Guns and Blowin Shit Up!

[alta]

I don’t think it’s necessarily total round count, it’s how quickly you get there. A higher end rifle will put up with more abuse. I’ve never had a PSA myself. From what I’ve read, the majority of issues with them are in the past, quality has gotten better. I wouldn’t expect a failure through normal use. But there is a reason we keep some spare parts, not just for PSAs either.

[richkrt99]

I love PSA.  I have built several AR rifles ( I think I'm on #6 now) with PSA lowers and uppers and have had absolute success with them.  I did my own assembly to tweek the details I wanted, but you can't beat them for the price.  I also saw a gun channel review recently (don't remember which one) after couple guys toured PSA factories and they were impressed  - truly state of the art.
I AM admittedly a budget shopper though...I do not have the means (or reason) to purchase build a $2500 rifle.  I am more of a tinkerer who will spend $2500 to build three rifles
Now I do prefer an AERO lower, but not due to quality, I just prefer the flared magwell, and the threaded pins, etc.  Just minor details if you are building.
Never buy anything PSA unless it's on sale...and they have sales every week.  I dare you to sign up for the email link.  Daily deals are crazy. 
They even have a combo deal where you get a glock 19 clone (PSA Dagger) and an AR-15 for like $799 or something crazy.
I do own two of the PSA daggers (Glock clones) and they are 100% interchangeable with Glock parts.. barrels, slides, etc, etc and the guns work very well


PSA is one of the reasons I am now certified gun nut

[Mickstix]

Well shit, Rich likes em' so I need to rethink now.     Sounds like a solid platform. I'll be looking (more) into them shortly! Feels like time may be running out to get a semi-auto long gun.. 

[alta]

I was just going through a few things. I forgot I do have one PSA upper in carbine gas, but it rarely leaves the safe, there’s probably 500 rounds on it. I prefer the mid lengths.

Using PSA uppers and lowers are one thing. As long as they are in spec it’s hard to wear those pieces out. The issues are the rest of the parts. I’ve said before I never could understand how people spend $2000 plus on an AR, until I built my own. Using what the industry considers top shelf parts I easily got to $2000, before buying optics and not counting my labor. I would easily say it’s cheaper to buy a factory rifle, as long as you can find one with the options you want. Building your own has the advantage of spreading cost out and buying parts on sale even when going top shelf with everything, picking the exact features you want, and for most really learning how this rifle operates. I’ve run into a few people that can assemble one these things but still don’t fully understand how it functions.

[richkrt99]

Agreed on the mid-length gas system (over carbine) - but that WAS a previous recommendation from Alta, and I have built most of my "rifle" builds midlength gas systems.  Basically there is carbine, mid-length and rifle length (and pistol lenght) .....really just designates where the gas block is tapped on the barrel...and hence the length of the gas tube running back running the BCG.
Rifle length would be for guns with 18-20" barrels (or longer), mid-length works on most and carbine is shorter barrels (16 & less), pistol for below 14" +/-

Midlength is a little...."gentler" say than carbine with longer dwell time and doesn't slam the bolt as fast) (I believe I am stating this correctly, but you could research it a little.
I doubt most shooters even know what they have or would notice a difference, but it's just particulars depending on what you doing with your gun.


I will say....LOOK for a PSA gun with a PSA polished FCG (fire control group) which is the trigger.  Again, on a budget, but this PSA polished FCG is fantastic trigger for a $39 upgrade (on sale of course)

[richkrt99]

300 blackout pistol build.  PSA lower, PSA upper, barrel, BCG
Every single part of this came from PSA except the fore grip and sling.  (I painted the lower and grip)
Even the Romeo Red dot site came from PSA.  Well worth the sale price of $119


This "kit" from PSA cost $499 for basically all the parts (complete upper, stripped lower with build kit parts & polished FCG trigger - with exception of ANY sights at all.  (most of their kits come with magpul pop-up sights..  You can of course buy a completed rifle for around the same.
I have a total of $856.77 in this gun with extra parts including the red dot, pop up backup sights, sling, foregrip, Ergo grip, ext mag release, bolt catch, trigger guard.
One of my buddies loved it so much (and surprisingly, it is one of the Fam's favorites to pull out and shoot) that he had me build him one.  His build came in at $484.98 plus the $119 red dot.

[richkrt99]

second 300 BO pistol...
$485 plus $119 red dot

[richkrt99]

my second AR build...and now my everyday shooter..It is a PSA upper and Aero lower, with a bunch of other mods[size=78%].[/size]


I have $1282 in this gun, but I added a bunch of upgrades. (trigger, BCG, sights, grip, stock, etc, etc)

[richkrt99]

AR-47 build (AR platform, AK-47 caliber)
$1034 in this build, Aero lower, Stoner barrel, Aero Rail, Houge stock, etc,etc.
actually NONE of this gun is PSA, but...

[alta]

I was just checking some more records. The gun that has the PSA factory upper, the upper is a government profile 16” and was bought as a complete unit meaning it came with a charging handle and bolt carrier group, cost me $500. But, it was bought in 2010, before the market got flooded and prices dropped. And, according to my records, that entire AR cost about $1800 to build, in 2010. The lower was $150, and it has a red dot. Some of that cost was the red dot, taking off the plastic hand guard and installing a rail in its place(about $250) and upgrading the charging handle(about $130).

  


If it were me, I’d get a lower build kit. Most places have an option to upgrade the trigger in the kit.  The ones I’ve seen that is a cheaper option that buying a better trigger latter. I’ve also accumulated the tools necessary to properly assemble one of these so that helps.

[richkrt99]

AR-15 .223 Wylde build...
this is my target AR
$1328 in this gun, but it's got lots of extras (and a $499 scope on sale for $389) which is very little for an optic
18" stainless barrel, mid-length gas, Nickel boron BCG (which I highly recommend), EDT sharpshooter trigger, Houge overmold stock
Most of these parts including the Strike Eagle 1-8 scope) came from PSA

[richkrt99]

And ....I told you PSA turned me into a gun nut.  I thought I was nuts with the reloading bench, but once I started building the AR's the reloading has gone out the winder.


Although with the rate we are now shooting, I need to get back to the bench.

[richkrt99]

PSA Dagger (glock 19 clone) in American Flag

[richkrt99]

PSA Dagger FDE...

[richkrt99]

 

....I told you PSA turned me into a gun nut.

[alta]

My gun nuttness started long before I got into ARs

[richkrt99]

FWIW most of the PSA guns come with Magpul furniture.  They have LOTS of options so look at the pics for all of them to get what you like.  I have found most of the stuff (rails, sights, etc) are fine, but I don't care for a loose stock that rattles or jiggles.  Most of the Magpul stocks (almost all 5 PSA parts kits I bought had one or another) are a bit loose.  Now this isn't a PSA issue, and most people don't notice or care, but just a peeve of mine.
I like me a Houge overmold stock that fits very snugly on stock buffer tubes, and it is snug and firm and quiet - NO rattle)

https://ar15discounts.com/products/hogue-ar-15-overmolded-mil-spec-carbine-stock-buffer-kit/#hogue-ar-15-carbine-stock

[richkrt99]

Okay, I'm done.


For Now 


Nice to have some rednecks in this other "boredom thread"

[richkrt99]

latest build...Sniper green lower (Aero)


okay...NOW I'm done

[richkrt99]

So fellas, what's a good yet economic AR-15?



To answer your question...which I never did because I got carried away...


https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-16-mid-length-5-56-nato-1-7-nitride-13-5-lightweight-m-lok-moe-ept-rifle-w-mbus-sight-set3.html

I prefer the railed M4 type AR-15 to the original A2 style.  You can fix sights, scope, grips, lights, etc, etc much easier and there are millions of aftermarket parts to fit the M-lok rail systems.