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I have an aero precision stripped lower that I am building up right now. I am trying to decide what brand I should look at for uppers or full build kits to complete it. From the looking I have done it is most likely between PSA and BCA. So if anyone has any advice on which to pick or other suggestions, I am all ears. I am looking to make a cheaper gun but not a piece of shit gun. I was also looking at Ceratac, if anyone has had any experience w. them. I've dealt with their customer service just to ask questions and they were very helpful but they're extremely cheap so I get worried. So any help would be appreciated. Sorry for the wall of text.

TL/DR: I'm building an AR15 and need to buy a cheap(yet somewhat reliable) brand complete upper receiver, any suggestions, advice, warnings, or otherwise relevant information is welcomed and will be appreciated.

I have an aero precision stripped lower that I am building up right now. I am trying to decide what brand I should look at for uppers or full build kits to complete it. From the looking I have done it is most likely between PSA and BCA. So if anyone has any advice on which to pick or other suggestions, I am all ears. I am looking to make a cheaper gun but not a piece of shit gun. I was also looking at Ceratac, if anyone has had any experience w. them. I've dealt with their customer service just to ask questions and they were very helpful but they're extremely cheap so I get worried. So any help would be appreciated. Sorry for the wall of text. TL/DR: I'm building an AR15 and need to buy a cheap(yet somewhat reliable) brand complete upper receiver, any suggestions, advice, warnings, or otherwise relevant information is welcomed and will be appreciated.

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[–] • 0 pt

Lots of information online about ARs but you got a solid summary here. Your configuration ultimately depends on your projected use. A basic personal defence weapon doesn't have to be complex or expensive.

[–] • 0 pt

Im about to post pretty much the same post to you as I did to protodonata, so please dont be offended. It's just for sake of ease. And I want both of yals input if possible. Thank you. Sorry for the late response. I haven't been on here at all. I have another ? For you if it's ok. I was looking at a kit on PSA. https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-10-5-5-56-nato-1-7-nitride-9-m-lok-moe-ept-sba3-pistol-kit.html This one. And in the comments someone asks if it will work with a piston kit. The answer given was " no, it's a DI assembled upper". What does that mean? Lol. Also I'm about to pull the trigger and but this kit. Thoughts? Good? Good enough? (I know it's 1/7, but from my understanding I can just upgrade the barrel later if I want) Also I live in a good gun state. No extra bullshit for AR pistols unless you make it a SBR.

[–] • 0 pt

DI = direct impingement, the gas moves through the hole in the barrel, into the gas block, back through the gas tube, and into a pocket in the bolt carrier. This pushes the carrier back a bit, unlocks the bolt, and allows the case to move the bolt back to cycle the action. A DI upper will have a gas block and tube which would have to be removed to install the correct parts to have a piston.

Some folks like a piston, thinking it's more reliable. A change in the powder right after the M-16 was introduced into combat led to fouling of the gas system and cycling problems. This has been worked out in the last half century and the DI system works fine in US service rifle. I can't picture ordinary citizens ever using an AR in circumstances where the DI system would be worse than a piston, although there are equally experienced people who will argue quite the opposite. Ask yourself, what do the Marines use? (Again, someone can probably point out some obscure item issued to the US military that uses a piston to run an AR.)

So, IMO, DI is fine, and go for the Wylde chamber if you want a bit better accuracy than the military chamber. Spending a bit to get a good trigger pack is nice if you have the extra money. Ask the maker what they recommend for barrel break-in. Ammo is fairly cheap right now, so build it, break it in, and practice!

[–] • 0 pt

You are the fuckn man. Thank you again. I totally understood all of that. If I'm not pushing my luck too much. I have some follow up ?'s, that you dont have to answer if you dont want to. But it sounded like, from what you said, I would (except for possibly in apocalypse conditions) I would not have an issue with a direct impingement gun and it would fit all/most usage. My question is, if I later decided that I wanted to alter that upper and switch to a piston system, is that even possible at that point? It seemed like from what you said that it may be possible, but on that site the most upvoted answer to the guys question about being able to put in a piston was "no, it's a DI built upper". So is it possible to switch? Idk that I will ever need to just curious. Also that upper that I was looking at is a right sided charging upper, not an ambidextrous one. All the others I looked at were ambidextrous. I was going to go with that cas it just seemed better. I guess my question is, how much does it matter? I am right handed. I can only think of extreme scenarios where I would need to charge with the other side. Any thoughts on that? And last question then I promise I will stop bugging you. Is I've decided it's in my best interest to get a handgun aswell. Looking in the 250-350 range (I know that's low and limiting). But any recommendations? I've been looking at the S&W M&P Shield 9m, Ruger Security-9, and Canik TP9SF, also some revolvers. Sorry to be throwing a bunch of questions at you. I have done a a good amount of research on my own, I just don't know anyone in my life to bounce these types of questions off of. I appreciate it a lot. Be well, you friendly stranger, that has some graciously imbued your knowledge unto me.