Upper

The term “upper” is a colloquialism used to describe a rifle’s upper receiver. Particularly with AR-style rifles, the upper includes many of the functional parts of the rifle, including the bolt carrier group, barrel, handguard, and charging handle. One of the most compelling aspects of the AR platform for shooters is its ability to easily change uppers, allowing AR operators to choose from a wide range of designs, barrel lengths, and even calibers while using the same lower receiver. In the United States, there is currently no need to complete a background check to purchase an upper.