Which .223 upper to get?

[Fret]

I'm a total novice on the AR 15 and just picked up a RRA Varmint with a 20 inch barrel for target shooting. I'm thinking of picking up another lighter upper with 16 inch barrel. Should I stick with another RRA or get a JP upper like the JP 15? Would the full mass JP bolt carrier be better instead of the lightweight when using a suppressor? JP has a receiver with both rear and side charging handles. Is that worthwhile?

Thanks!

 

[DaleGribble82]

Really depends on your intended purpose for the rifle. What would your plans be with the new upper receiver? Personally if I was running suppressored I’d want the full mass. Mitigate any cycling problems, but with the right adjustable gas block tuned correctly it more than likely would be a non issue. Low Mass and suppressed not something I would run or advocate for for what it’s worth. As for that particular upper great choice.

 

[USMC_JA]

I have an LRP07 in .308. It is a side charger. Stunningly accurate and I love the side charger. However, I would NOT want a side charger for my go to weapon as my muscle memory with the standard AR controls is set. so, I guess you need to define your primary use for the "lighter upper."

When I ordered my JP, they spent a lot of time with me on the phone answering all my questions and helping me spec it out. As soon as I said I wanted to run the gun suppressed, they said two things: adjustable gas and full mass carrier.

You will not regret a JP. Just make sure you define your intended use first and then spec out the upper/new gun accordingly.

 

[Fret]

I have an LRP07 in .308. It is a side charger. Stunningly accurate and I love the side charger. However, I would NOT want a side charger for my go to weapon as my muscle memory with the standard AR controls is set. so, I guess you need to define your primary use for the "lighter upper."

When I ordered my JP, they spent a lot of time with me on the phone answering all my questions and helping me spec it out. As soon as I said I wanted to run the gun suppressed, they said two things: adjustable gas and full mass carrier.

You will not regret a JP. Just make sure you define your intended use first and then spec out the upper/new gun accordingly.

Really depends on your intended purpose for the rifle. What would your plans be with the new upper receiver? Personally if I was running suppressored I’d want the full mass. Mitigate any cycling problems, but with the right adjustable gas block tuned correctly it more than likely would be a non issue. Low Mass and suppressed not something I would run or advocate for for what it’s worth. As for that particular upper great choice.

Thanks guys for the advice. The RRA upper will be primarily for shooting targets off a bench. I want a lighter one for carrying around shooting things like ground squirrels. Is the side charging mainly for shooting competitions where speed is of the essence? If so, it might be better for me to stick with just rear charging. I think I'll order a JP and talk to those people when I do so. I'm sure they will tell me to stay away from the low mass carrier like you guys recommend. And is it better to have a hand guard that is long and almost reaches the end of the barrel of one that is shorter? Thanks again.

 

[DaleGribble82]

Really depends on your intended purpose for the rifle. What would your plans be with the new upper receiver?

Thanks guys for the advice. The RRA upper will be primarily for shooting targets off a bench. I want a lighter one for carrying around shooting things like ground squirrels. Is the side charging mainly for shooting competitions where speed is of the essence? If so, it might be better for me to stick with just rear charging. I think I'll order a JP and talk to those people when I do so. I'm sure they will tell me to stay away from the low mass carrier like you guys recommend. And is it better to have a hand guard that is long and almost reaches the end of the barrel of one that is shorter? Thanks again.

Any particular reason you wanna go with the JP upper? Not by any means am I saying don’t, but you’ve got a lot of great options to choose from that might suite your needs better. Not at all trying to sway you one way or another. Just throwing a line so you can go down the rabbit hole we’ve all been down in for a long time ??. It’s fun playing adult legos.

 

[USMC_JA]

Thanks guys for the advice. The RRA upper will be primarily for shooting targets off a bench. I want a lighter one for carrying around shooting things like ground squirrels. Is the side charging mainly for shooting competitions where speed is of the essence? If so, it might be better for me to stick with just rear charging. I think I'll order a JP and talk to those people when I do so. I'm sure they will tell me to stay away from the low mass carrier like you guys recommend. And is it better to have a hand guard that is long and almost reaches the end of the barrel of one that is shorter? Thanks again.

The side charger lets you stay on the rifle and manipulate the action. With a standard rear charger, you have to move your head out of the way. So, a side charger can certainly can help in competition. But it also helps with long range shooting. I really enjoy mine.

As Dale mentioned, there are a TON of high quality AR manufacturer's that make a 14.5-16 inch barreled AR that will work flawlessly as a walk around gun. You can spend as much or as little as you want in this regard. You will only be limited by your imagination and budget. But if buy once, cry once is important, you won't regret the JP. But plenty of other really good options out there.

Handguard length is dictated by weight, accessories you want to mount on the gun, and your preferred shooting style. Aesthetics is also important to many...including me. It can also effect access to your adjustable gas system. So, make sure you plan accordingly and know your end goals.

 

[DaleGribble82]

The side charger lets you stay on the rifle and manipulate the action. With a standard rear charger, you have to move your head out of the way. So, a side charger can certainly can help in competition. But it also helps with long range shooting. I really enjoy mine.

As Dale mentioned, there are a TON of high quality AR manufacturer's that make a 14.5-16 inch barreled AR that will work flawlessly as a walk around gun. You can spend as much or as little as you want in this regard. You will only be limited by your imagination and budget. But if buy once, cry once is important, you won't regret the JP. But plenty of other really good options out there.

Handguard length is dictated by weight, accessories you want to mount on the gun, and your preferred shooting style. Aesthetics is also important to many...including me. It can also effect access to your adjustable gas system. So, make sure you plan accordingly and know your end goals.

Couldn’t have said it better.

 

[Fret]

I like really accurate guns so that's why I'm leaning toward JP. They seem to be up there near or at the top from what I understand. Are there any negatives to having both a side and rear charging system together like the PSC 11? A lot more work cleaning?

 

[USMC_JA]

I like really accurate guns so that's why I'm leaning toward JP. They seem to be up there near or at the top from what I understand. Are there any negatives to having both a side and rear charging system together like the PSC 11? A lot more work cleaning?

You will struggle to find a factory built AR that is more accurate than a JP. There are likely some out there but I'm just not sure what they are. However, the fact of the matter is that for a general purpose field gun, anything that shoots 1 MOA or less will usually fit the bill. KAC, Noveske, LMT, DD, and a host of others offer factory uppers that can meet this standard. So, you have options. If you still want a JP, and I'll never say you are wrong to do so, be sure to check out their Ready Rifle room...sometimes you can find some nice deals.

I asked JP the same question about why not just get both. The answer was "most guys that get both just end up using the side charger and ignore the rear charger. I recommend just getting the side charger if you want that feature." My interpretation was that getting both invites needless complexity and you are going to gravitate towards one of them and the other will be a useless feature.

Don't get me wrong, the side charger on my LRP is pretty dang cool and works great. But it IS a different manual of arms. And sometimes I fumble when I'm running the LRP if I'm not thinking about it. Since I use that particular gun for static shooting, this is no big deal. But if I was running and gunning, it would be a BIG deal. And thus why I'd never run a side charger aa my primary or SHTF weapon. I'm simply hardwired for the M4 manual of arms at this point in my life. But YMMV.

 

[DaleGribble82]

I'm simply hardwired for the M4 manual of arms at this point in my life. But YMMV.

Same here, I could maybe run a side charger on a Precision LR gas gun, but that is it. Just too hardwired at this point.

 

[USMC_JA]

Same here, I could maybe run a side charger on a Precision LR gas gun, but that is it. Just too hardwired at this point.

That is EXACTLY why I wanted to try it on the LRP07. For me, it is fine in that role. And that damn gun freakin' shoots. I'm still working on which loads it like the best but 3/4 inch 100 yard 5-shot groups are routine. With ammo it likes, 1/2 inch or less will show up.

 

[DaleGribble82]

Looks like a really great setup. I’ve picked up a Steyr Scout, Steyr Elite, and a CZ 557 UCS recently all of which are in .308, and glassed them so my hands are tied currently because I’m PCSing soon. If I pick up a gas gun in the future for LR I’m looking heavily at the JP LRP-07 as well as at the BPM LR-10. Just undecided on 6mm Creedmoor or the 6.5 Creedmoor.

 

[USMC_JA]

Looks like a really great setup. I’ve picked up a Steyr Scout, Steyr Elite, and a CZ 557 UCS recently all of which are in .308, and glassed them so my hands are tied currently because I’m PCSing soon. If I pick up a gas gun in the future for LR I’m looking heavily at the JP LRP-07 as well as at the BPM LR-10. Just undecided on 6mm Creedmoor or the 6.5 Creedmoor.

Thanks. If I had to do it all over again, I'd have gone with 6.5 just because of ammo availability. But .308 does what I need it to do as I don't have access to ranges long enough to really see the 6.5's ballistic superiority.

 

[DaleGribble82]

Thanks. If I had to do it all over again, I'd have gone with 6.5 just because of ammo availability. But .308 does what I need it to do as I don't have access to ranges long enough to really see the 6.5's ballistic superiority.

Exact reason my three bolt guns are in .308. I couldn’t justify the 6.5 at the time, but now I think it would be a decent investment. Totally agree about the ammo availability. I am totally new to reloading, just got my first book but I know enough to know 6mm Creedmoor is a reloading mans round. What is your LRP-07 chambered in?

 

[USMC_JA]

What is your LRP-07 chambered in?

.308. Thus, the partial lament. But I really am not unhappy.

I don't reload. So, I'm shooting factory match ammo. The gun would likely be better if I could fine tune a load for it. So, there is that.

Once my daughters get older and time permits, I hope to pick up reloading. Alas, for now, factory ammo will have to do.

 

[david walter]

I’m shooting through my 308 ammo, then I’ll be full on 6.5 creed and 223/5.56.

I’ll keep a 308 bolt gun just in case.

I have a LaRue ultimate upper in 6.5 with a laRue LT-10 lower. Couldn’t be happier.

 

[DaleGribble82]

I fell ya my kids chip away at my fun money, between them, my Jeep, and my addiction to 1911’s. Reloading has been on the back burner for a long time.

 

[DaleGribble82]

LaRue ultimate upper in 6.5 with a laRue LT-10 lower.

How have your groups been? I’ve been hearing mixed reviews.

 

[david walter]

1.25" at 100 yards with Horandy American Gunner 140 BTHP.

I haven't tried anything else, yet, although I have some 130 Bergers loaded that I'll give a try when it warms up a bit (its -6*F outside this AM).

 

[DaleGribble82]

its -6*F outside this AM

Gross.