I’ve always found retro guns and clones of current military carbines to be really cool…
I love my old Colt LE6920, and the MK18 has been on my radar for a while now…
Because of that, I’ve been analyzing (for several months now) several options that I think would make for the best MK18 upper clone…
And in this post, I want to share with you some of the most exciting options that I’ve found for both the MK18 Mod 1 and the MK18 Mod 0…
By the end, you’ll have a solid understanding of the options that are currently out there, and you should have all the information you need to determine which is going to be best for your MK18 clone…
Let’s begin!
Best MK18 Upper Clone – Top 7 List…
The best MK18 upper clone is the Daniel Defense MK18 5.56 Complete Upper Receiver Group. It’s the best because it features the very distinctive Daniel Defense MK18 RIS II quad rail which is the actual rail used on the real MK18 Mod 1, and all the other components of this upper meet or exceed military specifications for durability and reliability…
The following will give you more information explaining why the Daniel Defense MK18 Upper is the best upper clone, but I’ll also share with you 6 other options you can consider if you want to build a MK18 clone…
1. Daniel Defense MK18 5.56 Complete Upper Receiver Group (My #1 Pick!)
If your goal is to build a MK18 Mod 1 clone, then the absolute best option available to you is the Daniel Defense MK18 5.56 Complete Upper Receiver Group. As I mentioned earlier, there are several reasons why this is the best option to go with…
First of all, if you’re trying to create a MK18 Mod 1 clone, then you simply must include the Daniel Defense RIS II handguard. This is the handguard used on real MK18s, and it makes for a very distinctive (and cool) look. Aside from just coming with the RIS II handguard, the complete MK18 upper from Daniel Defense makes a lot of sense for many other reasons…
At this point, we all know that Daniel Defense makes extremely high quality AR 15s and AR parts, and that rings true with this complete upper which includes a Daniel Defense upper receiver (which mates perfectly with the RIS II rail), all Daniel Defense upper receiver parts (which are all mil-spec), a Daniel Defense flash suppresser (which is an upgrade over a standard A2 birdcage), and a mil-spec, M16 profile BCG (Bolt Carrier Group) which is chrome-lined and has a properly staked gas key…
On top of all that, you get an extremely high quality Daniel Defense barrel, which is 10.3 inches long (just like the real MK18), made from Chrome Moly Vanadium Steel, is chrome-lined, and features a 1:7 twist. It’s also cold hammer forged, so it’s extremely strong, and because it’s such a high-quality barrel, it’s also very accurate…
Once you get the Daniel Defense MK18 complete upper, all you have to do is stick in on a solid mil-spec lower (make sure to follow all current laws because the barrel length is under 16 inches), and your MK18 clone will pretty much be complete!
Click The Button Below To Learn More About The Daniel Defense MK18 5.56 Complete Upper Receiver Group:
Daniel Defense MK18 Stripped Upper Receiver w/ Handguard Only…
If you like most of what the Daniel Defense Complete MK18 upper includes, but you’d like to save some money and customize your build a little more, the Daniel Defense MK18 Stripped Upper is another great option…
This stripped upper gets you most of the way to a MK18 Mod 1 clone. With it, you get the RIS II handguard which as I mentioned before is an absolute must. But you also get the Daniel Defense milspec upper, and that super high quality 10.3 Daniel Defense barrel…
All you need to do to finish this upper is to pick up a muzzle device (of which there are tons of great options), a bolt carrier group, and a charging handle. You can save money in these areas by going with basic (but still high quality parts), or you can upgrade these parts for more performance (go here if you’d like to see some really cool AR 15 accessories that I recommend)…
So as I said, this is a great option for a MK18 clone if you want to save a bit of money or if you want to customize your clone in a few key areas.
Click The Button Below To Learn More About The Daniel Defense MK18 Stripped Upper Receiver w/ Handguard Only:
Daniel Defense MK18 Rail Interface System (RIS) II…
Before moving on to number 2 on the list, I want to share with you a final option for building an accurate MK18 Mod 1 clone. You can simply get the Daniel Defense MK18 RIS II handguard and either build from scratch or put it on a pre-built upper receiver and barrel set of your choice…
I love Daniel Defense rails in general, but in my opinion, they’ve made the absolute best quad rails on the market for several years. The MK18 RIS II is one of the premier handguards that you can get, and like I said, if you want to build a MK18 Mod 1 clone from scratch, just get the rail and all the other upper receiver parts that you need.
Click The Button Below To Learn More About The Daniel Defense MK18 Rail Interface System (RIS) II:
2. PSA 10.5″ 5.56 NATO 1/7″ Phosphate Upper
If you’re looking to go ‘old school’ with your MK18 clone and want to create a Mod 0, then I think the PSA 10.5″ 5.56 NATO 1:7 Twist Phosphate Upper is a fantastic option for many reasons…
First of all, I love Palmetto State Armory. They’re famous for producing AR 15s and AR parts that are both high quality and affordable at the same time. That’s certainly the case with this PSA 10.5 inch upper, and I think that you could pick this up, attach it to a good quality lower (like this one from PSA), and instantly have yourself a reliable and very cool looking MK18 Mod 0 clone…
This upper is cool because it has a front sight post which is F-Marked and correct for the MK18 Mod 0, and it has a 10.5 inch barrel which I think is the correct length for the Mod 0. And that barrel is actually very high quality. It’s made from Chrome Moly Vanadium steel, features a 1:7 twist rate, and has an extremely durable Phosphate coating…
This upper also features a carbine-length gas system, and it comes with an A2 flashhider and the classic-looking military-styled handguards. Last, if you go with this upper, you will need to pick up a Bolt Carrier Group and a charging handle, but you can easily do that by going here for a solid Bolt Carrier Group and going here for a quality charging handle…
All in all, this is a wonderful upper for a MK18 Mod 0 clone because the parts that you get are high-quality, and it’s also a fairly affordable upper which is always something that I like to see.
Click The Button Below To Learn More About The PSA 10.5″ 5.56 NATO 1/7″ Phosphate Upper:
Daniel Defense AR-15 Omega Rail (7 inch – Carbine Length)…
One of the ways to make the PSA 10.5″ upper an even better MK18 Mod 0 clone is to add a drop in quad rail, and my favorite drop in quad rail is, by far, the Daniel Defense Omega Rail…
I have this rail on my Colt LE6920, and I love it for several reasons. First of all, it’s very strong and allows you to mount a light, vertical foregrip, and a number of other accessories onto your AR 15. In addition to that, Daniel Defense does a great job designing their quad rails to be really lightweight…
And they also designed this rail to be fairly narrow when you grip it. This is kind of unusual when it comes to quad rails, and it makes this rail much more ergonomic than other fat, bulky quad rails that I’ve used in the past.
All in all, I think adding the 7-inch carbine length Omega rail to the PSA 10.5 inch upper would really be a home run if you’re looking to create a MK 18 Mod 0 clone!
Click The Button Below To Learn More About The Daniel Defense AR-15 Omega Rail:
Midwest Industries Gen 2 Drop-In Handguard (7 Inch – Carbine Length)…
Another great quad rail option that you can use with the PSA 10.5″ upper to finish off your MK18 Mod 0 clone is the Midwest Industries Gen 2 Drop-In Handguard…
This is also a very strong drop in quad rail. In addition to that, it’s easy to install and will make your MK18 clone look really badass. On top of that, it’s a fairly lightweight quad rail, and it’s not an overly fat and bulky rail, so it will feel good in your hand…
Like the Daniel Defense Omega rail, this is a fantastic drop in quad rail that you can consider for a MK18 Mod 0 clone build. The major difference is that it comes in at a more affordable price point than the DD Omega rail.
Click The Button Below To Learn More About The Midwest Industries Gen 2 Drop-In Handguard:
3. PSA 10.5″ 5.56 Lightweight M-LOK Upper (With MBUS Sights, BCG, CH, & Fluted Flash Can)
Ok, so if you’re willing to be a little less rigid with your MK18 clone, the rest of the options on this list will be very interesting to you, and I have to say, this PSA 10.5″ Upper with an MLOK rail and a flash can would make for a super badass ‘MK18-inspired’ AR 15…
I love this upper because like I mentioned earlier, Palmetto State Armory produces fantastic AR 15 parts, and they do so at an affordable price. And the great thing about this upper in particular is that it’s loaded with everything you need right out of the box and has some really unique features as well…
First of all, with this upper, you get a very high-quality 10.5″ barrel that’s made from 4150V Chrome Moly Vanadium steel. In addition to that, you get an MLOK rail which is going to be very comfortable to grasp and allow you to mount MLOK accessories where ever you’d like to. You also get that very unique flash can which kind of mimics a suppressor without actually being one, and it really sets this upper apart in terms of how cool it looks…
On top of all that, you get Magpul MBUS back up sights included with this upper, and you get a milspec, M16 profile bolt carrier group, and charging handle. So all you have to do is attach this to a quality AR pistol lower, and you’ve got yourself a super unique ‘MK18 sized’ AR 15 that is going to be more lightweight and perhaps a little more ergonomic than a more ‘correct’ MK18 clone.
Click The Button Below To Learn More About The PSA 10.5″ 5.56 Lightweight M-LOK Upper:
4. Aero Precision M4E1 10.5″ 5.56 Complete Upper Receiver w/ ATLAS S-ONE Handguard
Another one of my favorite manufacturers when it comes to AR-15s and AR parts is Aero Precision. Like PSA, they also make high quality products and keep their prices very reasonable in my opinion, and that’s exactly what they’ve done with the M4E1 10.5″ Complete Upper Receiver with the Atlas S-One Handguard…
Again, if your goal is to build a ‘correct’ MK18 Mod 1 or Mod 0 clone, then this upper isn’t the one for you, but if you just like the size and concept of a 10.5 inch AR 15, this is a great option to consider for many reasons. For starters, this upper comes with a very high-quality 10.5 inch barrel which is made from Chrome Moly Vanadium steel and has a 1:7 twist rate…
In addition to that, the Aero Precision upper receiver has a very cool ‘billet look’ to it even though it’s actually forged (which makes it stronger and more lightweight). On top of all that, the most unique feature that you get with this upper is the 9 inch ATLAS S-One which I think is an amazing handguard.
It looks very cool in my opinion, but by removing some of the Picatinny railing at the top of the handguard, you end up with a lighter AR 15 and an extremely ergonomic and comfortable handguard. On top of that, you still have railing on top where you need it for back up iron sights, and because it’s an MLOK handguard, you can put MLOK rails for accessories anywhere in the 3, 6, and 9 o’clock positions…
All in all, I love this little upper because it looks amazing and offers you some extremely useful features at the same time.
Click The Button Below To Learn More About The Aero Precision M4E1 10.5″ 5.56 Complete Upper Receiver w/ ATLAS S-ONE Handguard:
5. PSA 10.5″ 5.56 NATO 1:7 Phosphate 9″ Lightweight M-LOK Upper (With BCG & CH)
Another fantastic upper for a ‘MK18 sized’ AR 15 is the PSA 10.5 inch Lightweight M-LOK Upper. Again this is a great option if you want a modern style AR 15 that comes in the compact size of the MK18…
This upper is awesome because the barrel is very high-quality. Its made from a very strong material (Chrome Moly Vanadium steel), and it also has a 1:7 twist rate and a Phosphate coating, which makes it incredibly durable. I also really like the M-Lok handguard that comes with this upper because it’s slim and comfortable to hold when you’re shooting, it’s lightweight, and it still allows you to mount accessories in practically any position you’d like to…
On top of all that, this upper comes with a very high-quality bolt carrier group (that has an M16 profile and is made from Carpenter 158 steel). It comes with a charging handle, and it comes in at an incredibly affordable price point. So again, all you have to do is pin it onto your AR pistol lower and you’ve got a very compact AR 15 that is lightweight and reliable.
Click The Button Below To Learn More About The PSA 10.5″ 5.56 NATO 1:7 Phosphate 9″ Lightweight M-LOK Upper (With BCG & CH):
6. Aero Precision M4E1 10.5″ 5.56 Complete Upper Receiver w/ ATLAS R-ONE Handguard
Well, I told you that I love Aero Precision AR 15s, so it should be no surprise that I put a second upper on this list for your consideration. I think the M4E1 complete upper with the ATLAS R-One Handguard is another amazing option for a ‘MK18-sized’ AR 15…
Again, Aero Precision makes extremely high quality AR parts, and just as with the earlier M4E1 upper that I put on this list, with this upper you get an extremely high-quality 10.5 inch barrel, the forged ‘billet look’ Aero Precision upper, and an Aero Precision handguard, except this time you’re getting the ATLAS R-One handguard rather than the ATLAS S-One…
I bet you can spot the difference just by looking at the picture… That’s right, with the ATLAS R-One handguard you still get a comfortable place to grip and M-LOK slots for accessories in the 3, 6, and 9 o’clock positions, but you also get a full Picatinny rail across the top of your handguard…
So if you like all of the features that the Aero Precision M4E1 upper has to offer, but you want the full top rail on your handguard for BUIS (back up iron sights), lasers, pressure pads, and/or other accessories, then you also have this amazing option available to you!
Click The Button Below To Learn More About The Aero Precision M4E1 10.5″ 5.56 Complete Upper Receiver w/ ATLAS R-ONE Handguard:
7. PSA 10.5″ 5.56 NATO 1/7″ Phosphate MOE Upper (With BCG & CH)
The last upper I have for your consideration is the PSA 10.5″ MOE Complete Upper. This is a very similar upper to the MK18 Mod 0 clone upper that I placed earlier on this list…
Again, this upper gives you a very high quality barrel that is 10.5 inches, made from Chrome Moly Vanadium steel, and comes with a 1:7 twist. It also comes with an F-Marked front sight post and a standard A2 flash hider. On top of all that, it comes ready to go with a quality bolt carrier group that features an M16 Profile and is made from Carpenter 158 steel, and it comes with a charging handle…
So what sets this upper apart? Well, it comes with a Magpul MOE handguard which is a handguard that I personally like because its extremely comfortable in your hand, it has internal heat shields (so you don’t burn your hand when shooting multiple magazines), and it has M-LOK attachments, so you can mount a weapon light, a vertical foregrip, or any other accessories onto it that you’d like to…
So this is another great option for a ‘MK18-sized’ AR 15 because it’s simple, reliable, compact, and ready to go right out of the box!
Click The Button Below To Learn More About The PSA 10.5″ 5.56 NATO 1/7″ Phosphate MOE Upper (With BCG & CH):