Sota arms upper review

[MULEY4X4]

Hey guys. Been lurking for a while and just it into ar's. This is my first AR. I got in on the group buy and have two lowers sitting around. I'm thinking about going with a RED X for my next upper. I bought this lower a month or two ago. First time out to the range with it. I have a spikes lower with a magpul stock and a ergo grip. Overall I liked it a lot. Trigger was hard for sure. Is there something I can get without going with a Giselle? Any recommendations?



















Here was a rapid fire group at 50 yards with Tula Russian ammo. Should I expect better groups with match ammo??

[CJ]

Yes, tula is junk for target ammo. Pick up some blue box black hills ammo.

[MULEY4X4]

Yes, tula is junk for target ammo. Pick up some blue box black hills ammo.

Is there any way to lighten up the trigger? Or get a new one cheaper than 200$?

[Downs]

Trigger was hard for sure. Is there something I can get without going with a Giselle? Any recommendations?

Shoot more ammo. The more you shoot it the more the trigger with smooth out. Another option is to take the lower apart and have the surfaces that rub together polished up a little. But the shooting option is more fun

[MULEY4X4]

I put 140 rounds through it yesterday flawless. I was super worried about the failure to eject with shooting cheap ammo. No problems at all.

[Downs]

Generally an issue like a FTE or FTF isn't ammo related but gun related in some shape or form. All I stock in my ammo pile is cheap ammo (Brown Bear) unless I come across a really good deal for something like M193 which I'll push to the front of the pile and use it up before I use up my "cheap" ammo. I generally stock the Brown Bear 62grn SP for practice and well pretty much everything else too.

140 rounds is not much give it about 500 to 1k rounds and see how you feel about the trigger after that.

[CJ]

Is there any way to lighten up the trigger? Or get a new one cheaper than 200$?

Yes, I can show you how to do a trigger job at the build party if you're attending.

[ThreeFingerPete]

Consider some slow fire bench work. You might be surprised at what the rifle/ammo is capable of when you stop playing Captain Blasty McTactical at the range.

[Trick Pony]

Do-it-yourself trigger job is pretty easy like 5.0_CJ mentioned. On the cheap other options are an ALG or Spike's Battle Trigger (these are still single-stange) for $60 which will have a much crisper 5-6 lb pull usually with mil spec springs. You can also put in some JP springs to get it down to 4 lbs or so for like $10 but some have trouble igniting hard primers with the lighter hammer spring.

[MULEY4X4]

Consider some slow fire bench work. You might be surprised at what the rifle/ammo is capable of when you stop playing Captain Blasty McTactical at the range.

I promise you I did. After about 5-6 shots groups were all over the place. I would think that was because of the ammo and hotter barrel. I have three bolt guns that shot 1 moa. I don't think the whole problem was me but it was fun to blast away.

[ThreeFingerPete]

Pictures of those groups?

[MULEY4X4]

Pictures of those groups?

Did not keep the targets but better than that but not by much.

[MULEY4X4]

One last question. In terms of running your ar wet what do y'all use??

[helosailor]

That upper looks good, but the gas key bolts could be staked a little better. For occasional range/field use, it shouldn't be a big deal though.

One last question. In terms of running your ar wet what do y'all use??

I've never bought into the "run it wet" as far as oil it till it drips. I do use a moderate amount of M-Pro 7 CLP on the BCG (bolt and firing pin mainly).

[ThreeFingerPete]

I lube mine with the tears of frightened liberals.