Our favorite new product meister, Paul Levy, gives us the inside scoop on the BRN-15 upper receiver. If you're familiar with the Brownells BRN series of rifle components, you've probably already figured out the BRN-15 is our take on an AR-15 upper assembly. But it is no ordinary AR-15 upper! The BRN-15's slimline free-floating M-LOK® handguard has the customary M1913 Picatinny rail on top and full-length M-LOK rows at 3, 6 and 9 o'clock, plus partial rows up front at the 10:30, 1:30, 5:30 and 7:30 positions. Carefully placed cutouts remove a lot of material that adds weight, so the BRN-15 'guard is unusually light for a full-length handguard - without sacrificing strength. The cutouts also allow a LOT of airflow to cool the barrel. All potentially sharp edges have been tumbled and rounded, so this handguard feels really comfortable in your hand wherever you grasp it.
Two large crossbolts clamp the handguard to the barrel nut. The bolts pass through the nut to prevent the handguard from slipping forward, making this installation truly "rock solid." Plus, anti-rotation tabs keep the handguard properly aligned with the receiver, so there's no risk of it twisting and messing up the alignment of the accessories mounted to it. This outstanding handguard and reason enough to choose a BRN-15. But there's more.....
You can get your BRN-15 with an 11.5", 13.7", or 16" barrel, all with the classic A2 flash hider up front. There are two 16" models: on with a Government profile barrel (.750" O.D. at the gas block) and a slimmer, Lightweight barrel (.625" at the gas block). All barrels have 1-7" rifling and are made of premium 4150 chrome-moly-vanadium steel for an extra-long service life, with a tough, good-looking black Nitride finish.
The receiver itself is a standard "mil-spec" forged receiver with forward assist, shell deflector, ejection port cover, and M4 feed ramps to help each round find its way reliably into the chamber. You can get your BRN-15 upper receiver complete, with a charging handle and Brownells nitride-finished bolt-carrier group. Or get it without the handle and BCG, so you can customize your upper with the exact components you want.
Paul Levy
