With the wide range of manufacturers now available to the large frame AR builder it can be confusing and intimidating trying to pick what exactly is best for you. Simply put, if you want to avoid all of that and still come out on top — a complete AR-10 upper paired with a Complete AR-10 Lower is a great method of building your next rifle.
Part of the appeal of complete upper receivers is that there is very little assembly to be done, if any. The most someone will have to add to a complete upper is a bolt carrier group and charging handle if it doesn't already come with those components.
From there, the upper receiver is functional and ready to be mounted on a lower and equipped with sights or an optic. The only real issue of compatibility you will encounter when working with a complete upper receiver is finding a lower receiver of the same pattern.
This is something easily achieved by sourcing a lower made by the same manufacturer as the upper.
There is no single standard for AR-10s and you must take extra care to ensure your parts and components are compatible.
For more about compatibility and patterns, take a look at our Best AR-10 Lower Receiver article.
Large frame ARs have been chambered in a litany of exotic and ambitious rounds. Calibers such as the .358 Winchester, 300 WSM, and even the 500 Auto Max are some examples.
The most prolific AR-10 calibers on the market are undoubtedly the .308 Winchester and the 6.5 Creedmoor. A less popular, but viable round that sees use in AR-10s is the .243 Winchester, a long-standing and common hunting cartridge.
The .308 Winchester has been around since the mid-20th Century. It's made a reputation for itself as a versatile round found in combat, hunting, and recreational shooting alike. The civilian round was based off the T65 series of cartridges the U.S. military experimented with in the late 1940s, the latter being 7.62x51mm. However, the .308 Winchester hit the market two years before the 7.62x51mm NATO was formally adopted.
Because of the widespread use of the round throughout recent history, there is a wide variety of ammunition available that is tailored to specific uses such as long-range shooting and hunting. Not to mention, it's plentiful.
Rifles chambered in .308 Winchester can shoot the 7.62x51mm NATO round, meaning that you could shoot any old, crusty Cold War-era surplus rounds you may encounter. The .308 Winchester is a versatile round that is suited for many AR-10 builds such as battle rifle analogs to long-range builds. The massive pool of ammunition also makes finding and shooting your rifle that much more pleasant.
The 6.5 Creedmoor is a newer cartridge but has still been around for almost 15 years. Specifically designed by Hornady to be a long-range precision round and perform better at longer distances than other similar, contemporary calibers such as .308 Winchester.
When compared to .308 Winchester, the 6.5 Creedmoor retains a greater accuracy potential and velocity at extended ranges, making it a superior long-range cartridge. Aside from being purpose-built to excel at long-range shooting, the 6.5 Creedmoor has also gained traction in the realm of hunting as well.
And to fully round things out, the U.S. military has shown interest in the round and 6.5 Creedmoor-chambered M110 SASS and Mk20 SSR rifles are currently in inventory.
The caliber has become quite popular with many rifles, both bolt-action and AR-style lining shelves at gun stores.
However, the available supply of 6.5 Creedmoor is not nearly as plentiful and diverse as that of the .308 Winchester. That said, prices are normally about even between the two cartridges for similar types of ammo. Prices are a little strange right now but are quickly stabilizing.
Both the .308 Winchester and 6.5 Creedmoor are excellent calibers for an AR-10. The sheer amount of versatility that can be achieved with an AR-10 build allows one to truly tap into the potential uses of either caliber. The important thing is to figure out the specific purpose of your potential build and factor the caliber into the decision-making process.
Both calibers are here to stay and aren’t going anywhere. The .308 Winchester was not phased out by the newer 6.5 Creedmoor. And the “newfangled” 6.5 Creedmoor isn't a passing fad either.
You will be served well with either cartridge for your AR-10 build.
And, maybe best of all, since 6.5 Creedmoor's parent case, the .30 Thompson Center, was based on the .308 Winchester – bolts, bolt carrier groups, and magazines are interchangeable.
Aero Precision’s M5E1 upper receivers feature a unique approach to barrel nut and handguard attachment. Rather than having a traditional set of threads on the receiver, there is a one-piece handguard mounting system attached directly to the upper.
Aero Precision claims this design allows for a stronger handguard mounting system and allows for fast and easy handguard attachment. We’ve used rifles using Aero’s handguards for a long time and have been impressed with their durability and ease of installation.
Sadly, this upper is lacking a bolt carrier group and a charging handle, two major components that can be purchased directly from Aero Precision. It also uses a 4150 CMV barrel, not a bad barrel by any means – but not as corrosion resistant or long-lasting as a 416R stainless steel barrel.
The good news is that Aero Precision runs frequent sales on their site and this upper and other major components can be purchased for less than the full retail price.
This 18-inch upper receiver is chambered in .243 Winchester, one of the most popular hunting calibers in the U.S.
This chambering will allow you to tap into a common cartridge with a wide variety of loads. A nice feature is the adjustable gas block that also comes in handy for tuning the rifle to function smoothly with whatever load you end up shooting.
While this upper’s chambering is not nearly as popular as the .308 Winchester or 6.5 Creedmoor when it comes to AR-10s, it is certainly a viable choice in today’s market.
It should also be noted that a bolt carrier group and charging handle are included from the factory to make life easier on you and keep more money in your pocket.
While this upper can be purchased in a base form without a muzzle device, charging handle, or bolt carrier group, any combination of these components can also be acquired with this upper in a single purchase.
Only standard charging handles are available as add-ons, Ballistic Advantage has a decent number of options for muzzle devices and bolt carrier groups. Ballistic Advantage is a well-known manufacturer of high-quality barrels and the 22-inch 6.5 Creedmoor barrel on this upper is no exception.
This upper would be a great fit for a precision-oriented build as the long, stainless-steel barrel has great accuracy potential. If you are after a long-range setup that adheres to the DPMS-pattern, this upper is a solid option that won’t break the bank.
This Stag 10 upper adheres to the Armalite-pattern and should be paired with a compatible lower, like the Stag 10 lower. You have been warned!
The 22-inch barrel is a bit longer than many other options and will help take advantage of 6.5 Creedmoor’s superior long-range ballistics by giving you a small boost in muzzle velocity. If you’re looking to hit 1,000 yards, this is a strong Armalite-pattern contender.
Sporting a 6.5 Creedmoor specific VG6 Gamma 65 muzzle brake, it'll certainly be loud and concussive but will also help tame recoil and assist in quick follow-up shots.
The 16.5-inch M-LOK handguard provides ample space for gripping the rifle and attaching accessories such as textured rail covers or a bipod.
If you are looking to build an Armalite-pattern 6.5 Creedmoor precision gas gun, this upper is certainly worth considering.
The left-handed shooting community often has difficulty finding options that accommodate their needs and preferences.
Rest assured lefties, Stag Arms has you covered with their left-handed Stag 10 upper receivers.
The unique nature of this upper makes it a bit more proprietary than the average Armalite-pattern. This left-handed upper must be paired with a left-handed lower from Stag Arms to work properly.
The included VG6 Gamma muzzle brake is going to help manage the recoil impulse of the .308 Winchester, allowing for fast, follow-up shots.
If you happen to be left-handed and want to build a solid AR-10, this upper will certainly serve you well.
Palmetto State Armory is well-known for its budget-friendly AR-15 options, so it is only natural they are in the AR-10 game as well.
This upper receiver is truly complete due to the inclusion of a bolt carrier group and charging handle.
The upper is essentially ready to go out of the box and just needs an optic or some sights. It is easy to spend more than the cost of this complete upper when you are sourcing a bolt carrier group and charging handle for another less-complete upper.
But one of the downsides of this lower-cost upper is that it uses a 4150 CMV barrel. That said, we’ve shot a PSA PA-65 out to a mile before, so the barrels can be very accurate.
It should also be noted that PSA runs frequent sales and this upper can be acquired for much less than the full retail price.
This is a one-shot, great-value option for those who want to get a fully complete AR-10 upper that won’t eat your savings up.
Maybe competition is your calling, and you want to run an AR-10. This complete upper from Armalite was purpose-built for competitive use!
Armalite’s tunable muzzle brake and adjustable gas block will allow you to both tame recoil impulse and tune your rifle to run a variety of loadings.
The omission of a continuous 1913 rail from the top of the handguard is a weight-saving measure that is appreciable when on the clock.
A great feature is the included bolt carrier group and Radian Weapons Raptor charging handle that makes this upper receiver truly complete as you won’t have to source these parts yourself. This upper comes ready to go sans an optic or sights and will be a great fit for those who want to run a large frame AR in a competition setting.
At the time of writing Wilson Combat doesn't offer complete AR-10 uppers, sadly. So, really, this is more of an honorable mention. But they do offer upper receivers, barrels, and handguards if you're feeling a little DIY. Assembled exactly the same as normal AR-15 uppers, AR-10 uppers are just bigger.
Wilson Combat offers some outstanding value, but they aren't cheap. The barrels and receivers are premium components that deliver everything you need and nothing you don't. If you're looking for fluted barrels done right, Wilson Combat has some of the best in the business.
You get a lot of customization options as well which is well worth the look.
For precision, it's hard to beat Wilson Combat barrels especially if you pick up their heavier profiles.
One thing to keep in mind is that Wilson Combat uses Armalite pattern AR-10 receivers. So they won't be compatible with DPMS lowers.
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