Don't think I really need it. Just kind of in the way if you don't use it. What do you say? Does a precision, varmint or target AR need one? 20" fluted Wilson Combat stainless heavy barrel, muzzle not threaded. Wilson Combat billet upper receiver and a 15" Wilson Combat Mlok hand guard.

DPMS makes a hi-rise upper for target rifles, the rail is about 1/2” taller than the typical flat-top and it doesn’t have the door on it. I bought and still have a JP Enterprise upper probably 20 years ago that has that if it’s not the DPMS it’s that style upper and it’s never caused me a bit of grief. I particularly like it because I can use standard low rings.

Honestly, given your stated use and I'm assuming you aren't going to be in an area with blowing sand, I doubt you need it.

quote:

Originally posted by CD228:
Honestly, given your stated use and I'm assuming you aren't going to be in an area with blowing sand, I doubt you need it.

Correct. Except when you’re shooting it’s open anyway, so it only matters when you aren’t shooting.
For years I’ve wanted to go to shoot prairie dogs in SW Kansas or Colorado but have just never made time to do it … kinda like going to the Tulsa Gun Show, but now that the kids are all grown, gone and I’m retired I will.

There aren't many great close up photos of the port side of the Wilson Combat billet receiver, but by looking at the one on Brownell's, it looks like the receiver is really nicely machined for the dust cover. It looks like the open dust cover sits in a complete recess when open and closed. It seems like I may have to install one just because of that and not because it'll mostly useless.

https://www.brownells.com/gun-...llet-upper-receiver/

I wouldn't but maybe you keep everything around your guns surgically clean. Somehow there is always some amount of crap in every storage situation I devise and closing the dust cover just keeps it out of the action. But that's just my situation.

Being a sailor, I noticed the conundrum of the "ejection port" side or "port" side of the receiver, is actually the starboard side of the receiver.

Not needed, I don't leave them off but if you do it will still function fine.

If the upper has a provision for it, I'd have to have one. The Magpul ones are cheap and easy.

I did have an AR upper at one point that had no provision for a dustcover. For my purposes, it made absolutely no difference to reliability or performance, but it annoyed the heck out of me...not for any good reason, just an OCD thing.

That gun left for other reasons, but ever since I've always made sure than any AR I own has a dustcover, shell deflector, and forward assist.

Don't hang a no-dustcover AR on the wall in your garage.

The wrens will build a nest in it.

you could get one of those easily removable dust covers and take it off and put it on as the spirits moved you. I think the Magpul one mentioned above work that way.

I store all mine apart and have more uppers than lowers anyway. Dust covers help in keeping the bolts from sliding out.

Dust covers seem like cheap insurance. They aren't in my way so I would have one but I certainly own rifles without them and they seem fine so I guess my own logic fails me. lol

If there's accommodations for it, I'd install one.

I never understood the port cover and forward assist detractors. It's not a hill I'd die on though.

I'll also add another recommendation for the Magpul.

I don't see any downside to being able to seal up a rifle

Dust covers aren't really points of failure or contributors to cycling problems. They may or may not make much difference in cycling reliability in dusty conditions. I see no issues with having dust covers on all my ARs.

In bad winds with a lot of dust or sand in the air, a dust cover won't make any difference while firing the AR. It will help a bit if closed between firing cycles. I've trained and competed in wind/sand/dust storms -- such conditions are hard on rifles, both semi auto and bolt action. The best plan here is to use a zipper/velcro nylon tube-thingie that covers the gun from the trigger to the end of the scope. Or trigger through action, if there is no optic. Even then, wiping down the BCG and adding some lube over the course of the day will be necessary.

I would love to see AR- style rifles employ the same design found on the FN FNC. It is spring loaded and is forced open by the bolt as it cycles to allow ejection of the cases, and closes when the bolt moves forward. I had one and I wish I had never parted with it. It was a fabulous rifle. That said, a very high percentage of people probably will never benefit from having a dust cover or be adversely affected by not having one.