Getting the right type of upper receiver for your AR-15 is essential, as it would mean the difference between fulfilment and frustration for the shooter. If you’re wondering what the best AR-15 Upper is? Well, that’s the Bravo Company AR-15/M4 Flattop Upper Receiver Assembly.
Designed with precision engineering for maximum performance and reliability, this receiver is high quality and affordable, and it’s quite functional. Considering its ergonomic qualities, it’s no surprise that this upper receiver is doing well when it comes to AR-15 uppers. Basically, you’re looking at an all-purpose, user-friendly gear that is suitable for hunting or the shooting range. So if you’re up to it, get yourself an AR-15 upper receiver today and see how it goes from there, and check out the list below to find the best one.
Top AR-15 Upper Receivers on the Market
- Improved mil-spec construction
- Matte black finish
- Dry film lubricated internals
- Painted T-markings on picatinny rail
- Stripped for maximum customization
- Super affordable
- Available in multiple configurations
- Laser engraved T-markings will never wear off
- Solid mil-spec construction
Your upper receiver is the foundation of your rifle. It’s where most of the operating parts are, and your upper receiver the platform for one of the parts that most affects accuracy: your barrel.
So, while any decent upper receiver will get the job done, you should put some thought into your upper receiver and ensure that you’re getting one that fits your shooting context and style.
For those who enjoy spoilers:
Best Choice
Bravo Company AR-15/M4 Flattop Upper Receiver Assembly
Cartridge:
.223 Wylde
Fabric/Material:
Steel
Gas Block Journal Size-Diameter:
.750 in
If you want an upper receiver that’s functional and performs well for most applications, get the Bravo Company AR-15/M4 Flattop Upper Receiver Assembly. It’s a high quality and reasonably priced upper receiver that just works.
For those who like to read and evaluate their options:
We’ll cover the best AR-15 upper receivers, so you can really dial in your build.
Table of Contents
The Best AR 15 Receiver Reviews: Building a Solid Foundation
Those who have been here before know we’re going to start with the winning upper receiver. All the rest get their turn in order of price, from the most affordable to the most wallet crushing.
Let’s dig in.
1. Bravo Company Flattop Assembly
Key Specs:
- Fabric/Material:
7075-T6 Aluminum
- Finish:
Black Hard Anodize
- Cartridge:
5.56x45mm NATO
Pros:
- Improved mil-spec construction.
- Matte black finish.
- Dry film lubricated internals.
Cons:
- Undersized barrel extension can make assembly challenging.
The Criterion Barrels AR-15 Chrome Lined Barrel is designed to hit the sweet spot between price and performance. They’re not the most affordable barrels on the market. But, they’ve got a lot of great features that elevate their performance above budget barrels.
This receiver is machined from 7075-T6 aluminum, with a matte black, hardcoat anodized finish. It’s mil-spec, with the benefit of Bravo Company’s more thorough quality control and precision construction. So, it will last longer and fit your lower receiver better than a regular mil-spec upper.
Additionally, there’s a dry film lubricant on the inside to reduce wear from the bolt carrier. This helps protect your bolt carrier as well as your upper receiver.
The picatinny rail features laser etched T-markings so you can easily remove and remount your optics in the same position.
Lastly, the inside diameter of the barrel extension is slightly undersized. This provides a tighter barrel fit and enhances your rifle’s accuracy. However, the tighter fit can make it challenging to attach your barrel.
Overall, this is a workhorse upper receiver that will work for any rifle you want to build. It doesn’t offer any real specialization. But it does everything well.
2. Brownells Stripped
Key Specs:
- Material:
7075-T6 aluminum forging
- Finish:
Matte black Type III hardcoat
- Style:
Stripped
Pros:
- True mil-spec construction for maximum compatibility and fit with standard AR-15 parts.
- Painted T-markings on picatinny rail.
- Stripped for maximum customization.
Cons:
- Painted T-markings wear off pretty easily.
The Faxon Firearms AR-15 Government/SOCOM Barrels are designed to match the standard military issue profile and the mass production price. However, this mod
The Brownells AR-15/M4 Stripped Upper Receiver is great for two reasons:
It’s super inexpensive.
It offers maximum customization.
It’s inexpensive because it’s essentially a mil-spec receiver. It’s machined from 7075-T6 aluminum, and mil-spec type III hardcoat anodized. Nothing special. But, the mil-spec design does maximize compatibility and fit with standard AR-15 parts.
The picatinny rail features painted T-markings. These help with consistent placement of optics and sights. However, painted markings wear off fairly easily.
This is a completely stripped upper receiver. So, you’ll need to supply your own forward assist and ejection port cover. However, that offers opportunities for customization for those who like a really dialed-in rifle.
It may not be flashy, but this Brownell item is an excellent upper receiver for a budget build or anyone who wants to tweak every aspect of their AR-15.
3. Aero Precision M4E1 Upper Receiver
Key Specs:
- Fabric/Material:
7075-T6 forged aluminum
- Gun Model:
M4
- Weight:
8.65 oz
Pros:
- Solid mil-spec construction, with angled contours to improve lifespan and durability.
- Aero Precision hardcoat anodizing is more durable than standard mil-spec finish.
- Laser engraved T-markings will never wear off.
Cons:
- Angular contours don’t match standard AR-15 aesthetics.
The Aero Precision AR-15 M4E1 Upper Receiver is built for those who want mil-spec compatibility with the durability of a billet upper receiver. With AR-15 builders in mind, Aero precision offers this upper in three configurations:
The assembled model will work for the vast majority of shooters. It comes with the forward assist and ejection port cover already installed. All you need to do is attach the barrel and handguard.
If you plan on using an Aero Precision handguard, the handguard ready model features a monolithic handguard mount that’s part of the upper receiver for maximum handguard stability and durability.
But, no matter which one you get, they’re all machined from 7075-T6 aluminum, and covered with a matte black, hardcoat anodized finish.
The body itself features a more angular contours for improved aesthetics and durability. This gives your upper receiver a longer lifespan than the standard mil-spec design.
Finally, the picatinny rail features laser engraved T-markings that won’t wear off. So, you’ll be able to place your optics and sights consistently throughout the life of the rifle.Overall, this Aero Precision model is one of the best upper receivers on the market. It’s an outstanding option for those who want better than mil-spec without sacrificing compatibility.
4. Foxtrot Mike Ultra Light Monolithic
Pros:
- Very lightweight.
- Complete upper receiver and M-LOK handguard.
- Forend interlock prevents barrel nut from loosening.
Cons:
- Lightweight aluminum is slightly less durable than 7075 aluminum.
- Limits handguard customization, since the included handguard must be used.
The Foxtrot Mike Products AR-15 Ultra Light Monolithic Upper Receiver not only offers a very lightweight platform to build your rifle around, it also enhances the receiver to handguard fit for a more stable and durable forend.
This model is machined from 6061-T6 aluminum. The aluminum reduces the weight. However, it’s not as durable as 7075 aluminum.
The ejection port cover is already installed when you get this upper. However, the body features a slick side design without a forward assist. Some say the forward assist is unnecessary. But, if you want a forward assist, this may not be the upper for you.
On the other hand, the design does feature an interlock system for the handguard that improves your forend stability and durability. The handguard interlock also makes it impossible for your barrel nut to come loose. So, it offers some peace of mind, too.
The included handguard offers M-LOK attachment points at the 3 o’clock, 6 o’clock, and 9 o’clock positions.
Of course, the exterior is type III hardcoat anodized for mil-spec corrosion resistance.
All in all, this Foxtrot Mike upper is probably best for those who prioritize weight reduction, since this model makes a couple sacrifices to keep the weight down.
5. JP Enterprises JP15UR-H Upper Receiver
Pros:
- Forged construction for maximum lifespan and durability.
- Black Teflon finish for improved lubrication and scuff resistance.
- Stamped T-markings will never wear off.
Cons:
- Expensive.
JP Enterprises has been a staple in the competition AR-15 market for years. The JP Enterprises AR-15/M16 JP15UR-H Upper Receiver has a terrible name. But, it offers excellent performance.
The biggest benefit of this upper is that it’s forged from 7075-T6 aluminum. It’s the strongest, most durable construction you can get.
This model is type III hardcoat anodized. Additionally, the entire thing is finished with Black Teflon for better lubrication and scuff resistance. This reduces wear on the internals and your bolt carrier group, and ensures that the outer finish remains intact despite rubbing on gear and magazines.
T-markings are stamped into the picatinny rail. So, it’s impossible for them to wear off. You’ll never have to place your optics or sights without some guide marks.
Even with the improved finish, this upper will still accept any standard AR-15 parts. Although, it would be kind of a shame to pair this receiver with standard mil-spec hardware.
This JP Enterprises upper receiver is stripped. So, you’ll need to supply a forward assist and ejection port cover.The price point is a tad on the high side. So, this upper is best if you’re building a high end tactical or competition rifle that you want to be able to run hard with confidence.
6. Heckler & Koch HK416 Upper Receiver
Pros:
- Forged construction for excellent durability in semi-automatic rifles.
- Mil-spec construction is compatible with standard AR-15 lower receivers.
- One of the few options available for building your own gas piston rifle.
Cons:
- Requires proprietary Heckler & Koch parts to build a complete gas piston upper.
- No T-markings on the picatinny rail.
For the most part, gas piston AR-15s require a lot of proprietary parts. So, it’s hard to build one from the ground up. However, with the military adoption of the HK416, there’s at least one gas piston system that you could build yourself. The Heckler & Koch HK416 Upper Receiver offers builders a gateway to building a gas piston AR-15.
First, this upper is built to military specifications, since it was originally designed for a military rifle. That means 7075-T6 aluminum construction, and type III hardcoat anodizing.
However, since the military rifle has a fully automatic option, the upper receiver is forged for improved durability. So, this upper will have a very long lifespan on a civilian rifle.
Even though this model is designed for a gas piston system, it’s still compatible with standard AR-15 lowers. So, you can use any lower receiver you want.
There aren’t any T-markings in the picatinny rail, which is unfortunate. But, you can always mark your upper with some nail polish, if you need to remove your optics or sights.
The last thing to consider is that all the parts that attach to this upper receiver are Heckler and Koch parts. They can be tricky to get. And, they’re expensive. So, building a complete gas piston upper will be a bit pricey.
But, if you’re dedicated to building a gas piston AR-15 or military clone rifle, this upper is your best bet for getting it done.
Putting it All Together
Bravo Company AR-15/M4 Flattop Upper Receiver Assembly
- Fabric/Material:
7075-T6 Aluminum
- Cartridge:
5.56x45mm NATO
- Finish:
Black Hard Anodize
Pros:
- Improved mil-spec construction.
- Dry film lubricated internals.
- Slightly undersized inside diameter of barrel extension to enhance accuracy.
Building your own AR-15 is fun and rewarding. It can also be less expensive than buying a complete rifle. But, why build your own rifle if you’re not going to get parts that really match your style?
If you're looking for great deals on quality ar-15 barrels, read our in-depth guide here.
If you want an upper receiver that will run great on any rifle, get the Bravo Company AR-15/M4 Flattop Upper Receiver Assembly. It’s a solid upper receiver that will give you years of service at a great price.
So, check out your options. See what you like. And grab an AR-15 upper that’ll give you a whole bunch of bangs for your buck.
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