Side Charged Upper Guide - Many great options to choose!

[lilharcher]

I'm currently fascinated by side charged uppers, and have been gathering intel for awhile now. There are many great side charged uppers on the market currently, with many new entrants over the last 180 days. This is an exciting time to be a rifle owner, specifically an AR. With consumer spending on the up-swing, manufacturers and even gun shops, are starting to produce more and more side charged uppers for the consumer. For those interested, here is the list of the side charged uppers on the market, separated between non-reciprocating (charging knob does not move when fired) and reciprocating (charging knob is physically attached to bolt, so it moves when fired). I will try to update periodically to keep this updated as more options enter the market.

Although I currently have a handful of these (different manufactures), and have handled a few others, my favorite option thus far is the Quality Arms Billet Upper. But, I'm a big believer of "to each their own", as many of these uppers are of great quality (some more so than others).

Here is the list:

Reciprocating:
1) Quality Arms Billet Upper
[ATTACH=CONFIG]5106[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]5107[/ATTACH] (backside comparison with Mega Side charged upper - Quality Arms upper is ambi charged)
http://www.qualityarms.net/catalog/custom-uppers
Options: Three models - (i) Ambi charge, right eject, (ii) Ambi charge, left eject, and (iii) Ambi charge, ambi eject (will eject right or left depending on bolt used)
Cost: $350 (w/ NiB Carrier only, or $400 w/ NiB Carrier & AR15 Bolt) - Also an option to exchange 5.56 bolt for 6.5 grendel, 6.8mm, and .50 beowulf.


2) Crosshill Technologies Billet Upper
[ATTACH=CONFIG]5114[/ATTACH]
http://www.joeboboutfitters.com/Crosshil...5-ambi.htm
Options: Two models - (i) Right charge, right eject, and (ii) Ambi charge, right eject
Cost: $409.99 (Ambi model w/ NiB Carrier and AR15 MPI tested Bolt)

3) LAR OPS-04 Billet Upper (not currently in production but one of the first on the market and many still in use)

4) Blackwood Arms Billet Upper
[ATTACH=CONFIG]5118[/ATTACH]
http://blackwoodarms.com/product/blackwo...-receiver/
Options:Three Models - (i) Right charge, right eject, (ii) Left charge, right eject, and (iii) Ambi charge, right eject
Cost: $525 – Includes full NiB BCG

5) 2 Vets Billet Upper
[ATTACH=CONFIG]5120[/ATTACH]
http://www.2vetsarms.com/product-p/2va-15-recassy.htm
Options: One Model - Left charge, right eject
Cost: $350.00 (includes full BCG)

6) Mega Arms Billet SC Upper
[ATTACH=CONFIG]5108[/ATTACH]
http://www.rainierarms.com/?page=shop/de...ct_id=1657
Options: One Model - Right charge, right eject (no gas plug; requires charging handle)
Cost: $139.00 (no carrier/bolt or charging handle)

7) Fulton Armory Upper (unspecified if Billet or Forged)
http://www.fulton-armory.com/upperreceiv...gslot.aspx
Options: One Model - Right charge, right eject (no gas plug; requires charging handle)
Cost: $169.95 (no carrier/bolt or charging handle)

8) Eisenarch Arms Billet Upper
http://eisenacharms.com/collections/uppe...r-receiver
Options: One Model - Right charge, right eject (no gas plug; requires charging handle)
Cost: $150.00 (no carrier/bolt or charging handle)

9) White Oak Armament Side Charged Upper
http://www.whiteoakarmament.com/xcart/pr...256&page=2
Options: Right Charge, right eject (no gas plug; charging handle required)
Cost: $245.00 (includes carrier)

Non-Reciprocating:
1) JP Enterprises Billet Upper
[ATTACH=CONFIG]5115[/ATTACH]
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/470614/...uctFinding
Options: One Model - Left charge (fold-out lever), right eject
Cost: $854.99 w/ JPE Low-Mass Carrier

2) American Spirit Arms Billet Upper
[ATTACH=CONFIG]5117[/ATTACH]
http://www.americanspiritarms.com/upper-...d-carrier/
Options: One model - Left non-reciprocating charge (fold-out lever), right eject
Cost: $459.99 w/ NiB carrier (requires a modified carrier)

3) Gibbz Arms Billet Upper
[ATTACH=CONFIG]5116[/ATTACH]
http://shop.gibbzarms.com/G4-Side-Chargi...r-G4UR.htm
Options: One model - Left charge (fixed, no fold-out lever), right eject
Cost: $249.95 w/o carrier/bolt (stripper upper only, but will work with most standard carriers w/o modification)

4) Spartan Billet Upper (appears to be same as the New Frontier Armory Billet Upper)
[ATTACH=CONFIG]5113[/ATTACH]
http://www.joebboboutfitters.com/Spartan...-upper.htm
Options: One Model - Left charge (fixed; no fold-out lever), right eject
Cost: $249.95 w/o carrier/bolt (stripped upper only, but will work with most standard carriers w/o modification)

5) Ice Arms Nameless Billet Upper
http://www.icearms.us/products.cfm?show=958
Options: One model - Left Charge (fixed; no fold-out lever), right eject
Cost: $439.99 w/ Nitride complete BCG

Source for Reciprocating Modified Carriers - to the extent not included with the Upper:
1) Young Manufacturing
http://www.rainierarms.com/?page=shop/de...ct_id=1656
Finish: I believe it is chrome and phosphate finished.
Cost: $265.00 (Yikes!)
2) Fulton Armory

Again, my plan is to keep this list up to date, so people can use this post as a reference. I hope you find this helpful if in the market for a side charged upper.