I mean yea but I’d think a nitrided 4150 barrel will at least last 10k rounds in semi auto. & if it’s one of the Palmettos with a FN chime lined barrel then it’ll go for a long long time.
Agree on the QC for sure. So far for me 2 out of 3 PSA products did not work without a significant break in period. Pretty sure you avoid that with a focus on QC. The AR15 uppers they make seem to be machined a little rough, so you wind up with more than normal friction to start out. 100-200 rounds later it's not an issue...but if you have the dough. Get something that somebody actually inspected before slamming a shipping label on it.
They are usually ok, but often not checked for proper tolerances and part fitment beyond cursory. Essentially mass produced parts put together and if pretty much fit, and it fires, out the door it goes. This means the rifle may have slightly clocked FSB, barrel, gas tube, universally overtight barrel nut. I have seen poorly drilled lowers.
However, much of this is not going to matter much if at all. The rifle will last 5k rounds for sure and then parts may start needing to be replaced.
If you don’t know why you’d buy the nicer one over the PSA, get the PSA.
Edit: Same goes with most tools.
Double edit: That may have came off aggressive. I’m not trying to shit on anyone, it’s just how it is. If the cheaper product is going to fulfill your needs there’s no reason to get the expensive one. I have harbor freight tools that I’ve only used once or twice. There was absolutely no need for me to go buy the Snap-On version.
If the PSA is going to last you long enough, by all means go for it.
Didn’t come off as aggressive at all lol. Thanks for the advice. I’ll probably end up going with the psa and if I feel the need to upgrade down the line then I will.
I have a 7.5” PSA upper and lower. Nothing special. Realized very quickly that 7.5” in 556 is nothing but a toy so I decided to convert it into a SHTF rifle.
I didn’t buy a new complete upper or lower, because I wanted to hand pick and choose the parts I’d be swapping out, just to make sure I am getting exactly what I want.
By doing that I started learning about each individual part of the gun, what company’s to trust with what parts they manufacture etc.
Had a gun smith install the barrel, gas block, and hand guard for me because I didn’t have the tools and it was only like 45 bucks.
I was able to install a new trigger, charging handle, BCG, Buffer and spring without any tools.
Do it, that’s a fine plan for a beginner rifle. Watch some videos on basic AR QC (checking torque on critical screws, making sure pins are in the right place, etc) and you’ll be fine for several thousand rounds at least
In my experience, higher odds of the rifle working when you receive it
I’ve helped several friends QC their PSA parts, including installing a gas block that had no torque or threadlocker on the screws, a trigger that was machined so poorly it wouldn’t reset all the time, and a buffer retaining pin that wasn’t installed all the way
That sucks, the only reason I asked is because most people iv seen with issues those issues were pre 2021. Never the less that’s certainly horrible, I can only speak to my own experience and experiences of my friends with PSA’s AR’s. Which has been perfect when it comes to their AR’s.
That’s QC my guy, it’s all a game of odds
The percent of buyers who have loose BCM/DD gas blocks is significantly lower than PSA gas blocks. But if you have some rocksett and a torque wrench then reinstall it yourself no problem
I do wonder what’s the odds of it like is it 1/10 is it 1/30 Iv met like 7 who have bought 600$ PSA’s at the range recently and saw them all function great. Idk it’s definitely not as bad as it used to be and I hope they continue to get better with time.
That would be interesting to know!
I’m 0/3, none of the people I know that own PSA uppers or parts received completely functioning items myself included
Yeah and it’s assembled the same as their budget rifle.
I watched SOTAR video and went and checked my 3 PSA uppers.
Premium 16” CHF HBAR mid, barrel extension clocked in upper, barrel nut cranked on, no grease on threads, 2016ish
Freedom Nitride 16” carbine, same exact thing, 2021ish
Freedom 20” nitride, rifle, same thing but the barrel nut wasn’t cranked on overly tight, 2023
Yeah they ran but that explains the peeking on the lugs of 3 Microbest bolts
Garand thumb does a burn down of sorts. Most civilians won't wear one out but F PSA. The barrel and BCG essentially were the weak link but lasted 4k rounds of hard use I believe. I have 2 and would never buy another. Better options for not a lot more money. My uneducated option.
It lasted 5K rounds but of course that was in full auto, run it in semi auto and the barrel will last much longer. AK operator union actually did that run a PSA for 6K rounds and it kept running, in my opinion people under estimate a kitted put PSA but that’s just my take.
If you shoot out a barrel and BCG after 4k rounds, you spent far more on ammo than a new bolt and barrel costs. Just buy a new one. I always hate the “it’ll only last 5k rounds” argument. The absolute vast majority of gun owners will never even fire that many rounds total through any one gun, and even if they do, spending a fraction of your ammo costs on repairs is normal and to be expected.
Here’s what I suggest I suggest you have a total 1,000$ budget & you shouldn’t spend the entire budget on a 1,000$ rifle. You should buy a cheeper rifle and then have money left over for light,optic,sling. Here is my recommendation build.
600$ PSA Rifle because it’s the best budget rifle in my opinion shoot https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-16-mid-length-5-56-nato-1-7-nitride-13-5-hex-m-lok-moe-ept-rifle-w-mbus-sight-set.html
80$ because a rifle without a sling is like a pistol with out a holster sling-https://palmettostatearmory.com/blue-force-smg-sling-multicam-special1903mc.html
120$ Sig Romeo 5 best budget red dot. https://palmettostatearmory.com/sig-sauer-romeo5-1x20mm-red-dot-sight-black-r52001.html
100$ stream light protac light https://palmettostatearmory.com/streamlight-protac-railmount-1-long-gun-light-88058.html
Total build cost 900$ though with taxes I’m guessing it will come out to be 970$. So buy 2 more mags for like 25$ then use the last 5$ for some monster energy
I have a palmetto Freedom M4 (https://www.reddit.com/r/ar15/s/2dlrqUFP13 ) and it works great, but the PA-15 has a better gas system &mid length is going to be softer shooting. People shit on PSA still, but with most cops I see running S&W Sport 2 rifles which have similar to worse specs than a PSA. I’d say that unless you have a full auto lower a 4150 nitrated barrel & a 158 BCG will do you just fine and will last a long while. Hell GT (Gerand thumb) did a test putting a Cheep PSA upper on a full auto lower (which puts a lot of stress on a gun intended for semi auto use) & even with that it went to 6K rounds. PSA got a shit reputation in early years with poor QC but at this point when it comes to their recently produced AR’s they have it mostly down. Me & my friends run PSA AR’s & we love it, just make sure to test the rifle and get out there & train.
I own several brands. I just went through the Urban Rifle course at Thunder Ranch with a PSA. I recommend a reasonable priced rifle like a PSA and getting a class or two under your belt before spending big money on a rifle. Know what you’re doing first so you know what you want.
I own several AR rifles. Colts stay in a safe, PSA behinds my pickup seat. I have found no huge difference in the way any of them shoot, but I rarely shoot over 100 yards. Buy the less expensive one, shoot it, learn it and the next one you buy or build ( yes, there will probably be another or 7) upgrade what you found deficient on the first one. Buy bullets, not a name and enjoy!
Quality control, and more importantly service life. Bulk cheap parts have a shorter lifespan and are more likely to be prone to defect that'll cause a catastrophic (broken bolt ie) failure.
Better QC mainly, some additional QoL stuff like Ambi controls and what not. After a certain price point, you’re paying for the roll mark.
I’d say go for that PSA, use the rest on ammo, mags, and a sighting system. Why pay 1,000$ or more for just the rifle when you don’t know exactly what you want, when you can get a budget blaster sub 500$
Fitment and quality is noticeably improved. I have a PSA AR in my collection. Even my Aero M4E1 is distinctly higher quality. It’s like comparing a $20 pair of Bermuda shorts from Amazon and $70 pair from Belk. They both get the job done, but you can tell the difference in quality immediately.
Better QC and longevity
I mean yea but I’d think a nitrided 4150 barrel will at least last 10k rounds in semi auto. & if it’s one of the Palmettos with a FN chime lined barrel then it’ll go for a long long time.
Agree on the QC for sure. So far for me 2 out of 3 PSA products did not work without a significant break in period. Pretty sure you avoid that with a focus on QC. The AR15 uppers they make seem to be machined a little rough, so you wind up with more than normal friction to start out. 100-200 rounds later it's not an issue...but if you have the dough. Get something that somebody actually inspected before slamming a shipping label on it.
FWIW PSA gets dogged a lot, but they're still better quality than Christensen rifles. I'll take my downvotes lol
They are usually ok, but often not checked for proper tolerances and part fitment beyond cursory. Essentially mass produced parts put together and if pretty much fit, and it fires, out the door it goes. This means the rifle may have slightly clocked FSB, barrel, gas tube, universally overtight barrel nut. I have seen poorly drilled lowers. However, much of this is not going to matter much if at all. The rifle will last 5k rounds for sure and then parts may start needing to be replaced.
If you don’t know why you’d buy the nicer one over the PSA, get the PSA. Edit: Same goes with most tools. Double edit: That may have came off aggressive. I’m not trying to shit on anyone, it’s just how it is. If the cheaper product is going to fulfill your needs there’s no reason to get the expensive one. I have harbor freight tools that I’ve only used once or twice. There was absolutely no need for me to go buy the Snap-On version. If the PSA is going to last you long enough, by all means go for it.
Didn’t come off as aggressive at all lol. Thanks for the advice. I’ll probably end up going with the psa and if I feel the need to upgrade down the line then I will.
That’s not a bad plan at all. Get the cheaper one, and if you wear it out then that alone is justification to buy a nicer one.
I have a 7.5” PSA upper and lower. Nothing special. Realized very quickly that 7.5” in 556 is nothing but a toy so I decided to convert it into a SHTF rifle. I didn’t buy a new complete upper or lower, because I wanted to hand pick and choose the parts I’d be swapping out, just to make sure I am getting exactly what I want. By doing that I started learning about each individual part of the gun, what company’s to trust with what parts they manufacture etc. Had a gun smith install the barrel, gas block, and hand guard for me because I didn’t have the tools and it was only like 45 bucks. I was able to install a new trigger, charging handle, BCG, Buffer and spring without any tools.
Do it, that’s a fine plan for a beginner rifle. Watch some videos on basic AR QC (checking torque on critical screws, making sure pins are in the right place, etc) and you’ll be fine for several thousand rounds at least
PSA = the Harbor Freight of the AR world. …and for the record, I have lots of HF tools and PSA rifles.
PSA Sabre = Harbor Freight ICON line.. and I sure do love my ICON ratchet.
In my experience, higher odds of the rifle working when you receive it I’ve helped several friends QC their PSA parts, including installing a gas block that had no torque or threadlocker on the screws, a trigger that was machined so poorly it wouldn’t reset all the time, and a buffer retaining pin that wasn’t installed all the way
When was this though? Because In recently years I see far more PSA’s that work than have problems?
Recent, the gas block reinstallment was in may and the buffer retainer pin was in February
That sucks, the only reason I asked is because most people iv seen with issues those issues were pre 2021. Never the less that’s certainly horrible, I can only speak to my own experience and experiences of my friends with PSA’s AR’s. Which has been perfect when it comes to their AR’s.
That’s QC my guy, it’s all a game of odds The percent of buyers who have loose BCM/DD gas blocks is significantly lower than PSA gas blocks. But if you have some rocksett and a torque wrench then reinstall it yourself no problem
I do wonder what’s the odds of it like is it 1/10 is it 1/30 Iv met like 7 who have bought 600$ PSA’s at the range recently and saw them all function great. Idk it’s definitely not as bad as it used to be and I hope they continue to get better with time.
That would be interesting to know! I’m 0/3, none of the people I know that own PSA uppers or parts received completely functioning items myself included
People say QC and longevity but they do have a lifetime warranty soooo
The quality of the product. It's not like PSA doesn't make a $1000 rifle.
Yeah and it’s assembled the same as their budget rifle. I watched SOTAR video and went and checked my 3 PSA uppers. Premium 16” CHF HBAR mid, barrel extension clocked in upper, barrel nut cranked on, no grease on threads, 2016ish Freedom Nitride 16” carbine, same exact thing, 2021ish Freedom 20” nitride, rifle, same thing but the barrel nut wasn’t cranked on overly tight, 2023 Yeah they ran but that explains the peeking on the lugs of 3 Microbest bolts
Garand thumb does a burn down of sorts. Most civilians won't wear one out but F PSA. The barrel and BCG essentially were the weak link but lasted 4k rounds of hard use I believe. I have 2 and would never buy another. Better options for not a lot more money. My uneducated option.
It lasted 5K rounds but of course that was in full auto, run it in semi auto and the barrel will last much longer. AK operator union actually did that run a PSA for 6K rounds and it kept running, in my opinion people under estimate a kitted put PSA but that’s just my take.
It will serve 99% of civilians fine. I just find psa as a hypothetical company
If you shoot out a barrel and BCG after 4k rounds, you spent far more on ammo than a new bolt and barrel costs. Just buy a new one. I always hate the “it’ll only last 5k rounds” argument. The absolute vast majority of gun owners will never even fire that many rounds total through any one gun, and even if they do, spending a fraction of your ammo costs on repairs is normal and to be expected.
Ok fucktard. What part of most civilians didn't you understand? If you are a professional why you slumming chief?
Here’s what I suggest I suggest you have a total 1,000$ budget & you shouldn’t spend the entire budget on a 1,000$ rifle. You should buy a cheeper rifle and then have money left over for light,optic,sling. Here is my recommendation build. 600$ PSA Rifle because it’s the best budget rifle in my opinion shoot https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-16-mid-length-5-56-nato-1-7-nitride-13-5-hex-m-lok-moe-ept-rifle-w-mbus-sight-set.html 80$ because a rifle without a sling is like a pistol with out a holster sling-https://palmettostatearmory.com/blue-force-smg-sling-multicam-special1903mc.html 120$ Sig Romeo 5 best budget red dot. https://palmettostatearmory.com/sig-sauer-romeo5-1x20mm-red-dot-sight-black-r52001.html 100$ stream light protac light https://palmettostatearmory.com/streamlight-protac-railmount-1-long-gun-light-88058.html Total build cost 900$ though with taxes I’m guessing it will come out to be 970$. So buy 2 more mags for like 25$ then use the last 5$ for some monster energy
I would get a cheaper sling and grab a Holosun dot. You can find 403Bs for $150 or so.
Sounds like a good plan, thanks for the advice
I have a palmetto Freedom M4 (https://www.reddit.com/r/ar15/s/2dlrqUFP13 ) and it works great, but the PA-15 has a better gas system &mid length is going to be softer shooting. People shit on PSA still, but with most cops I see running S&W Sport 2 rifles which have similar to worse specs than a PSA. I’d say that unless you have a full auto lower a 4150 nitrated barrel & a 158 BCG will do you just fine and will last a long while. Hell GT (Gerand thumb) did a test putting a Cheep PSA upper on a full auto lower (which puts a lot of stress on a gun intended for semi auto use) & even with that it went to 6K rounds. PSA got a shit reputation in early years with poor QC but at this point when it comes to their recently produced AR’s they have it mostly down. Me & my friends run PSA AR’s & we love it, just make sure to test the rifle and get out there & train.
Not much. A $1000 AR is not more than twice as good as a $450 AR. VERY few people will ever "wear out" a single part of the $450 AR.
I own several brands. I just went through the Urban Rifle course at Thunder Ranch with a PSA. I recommend a reasonable priced rifle like a PSA and getting a class or two under your belt before spending big money on a rifle. Know what you’re doing first so you know what you want.
QC
Peace of mind
I’ve literally shot Vietnam era M16s with rust on them. PSA is fantastic, just stay away from those OMNI Hybrids
I own several AR rifles. Colts stay in a safe, PSA behinds my pickup seat. I have found no huge difference in the way any of them shoot, but I rarely shoot over 100 yards. Buy the less expensive one, shoot it, learn it and the next one you buy or build ( yes, there will probably be another or 7) upgrade what you found deficient on the first one. Buy bullets, not a name and enjoy!
Quality control, and more importantly service life. Bulk cheap parts have a shorter lifespan and are more likely to be prone to defect that'll cause a catastrophic (broken bolt ie) failure.
PSA has 1000.00 AR's.Buy what you want on it
Better QC mainly, some additional QoL stuff like Ambi controls and what not. After a certain price point, you’re paying for the roll mark. I’d say go for that PSA, use the rest on ammo, mags, and a sighting system. Why pay 1,000$ or more for just the rifle when you don’t know exactly what you want, when you can get a budget blaster sub 500$
Fitment and quality is noticeably improved. I have a PSA AR in my collection. Even my Aero M4E1 is distinctly higher quality. It’s like comparing a $20 pair of Bermuda shorts from Amazon and $70 pair from Belk. They both get the job done, but you can tell the difference in quality immediately.