Anyone have experiences with the Expo Arms uppers that Primary Arms puts out?

[Lex Luthier]

Primary Arms is now selling complete uppers in their Expo Arms line. The components are all supposedly well sourced and US-made; Mega makes their forged receivers, Rosco barrels, Microbest BCGs etc.
I have a few of the Expo parts in my not-a-6720.

They just started selling complete uppers and I wondered if anyone knew about how well they were assembled, whether gas blocks were pinned or screwed, small parts quality, that sort of thing.
(I'm thinking of the caveats offered when anyone talks about Aero Precision uppers or complete rifles.)

https://www.primaryarms.com/expo-arms-combat-series-ar-15-barreled-upper-receiver-xp1215km-brake-10-3

https://www.primaryarms.com/expo-arms-patrol-series-ar-15-barreled-upper-receiver-flash-hider-16in

[Casual Friday]

Primary Arms is now selling complete uppers in their Expo Arms line. The components are all supposedly well sourced and US-made; Mega makes their forged receivers, Rosco barrels, Microbest BCGs etc.
I have a few of the Expo parts in my not-a-6720.

They just started selling complete uppers and I wondered if anyone knew about how well they were assembled, whether gas blocks were pinned or screwed, small parts quality, that sort of thing.
(I'm thinking of the caveats offered when anyone talks about Aero Precision uppers or complete rifles.)

https://www.primaryarms.com/expo-arms-combat-series-ar-15-barreled-upper-receiver-xp1215km-brake-10-3

https://www.primaryarms.com/expo-arms-patrol-series-ar-15-barreled-upper-receiver-flash-hider-16in

That 10.3 with Crane spec gas port is tempting.

I can't say I've heard anything bad about Expo Arms stuff, but I haven't really heard of anyone giving them a real shakeout either.

[Sig_Fiend]

Also, their combat series handguards are CMT and a great buy for the price.

[andre3k]

Primary Arms is now selling complete uppers in their Expo Arms line. The components are all supposedly well sourced and US-made; Mega makes their forged receivers, Rosco barrels, Microbest BCGs etc.
I have a few of the Expo parts in my not-a-6720.

They just started selling complete uppers and I wondered if anyone knew about how well they were assembled, whether gas blocks were pinned or screwed, small parts quality, that sort of thing.
(I'm thinking of the caveats offered when anyone talks about Aero Precision uppers or complete rifles.)

https://www.primaryarms.com/expo-arms-combat-series-ar-15-barreled-upper-receiver-xp1215km-brake-10-3

https://www.primaryarms.com/expo-arms-patrol-series-ar-15-barreled-upper-receiver-flash-hider-16inThey're made in house by their own armorers. The parts are made by various OEM's but they sent some of their guys out for training and are now doing their own assembly. I know and shoot with some current and former employees.

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[Lex Luthier]

They're made in house by their own armorers. The parts are made by various OEM's but they sent some of their guys out for training and are now doing their own assembly. I know and shoot with some current and former employees.

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OK, good to know. My thought was that it might be a good source to help build known-good carbines or "pistols" for folks who are starting out or just want something better appointed than S&W Sport IIs for similar do$h.

[andre3k]

OK, good to know. My thought was that it might be a good source to help build known-good carbines or "pistols" for folks who are starting out or just want something better appointed than S&W Sport IIs for similar do$h.I have one of their BCG's and was looking at a barrel until these uppers came out. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one to try out.

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[Wake27]

I am wondering why their combat variant is only in 10.3 and the 11.5 is a lesser patrol variant. Hopefully each barrel length has both options.

If they released a 12.5 combat with SOCOM or some other non-govt profile barrel and a gas port at .70 or below, I’d buy it right now.


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[DDTSGM]

This is just my opinion, so take it for what it's worth:

First thing, the rail is suspect to me, it has a similar description and material list as the $65.00 ones I put on my .22 PCC and builds I don't intend to keep. Like this: https://www.joeboboutfitters.com/Matrix-Arms-AR-15-Foxtrot-M-LOK-Handguard-15-p/ma-foxtrot-mlok-15.htm (Although someone on the third shitter down told me that CMT was their source for these)

The upper receiver is arguably just as important to repeatability and accuracy as is the barrel. If you think a Aero Precision upper is suspect, then why would you even consider an upper using an Aero Upper? Note: I'm in the camp that understands that Aero is an OEM Mfg and think they are GTG - according to ATF they manufactured at least 143,000 receivers in 2020). I've built couple rifles using Aero receiver sets, in 5.56 and .308, I don't see any problems with them, so as far as I'm concerned, like I said, they are GTG.

Anyhow, the Roscoe barrel is a high quality from what I've experienced, I have a 13.7" stainless and it is definitely an accurate barrel.

Here's a retail cost breakdown:

Aero upper: $94.00 (Optics Planet/Midway USA

Expo Arms Patrol Upper: $100.00 (Primary Arms)

Roscoe 16" Mid-Length: $156.00 (Roscoe)

Roscoe Gas Tube: $15.00 (Roscoe)

A2 Flash Hider: $8.00 (BCM)

So, at $373.00 retail for the build components, $349.00 seems reasonable when you add in the cost of keeping the lights on to what PA probably pays for the parts.

To me the rail would be the suspect component for a hard use duty or self-defense rifle, okay for a range toy.

[Lex Luthier]

This is just my opinion, so take it for what it's worth:

First thing, the rail is suspect to me, it has a similar description and material list as the $65.00 ones I put on my .22 PCC and builds I don't intend to keep. Like this: https://www.joeboboutfitters.com/Matrix-Arms-AR-15-Foxtrot-M-LOK-Handguard-15-p/ma-foxtrot-mlok-15.htm (Although someone on the third shitter down told me that CMT was their source for these)

The upper receiver is arguably just as important to repeatability and accuracy as is the barrel. If you think a Aero Precision upper is suspect, then why would you even consider an upper using an Aero Upper? Note: I'm in the camp that understands that Aero is an OEM Mfg and think they are GTG - according to ATF they manufactured at least 143,000 receivers in 2020). I've built couple rifles using Aero receiver sets, in 5.56 and .308, I don't see any problems with them, so as far as I'm concerned, like I said, they are GTG.

Anyhow, the Roscoe barrel is a high quality from what I've experienced, I have a 13.7" stainless and it is definitely an accurate barrel.

Here's a retail cost breakdown:

Aero upper: $94.00 (Optics Planet/Midway USA

Expo Arms Patrol Upper: $100.00 (Primary Arms)

Roscoe 16" Mid-Length: $156.00 (Roscoe)

Roscoe Gas Tube: $15.00 (Roscoe)

A2 Flash Hider: $8.00 (BCM)

So, at $373.00 retail for the build components, $349.00 seems reasonable when you add in the cost of keeping the lights on to what PA probably pays for the parts.

To me the rail would be the suspect component for a hard use duty or self-defense rifle, okay for a range toy.

Thanks for that, Dan Lehr .

My comment about Aero was not a condemnation; their upper & lower receivers are known good and several folks here have had excellent results with home builds using them as a base.
They are known to have somewhat inconsistent results from their in-house assembled uppers and complete rifles, though. That is what I was referring to.
The linked Expo Arms complete uppers all supposedly use their more expensive forged receiver, which is a Mega Arms/Zev product.

My question was mostly about the quality of assembly and the use of decent small parts within the complete units.

Further reading indicates that at least some of the barrels used in these complete uppers are made by Ballistic Advantage.

[Casual Friday]

This is just my opinion, so take it for what it's worth:

First thing, the rail is suspect to me, it has a similar description and material list as the $65.00 ones I put on my .22 PCC and builds I don't intend to keep. Like this: https://www.joeboboutfitters.com/Matrix-Arms-AR-15-Foxtrot-M-LOK-Handguard-15-p/ma-foxtrot-mlok-15.htm (Although someone on the third shitter down told me that CMT was their source for these)

The upper receiver is arguably just as important to repeatability and accuracy as is the barrel. If you think a Aero Precision upper is suspect, then why would you even consider an upper using an Aero Upper? Note: I'm in the camp that understands that Aero is an OEM Mfg and think they are GTG - according to ATF they manufactured at least 143,000 receivers in 2020). I've built couple rifles using Aero receiver sets, in 5.56 and .308, I don't see any problems with them, so as far as I'm concerned, like I said, they are GTG.

Anyhow, the Roscoe barrel is a high quality from what I've experienced, I have a 13.7" stainless and it is definitely an accurate barrel.

Here's a retail cost breakdown:

Aero upper: $94.00 (Optics Planet/Midway USA

Expo Arms Patrol Upper: $100.00 (Primary Arms)

Roscoe 16" Mid-Length: $156.00 (Roscoe)

Roscoe Gas Tube: $15.00 (Roscoe)

A2 Flash Hider: $8.00 (BCM)

So, at $373.00 retail for the build components, $349.00 seems reasonable when you add in the cost of keeping the lights on to what PA probably pays for the parts.

To me the rail would be the suspect component for a hard use duty or self-defense rifle, okay for a range toy.

I would choose the Expo rail over a Matrix rail any day based on the one that I helped my nephew's friend install, then fix, then fix again. Unless they've changed, they have no anti rotation tabs and the rail was a poor fit to the barrel nut and kept walking forward. If I'd torqued the screws any more, I was afraid I was gonna strip them. I ended up scuffing up the barrel nut and putting a dab of Rocksett on it to hold it in place. Not the best solution, but he didn't want to ditch it and buy a new rail so our options were limited.

CMT makes great rails, and are the OEM for Forward Controls rails.

[Sig_Fiend]

First thing, the rail is suspect to me, it has a similar description and material list as the $65.00 ones I put on my .22 PCC and builds I don't intend to keep. Like this: https://www.joeboboutfitters.com/Matrix-Arms-AR-15-Foxtrot-M-LOK-Handguard-15-p/ma-foxtrot-mlok-15.htm (Although someone on the third shitter down told me that CMT was their source for these)


Busy now but I can post pics later. I have several I'm building, more for fun than any specific purpose. Currently have 9.5" and 15" Combat Series handguards as well as 10.3, 11.5, and 16 inch barrels. Note that Expo has two types of rails; the Patrol Series and Combat Series. Only the Combat Series is CMT sourced. The Patrol Series is from a different manufacturer.

I also have a CMT UHPR-13.7 Mod 1 HDX rail, so I've been able to compare the Expo Combat Series against it. Will post more tonight.

[Sig_Fiend]

The Expo Arms Combat Series handguards are closest in design to the CMT HDX MOD2 rails. The major difference is the removal of the QD inserts and holes as well as the elimination of the odd cosmetic slots at the back of the rails at 3 and 9 o'clock. In essence, it's like they took the front 80% of the HDX MOD2 rail with the back 20% of the HDM rail. Between this and the 10.3 and 11.5 barrel profiles from them, whoever is making these decisions at Expo Arms has piqued my interest. I appreciate well thought out specifications and configurations.

I actually really like that about these Expo Combat handguards. The staggered M-LOK slots theoretically improve rigidity and I don't need built in QD sockets. Best of the HDX and HDM rails combined. A 9.5" HDX rail is $189, an HDM 10.5" is $132, and the Expo Combat 9.5" is $99. I don't see how that's possible for the price, yet there it is. I'm guessing I'm gonna buy the hell out of these for quite awhile. ;-)

(ignore the fact nothing is torqued on these yet, like flash hiders, as I've been test fitting various components)

86555

86556


Barrel Nut & Mounting Hardware
The Expo Arms Combat Series handguards use the same exact 7075-T6 barrel nut and 17-4PH stainless mounting hardware as CMT rails. The rails themselves are 6061-T6. Also included is a single M-LOK QD slot.

The mounting hardware uses the same sort of methodology as SLR barrel nuts and mounting hardware. The barrel nut is grooved and does not need to be timed. The mounting hardware is notched to fit this groove while mating with the contour of the barrel nut. The important thing is, it is NOT a typical pinch lock type rail, so none of the typical worries like you'd have with those.


Fit & Finish
Both the rail and barrel nut are type 3 class 2 hard anodized. The rail finish looks excellent and on par with the more expensive HDX series rails. In comparison to my HDX MOD1 13.7", both the Expo Combat 9.5" and 15" look like the same exact quality of fit and finish. Also, the 1913 sections are scalloped on both the Expo Combat Series and CMT rails, as you'd see with other high quality rails.

86557


Anti-rotation Tabs
The tabs have a tapered angle to them. Lately, I've mainly been using Aero upper receivers for builds, which I've found to be consistent. Using their standard M4 style upper receivers (not what they dub their "M4E1" style), I've found fitment of the Expo Combat rails to be snug, but not problematic. I've test fit 2 rails across 5 or 6 different Aero uppers to compare and all were consistent.

86553

86554

[DDTSGM]

Thanks for the effort you put in, I'm going to look into a combat rail for my next build.

[Sig_Fiend]

Couldn't find a more appropriate thread so, figured I'd use this one. Just saw Primary Arms is doing a ridiculous sale on the Expo 10.3 barrels (https://www.primaryarms.com/expo-arms-556-chrome-lined-ar15-barrel-socom-carbine-10.3). Just $77! I'd snatch them all up if I could. ;) Of the two 10.3's and one 11.5 I have from Expo, all three gauged at exactly 0.070" ports.

[Wake27]

Couldn't find a more appropriate thread so, figured I'd use this one. Just saw Primary Arms is doing a ridiculous sale on the Expo 10.3 barrels (https://www.primaryarms.com/expo-arms-556-chrome-lined-ar15-barrel-socom-carbine-10.3). Just $77! I'd snatch them all up if I could. ;) Of the two 10.3's and one 11.5 I have from Expo, all three gauged at exactly 0.070" ports.

That is a good deal but I'd be looking hard at the used market if I was buying right now. I've had a sub-500 round 10.5 upper built by JT at RAW with a Triarc barrel and Geissele MK16 that I haven't been able to sell for months. The barrel and rail alone cost more than what its currently listed for...