Aero Precision M4E1 5.56 NATO
Model: APCR600306
Aero Precision M4E1 5.56 NATO
Model: APCR600306
Full Specifications
Threaded 1/2x28 barrel: compare 5.56 / .223 suppressor prices.
About This Firearm
The Aero Precision M4E1 is a mid-length semi-automatic AR-15 in 5.56 NATO built for range work and home defense. Aero Precision no longer makes it, so it is a used buy. Its upper receiver and handguard are one integrated unit, so the top rail runs unbroken from the charging handle to the muzzle end and the barrel free-floats inside it.
It arrives with one 30-round Magpul PMAG, a Magpul STR stock and a Magpul MOE grip, so the furniture needs no replacing. No sights are fitted, so an optic has to be bought before the rifle can be aimed. The Gen 2 lower has a flared magwell and a tension screw that takes the play out of the upper-to-lower fit, and the trigger is a standard AR fire control group, so a lighter one drops in. The A2 flash hider is a plain muzzle device, and fitting a brake or a suppressor mount means measuring the thread under it first.
If you're cross-shopping, a Sig Sauer M400 Tread V2 has an MSRP of $1,099.99 and brings a two-stage Matchlite Duo trigger, an ambidextrous safety and a stainless barrel in 1:8 twist. A BCM RECCE-16 weighs 6.10 lbs on a chrome-lined 11595E steel barrel, where the Aero's bore carries a QPQ finish and no chrome. Aero Precision has since dropped complete rifles from its catalog, so parts and service for an M4E1 come from the components side of the business.
Best For
Strengths & Limitations
- The billet trigger guard is part of the enhanced lower parts kit, so there is no roll-pinned guard to work loose or gap behind.
- A Magpul STR stock and MOE grip were fitted at the factory in place of the plain M4 carbine stock and A2 grip.
- The lower is ordinary AR-15 below the takedown pins, so triggers, grips, stocks and magazines are all standard shopping.
- One magazine ships with the rifle, so a range session means buying more.
- A replacement handguard has to be an M4E1 part, because a conventional one needs a barrel nut this upper does not use.
- The rifle was already out of stock before the line disappeared, so a used example is worth checking against Aero's own parts list to see what has been changed.
Category Rankings
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Alternatives to Consider
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Taurus T4SA 5.56 NATO
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— |
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Sig Sauer M400 Tread V2 5.56 NATO
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$923.99 |
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Ruger AR-556 5.56 NATO
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Smith & Wesson M&P 15 Sport III 5.56 NATO
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Smith & Wesson M&P 15 Sport II 5.56 NATO
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does it take standard AR-15 magazines?
Yes. It shipped with a Magpul PMAG and feeds from any AR-pattern magazine.
Can the upper go on another lower?
Yes, the takedown pins are standard. The Gen 2 lower's tension screw bears on the upper, so back the screw off before separating the receivers and reset it afterwards.
What gas system length is it?
Mid-length. Aero Precision sold this build as the 16-inch 5.56 NATO mid, with a low-profile gas block under the handguard.
