gun barrel from him recently. It’s 223 Wylde, 3R stainless. Shoots fantastic even with mixed brass reloads. He is retiring so probably not going to be available much longer. I have another 16” scout 223 Wylde 3R in meloniite. I don’t think you can find better $200 barrels than ARP.