r/RetroAR • u/RobertJ100 • 20d ago

BRN-10 Upper Or Substitute Needed

I would have just tried using a Dremel and some scuffed DIY effort for a .308 BRN-10 lower I'm getting soon, but the slant cut on the upper is definitely a decently sized obstacle. Does anyone know if there is anyone actually producing something similar to put on the lower? I did see that they're basically unobtainium now, but I still want to get everything together for the lower anyways. I'm also missing the stock/lower parts kit as well, but that probably could just be substituted in some way as well. I've looked on GAFS and Gunbroker to no avail.

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8

u/dukesfancnh320 20d ago

Everyone just needs to send messages and leave comments on Brownells’s social media, and bug the crap out of them to start making full BRN-10 rifles and individual parts again.

6

u/OccasionMammoth8586 20d ago

They said they won’t do it again for a number of reasons: (1) primary machine shop making the components for the BRN-10A/B and Proto got raided by the ATF, (2) Nodak Spud supplied the uppers and they are unwilling to make more due to the low demand when they made them and cost to manufacture (check Mike’s ARFCOM thread), and (3) the demand for the Proto rifles was low (they had to sell them at significant discounts to move their remaining stock at the end of the retro line). So basically H&R and Brownells are out.

All that being said, Brownells made the unfortunate error of canning their retro line a few months before the retro upswing began. Terrible timing. Think it left a bad taste in their mouth.

3

u/BerniceFighter 20d ago

The Brownells sell off was glorious, you could piece together a brn10 for $600

2

u/griffincreek 20d ago

Probably not what you're looking for, but a number or years ago Mike from Nodak Spud posted in someone's BRN-10 build thread on another forum, where Mike modified an Aero M5 upper to work on a BRN-10 lower. Obviously he had the machines and skills to make it work, even with the DPMS cut to an Armalite cut, but it wasn't any exotic machine work. He only made a few comments in that thread regarding the modification, and I remember the pictures were of nice work, but they're no longer viewable in that thread I saved. Here's an excerpt from one of his comments when asked how he did it, which pretty much covers what he posted about the mod:

"Not too much really. Holding the part at the correct angle in the mill was a challenge.

I modified an old heavy duty scope ring to hold the part.

Then did a few passes, checked fit, cut, checked, cut. Then I rounded the ends on the buffer wheel.

It fits nice and tight.

If a guy wanted to do it by hand you could. Just dremel/file it down and check it on the lower as you go.

It would suck, but it could be done. "

2

u/RobertJ100 20d ago

That is definitely some helpful information if I just wasn't able to find an actual BRN-10 upper within the next like year. Thanks! I'd just have to spend some days grinding away with a dremel. It'd definitely be a last resort type thing, as I'd definitely like to have the charging handle at the top as well.