I have done no shooting over 100 yards, and no rifle shooting except .22 for a while.

Recently found on YouTube some videos about two rifles (also available as uppers) from Uintah Precision: one for an AR-10 lower, and a newer one for an AR-15 lower.

A YouTuber called West Desert Dweller has the UP-10 rifle and demonstrates its accuracy out to a mile.

I could get an upper for the AR-15--would have to change the trigger--for $1250 for .223 Wylde chambering.

For those of us in non-free states like CA, the advantage is we can have a lower with all the "illegal features" of an "assault rifle" in an accurate bolt-action rifle for practice and potentially competition; switch to a semi-auto in seconds if, say, out-of-state.

They also make uppers in other calibers for the AR-15, including 300 Blackout, 6.5 Grendel, 6 ARC, and--this is the one that interests me--.224 Valkyrie. The last one would allow shooting out to. 1000 yards with the bullet remaining supersonic.

I'm interested if any of you more experienced shooters have looked at this, and if so what your thoughts are, positive or negative.

Here's a positive review on Guns and Ammo.

Kali Key is an option as well, if you aren't aware.

No exp with that upper, it looks nice enough.

A possible alternative for me is to upgrade one of my Tikkas with a heavy barrel and a Kinetic Research Bravo chassis; probably for 6 mm Creedmoor. For around a grand I would have an accurate rifle with a smooth action and a stock/chassis better suited for long range.
Either way it looks like "accessorizing" for long-range shooting is expensive too: laser rangefinder; tripod with its own accessories; Kestrel with ballistic software....

Slippery Pete, the Kali Key does not appear to be a precision upper, so not an option. I'd rather shoot an "unfeatured" AR with a funny thing on the stock so it doesn't have a "pistol grip".

I've had one for I guess about a year now, 6ARC. Sort of thumbing your nose or saying "oh no, this lower's not an "AR" is about the only reason to buy one IMO. From a shooting perspective, all in I think you could buy a better rifle for the same money or less.


I long wondered why no one made a true bolt action upper. Once I owned one I realized there were more problems to solve than I realized in the design.
When I first saw them I was intrigued, but quickly dismissed the idea when I saw the price. About a year later I started piecing together (on paper) a project idea for a small, compact rifle. The potential price tag quickly went so high that the Uintah started to look cheaper. I already had a lower I would never used, so I jumped.

Found out after the purchase that only certain triggers will work with it. That was an unexpected additional $150-200. Bought an "Ace" entry stock, and a Law folder to accomplish what I was after. That's several hundred more. I had planned on using a scope I already owned, but didn't. Bought a mount and a scope. Well what do you know, I now WELL past the total of the project that I thought was too much money. Doh!

I haven't spent any real time working on handloads, too many irons in the fire. Hornady Match ammo shot okay. Didn't blow me away though. Hornady Hunter and Black, and the one or two handloads I've tried were thoroughly unimpressive. So it's cool, but all in all it kind of drifted into "yeah I'm kind of sorry I did this" territory. (If I get it to shoot better, that will surely change my mind some)

quote:

Originally posted by sjtill:
They also make uppers in other calibers for the AR-15, including 300 Blackout, 6.5 Grendel, 6 ARC, and--this is the one that interests me--.224 Valkyrie. The last one would allow shooting out to. 1000 yards with the bullet remaining supersonic.

I have no experience with the Uintah bolt upper. Don't know anyone who has seen one. The concept is cool. Their trigger issues could be a concern. If their barrels and chamber cutting is good, the accuracy should be there. If not, then there might not be many options for different barrel manufacturers.

For long distance work, consider 6 ARC at least as much as 224 Valkyrie. When barrels and ammo works well with Valkyrie, it works really well. But sometimes not so much.

6mm chamberings are consistently accurate, if the chamber is cut properly. Quality 6mm bullets have similar BCs to the heavy 224 bullets, and the 6mm MVs will likely be a touch faster than comparable 224 MVs.

quote:

For long distance work, consider 6 ARC at least as much as 224 Valkyrie. When barrels and ammo works well with Valkyrie, it works really well. But sometimes not so much.

6mm chamberings are consistently accurate, if the chamber is cut properly. Quality 6mm bullets have similar BCs to the heavy 224 bullets, and the 6mm MVs will likely be a touch faster than comparable 224 MVs.

I watched a few comparison YouTube videos 6 ARC vs 224 Valkyrie. It appeared the 6 ARC shot smaller groups at distance. Disadvantage is there are no choices other than Hornady in factory ammo right now. One can buy 224 Valkyrie rounds much cheaper, but the match stuff is still about $1.30 a round.

In any case, I ordered a Uintah upper in 223 Wylde and a Velocity trigger. If I like the setup, and if I actually start shooting it, I will order another upper, probably in 6 mm ARC, later.

Now to decide on a muzzle brake.

My son has one, may even have two now. This is the bolt action Unitah Upper in 223/5.56, not sure.

This has been mostly for prairie dogging out west. We put the lower together, I think a ‘Velocity’ trigger went in. I know accuracy was at least acceptable, I didn’t personally evaluate or test that.

He did the research then ordered one. As a reloader for the outings, I certainly didn’t mind him dropping from semi-auto to the bolt action.

We have never had a problem with the gun. One could ask, why get that when you can get a regular AR? Valid question, I still think they are a fine option.

When I learned about them, I thought that a 9” .300BO barrel and lower with pic rail rear would make a neat suppressor host.

quote:

Originally posted by sjtill:
Now to decide on a muzzle brake.

Years ago I bought an APA micro bastard brake for an AR15 in 223. It reduced the recoil by maybe 50%, which is in the ballpark for quality brakes.

223 Remy is a low-recoiling round, with recoil energies in the 3-4 foot pound range. Recoil energy from 308 Win is 4-5 times greater than 223, and here a brake (or can) makes a lot of sense. 223 just isn't that hard to shoot accurately, especially without a BCG moving back and forth. I do shoot my 223 rifles suppressed, and suppressors also reduce recoil -- I admit that. But I use suppressors with 223 primarily to reduce noise.

Brakes increase noise levels to the shooter by 10-15 dB, depending on the brake and the measuring test. This places a braked 223 at hearing damage levels for even a shooter with plugs plus muffs.

Consider shooting (1) with a can or (2) without any muzzle devices.

Fritz-I’d love to have a can but CA does not allow them.

Ixnay the brake. Go bare muzzle or flash hider.