18 Extreme AR Uppers From Black Guns 2016

Armalite M-15 Target AR Upper — Armalite M-15 Target: Chambered for the 5.56mm, this upper features a 20-inch, stainless steel barrel that is triple-lapped and free-floated in an aluminum handguard for increased accuracy at distance. The barrel has a right-hand, 1-in-8-inch twist rate and a heavy profile to help dampen harmonics. The receiver is made of forged 7075-T6 aluminum and sports a hardcoat anodized finish. (armalite.com; 800-336-0184)

BCM Uppers AR Upper — BCM Uppers: All of the BCM flattop uppers feature laser-etched “T” marks to make consistent remounting of sights and accessories easier. Standard uppers match or exceed GI specs, with 1-in-7-inch twist, chrome-moly barrels with chromed bores and 5.56mm NATO chambers. The barrels are subjected to the M197 high-pressure test load, rated for 70,000 psi, and then undergo magnetic-particle inspection to detect any possible flaws in the barrel’s surface. (bravocompanyusa.com; 877-272-8626)

Daniel Defense M4v11 Pro Series Upper AR Upper — Daniel Defense M4v11 Pro Series Upper: Designed for competitors looking for the platform to win multi-gun matches, Daniel Defense’s M4v11 Pro Series upper receiver group features an 18-inch barrel that is cold-hammer forged. An uninterrupted Picatinny rail on top and KeyMod slots at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock provide room for accessories and optics, and the long, 15-inch forend rail offers a lot of hand placement real estate. A Vltor Gunfighter Mod 4 charging handle and a newly designed Muzzle Climb Mitigator round out the package. (danieldefense.com; 866-554-4867)

DSI 16-Inch Typhoon AR Upper — DSI 16-Inch Typhoon: The 16-inch-barreled, 5.56mm Typhoon upper from Dark Storm Industries (DSI) features DSI’s Ultralight Narrow Profile KeyMod 12-inch handguard. It uses a micro gas block and the traditional direct impingement system. The barrel has an M4 profile and a 1-in-9-inch twist rate. (dark-storm.com; 800-963-7700)

Del-Ton AR-15 16-inch Pre-Ban Flat Top AR Upper — Del-Ton AR-15 16-inch Pre-Ban Flat Top: Del-Ton’s 5.56mm Pre-Ban Flat Top upper comes with a heavy-profile, chrome-moly-vanadium barrel with a 1-in-9-inch twist rate, M4-style feed ramps, CAR handguards with a single heat shield and an A2-style flash suppressor. The receiver is made from forged 7075-T6 aluminum and features a forward assist, all with a hardcoat anodized finish. (del-ton.com; 910-645-2172

POF-USA P15 Puritan Upper AR Upper — POF-USA P15 Puritan Upper: Featuring a short-stroke gas piston system, the P15 Puritan upper sports a 16.5-inch, nitride-heat-treated barrel chambered in 5.56mm NATO. The upper also features POF-USA’s E2 dual-extraction chamber technology, and the railed gas block has an integral QD sling swivel mount and bayonet lug. A Magpul MOE forend is included, and the receiver is forged from 7075-T6 aluminum. (pof-usa.com; 623-561-9572)

Precision Reflex 18-inch Mark 12 Mod 0 SPR Gen II AR Upper — Precision Reflex 18-inch Mark 12 Mod 0 SPR Gen II: The Mark 12 Mod 0 SPR Gen II upper from Precision Reflex Inc. (PRI) features a Douglas 416 stainless steel, 18-inch barrel chambered in 5.56mm NATO with a 1-in-7-inch twist rate. The handguard is made of carbon fiber with a full-length top rail. A PRI gas block/flip-up front sight and rear sight are included with the kit, which comes in a Flat Dark Earth finish. (precisionreflex.com; 419-629-2603)

Primary Weapons Systems MK214 Upper AR Upper — Primary Weapons Systems MK214 Upper: The MK214 is designed to be the shortest non-NFA upper in .308 Winchester/7.62mm NATO. Using PWS’ proprietary long-stroke piston system, the MK214 also features a 14.5-inch, chrome-moly barrel with a 1-in-10-inch twist rate. The barrel is turned with a heavy-contour profile to increase accuracy. (primaryweapons.com; 208-344-5217)

Rock River Arms Lightweight XL AR Upper — Rock River Arms Lightweight XL: The Lightweight XL upper in 5.56mm features RRA’s XL-length, carbon-fiber, free-floating handguard and a lightweight, 16-inch barrel made of chrome-moly steel. The barrel is rifled with a 1-in-9-inch twist and is capped at the muzzle with an A2-style flash suppressor. (rockriverarms.com; 309-792-5780)

Safety Harbor SHTF 50 Single Shot Upper Conversion AR Upper — Safety Harbor SHTF 50 Single Shot Upper Conversion: Need more AR power? The SHTF 50 Single Shot Upper Conversion mates with an AR lower receiver to create a bolt-action, single-shot rifle chambered in .50 BMG. The barrel is constructed from 4140 chrome-moly steel and features a 1-in-15-inch twist. The upper is available in three barrel lengths: 18, 22 and 29 inches. All barrels are equipped with an eight-port muzzle brake to tame the .50 BMG’s recoil. (safetyharborfirearms.com; 727-726-2500)

Seekins Precision Combat Billet AR Upper — Seekins Precision Combat Billet: Seekins Precision machines this upper receiver from a solid billet of 7075-T6 aluminum. The match-grade, stainless steel barrels are available in either .223 Wylde or 300 BLK. These uppers run on the direct impingement system and use M4 feed ramps, and the barrels are capped with Seekins’ flash suppressors. The complete upper is compatible with mil-spec lower receivers. (seekinsprecision.com; 208-743-3400)

Sig Sauer M400 Upper AR Upper — Sig Sauer M400 Upper: Sig Sauer’s M400 upper is available in 5.56mm or 300 BLK. The 16-inch barrel is surrounded by a Magpul MOE handguard, and the barrel extenstion has an extractor support pin for improved safety in the event of an obstructed bore or overpressured ammunition. It comes with an “F”-marked front sight and flip-up locking rear sight. (sigsauer.com; 603-610-3000)

Smith & Wesson M&P15TS Upper AR Upper — Smith & Wesson M&P15TS Upper: The 5.56mm M&P15TS upper receiver assembly features a free-floating barrel with a 1-in-7-inch twist rate and a permanently attached Smith Vortex flash suppressor that brings the 14.5-inch barrel’s overall length up to 16 inches. The forend is a 13-inch Troy TRX Extreme Handguard. The upper also comes with Magpul MBUS flip-up sights that are made of impact-resistant polymer. An ambidextrous button quickly deploys the sights. (smith-wesson.com; 800-331-0852)

Stag Arms Model 3TH-M Upper AR Upper — Stag Arms Model 3TH-M Upper: Designed with input from law enforcement agencies, Stag Arms chambered its Model 3TH-M upper in 5.56mm NATO and outfitted it with features those agencies prefer. Featuring a 16-inch, 4140 steel barrel with a government profile and 1-in-9-inch button rifling, the 3TH-M is also equipped with a 13.5-inch, free-floated Diamondhead VRS-T handguard and Diamondhead’s aluminum, low-profile, flip-up sights. (stagarms.com; 860-229-9994)

VooDoo Innovations Ultra Lite AR Upper — VooDoo Innovations Ultra Lite: This 5.56mm, forged-aluminum, flattop upper features an Ultra Lite 16.5-inch, 4150 chrome-moly-vanadium steel barrel with a 1-in-7-inch twist rate and uses the traditional direct impingement gas system with a rifle-length gas tube. A free-floating Samson Evolution handguard and VDI Jet Comp muzzle device are also included. (813-867-4242; voodooinnovations.com)

X Products Can Cannon AR Upper — The Can Cannon from X-Products has nothing to do with defense or tactical engagements—it is just pure fun. The complete upper uses M200 mil-spec blanks to propel a soda can a distance of up to 105 yards. The upper uses a proprietary ported barrel and pressure tube to launch heavy, thin-walled objects without burning a hole in them or directing hot gas directly into them. (xproducts.com; 928-862-2107)

X Products X-15 Billet SCU AR Upper — X Products X-15 Billet SCU: The X-15 Billet SCU (Side Charging Upper) is billet-crafted and designed with a non-reciprocating side charging handle. Engineered to work with .223, 300 BLK and 9mm calibers, and all standard and non-standard AR lowers, the X-15 Billet SCU uses an elevated charging handle that allows proper operation of the bolt-hold-open when manually operated. (xproducts.com; 928-862-2107)

Yankee Hill Machine KR7 Series AR Upper — Yankee Hill Machine KR7 Series: This YHM upper comes chambered in either 5.56mm, 6.8 SPC or .300 BLK, and comes standard with a Phantom 5C2 flash suppressor, a KR7 Mid-Length KeyMod handguard and a low-profile gas block. The receiver and handguard offer an uninterrupted rail. The 16-inch barrel is made of 4140 steel. (yhm.net; 877-892-6533)

Part of the AR’s ingenious design lies with two pins: the takedown pin and the pivot pin. Pop out these two pins and the upper receiver can be removed and swapped, allowing a user to instantly change the caliber of an AR, or for specific needs like CQB or long-distance shooting, reduce or increase barrel length, respectively.

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For more information on the AR uppers listed in the gallery above, please visit the following websites:

Armalite M-15 Target: armalite.com; 800-336-0184
BCM Uppers: bravocompanyusa.com; 877-272-8626
Daniel Defense M4v11 Pro Series Upper: danieldefense.com; 866-554-4867
DSI 16-Inch Typhoon: dark-storm.com; 800-963-7700
Del-Ton AR-15 16-inch Pre-Ban Flat Top: del-ton.com; 910-645-2172
POF-USA P15 Puritan Upper: pof-usa.com; 623-561-9572
Precision Reflex 18-inch Mark 12 Mod 0 SPR Gen II: precisionreflex.com; 419-629-2603
Primary Weapons Systems MK214 Upper: primaryweapons.com; 208-344-5217
Rock River Arms Lightweight XL: rockriverarms.com; 309-792-5780
Safety Harbor SHTF 50 Single Shot Upper Conversion: safetyharborfirearms.com; 727-726-2500
Seekins Precision Combat Billet: seekinsprecision.com; 208-743-3400
Sig Sauer M400 Upper: sigsauer.com; 603-610-3000
Smith & Wesson M&P15TS Upper: smith-wesson.com; 800-331-0852
Stag Arms Model 3TH-M Upper: stagarms.com; 860-229-9994
VooDoo Innovations Ultra Lite: 813-867-4242; voodooinnovations.com
X Products Can Cannon: xproducts.com; 844-770-7765
X Products X-15 Billet SCU: xproducts.com; 844-770-7765
Yankee Hill Machine KR7 Series: yhm.net; 877-892-6533