If you’ve ever shopped around for AR parts, you’ve likely seen the vast array of complete upper receivers available. The AR-15 is unique in that its components are separated into two distinct halves: the lower and upper receiver. Where the lower receiver is the serialized part of the firearm, housing components like the fire control group, buffer assembly, etc., upper receivers serve as the hub on which the barrel, handguard, and BCG are installed.
So, instead of buying a complete AR-15, many enthusiasts choose to build their rifles by pairing a complete lower with a complete upper. And given the undeniable popularity of the AR-15, there are a plethora of uppers to choose from. But, with options comes choices, and the sheer variety of them can make picking just one upper a bit of a challenge. However, if you know what to look for, you can easily make the right choice when picking one out.
What is a Complete Upper Receiver?
Upper receivers are typically available in four distinct varieties: complete, barreled, assembled, and stripped. And although we’re focusing on complete upper receivers, understanding the characteristics of each type goes a long way in helping you make a final decision on one.
Types of Upper Receivers
Complete upper receivers are fully assembled by the manufacturer and are ready to go out of the box. All upper receiver parts, like the barrel, handguard, BCG, and charging handle, come preinstalled onto the upper, so there’s no assembly required—other than pairing it with your lower receiver of course.
Barreled uppers are nearly complete but lack a charging handle and BCG, and at times, a handguard. This depends on the manufacturer as they can come with or without a handguard, but they’ll always come with the barrel and gas block preinstalled onto the receiver.
Assembled uppers consist of just the upper receiver itself with its primary parts preinstalled, i.e.: the forward assist and dust cover. Aside from these, they come with no other components, making them best for enthusiasts who have a specific build in mind.
Last are stripped uppers, and as their name suggests, they’re stripped of all components. As such, they don’t come with forward assist or a dust cover, making them the best option for those who want maximum control over what components go into their build.
Why Choose a Complete Upper Receiver
While each upper receiver type comes with its own inherent benefits, complete upper receivers remain a solid choice simply for the convenience they provide. Rather than needing to deal with assembling small parts, you can opt for a factory built upper that’s ready to be paired with a lower an optic, simplifying the entire build process. Plus, with the vast array of uppers to choose from, there’s something for everybody, and most, if not all, complete uppers come with some sort of factory guarantee or warranty.
We still recommend checking out our guide, “How to Assemble an AR-15 Upper Receiver”, even if you opt for a complete one. If you ever decide to make upgrades to your rifle later on, or need to make repairs to it, It’s important to know how all the parts on your rifle fit together, and being armed with that knowledge will only set you up for success later down the road.
Choosing the Right Complete Upper Receiver
As we mentioned above, there are a lot of high-quality complete uppers to choose from, and it’s easy to get lost in the sauce so-to-speak when faced with choosing just one. To make this process easier, evaluate what your rifle’s purpose is.
Are you building an AR for long-range shooting? Or are you building one for home defense? Do you want an M-LOK, KeyMod, or Quad-Rail handguard? Knowing the answer to all of these before shopping for an upper will help narrow down your options, allowing you to find the upper fit for your needs.
To help you get started in your search, we’ve compiled a brief list of brands and upper models to consider:
Geissele Automatics
Easily one of the most recognizable names in the industry, Geissele Automatics has long been one of the pillars of the firearm industry. Renowned for their overall reliability and innovative designs, Geissele AR-15 rifles and components are highly sought-after by enthusiasts interested in buying complete rifles that are ready for anything out of the box, or by those interested in upgrading their rifles. Though they’re arguably most well-known for their individual parts like their triggers and handguards, they have a vast assortment of complete upper receivers to their name as well.
Geissele uppers are available in a wide array of configurations, but they each fall into one of three categories: Super Duty®, Super HBAR, and URG-I Near-Clone. Their Super Duty uppers are, by far, the most common ones you’ll find. These uppers come in multiple variations; depending on which one you look at, they can come chambered in either 5.56 NATO or .300 Blackout, and they can have either an 8-, 10.3-, 11.5-, 12.5-, 13.9-, 14.5-, or a 16-inch barrel. As such, Super Duty uppers are a solid pick for anything from general purpose builds to more compact PDW style rifles.
Moving on, Super HBAR uppers are nearly identical to the standard Super Duty models, but they come with heavier profile HBAR style barrel. Available with either a 14.5- or 16-inch barrel, they offer the most in terms of accuracy, making them an ideal pick for rifle builds that emphasize precision. Lastly, as their name suggests, their URG-I Near Clone uppers are nearly identical to the URG-I spec uppers created for the U.S. Military’s M4 rifles. Coming with either a 14.5- 11.5- or 10.3-inch barrel, they offer impeccable performance and match the aesthetic of M4s with URG-I uppers, making them popular amongst clone builders.
Overall, Geissele has a solid lineup of complete upper receivers. Each of the mentioned comes equipped with incredibly high-quality components, ranging from their CHF chrome-lined barrels to their MK16 Super Modular Rail System and ambidextrous charging handles. Being one of the more premium brands in the industry, their uppers are priced higher than some of the other brands we’ll mention below, with them ranging anywhere from around $1,300 to upwards of $1,500+.
Daniel Defense
Standing tall as one of the industry’s most popular brands, Daniel Defense is one of the leading manufacturers of AR-15 rifles and parts. While their lineup has grown to consist of a myriad of offerings, including pistols, bolt-action rifles, and even rifle accessories, their upper receivers are consistently some of their most sought-after products.
Daniel Defense complete uppers are available in a multitude of configurations, with them being available in multiple chamberings, and with different handguard, barrel length, gas block, and muzzle device options. Chief among them is their DD4 RIII series uppers. DD4 RIII uppers are built around a mil-spec upper receiver and come equipped with their RIS III handguard, as well as a DD cold-hammer forged barrel. Completing it, they also come with a DD’s M16 Profile BCG, their GRIP-N-RIP charging handle, as well as a DD enhanced dust cover.
Currently, DD4 RIII uppers are available with either a 10.3-, 11.5, or a 16-inch barrel, making them a solid option for defensive or general-purpose builds. Daniel Defense also offers other complete uppers from their popular rifle lines such as the DDM4®V7®, as well as the M4A1. These uppers are offered with their MFR M-LOK and RIS II Quad-Rail handguards, respectively, and they’re available in multiple barrel lengths, with DDM4V7 uppers ranging anywhere from 11.5 to 18 inches in length, while the M4A1 is available with a 14.5-inch barrel pinned and welded to 16 inches. Depending on which upper you look at, the price can range from around $1,200 to upwards of $1,500+.
Foxtrot Mike
Foxtrot Mike is known for crafting reliable, budget friendly rifles and components, a fact that extends to their many complete upper receivers.
Their flagship MIKE-15 upper receiver is a solid alternative to conventional AR-15 upper receivers. Rather than using a standard AR-15 charging handle, they come with a built-in side charging handle, and they use their own proprietary recoil system, allowing you to use folding stocks. Though different from standard AR uppers, they still use a DI gas system and can mount to mil-spec lower receivers with no issues.
Aside from this, they’re available in a multitude of barrel length options, ranging from pistol/SBR lengths with 9- and 12.5-inch barrels, to longer rifle length uppers with 13.9-, 16-, and 18-inch barrels. Despite being one of the more unique options on this list, they’re exceptionally affordable for most budgets, falling into the $400 to $600 price range.
Honorable Mention: Bravo Company Manufacturing
A name that’s synonymous with rugged reliability and top tier performance, Bravo Company Manufacturing, better known as just BCM, has been one of the pillars of the firearms industry for decades. Offering a plethora of rifles and parts, they have numerous upper receiver groups to their name, but among them, few are complete.
For the most part, many of their most popular upper receiver options are barreled uppers, not complete ones. Still, no upper receiver list would be complete without going over BCM uppers. They’re available in multiple barrel lengths, can come with multiple handguard variants such as their MCMR and RAIDER models, and they can also come with a variety of muzzle devices.
Depending on the configuration, they can range in price anywhere from around $650 to upwards of $900+. Still, they’re a solid choice that’s guaranteed to offer exceptional reliability out of the box.
Honorable Mention: Radian Weapon Systems
Few brands push the limits of what the AR-15 is capable of quite like Radian Weapon Systems. Now, you may be wondering why such a premium brand like Radian is counted as an honorable mention—much like BCM, most of their popular upper receiver options come in the form of their upper receiver builder sets.
Despite being limited to just their builder sets, they’re a solid choice if you’re looking to build a custom rifle. Precision machined from Billet 7075-T6 Aluminum, Radian upper receiver sets consist of an assembled upper, complete with a dust cover and forward assist, their proprietary M-LOK handguard, and one of their Raptor-SD charging handles. Additionally, they’re available in multiple colors and handguard lengths, providing enough variety to fit all preferences.
While these uppers pair best with Radian’s A-DAC billet lower, they pair well with just about any mil-spec or billet lower receiver. Just keep in mind that going this route means you’ll need to purchase a barrel, BCG, gas assembly, and muzzle device to complete the upper. Being a more premium option, Radian upper and handguard sets tend to be a bit pricier than other options, hovering around the $900 to $1,000+ price point. With that being said, they offer undeniable quality and are ready to be built to your specifications.
Conclusion
The upper receiver is arguably the most important piece of your rifle, determining much about how the rifle performs in different applications, so it goes without saying that choosing the right one for your purpose and preferences is crucial.
The list above, although brief, is made up of some excellent manufacturers and upper models to consider as you shop around for your next AR-15. Still, with the industry being as large as it is, it’s impossible to talk about every high-quality brand around.
So, if you’re still on the fence about which upper is the best one for you or want to know more about what to look for in one, our Guide to finding Quality AR-15 Upper Receivers is a great source that’ll round out your knowledge on what to look for in an upper.
