There are several options in the .224 rifle category, but nothing beats the Radical Firearms RF Complete Upper. This is the ultimate upper for the serious shooter!
The RF Complete Upper is a powerhouse, designed for superior performance and made with top-quality materials that can take intense pressure and heat of firing. And when you think about accuracy, the Radical Firearms RF Complete Upper is the definition. It is designed for precision shooting, so you can hit your targets with ease.
If you're looking to take your .224 Valkyrie rifle to the next level, look no further than the Radical Firearms RF Complete Upper. For tips, reviews, and more options, keep on reading.
Comparison Table
- Muzzle brake is effective and streamlined.
- Melonite BCG is durable and requires less lubrication than a phosphate carrier.
- MHR free float rail has M-LOK attachment points and very well placed picatinny rail sections.
- Match-grade stainless steel barrel is a legitimate competition worthy barrel.
- Gas tube and gas block are melonite finished
- Remarkably high mil-spec component quality.
- Included single-chamber muzzle brake works reasonably well.
- Handguard is really solidly attached and rigid.
The quest for a true long-range AR-15 rifle has been underway for a decade or two now. .224 Valkyrie is one of the rounds that’s purported to deliver long range capabilities with some legitimate long range ballistics.
I’m not going to get into the .224 Valkyrie vs 6.5 Grendel debate right now. If you’re here, you’ve settled on .224 Valkyrie. And I’m here to help you choose an upper, so you can get out and start shooting.
Best Choice
Radical Firearms Rf Complete Upper
Trigger Pull Weight:
0.5 – 1 lb
Cartridge:
.45 ACP
Material:
Aluminum
SPOILER—in the name of helping you get to shoot sooner rather than later, the Radical Firearms Rf Complete Upper is easily the best value for the money of all the .224 Valkyrie uppers. So get this upper if you want something that’s not too expensive and delivers solid performance.
If you’ve got a bit more time to choose a .224 Valkyrie upper, keep reading. We’ve lined up a whole bunch of .224 Valkyrie uppers for you to check out.
Table of Contents
The Best .224 Valkyrie Uppers Reviews: Long Range AR-15 Uppers
The overall best .224 Valkyrie upper gets review first, as is customary here at the Minuteman Review. The remaining .224 Valkyrie uppers get locked and loaded in order of price.
The uppers that almost everyone can afford are first in line.
The .224 Valkyrie uppers that blow holes in targets and your budget are near the end.
Scroll to the reviews that match your budget.
1. Radical Firearms Rf Complete Upper
Key Specs:
- Caliber:
.224 valkyrie
- Rate of twist:
1:7″
- Barrel material:
416 sst
Pros:
- Stainless steel barrel is precise
- Muzzle brake is effective and streamlined.
- Melonite BCG is durable and requires little lubrication
Cons:
- Melonite finish on the bolt carrier wears kind of fast.
- Hardware is just mil-spec equipment.
Radical Firearms is primarily a budget firearm manufacturer. Their rifles are very affordable. But they work very well. I rarely see issues with Radical Firearms guns, which is impressive given the price point.
The Radical Firearms Rf Complete Upper is basically the .224 Valkyrie version of their AR-15 MHR upper, with one minor change.
What is that minor change? This upper is fitted with a 416 stainless steel barrel. The stainless steel barrel is a tad more precise than their standard 5.56mm barrels. That way you get the long-range precision you want from your .224 ammunition.
Additionally, the barrel is capped with a muzzle brake that actually does a pretty good job of keeping the recoil down. And it’s almost the exact same diameter as the barrel. So it’s very streamlined. It reminds me of the muzzle brake that Ruger uses on their X-Bolt rifles.
The bolt carrier group is the standard Radical Firearms melonite finished BCG, which is actually a pretty nice bolt carrier group for an upper at this price point. The melonite finish is slick and requires less lubrication than a phosphate coating, just like a black nitride bolt carrier group.
However, you may notice that the finish shows friction wear a bit faster than some black nitride bolt carrier groups. But that’s normal. And the BCG seems to have good build quality and lifespan in terms of the quality of the metal.
Lastly, the rail. The Radical Firearms rail is actually pretty well designed. I’ve never installed a Radical Firearms rail myself. So I’m not exactly sure how the mechanics of the mounting system work.
However, I’ve never seen any wiggle or flex from the handguard. It’s strong and secure. Additionally, the handguard has a picatinny quad rail near the muzzle end. It adds a bit of weight. But it’s actually very handy for mounting bipods and other forend attachments.
Overall, this is a really solid .224 Valkyrie upper for the money. It’s pretty straightforward—essentially just a mil-spec upper. But the quality is focused in the areas where you need it.
2. Sons of Liberty Gun Works AR-15 East India Match Upper Receiver Starter Kit
Pros:
- Match-grade stainless steel barrel is a legitimate competition worthy barrel.
- Upper receiver is incredibly precisely machined
- Gas tube and gas block are melonite finished
Cons:
- Not a complete upper receiver.
Sons of Liberty Gun Works makes really good gun components. However, complete Sons of Liberty Gun Works rifles can be a bit pricey. The Sons of Liberty Gun Works AR-15 East India Match Upper Receiver Starter Kit offers a way to get a Sons of Liberty rifle at a potentially lower price point.
As you may have gathered from the name, this isn’t quite a complete upper receiver assembly. There’s no handguard, muzzle device, bolt carrier, or charging handle. So you can fit this upper receiver with cheap equipment to save yourself money. Or you can get the good stuff without paying for the factory components.
Anyway, all the included components—the upper receiver, the barrel, and the gas system—are Sons of Liberty Gun Works match grade components.
The barrel is a 22-inch stainless steel match barrel that gives you plenty of precision for pushing the .224 Valkyrie round as far as possible, with good terminal ballistics.
The barrel is mounted to a 7075-T6 aluminum upper receiver that has a really smooth finish that improves organic lubricity and helps ensure that whatever bolt carrier group you throw in this rifle operates super smoothly.
Lastly, the gas system is also an upgrade over standard mil-spec equipment. The gas tube is melonite, which resists corrosion and lasts longer than a standard stainless steel gas tube. The gas block is 4140 stainless steel, which is also melonite coated to reduce corrosion and extend the lifespan.
Overall, the component quality is remarkably high. That’s why this Sons of Liberty upper receiver—even without a bolt carrier, charging handle, or handguard—is nearly as expensive as some complete upper receivers.
However, this upper receiver kit is an amazing platform to use for building your .224 Valkyrie AR-15 that will enhance the performance of any other components you use.
3. CMMG, Inc. ENDEAVOR 200 Series Upper Receiver Group
Pros:
- Remarkably high mil-spec component quality.
- Included single-chamber muzzle brake works reasonably well.
- Handguard is really solidly attached and rigid.
Cons:
- Muzzle brake could reduce felt recoil a bit more.
- Handguard may not be ideal if you want a slim handguard.
- Standard mil-spec ergonomics.
The CMMG, Inc. ENDEAVOR 200 Series Upper Receiver Group is impressively priced, considering how well built it is. It’s priced like a budget upper receiver. But it comes with many features you’d get from a higher priced upper.
CMMG makes remarkably high-quality mil-spec parts. Their machining is precise and their anodized finishes are thick and smooth. This upper receiver produces a tight, smooth action.
However, the bolt carrier group and barrel are nitride finished. This finish reduces the required lubrication for the bolt carrier. And the nitride finish improves corrosion resistance, which extends the lifespan of the internals and barrel.
The barrel is capped with a single port muzzle brake that’s reasonably effective. It doesn’t reduce the recoil quite as much as a more advanced muzzle brake, like a Gamma 556 or something. But the muzzle brake is pretty decent for a factory muzzle brake.
The handguard is a solid, stable handguard. The mounting system is secure. And the aluminum handguard itself is super rigid, perfect for mounting bipods and anything else.
However, it’s a bit thick. If you prefer a slim handguard, you might find that this CMMG Inc handguard is a tad much for you.
The ergonomic hardware is just standard mil-spec stuff. So you might want to upgrade a few pieces. But you could easily use this upper for just about anything, right out of the box.
4. Glfa AR-15 Complete Upper .224 Valkyrie
Key Specs:
- Material:
Steel
- Rate of twist:
1:7″
- Barrel finish:
Stainless
Pros:
- Classic M16 profile.
- 24-inch, stainless steel barrel is excellent for long-range precision and hunting rifles.
- Muzzle brake offers reasonable recoil reduction that’s suitable for precision shooting.
Cons:
- Standard mil-spec components.
- Standard M16 look may not be for everyone.
The Glfa Ar-15 Complete Upper .224 Valkyrie is specifically designed to give you more precision than most .224 Valkyrie uppers at this price.
The main thing is that this upper has a 24 inch stainless steel barrel, which is a bit longer than most competing barrels. It’s a perfect upper for anyone who’s trying to get .224 Valkyrie rounds out to 1000 yards.
Also, if you prefer an all black upper receiver, you can get the same performance from the Glfa Ar-15 Complete Upper 224 Valkyrie Nitride, which is the same upper with a black barrel.
It’s also a good upper receiver if you’re building a hunting rifle, since you’ll get better terminal ballistics at longer distances.
The barrel is also capped with a muzzle brake that’s similar to the muzzle brakes that you find on many bolt-action rifles. It’s a good muzzle brake for slow, precision fire, which is fine for a .224 Valkyrie rifle.
The handguard is a sturdy M-LOK handguard that’s strong enough to use with a bipod. It’s a 17.75 inch handguard, which covers the rifle-length gas system.
However, the longer barrel does stick out of the handguard quite a bit. So this rifle has a bit of a classic M16 look, which you may or may not like.
But, regardless of the look, this GLFA upper receiver still has a longer barrel that’s designed to help you get the best long-range precision and terminal ballistics possible from a .224 Valkyrie rifle.
5. Radian Weapons Model 1 .224 Valkyrie Complete Upper Receiver
Key Specs:
- Finish:
Anodized
- Length
18 in
- Mount Type
M-LOK
Pros:
- Handguard is remarkably securely mounted and rigid.
- Forward assist is compact and positioned for easier use, should you need it.
- Enhanced bolt carrier group minimizes carrier tilt and reduces wear on internal components.
Cons:
- 18 or 20 inch barrel may not be long enough for perfect ballistic at extreme long ranges.
- Fairly expensive.
The Radian Weapons Model 1 .224 Valkyrie Complete Upper Receiver is built almost entirely with enhanced components that Radian Weapons has designed to maximize reliability. However, this upper receiver also looks pretty rad.
The big deal with this upper receiver is the bolt carrier group. It’s an anti-tilt bolt carrier group that has a slightly wider body to prevent bolt carrier tilt. The bolt carrier design improves reliability and reduces wear on components.
Additionally, the bolt carrier group is nitride coated to produce a smoother action, with less lubrication.
On the outside, the forward assist is shifted slightly forward to make it easier to reach and use, should you need it.
Additionally, the charging handle is a Radian Weapons Raptor. The charging handle is stupidly smooth and easy to use. It’s one of the premier ambidextrous charging handles on the market.
The Radian Weapons handguard has a bulletproof mounting system. It’s also remarkably rigid throughout the entire body, and is more than sturdy enough to mount a bipod on.
Then, the 3-prong flash suppressor features asymmetrical prongs that keep the muzzle device silent when you run the bolt (no tuning fork sound). And it’s a solid flash suppressor.
That flash suppressor is mounted to an 18 or 20 inch barrel, which is precisely machined and offers remarkable precision. Though, you may prefer a longer barrel if you’re trying to get the best velocity and ballistics at long range.
It’s not cheap. But, if you want a high-reliability upper receiver with excellent ergonomics, this is the way to go.
6. Adams Arms P3 Complete .224 Valkyrie Upper Receiver
Pros:
- Carbon fiber wrapped barrel is precise, but also very lightweight.
- Jet Comp noticeably reduces felt recoil.
- Ambidextrous charging handle functions smoothly.
Cons:
- Carbon fiber wrapped barrel may be tough, but it’s still not ideal for getting smoking hot with rapid fire.
- Gas piston system has a slightly poppy recoil impulse, even if it’s properly adjusted.
Gas piston AR-15 rifles are an advancement in AR-15 reliability. Unfortunately, it can be tricky to find gas piston uppers, since the parts tend to be proprietary and there aren’t a ton of manufacturers that make gas piston rifles.
The Adams Arms P3 Complete .224 Valkyrie Upper Receiver may not have a ton of competition. But the gas piston system is well built. And it addresses some of the inherent struggles with gas piston AR-15 rifles.
Clearly, the gas piston system is adjustable. And it’s a rifle length system. This offers a few benefits.
First, the adjustable gas system enables you to run this rifle with just as much gas as you need. That way, you don’t need to be running full gas all the time. The rifle length system also makes the recoil impulse a tad less snappy.
Now, it’s a short stroke gas system. So it has a bit of pop, no matter what.
However, if the gas is properly adjusted, the rifle length system makes the gas piston recoil as mellow as possible. And you probably won’t even notice the slightly sharper impulse during slow, precision shooting.
The other standout feature of this upper receiver is the carbon fiber wrapped barrel. It’s much lighter than a full stainless steel barrel. But it’s still just as precise.
The downside of a carbon fiber wrapped barrel is that the heat tolerance is lower. If you plan on getting your rifle ridiculously hot with rapid fire, this may not be the right upper receiver for that.
However, if you want a really lightweight upper receiver that still delivers solid precision, you’ve found a good option.
One more thing: the Jet Comp. It’s a pretty aggressive, triple chamber compensator. The compensator does a really good job of reducing the felt recoil. It may not be THE BEST compensator in the world. But it’s very good.
Overall, this Adam Arms upper receiver gives you the reliability and clean operation of a gas piston rifle. However, it’s also very lightweight. And it’s still very precise. Maybe that’s why it’s so expensive…
The Final Shot
Radical Firearms Rf Complete Upper
- Barrel length:
20 in
- Rate of twist:
1:7″
- Barrel material:
416 sst
Pros:
- Muzzle brake is effective and streamlined.
- Melonite BCG is durable
- Stainless steel barrel is precise
The .224 Valkyrie round is a surprisingly capable long range round that can really take the AR-15 platform to the next level as a long range rifle. But long-range precision requires higher component quality than a standard tactical rifle.
So it’s important to build your .224 Valkyrie rifle with the best .224 Valkyrie upper you can get. The Radical Firearms Rf Complete Upper is a solid .224 Valkyrie upper that’s surprisingly affordable. But it’s still durable and reliable, regardless of the price point.
If your .224 Valkyrie AR-15 is still just a lower receiver without a mate, it’s time to get a .224 Valkyrie upper, and get your long-range game together.
