6 Best AR-10 Upper Receivers

Custom building an AR-10 from scratch is one of the most enjoyable experiences that I’ve had in all of my years as a gun owner. I meticulously hand-selected every piece of my build for optimal performance and function. I knew then and know now that quality receivers are the cornerstones of any AR build, which is why I made sure I picked the best AR-10 upper receiver I could find.

Our Guide to The 6 Best AR-10 Uppers

Picking an AR-10 upper for your build sounds simple enough in theory. However, the market is filled with dozens of upper receivers. Unfortunately, there are some pretenders in the bunch that can derail your build and leaves you disappointed with, if not outright frustrated about, the final product. That is why we have narrowed your search down to 6 high-quality AR-10 upper receivers to help you complete your build.

Guide to Upgrading Your AR-10 Upper Receiver

There are three main reasons that people buy AR-10 upper receivers.

• The first and perhaps the most prevalent reasons are to complete a custom build.
• The second is to replace a subpar or even damaged upper receiver with a new, more durable one.
• The third is to convert your AR-10 to a different caliber.

Regardless of your reasoning, choosing a quality upper receiver that improves your AR-10 and accommodates your goals as a shooter are important considerations when making your decision.

Building an AR-10 Rifle

If you have worked with the AR-15 family of rifles, you are accustomed to general parts interchangeability based on military specifications. The various manufacturers of .308 AR rifles had no such standard; they made changes to put their own brand on them. For a home-builder, it means you can’t buy parts without doing some homework. Building an AR-10 from scratch has a ton of great benefits when compared to simply buying a finished gun. I, for one, find myself much more invested in the experience and value the finished product more when I have chosen every part of the gun.

Choose the right Buffer and Spring Combination

One of the most appealing things about an AR-10 build is that you can reconfigure your gun for different purposes as your interests or preferences change. If you want to build a .308 AR choosing the right buffer and spring combination for your gun is the easiest way to make your gun run.

One of the most appealing things about an AR-10 build is that you can reconfigure your gun for different purposes as your interests or preferences change. Building an AR-10 from the ground up allows you to purchase a few tried and true parts from companies you trust while also giving you the flexibility to configure your rifle how you want and try out some new products while you’re at it.

Which buffer and spring should you use in your rifle?

That depends on your buffer tube, gas system length, the gas port size, ammunition, and if a suppressor will be utilized. I can recommend some solutions, but with all these variables, some experimentation is required. In fact, you might need more than one buffer and spring combination if you plan to change uppers or ammo.

I have seen many ARs of all calibers falter because of ammunition.

Many .308 ARs use an AR-15 buffer tube. Because the .308 AR requires longer bolt travel, you cannot use an AR-15 buffer in an AR-15 buffer tube on a 308 rifle. The careful balance of length of the carrier, the amount of travel required, the length of the buffer, and the compressed length of the buffer spring determines if and how well your rifle functions. Change any one factor and it can stop everything. There are several combinations that will work, the buffer can be shorter or the buffer tube can be lengthened. The spring selected must match.

I frequently tinker with my builds to make minor adjustments. This may be something as small as swapping out optics to something as involved as replacing the gas system and barrel. Custom builds allow you this kind of flexibility and it all starts with a quality upper and lower receiver.

Components to a Great Upper Receiver

When choosing an upper receiver for your AR-10, there are three main factors that should be taken into account before making your purchase.

• The method of manufacture and build material is vital because it will most directly affect weight and durability.
• The second is if it includes a Picatinny rail or instead has a carrying handle.
• The third is whether or not it is a finished or stripped upper receiver.

Upper Receiver Materials

Most receivers are manufactured from aluminum. However, polymer receivers are also available. Each has its benefits for certain applications, but there is always a give and take when it comes to weight and durability.

Polymer uppers can provide significant weight reduction and are often reinforced with metal at high-stress points. The trade-off with polymer uppers is that they provide substantially less strength and durability when compared to aluminum upper receivers. Our list does not feature any polymer uppers due to their durability concerns outweigh the benefit of a lighter weapons platform.

All of the uppers featured on our list are either billet aluminum or forged aluminum, both of which are great choices for your AR-10 build. Some upper receivers are manufactured using a casting method, but billet and forged receivers offer the best performance results.

Billet Upper Receiver

When a receiver is called a “billet” receiver, it just means that it was created from a single piece of stock material. This material is cut to an approximate size to create the upper receiver and is then machined from start to finish.

The machining process often requires that the upper be transferred from different machines during the process, taking longer than the creation of an upper from forged material. Billet uppers tend to be more unique because manufacturers often add extra material to stress points to improve durability.

Forged Upper Receiver

Forged uppers are made in a more drastic process. They are made by hammering raw aluminum into a rough shape close to that of the desired receiver. Once the forging process is complete, they are also finished with CNC machining devices to precise specifications. The forging process offers better durability than any other manufacturing process.

When it comes to picking between billet or forged receivers, it is generally a matter of preference.

The billet receiver will usually be a few ounces lighter and likely have a unique finish or design. Billet receivers have a precision fit when using a billet lower of the same brand because the parts are manufactured on the same machines.

However, the forged receiver is extremely durable and produces the best fit when mixing different brands of upper and lower receivers, as long as they both follow the DPMS cut.

Design

The two primary designs for AR-10 upper receivers are receivers that feature:

• A carrying handle and,
• Receivers that have a Picatinny rail across the top.

Those featuring the carrying handle are great for completing a retro build and include the rear peep-hole sight.
With that in mind, the rounds available for an AR-10 are designed to let you reach out and touch your target from long distances. If your goal is optimal distance and accuracy, then the Picatinny rail is the way to go.

Complete Versus Stripped Upper?

When choosing between a complete or stripped upper receiver, it’s all about personal preference and your goals. Complete uppers get your gun up and running faster, but a stripped upper receiver provides more flexibility.

Complete Upper Receiver

A complete upper receiver is an excellent choice when you are seeking to convert your AR-10 from one caliber to another but still want to be able to quickly swap back in the future. The complete upper will have all the required hardware to make the change and get you out to the range quickly.

Complete upper receivers are also appealing if you have a finished AR and are just looking to upgrade your barrel and BCG in one easy swap.

Stripped Upper Reciever

If you already have a functioning rifle and have decided to undertake a build, then I would recommend a stripped upper receiver. If you are going with a billet option, your safest bet would be to purchase the same brand lower receiver to avoid fitting issues. Doing so will still allow you the flexibility to choose your barrel, bolt carrier group, and trigger, which are the drivers of your rifle’s performance anyway.

During my last build, I mixed and matched all the parts other than the receivers and ended up with one of the best performing guns to date.

If going for a build with a stripped upper receiver, you can order lower and upper parts kits that include all required hardware to complete your build. This includes the detents, pins, safety selector, and other small parts that will not have any substantial variations in quality as long as you purchase it from a reputable company.

Caliber Conversion?

If you are new to AR-10s or the AR market in general, then you may be surprised to know that you can convert your AR platform rifle to fire a different caliber than the standard. The standard caliber for the AR-15 is the .223/5.56 round and the standard for the AR-10 in .308 Win. A relatively new round that can be fired from your AR-10 and has been surging in popularity is the 6.5 Creedmoor.

The 6.5 Creedmoor is a great round that performs comparably to the .308 Win. However, it offers some advantages in long-distance shooting from about 800-1200 yards. Without getting too technical, the 6.5 Creedmoor experiences less bullet drop and maintains higher velocity at these distances when compared to a .308 Win round of equal quality.

Completing the conversion can be done in one of several ways.

1. If you do not want to purchase a new upper receiver, then you can strip down your rifle and remove the handguard, barrel, gas system, and bolt carrier group.
2. You can then install a 6.5 Creedmoor barrel and bolt carrier group and re-install the other parts to finish the conversion.
3. To do this without buying a new gas system, the new barrel must be the same length as the original.

As you can see, this process can be a bit tedious and you are still having to replace the barrel and bolt carrier group, which are two of the most expensive parts of your rifle anyway.

The alternative is to purchase another upper receiver

Whether you purchase a finished upper chambered in 6.5 CM or a stripped upper and outfit it with a 6.5 CM barrel and BCG, you simply remove the .308 Win upper and install your new upper with the takedown and pivot pins to complete the conversion.

The second option is what I opted for, allowing me to quickly swap my rifle from .308 Win to 6.5 CM and back again if I want to. I usually make the swap before heading out to the range or the woods and carefully ensure that I’m only bringing the appropriate ammo with me to avoid any mishaps. I like to label my magazines with a permanent marker to make this easier but to each his own.

Forged to Perfection – Our Top Pick!

When it comes to quality guns, any successful build has to start with a good foundation.