AR-15 shotgun upper

BigWaylon

BigWaylon

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Wasn't sure if I should post this in the AR section, or in the Shotgun section...so here it goes in the basic Long Gun section. :D

Anybody ever tried one of the shotgun uppers that uses an AR-15 lower? If so, which one? And how did it perform?

I think Olympic sells a complete firearm, and some others sell just the upper.
 
Timfoilhat said:
Link? I haven't tried this, but hmmmm, there's still lowers to build laying around.
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Here’s one: https://www.centerfiresystems.com/p...lip-up-sights-and-1-magazine.aspx?keyword=410

They’re not going to get anymore of that particular one in stock, but it can be found elsewhere. I emailed them asking if they were coming back and they said:

We will not be getting anymore of these particular ones in, but we have received some that are currently in testing. Once we release them we will send out a E-deal so make sure you are subscribed to our email list!

When I asked for details, they said:

They are made in the same factory but these are not branded, as we can tell there is no difference!
 
That's scary. Sounds like the first ones were trouble so no more ordered. The new ones are likely improved, thus the want/need for "testing". If they was truly "no difference" there wouldn't need to be an order placed for a different but same product. Sounds like Sigs public beta testing program for early adopters.

Also interesting that "doesn't fit DPMS lowers"....seems the ex-DPMS sales guy on arfcom said DPMS made parts for everybody buy Colt or some such...this no fit issue should affect a lot more rifles than they specify. Maybe that's what they are changing....
 
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Timfoilhat said:
That's scary. Sounds like the first ones were trouble so no more ordered. The new ones are likely improved, thus the want/need for "testing". If they was truly "no difference" there wouldn't need to be an order placed for a different but same product. Sounds like Sigs public beta testing program for early adopters.
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I don’t know about that. They got a couple batches. I’ve seen multiple positive reviews, and didn’t run across a really bad one.

Not sure about the company name that was on them...didn’t search that out. The link above was just the company selling them.

But I guess we’ll see when the next batch is released.
 
Timfoilhat said:
That's scary. Sounds like the first ones were trouble so no more ordered. The new ones are likely improved, thus the want/need for "testing". If they was truly "no difference" there wouldn't need to be an order placed for a different but same product. Sounds like Sigs public beta testing program for early adopters.

Also interesting that "doesn't fit DPMS lowers"....seems the ex-DPMS sales guy on arfcom said DPMS made parts for everybody buy Colt or some such...this no fit issue should affect a lot more rifles than they specify. Maybe that's what they are changing....
Click to expand...


Could be something wonky. Could also be that dpms lowers are/were known for “tight” mag wells. Some had issues with pmags. If I remember right DPMS recommends metal gi mags for their rifles.

This kit comes with a poly mag. If it’s a touch bigger it prolly would cause issues so the maker pointed this out:)
 
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BigWaylon said:
Wasn't sure if I should post this in the AR section, or in the Shotgun section...so here it goes in the basic Long Gun section. :D

Anybody ever tried one of the shotgun uppers that uses an AR-15 lower? If so, which one? And how did it perform?

I think Olympic sells a complete firearm, and some others sell just the upper.
Click to expand...

I had no idea such a thing existed. Very cool.
 
Trevillian said:
Could be something wonky. Could also be that dpms lowers are/were known for “tight” mag wells. Some had issues with pmags. If I remember right DPMS recommends metal gi mags for their rifles.

This kit comes with a poly mag. If it’s a touch bigger it prolly would cause issues so the maker pointed this out:)
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And several of the write-ups I read said the shooter preferred the Omni mags...which seems to work fine with this upper and allow for a just a little more room for the varying 2.5” shells.
 
BigWaylon said:
Get out of my head.

Full disclosure...I ordered the upper, some mags, a choke set, an SBA3 LBK and a lower earlier this week. :cool:

Just gotta keep it at least 26” for OAL.
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Where did you order if you don't mind? I have been looking for a new toy!
 
Infamous1 said:
Where did you order if you don't mind? I have been looking for a new toy!
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Whitney’s Outfitters.

Never heard of them. Ordered Monday, still hasn’t shipped. I emailed them last night for an estimate (in case it was a delayed drop ship situation) and they said they were backed up and it should go out today. No shipping email as of 7p, so maybe tomorrow.
 
NKD said:
@drypowder was responsible for hyping these at some point. Must have had a couple for sale!
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The ones I had were from a Turkish manufacturer as I recall (shotguns are easier to own there than rifles). As I recall, they are finicky about ammo brands in terms of feeding from mag. Back then someone had compiled a list of the preferred ammo.

Could be a totally different situation for the uppers @BigWaylon is talking about.
 
BigWaylon said:
Whitney’s Outfitters.

Never heard of them. Ordered Monday, still hasn’t shipped. I emailed them last night for an estimate (in case it was a delayed drop ship situation) and they said they were backed up and it should go out today. No shipping email as of 7p, so maybe tomorrow.
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I did just get a shipping email. Upper + 3 mags.

That hopefully means function check at PHA next weekend. For this one and the .45ACP build.

Then I can send both to be cut down and rethreaded.
 
Upper and mags due here Wednesday.
Picked up the lower today...probably build it out Monday.
Grabbed a couple boxes of .410 at Academy. Took a tape measure with me to assure both kinds were under 2.5”.

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Upper arrived, included sights, BCG/CH and a 9 (maybe 10) round mag
Also ordered ATI mags, two 5-rounders and a 15.

72A98034-2F63-48FE-B6DE-726C39A6C55D.jpeg

Hopefully test it out this weekend. Still waiting on chokes, and once they arrive I’ll send it off to ECCO for a chop & thread.
 
When I looked through the box there was a paper in there with some info. One of the items was it recommended ammo of at least 1200fps.

One of the boxes I grabbed is 8-shot at 1300fps. The other is only advertised as 750, but if it functions you’re talking about a world of hurt with a 15rd mag.

54FAD24E-D45C-4EC5-9974-A550019468E6.jpeg
 
I looked on Whitney Outfitters site but only found the complete firearm, not the upper. Can you post a link?
 
Looks like the ones @drypowder and I messed with back in the day. They were a couple hundo at the gun show. I had one that ran pretty good but only with a couple types of ammo. Had to be tight crimped and short like @NKD said. Wasn't ammo flexible enough for me so I sold mine. They dried up shortly after that. Guess there's a new batch going around... Looks identical. Bet it's from the same factory.

Oh, and you were stuck with the stock cheese grater handguard too. It's proprietary and there's a spring and stuff under it.
 
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BigWaylon said:
They have some kind of piston system.
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Interesting, looking forward to seeing how it runs. Was hoping to see some sort of adjustment in the gas system for light vs heavy loads but maybe they will run well without that. If the shells dont deform in the mag and it ran 100% that would be a hell of a bedside gun.
 
Scsmith42 said:
Thanks for the info. That would be pretty cool with a Form1 suppressor pinned and welded to a shortened barrel.

Looking forward to learning about how it runs.
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If you come up with a good Form 1 shotgun silencer plan, let me know.
 
BigWaylon said:
If you come up with a good Form 1 shotgun silencer plan, let me know.
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I bet a stack of baffles with longer outer skirts and short inner skirts, around a perforated tube a Snitch over the barrel diameter would do pretty well. Basically like old integrally suppressed barrels. Smart guy such as yourself could figure something out pretty easily I imagine.
 
bigfelipe said:
I bet a stack of baffles with longer outer skirts and short inner skirts, around a perforated tube a Snitch over the barrel diameter would do pretty well. Basically like old integrally suppressed barrels. Smart guy such as yourself could figure something out pretty easily I imagine.
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Good concept. A slotted tube might be more effective than a perforated tube. Basically you need something to keep the plastic wad from expanding in the suppressor.
 
bigfelipe said:
I bet a stack of baffles with longer outer skirts and short inner skirts, around a perforated tube a Snitch over the barrel diameter would do pretty well. Basically like old integrally suppressed barrels. Smart guy such as yourself could figure something out pretty easily I imagine.
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I’ve thought about it a couple times. I’d probably consider using the Xcaliber SCC1 as a model: http://www.xcaliberfirearms.com/?page_id=173

Seems to be more straightforward than the Salvo. I was going to work with a machinist a couple years ago to make one, and never got around to it...and now he’s not at the same shop with the ability to help. :(

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Meant to measure this last night. Removed the brace and FH, and measured to keep it over 26”.

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So the new muzzle will be at the bottom of the blue tape. The threaded chokes (or FH) will obviously extend past that. It’ll leave me with a barrel that’s roughly 11.75” in length.

80BBC4A3-FFFB-4EE6-8A87-4F3F56840E3C.jpeg
 
Scsmith42 said:
Good concept. A slotted tube might be more effective than a perforated tube. Basically you need something to keep the plastic wad from expanding in the suppressor.
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Exactly. Something for the wad to ride out. Couldn't have a return on the end cap like a pistol/rifle can. Slots would work too, maybe better. You would want to get the maximum perforation while maintaining the structure. I'd make the center tube out of steel and the rest out of aluminum to keep the weight down. 410 isn't high pressure.


Kind of want to build one now... Lol...
 
Despite my initial skeptical comments, I'm finding this interesting. Go shoot it already. I want to know how it works for you.
 
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