Bizzarolibe
08-03-12, 00:11
I recently purchased a Rainier Arms CE16 upper with the Samson Evolution rail system. About a month ago I began looking for a new upper to replace one of my older ones that wasn't configured quite how I wanted it. I looked at BCM, Daniel Defense, and a couple others but there was either a lengthy waiting list or the price wasn't quite right for the uppers that I wanted. Somehow I stumbled upon the Rainier Arms CE16 upper and thought it was simply too good to be true since it was 1) actually in stock and 2) absurdly inexpensive considering the quality of the components.
Long story short, I now own one of these fantastic uppers. The particular upper I purchased was the standard CE16 upper (16" government profile barrel w/ mid-length gas system) with the Samson Evolution rail. All of the components are "mil-spec", or at least as close to mil-spec as a non-Colt manufacturer can come. The barrel is a CHF barrel made by Daniel Defense and I suspect the BCG is also made by them, although I can't be sure of this.
Below are some pics of some of the more important features.
Well-alligned M4 feedramps:
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e236/Snarky15/P1010116.jpg
VERY well staked gas key:
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e236/Snarky15/P1010124.jpg
HPT/MPI bolt:
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e236/Snarky15/P1010127.jpg
I had a chance to shoot this upper on Monday and it absolutely blew me away. It was mated to a CMMG stripped lower and PSA lower build kit with a Spikes ST-T2 buffer. To begin with, the XTC muzzle device did an excellent job of mitigating recoil and muzzle rise. It felt like I was shooting a hot .22LR. Out of the ~80 rounds I put through the upper that day I did not experience a single malfunction (not that 80 rounds is a whole lot, but my goal that day was simply to zero and function test the rifle).
At 100 yards, I was able to consistently achieve <4" 10 shot groups with PMC X-Tac M855 after I got it zeroed (which took all of 20 rounds). That, by the way, was with irons, and as ashamed as I am to admit it I have next to no experience with iron sights. I wish I had taken pictures of the groups, but you'll just have to trust me (heck, I probably wouldn't believe me either :p). All shots were taken off of a bench with sandbags. I shudder to think how this thing would perform with some magnified optics--as well as a better shooter!
For those of you who are interested in this sort of thing, the ejection patter was right around 3:30-4:00.
In short, I personally believe this upper is the best kept secret in the AR community right now. At $735 (keep in mind that this price includes the BCG), it's a freaking steal, and the quality is right up there with the premium AR manufacturers. Heck, I wrote this review because I was a bit frustrated by the lack of user reviews on the web when I was researching this upper.
I look forward to many fun years with this rifle.
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e236/Snarky15/AR5.jpg
Long story short, I now own one of these fantastic uppers. The particular upper I purchased was the standard CE16 upper (16" government profile barrel w/ mid-length gas system) with the Samson Evolution rail. All of the components are "mil-spec", or at least as close to mil-spec as a non-Colt manufacturer can come. The barrel is a CHF barrel made by Daniel Defense and I suspect the BCG is also made by them, although I can't be sure of this.
Below are some pics of some of the more important features.
Well-alligned M4 feedramps:
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e236/Snarky15/P1010116.jpg
VERY well staked gas key:
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e236/Snarky15/P1010124.jpg
HPT/MPI bolt:
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e236/Snarky15/P1010127.jpg
I had a chance to shoot this upper on Monday and it absolutely blew me away. It was mated to a CMMG stripped lower and PSA lower build kit with a Spikes ST-T2 buffer. To begin with, the XTC muzzle device did an excellent job of mitigating recoil and muzzle rise. It felt like I was shooting a hot .22LR. Out of the ~80 rounds I put through the upper that day I did not experience a single malfunction (not that 80 rounds is a whole lot, but my goal that day was simply to zero and function test the rifle).
At 100 yards, I was able to consistently achieve <4" 10 shot groups with PMC X-Tac M855 after I got it zeroed (which took all of 20 rounds). That, by the way, was with irons, and as ashamed as I am to admit it I have next to no experience with iron sights. I wish I had taken pictures of the groups, but you'll just have to trust me (heck, I probably wouldn't believe me either :p). All shots were taken off of a bench with sandbags. I shudder to think how this thing would perform with some magnified optics--as well as a better shooter!
For those of you who are interested in this sort of thing, the ejection patter was right around 3:30-4:00.
In short, I personally believe this upper is the best kept secret in the AR community right now. At $735 (keep in mind that this price includes the BCG), it's a freaking steal, and the quality is right up there with the premium AR manufacturers. Heck, I wrote this review because I was a bit frustrated by the lack of user reviews on the web when I was researching this upper.
I look forward to many fun years with this rifle.
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e236/Snarky15/AR5.jpg