PSA levels of quality

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viking499

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I am needing an upper to go with my lonely complete lower I have and have been looking at a PSA uppers since they seem to be decent quality for a good price. I have noticed that they have some different levels of uppers, ex Freedom, PTAC, Premium etc., listed on their sight.

I am not looking for top dollar, high quality for this, but would like to get something that would last and be reliable.

For those of you that have a PSA upper, which quality level do you have and what has been your experience with it?
 
Honestly, it beats me. I have gotten a freedom and CHF upper recently. The only quibble I had with the freedom kit was the finish on the changing handle was a bit rough. I needed to cycle it a couple hundred times to get it to travel smoothly. The UPS shipping they require is a different matter- make sure someone is home to pick it up, or they will send it back to PSA.
 
I have a few of the stainless Freedom versions in a few different configurations. The fit and finish was excellent, Feed ramps well done, etc. Ship times were exactly as described.
 
You are 100% good to go with any PSA line except Ptac which i would avoid. Should any problems arise PSA will stand behind their products.....a great company. I would recommend one of their mid length Freedom uppers in SS for somewhere around $200, mine is a tack driver.
 
I've waited and bought a blem upper from PSA. I still haven't figured out where/what the blem is. . .
 
I think PSA is currently using 6061 aluminum buffer tubes in their "premium" kits instead of mil spec 7075. Some guys on ARF.com have complained about this. I have two that just stripped out when I twisted the buttstock. They both moved about 5 degrees or so and now they are loose. The groove cut on the bottom of the tube was a bit shallow too.

According to "The AR Guys" 6061 has less than half the tensile strength of 7075. http://thearguys.com/ar-facts/difference-ar-15-buffer-tubes/

With all the year-end demand, I wonder if they cut some corners with cheaper material...

Update: Explained the problem and my above concerns to PSA and they promised to send new 7075 tubes without further comment...

The above problem aside...I prefer PSA's premium (not necessarily CHF), 416R Stainless, or 4150 nitride barreled uppers.

Good luck

M
 
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I've been satisfied with their uppers. My 6.8SPC upper was very low cost, barrel marked FN. Turns out it's a tack driver and not particularly ammo sensitive.
 
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Fit & finish and barrels are the difference between PTAC, Freedom and premium lines.

PTAC will tend to have cheaper 4140 or 416 barrels with a rougher exterior finish, and may get an upper that is a little off in color of anodizing.

The Freedom line seems to have better overall fit & finish, barrels are a step up, generally 4150 phosphated or melonited, or 416 stailness with nicer finish.

The premiums line is where you see the CHF FN barrels.

Honestly, though, they all shoot just fine. If a CHF CL barrel matters to you, or if there is a particular configuration you like better that isn't available in the cheaper models, then the choice is made for you. Otherwise, though, I think you'll be happy with any of them. Even the HBAR PTAC middy I had ran 100% and was on par with pretty much any other carbine for accuracy. I have two 16" middy stainless Freedom uppers, and both run 100%. I've never really tested accuracy on the dissipator one, but the other is right around MOA @ 100 with quality ammo (5 shot groups). I did put a UTG Pro SS 15" handguard on it:

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And the dissy:

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I have a PSA upper in 300 AAC and it has been totally fine...no hesitation to buying another. It's running a BCM carrier and Colt bolt. There are a lot of ways to spend more money on one, or a lower, but I think you start paying a lot for brand names - not that I am immune to that, as I fondle the Wilson Combat 10mm on my hip. Granted, I have a sample size of 'one'. It did take them a loooong time to ship it, don't know if they are still that slow, as it was a year ago.
 
I have a couple PSA uppers. One is a 20" FN barrel, A3 that has been phenomenally accurate and has never had any issues at all. The other is a 16" stainless mid-length I got for my son a few months ago. We have not put a scope on it yet to see how accurate it is since he sent it off to ceracote, but we have shot a few hundred rounds through it with iron sights and it functions 100%. It was a pretty good deal. $400 for everything but the stripped lower including magpul furniture. I would definitely do business with them again.
 
I normally only buy CHF barrels made by FN from PSA.

That said, I bought a PTAC (at the time I bought it, NO ONE on the Internet had a kind thing to say about PTAC) and it is a damn tack driver. I kid you not. It shoots the tightest groups of any AR I've bought. It's right up there with my BCM rifles. A friend of mine bought a PTAC at the same time, and his is also a tack driver.

Other people have had bad luck with PTAC, but mine is the greatest rifle for the money ever spent. I think I bought the PTAC upper for $159.
 
That said, I bought a PTAC (at the time I bought it, NO ONE on the Internet had a kind thing to say about PTAC) and it is a damn tack driver.

You too? I purchased one of PSA's super cheap $315 shipped, PTAC complete rifle kits. I added a $60 Anderson lower and for $375 total, I have the cheapest AR15 I've ever seen. The darn things SHOOTS. It functions perfectly and because of the low price tag, it usually gets fed Tula/Wolf ammo. It has simply blown away my AR snobbishness that I have always had. I used to be a parts snob, but this little PTAC rifle has changed my opinion.

I guess Nutnfancy is right, there is a difference between "cheap" and "high value".:D
 
I bought a PTAC 1:8 upper and that thing is a tack driver. I can shoot a golf ball at 100 yards with that sucker granted there is a scope on it. They may not the highest quality upper but if you are looking at PSA you are already trying to save a little $$. Don't be afraid of the PTAC line. That thing is a really really good shooter. I have sent thousands of rounds down range with it and it is solid. It is also my predator rifle.
 
I got a PTAC upper from them as part of their AR15 days of Christmas. Finish isn't as good as I expected but by far not the worst I have ever seen. Fit between the handle and bolt carrier is better than most service Colt/FN rifles I have used. When I get the whole thing built will be the bigger test.
 
PSA BCG's are complete and OK priced, but they can be a bit rough. They'll break in with a typical overgassed AR, but can be really stiff. I have some break-in tips. Or bubba up and shoot 2000-3000 rounds.
 
Not at all impressed by BCM products, nor do I understand the fawning.

Same here. I've had 2 BCM uppers and neither were anything to write home about. Same with Colt, which while a decent rifle, isnt anything amazing. Ptacs are high value for sure and I highly doubt anyone looking at a $400 AR is looking for the pinnacle of fit/finish.

Are cheap rifles as nice as expensive ones? Almost never. Do they work 90% as well at 30% the price? Usually.
 
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I bought a 16" premium upper. Not CHF, but it is a FN CL barrel. Works fine so far and shoots about 2" with XM193.

The PTAC may be more accurete because it doesn't have the CL. Nice trade off if that's the case.
 
Honestly, it beats me. I have gotten a freedom and CHF upper recently. The only quibble I had with the freedom kit was the finish on the changing handle was a bit rough. I needed to cycle it a couple hundred times to get it to travel smoothly. The UPS shipping they require is a different matter- make sure someone is home to pick it up, or they will send it back to PSA.
If you just sign up to create a UPS account, you can authorize shipment release (if you feel comfortable with that) or have them hold it at a nearby UPS store and pick it up at your convenience.
 
I only have two premium uppers but with the awesome prices for PTAC, have been very tempted to spring for one as a beater. From what i have read it seems that most previous comments here are correct...it is just the barrel and finish. It seems even the PTAC uppers have m4 feed ramps which is key, the rest of the important stuff is in the BCG.
 
So, which is better, the PTAC or Freedom line?

Freedom is better, if you want a stainless barrel. Ptac is cheaper. In my opinion, if I was stepping up to Freedom series, I'd opt for PSA's premium offerings instead for a little more $$$. For putting holes in paper and general blasting, there's little difference.
 
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