Building my First Grendel

[austinjoe13]

I just ordered the lower parts for my build. The plan is for it to be a deer rifle. I am getting the PSA CMC lower build kit (https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-ar15...black.html), and I will be using an A2 buffer with a Magpul MOE rifle stock. I have some other stuff coming to mix and match for my girlfriend's build.

I am also a bit wary about which upper to pick up. PSA obviously has good prices, and I have been very happy with the accuracy out of my 8.5" 300blk upper from them. I also came across BCA's side charging uppers. That would be great for hunting when it's cold, but I've been finding just as much bad press as good press on them. Are there any other companies I should consider?

[mdram]

bca is a crap shoot. you could always by the side charging upper with no barrel and get a barrel

you may want to mention budget.

but people seem to like grendelhunter, alexander arms, precision firearms to name a few for complete uppers

[A5BLASTER]

Avoid every upper are barrel/bolt combo that comes from Datern/Liberty, BCA are has Grendel II stamped on the barrel.

If your looking at a product and unsure of the specs and call them and ask if it's sammi and they try to tell you they are all sammi are this chamber is better then sammi chamber. Run away.

AA
PF
Faxon
Odion
Ballistic advantage

If it has are is a barrel/bolt combo from one of these company's you will be good to go.

Also Mark from precision firearms gives a new member discount on their first purchase from his company.

[Mustangfreek]

What is the discount from mark 5% ?

[FLshooter]

I’ve built uppers with BCA parts.BCA side charge uppers are good to go.And so are their handrails.I’ve helped my friends build a few uppers with them. But I would not get a BCA barrel. Their barrels take up to 300 rds to break in.And there is a good chance it won’t be a shooter. I’ve been through that myself. With the money I wasted on all that ammo ,I could’ve put it towards a quality barrel.
If I were to use a rifle solely for hunting I’d get a criterion 18 inch hybrid barrel. Or if you don’t mind a little extra weight their 22 inch H bar barrel. I’ve shot my 22 inch criterion H bar barrel up to 600 yards.It’s a shooter. If you don’t want to build, PSA uppers are OK. The parts are good, the barrel is fair,better than a BCA,but not near the quality of a Criterion.
As far as PSA lowers go. I get their MOE complete lower when it’s $149 + free shipping.And then get a Larue 2 stage trigger, and I am set. I built a couple PSA limited Trump lowers for my buddies.They wound up spending more tha $149.And their lower works the same.

[austinjoe13]

Thanks for the info, guys. Building an upper from the ground up is not in the cards for me right now. I don't have a good spot to do it, I don't have all the tools I'd like to have, and I don't have the money right now (I guess I do have the money, I'm just trying to stock up on reloading stuff at the same time). Sub-$400 is about the extent of my budget right now.

I'm definitely looking around at barrels taking note of which ones are out of stock. I figure this time of year, those are the ones everyone wants. I also found BCA's side charging upper receiver kit, and I'll probably grab one of those at some point.