Buy yet another upper?

Mark21 · #1 12-19-09, 16:10

I'm eyeing one of those DD XV uppers that are selling for $499, but doesn't really fill a need right now. Hate to get something just cause it is cheap, esp in times of recession, but man is that price attractive. I'm thinking six months from now you won't be able to find a price like that again...

My current inventory (all have optics, rails, etc):

1. RRA 5.56 16" carbine-gas, chrome-moly, my first rifle; 4.5k rounds.

2. 6.8SPC 18" (by Kotonics, now defunct) mid-length, stainless; my most accurate AR. 3k rounds.

3. Noveske 16" mid-length N4 CL with BCM BCG on LMT SOPMOD lower. 350 rounds.

Thoughts?

SWATcop556 · #2 12-19-09, 16:26

How much training do you have under your belt?

How much ammo do you have stocked up?

GMZ · #3 12-19-09, 16:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by SWATcop1911

How much training do you have under your belt?

How much ammo do you have stocked up?

Gotta agree, get you some Centurion 55gr and take a one day class.

Biggy · #4 12-19-09, 16:40

I would wait till after the SHOT Show to see what other options you might have. I believe we wll see lightweight .625"OD profile, CHF and standard chrome lined 14.5", 14.7"and 16"carbine and middy gas barrels and complete uppers this next year.

Mark21 · #5 12-19-09, 18:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by SWATcop1911

How much training do you have under your belt?

How much ammo do you have stocked up?

Three carbine courses over past five years and I reload my own so I have the components for about 7,500 FMJ rounds. But I'm assuming you are being rhetorical, and suggesting I take more training, which I won't disagree with.

owl · #6 12-19-09, 19:29

I think we will see a price drop across the board this coming year--the resession is not over and suppliers have to sell to stay alive. Volume and small profit is always better than no profit. Sit tight and see what happens! The small guys will fold and the strong will survive!

Volucris · #7 12-19-09, 20:47

Prices are just going to get lower. Everyone bought high during the panic and they're now trying to get something out of their unwise investment before it's too late. I enjoyed buying and reselling ammo to schmuck dealers after the elections because they thought the apocalypse was coming.

IMO, put the money towards more training and ammo. You have THREE guns of the same type for ONE person. Take it easy. I'd stick with the Noveske to train with.

SWATcop556 · #8 12-19-09, 21:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark21

Three carbine courses over past five years and I reload my own so I have the components for about 7,500 FMJ rounds. But I'm assuming you are being rhetorical, and suggesting I take more training, which I won't disagree with.

Not really rhetorical questions. I asked so I could give the best personal advise possible.

If you are someone who hits a training class every six months to a year and have a substantial ammo cache then my advise is different than someone who just picked up a rifle for shits and giggles and has about "100 flawless rounds" though their gun and now wants another.

If it were me since you have the Noveske, I might sink a little money into the RRA for upgrades (if you haven't already) or sell the RRA upper and use that money towards the XV upper. Take some of the extra $$$ and start a training fund.

I have a jar in the safe that when I have an extra $20 or something it goes in their for a training fund. Thats keeps my skill level up.

My rule of thumb is that if I've taken a training class and have replenished the ammo that was used for the class, then I will look at buying new gear. The XV would not be a bad upper at all for that RRA if you wanted to swap them out.

YMMV

Mark21 · #9 12-19-09, 22:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by SWATcop1911

Not really rhetorical questions. I asked so I could give the best personal advise possible.

If you are someone who hits a training class every six months to a year and have a substantial ammo cache then my advise is different than someone who just picked up a rifle for shits and giggles and has about "100 flawless rounds" though their gun and now wants another.

If it were me since you have the Noveske, I might sink a little money into the RRA for upgrades (if you haven't already) or sell the RRA upper and use that money towards the XV upper. Take some of the extra $$$ and start a training fund.

I have a jar in the safe that when I have an extra $20 or something it goes in their for a training fund. Thats keeps my skill level up.

My rule of thumb is that if I've taken a training class and have replenished the ammo that was used for the class, then I will look at buying new gear. The XV would not be a bad upper at all for that RRA if you wanted to swap them out.

YMMV

I have upgraded the RRA over the years -- got the BCG MOACKed, put in a black insert, swapped out the stock for a CTR, etc. But interesting idea re: swapping out the upper. Wonder if people actually buy uppers with several thousand rounds through them? I believe the lower should be GTG, as I am a big fan of the RRA 2-stage.

I'm a civvy, so my training is not life-critical like to my LEO friends, but I'm with you on keeping the skill level up. I have found it diminishes surprisingly quickly, so I try to hit a course every year (Awerbuck, Rogers, Southnarc, etc) if time/money allows. Thanks much for the tips.

glocktogo · #10 12-19-09, 22:43

If you haven't bought it yet, it's out of stock. Personally I'd spring for the OmegaX 12 FSP upper for $699 that's still in stock and sell the RRA upper. If you did that you'd probably have less than the cost of the rail alone invested in a new upper, rather than one that has 4.5K on it.