BRN-601® RETRO COMPLETE UPPER RECEIVER Reviews & Ratings

As soon as I saw this listing, I thought the BRN 601 complete upper belonged on the OD Green KP-15 lower for the WWSD 2020 build. Thats what I did. Thus far I love it. I feel like a kid on Christmas morning every time I pick this thing up. Upper is as old as AR-15 gets, Lower is as new as AR-15 gets. Startlingly light to pick it up and yet it’s got a 20 inch barrel to get the most out of light-for-caliber 5.56. I have not yet made time to fire this thing, so I don’t have groups or chronograph data to share. If I wait till I’ve got everything to write a perfect review, I’ll never get around to it, so here goes. I bought this complete BRN 601 upper for myself with my own money. My bias is that IF this setup can shoot tight groups with my favorite 50 and 55 grain stuff, then I want the BRN 601 to be such a success for Brownells that I’ll have no trouble buying a 2nd and a 3rd later on down the road. I had an m16 A2 when I went through Paris Island in the summer of 2006. Whoop De Doo for me. I’ve long thought that the pre-A2 M16 family just looks so cool. I love the absence of a forward assist, the thin profile barrel, and the minimal adjustment in the rear sight; no just to save weight, but as this rear sight was intended for gunfighting, not for qualification course of fire on the known distance range. I get why the military got away from the triangular fore-end for simplicity in supply chain, but goodness it’s really comfy to hold when sighting in. Before purchasing I read complaints in other reviews about color mismatch and a goofy pink or purple in the finish on the aluminum. I didn’t get a BRN 601 Lower receiver, so I can’t comment on that part. I’m not seeing pink or purple sheen in the finish on the aluminum. I think the “matte grey” that Brownells states is accurate. To my ignorant eyes, the grey finish on the aluminum makes the upper receiver look like it’s made out of a very plain titanium. I find it to be an improvement on the normal black color of an AR-15. My KP-15 is a “blemished” OD Green. I have no idea what the blemish is, so for all I know the actual shade of green is off, though I doubt it. My Blemmed OD Green KP-15 lower is a little darker than the green on the BRN 601 fore-end. This is what my Escali kitchen scale gave me for weights: BRN 601 upper all by itself 4.325 pounds KP-15 lower with side sling pouch and Israeli bandage 2.277 pounds 20 round Gen 3 pmag loaded to 18 rounds of 50 grain Federal by itself .701 pounds BRN 601 upper, WWSD 2020 lower, buttstock pouch for side sling with Israeli bandage, no sling, 20 round Gen 3 pmag loaded to 18 rounds of 50 grain Federal 7.277 pounds That whole rifle setup (still no sling) with no magazine 6.605 pounds

Built up a retro copy of the gun I took through basic training. Good quality and fair price.

Looking for a great functioning upper and or want to larp as a Vietnam/Cold war airman it's for you. If you're looking for an absolutely 110% clone correct 601/604 upper you may need to change some things, but you probably already know that. I fall into form group, and believe it was worth it.

Great reproduction. Purchased it for a Viet Nam Vet friend of the family. Wish Brownells would have restarted the lower receivers for this upper at the same time. Would have simplified the build.

There are minor issues with certain parts being the wrong finish, but these are pictured in the product preview page (and would need to be replaced anyway if you're going for a clone correct build). Twist rate isn't quite right, but it's hard enough to sell 1/12 twist rates let alone 1/14. Minor things that don't matter if you just want to slap it on a lower and call it a day, the black windage dial and dust port cover probably won't bother you.

Weird purple-ish anodizing isn't a problem, I've seen plenty of early70s Anniston Depot 601 rebuilds that were weirdly purple but it's inexcusable the handguards are such a bizarrely light colored green? I have attached a picture of what should look like.

I purchased this with the knowledge that it may not match exactly. However I did not anticipate it being completely a different color. Even the retro green pistol grip, I purchased to match the green hand guard does not match. The metal for the uppe receiver has a purple sheen to it rather than the gray. I'm using an H&R 601 lower, that is the proper color. I want to be clear, in no way shape form or fashion, does it match the upper. Perhaps if Brownells still sold their version of the 601 lower it might match and be purple like the upper. Either way it looks terrible, unless of course you want a purple and green M16.

Does this match any lower receiver out there in production as far as color? Call me OCD but I like my receivers to match. The first round of these retro upper several years ago matched like black and white to another popular retro lower receiver made at the time. I know this because I have one of the first run retros from around 2019. It's color is more of a shiny slick blue/green. I kick myself in the butt for not buying a complete rifle but the upper was advertised as retro gray so I took a chance on it matching my nodak spud lower of the same era. I'm wanting to say that the Brownell's retro upper was made by nodak spud. If someone matches this current retro to a nodak-spud (aka H&R) let me know how it works out. Thanks