Good gosh. Hard to resist. $299 parts kits, PSA

[Tallbald]

So I see several Labor Day sales listed at Palmetto State Armory with parts kits for classic and some other AR15 styles that have everything but the receiver, rear sight and magazine. $299 shipped. No KY sales tax. Right to my door. Good reviews on the kits. Friend of mine has other friends across the state where he works who really like the PSA kits. Good basic reliable gun sets for really good prices.
I really never had the AR itch. And certainly not back when in the 2017 election run-up they were sky high WHEN you could find them.
I can't hunt any more. I only reload straight walled pistol cartridges, for which I also cast my own slugs. And do black powder (Ruger Old Army's, CVA Optima pistol, and a teeney weeney NAA Companion). These prices, as well as the almost pre 1968 feeling of front door delivery (may it always remain) sure makes me think about ordering one. Just because. And to pee in a liberal's corn flakes.
So the only things to ask I can think about here are:

1) Do the PSA uppers have the "M4 feed ramps"? (I hope that's the way to ask it)
2). Is the bore and chamber chromed? Does it matter any more?
3).If I do buy a kit, is it possible to resist the urge to upgrade an AR? Does it require an intervention by a group of reformed AR tinkerers in my living room, with receipts and shipping labels laid out on my coffee table to help illustrate to me the folly of my ways and how it affects others?
Don.

 

[kBob]

I built one a while back.

Read the description in the add for best answers but most say "M4 barrel extension"

A bud just went with one of the slightly more expensive units that has fancier stock set and comes with a rear sight. He ordered on line about 4pm today, in fact. Most of their flat tops and all the $299 ones DO NOT include a rear sight. Some folks buy a removable carrying handle with sights in it, some by folding rear sight, some red dot some scope.

Mine has a folding rear under a 1.5X4.5 variable scope if those count as "upgrades" The folding rear set me back about $15 but you can spend a lot more if you like. Picked the scope up at a show used and the mount at Wally World.

I am having a hard time deciding whether to take advantage of this sale to build an mid length AR for my wife or build a 10.5 pistol to play with for myself.

I have to admit the one I built has only been used as a host to an Olympic Arms .22LR kit that replaces the BCG of the .223 rifle and not been fired as a center fire yet. The horses let me get away with a .22LR but center fire anything tempts vet bills for things like running through fences!

My only issue with the first kit was a missing small part (with two of one other part) A phone call to PSA had the part in the mail in three days.

-kBob

 

[boom boom]

So I see several Labor Day sales listed at Palmetto State Armory with parts kits for classic and some other AR15 styles that have everything but the receiver, rear sight and magazine. $299 shipped. No KY sales tax. Right to my door. Good reviews on the kits. Friend of mine has other friends across the state where he works who really like the PSA kits. Good basic reliable gun sets for really good prices.
I really never had the AR itch. And certainly not back when in the 2017 election run-up they were sky high WHEN you could find them.
I can't hunt any more. I only reload straight walled pistol cartridges, for which I also cast my own slugs. And do black powder (Ruger Old Army's, CVA Optima pistol, and a teeney weeney NAA Companion). These prices, as well as the almost pre 1968 feeling of front door delivery (may it always remain) sure makes me think about ordering one. Just because. And to pee in a liberal's corn flakes.
So the only things to ask I can think about here are:

1) Do the PSA uppers have the "M4 feed ramps"? (I hope that's the way to ask it)
2). Is the bore and chamber chromed? Does it matter any more?
3).If I do buy a kit, is it possible to resist the urge to upgrade an AR? Does it require an intervention by a group of reformed AR tinkerers in my living room, with receipts and shipping labels laid out on my coffee table to help illustrate to me the folly of my ways and how it affects others?
Don.

1) I suspect that most barrels sold today now have M4 feed ramps, particularly on the shorter barrels, simply due to the production techniques of mass production. If you are looking at a 20 inch barrel in your kit, then it might not. Ask them when ordering.

2) Unless it is described as being chrome lined, it probably isn't. Most of the cheapest are chrome moly parkerized steel which if you keep it clean, don't do mag dumps, stay out of the rain, store it properly, is not an issue.

Chroming a barrel in uniform fashion to maintain accuracy raises the price and was originally done because the military screwed up the AR introduction in SE Asia. If you want it mil-spec, then chrome lined is what you want. Nitrocarburized barrels (similar to the Tennifer finish on Glocks, Melonite on S&W M&P's) are now pretty common and these have most of the benefits of chrome without much additional cost over the plain chrome moly parkerized barrels. These are finished that way inside and out. Chrome moly are parkerized on the outside and bare steel within, most of the chromed bore and chamber rifles that I have seen are parkerized on the outside. Stainless steel is still around as well in certain profiles, usually at a slight premium on popular lengths.

One consideration not mentioned above is the chamber and throat of the barrel in the kit. If you plan on buying a 5.56x45 military chamber, then you can feed it either .223 or 5.56 ammo, allegedly it won't be quite as accurate as a .223 chamber using .223 ammo. Using 5.56 ammo in a .223 chamber is one of those things that is controversial and perhaps resulting in premature wear at the least and danger at the greatest (here is one take on it: https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/5-56-vs-223/ with real world testing). The .223 Wylde splits the difference and most agree that either 5.56 or .223 ammo can be fired in it.

3) The strange AR world of the modular lego block rifle allows you to alter most of the parts pretty easily or to even build a new upper for a different cartridge with the AR 15 limits. This is a heck of a lot easier to build a new upper than building a switch barrel rifle.

The trick is to recognize major sales that occur by AR parts sellers and grab closeouts when they are around. I suppose the biggest upgrade most people do is the AR trigger if you don't like the stock one. Free floating handguards are another popular option which is easier if you don't have the AR 15 A2 type gas block and sights premounted on the barrel or changing the stock.

If you don't care what is "tacticool" or "hot" at the moment, you can get good deals on upgrades--just be patient and wait for sales or closeouts. A lot of the THR posters put these up when they occur as does AR15.com or M4.com.

 

[Hokie_PhD]

Congrats and condolences

Congrats on thinking about joining us in the AR cult I mean club.

Condolences in that once you get one, shoot it some and play with it you’ll want another, you’ll want changes, and more and more.

ARs shoot great and are easy to work on. All you need are a few basic tools, some patience, a flat clean work area and the ability to follow directions. Well that and being able to ask a question If you get stuck or have an issue which you’ve shown.

I’ve bought a complete AR
I’ve bought a PSA lower and then an upper, and I’ve put one together from parts. Of them all the most fun is the last.

The deal you mention is a good one. The parts aren’t the best, but they’re not junk either. In fact, I’d say they’re good solid reliable ones that will serve you well for many years.

My recommendation to you is to not go crazy on high end parts for a first AR. Get a kit like that you’ll learn from. Put it together, shoot it learn what you like and what you’d like to change.

 

[Mosin Bubba]

1. I believe that pretty much all the cheap ARs on the market today have the M4 ramps. What happens is that a small number of companies make the raw receivers that all the other gun manufacturers buy to assemble into their products. With every other rifle on the planet having M4 ramps, I think the foundries themselves are making them now all with M4 ramps, so all the PSA guns are going to have them.

2. For $299 I'll pretty much guarantee you're getting an unlined barrel, but if this is just a plinker then it doesn't really matter. The lining just makes it a bit more wear resistant and easier to clean, but I bet an unlined barrel is good for 5,000 rounds at least. How much shooting is 5,000 rounds through one gun for you? For me that's at least a decade. And if the barrel ever wears out, you can grab a new one for $150 or so.

3. It'll all individual preference. The advice you'll always get is "buy a box-stock M4, shoot it a bit, and you'll figure out what you don't like about it", and that's the correct approach. When I did it, what I found out was that I was actually very happy with my box-stock M4. The skinny handguards work for me, the A2 pistol grip actually fits me great (I have small hands), I didn't want more rails for anything - there was nothing I really wanted to change. The only temptation in the back of my head is to get a red dot sight for it.

On the other extreme, I have a relative who became an AR fanatic and has built 10 or so of them, and of course, he likes to deck them all out. And I'll admit, when you grab a tacticool'ed up M4 with the grips and the rails and all, depress a grip switch, and watch a laser dot pop up in the middle of your 4x tactical scope, there's a real "oooh... ahhh...." factor to it.

I did end up getting the "build an AR bug" though, and made a 20" A1 " 'Nam rifle" knockoff that cost me way more than it should have. But I think I'm content. For now.

 

[BSA1]

1) Do the PSA uppers have the "M4 feed ramps"? (I hope that's the way to ask it)

PSA includes detailed specs with their ads. Reading it carefully will answer most of your questions.

2). Is the bore and chamber chromed? Does it matter any more?

It doesn't to me. The only gun I have that is chromed lined in a Saiga Sport carbine. None of the other guns I have owned in the past or currently own have had rust issues in the chamber or barrel. A light coat of oil in chamber and barrel prevents rust.

3).If I do buy a kit, is it possible to resist the urge to upgrade an AR?

Unlikely. I brought a PSA complete rifle kit with Magpul furniture for $350.00. I installed it on a Anderson lower I paid $45.00 for and splurged spending another $30.00 for a Magpul ASAP endplate with swivel so I can use a sling. My total cost was $425.00.

I build this gun mainly to see how good of a gun I can on a budget. It has way exceeded my expectations and is very accurate and reliable.

Notice that I said "My total cost was $425.00." Well I have two other builds in progress that I am acquiring parts for. I needed a rear sight so I used the Magpul rear sight off of the PSA gun and put a Troy Industries folding rear sight on it. As Magpul rear sight costs $55.05 and the Troy sight cost me $89.99 (got it on sale) the upgrade was only $34.94.

PSA runs a lot of sales. The key is to decide exactly what parts you want and depending on how big of a hurry you are in and how much money you want to spend wait for them to run it on sale on their Daily Deal.

Does it require an intervention by a group of reformed AR tinkerers in my living room, with receipts and shipping labels laid out on my coffee table to help illustrate to me the folly of my ways and how it affects others?

No. There is a cult of AR members led by the Dalai Gunny on this forum. The Dalai and his cult followers are only a computer keyboard away.

 

[MistWolf]

1) Do the PSA uppers have the "M4 feed ramps"?

Yep

2). Is the bore and chamber chromed?

It depends on which barrel you get

Does it matter any more?

No. By the time you wear out an AR barrel, chromelined or not, you've spent so much money on ammo another couplethree hunnert for a new barrel will be but a drop in the bucket

3).If I do buy a kit, is it possible to resist the urge to upgrade an AR? Does it require an intervention by a group of reformed AR tinkerers in my living room, with receipts and shipping labels laid out on my coffee table to help illustrate to me the folly of my ways and how it affects others?

The best way to save money on "upgrades" is to spend the money on ammo instead. The more you shoot your AR, the more informed your decision to make changes

 

[ColoradoMinuteMan]

Read the description in the add for best answers but most say "M4 barrel extension"

Not to be retentive, but in the interest of correct information I want to correct this. "M4 feed ramps" are actually a feature of the upper receiver as much as it is the barrel extension. M4 feed ramps are cut at such angle that the angle from the barrel extension intersects the receiver. A receiver with M4 feed ramps will be cut into the receiver, continuing the angle and contour of the ramp. Ideally you match up the barrel extension feed ramp type with the receiver feed ramp type. However, an M4 ramped barrel extension will often work fine with a non-M4 ramped receiver, but an M4 ramped receiver with a rifle cut barrel extension is a very bad idea.

In this image from Larue.com you can see what I'm talking about.

 

[Styx]

I just purchased my 3rd kit in two years from PSA. I just purchased a 10.5" nitride barrel and magnetic particle tested BCG, upgraded trigger, Magpul furniture, and a SBA3 MOE ETP Pistol Lower all for $329 shipped. The had others with the blade brace for $259 shipped...

You can't beat these prices OP. It's getting to the point were the deals are so good that I'm buying kits I don't really need. I feel like they're practically giving them away. You can build a quality AR for around the same price or less of some of these polymer single stack and double stack wonders...

And yes, you'll want to upgrade the parts. Then you'll end up have enough extra parts lying around that'll prompt you to want to put them into another one...

 

[Elkins45]

Do you have a beard or moustache? If you do then one upgrade you might think about is replacing an adjustable stock with a fixed one. Most carbine stocks are miserable for me to shoot because they yank the hairs out of my face. I’m told that I’m not the only person who finds this to be an issue.

 

[armoredman]

Salad says and I don't have a dime to spare....however i am getting a couple of stripped Cav Arms lowers very soon, my very first ever ARs...and I will be tapping a local buddy for help.

 

[Speedo66]

I am not necessarily an AR fan, but I bought a basic kit from PSA pre election only because I thought at one point I wouldn't be able to in the future. I don't like being told what I can or can't do. The price was low enough that it wasn't a big deal, just a little more than your mention.

I assembled it over a basic $40 Anderson lower, and it fires like it's supposed to. Fairly accurate and reliable. The only actual assembly I did was installing the lower parts kit in the lower. Watch a video or two and you can easily do it. No special tools were required for this, so don't buy any. You can do it with basic household tools.

So now I have a gun that I'm still not in love with, but ammo is relatively inexpensive so it gets used every so often. If I had been able to get one of the recent $400 M-14's from Walmart, I would have dumped this AR. I guess my point is try someone's AR, they're not for everyone, don't just drink the Koolaid. Although I now have one I'm really not part of the cult I guess. I bought PSA's enhanced trigger at the time for $30, but have no interest in spending any more money on this gun.

I guess I just don't get the mindset to keep building more, but I was never that big into Lego either.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[BSA1]

Speedo66,

Political protest build is a very good reason to have one. In fact that is exactly why I built my first one in 2016. I just did not think I would actually enjoy building, owning and shooting them.

If I was President I would make it a policy for all American Head of Households to own a AR along with a ammo can full of extra magazines and ammunition. My policy would give a Income Tax deduction for purchasing the AR, mags, targets, shooting range fees and cleaning supplies.

 

[Styx]

Speedo66,

Political protest build is a very good reason to have one. In fact that is exactly why I built my first one in 2016. I just did not think I would actually enjoy building, owning and shooting them.

If I was President I would make it a policy for all American Head of Households to own a AR along with a ammo can full of extra magazines and ammunition. My policy would give a Income Tax deduction for purchasing the AR, mags, targets, shooting range fees and cleaning supplies.

Yea, Sandy Hook back in 2013 is why I purchased my first one. I didn't even know what an AR15 until they tried to ban them. Now I'm hooked... They are very versatile and inexpensive. You can own one lower, and still shoot 23lr, 9mm, 2.23/5.56, 7.62x39, 300 BLK, and more with just the change of a mag and upper in most cases... I can shoot my AR at the range and then replace the upper with a 22lr upper within about a minute, and then have my wife or son fire the same rifle.

Some people like fudd guns better and even I was tempted by that Mini 14 clearance deal. I passed because it just seemed like I got a LOT more gun for my money using the $400 on another AR compared to what I was getting with a Mini14...

 

[Eagle103]

Not a bad deal but I've done it even cheaper with their blem upper ($200) and a Blackhawk lower kit ($70). Unfortunately it looks like they're sold out of both at the moment though. My untrained eye can't find the blem in the blem so it works for me. Put it together with an ATI lower from Brownells that's going for $33 right now and a $20 UTG rear sight from Ebay and you have a $323 (plus FFL transfer cost on the lower) complete AR that works great. Hopefully they'll get those pieces back in stock soon.

 

[pert near]

I am actually a single-shot fan & my favorite hunting rifles are Ruger #1's & #3 amongst my other bolt guns. All my rifles except the AR's have beautiful wood stocks.

When all the outrage over AR's started, along with the political posturing & pandering, I decided to assemble one out of curiosity. After all, even with prices going up or down, I have never lost much money, if any, on a gun purchase. So I bought my first AR lower kit from PSA along with a fully assembled PSA upper. I make my own .224 cal bullets out of .22LR cases & I pick up .223 brass for free at the range. With a primer & a dose of powder, my reload price is down to 6 cents a pop. Great fun rifle to shoot & I love to let others shoot it to dissolve the mysteries about the "awful" black rifle.

I later I came across a slightly used wildcat Six5 barrel at a great price & I wanted a challenge, so I built a complete upper (I guess that is when I drank the Koolaide?). All the parts were bargain finds. I topped the upper off temporarily with a high power scope for load development.This rifle made me mad! Off the bench, this semi-automatic wildcat was shooting tiny groups better than almost all of my bolt guns! Now that's just not right! I learned something & surprised myself!

The OP doesn't sound like a "mag-dump" sort of guy so I recommend buying 10 or 15 round magazines. For tinkerers, some have taken the challenge & after fully understanding the gun, successfully shoot .224 cast bullets. If the AR bug bites, a barrel/bolt/magazine switch-out will allow you to convert your gun to other calibers more suited to cast bullets. I have no experience with castin AR's, but it seems like shooters are successfully shooting lead out of the .300 BO without much trouble(?).

The conclusion I've come to on assembling an "accurate" AR is that all the parts can be generic bargains except for the barrel. But for plinking, a $50 bargain barrel will make the same noise.

FWIW...YMMV

 

[MistWolf]

Do you have a beard or moustache? If you do then one upgrade you might think about is replacing an adjustable stock with a fixed one. Most carbine stocks are miserable for me to shoot because they yank the hairs out of my face. I’m told that I’m not the only person who finds this to be an issue.

Make a sleeve out of a bit of bicycle tube and slide it over the front of your adjustable stock. I learned this trick from Ken Hackathorn. He told me he does this so one side of his mustache doesn't get plucked shorter than the other.

 

[Mosin Bubba]

The OP doesn't sound like a "mag-dump" sort of guy so I recommend buying 10 or 15 round magazines.

QFT. I only shoot with 20 rounders and haven't missed the extra capacity. Really like how the shorter length allows you to shoot it off a bench or on the side of the truck if you want to use that as a support.

Brownells makes a 'Nam style straight 20 round mag for $14. Whenever I'm buying something from there, I add another one onto my order.

 

[1911 guy]

PSA makes good quality stuff. They are not "top shelf" custom build material, but they are solid middle of the pack and QC is good. Parts will meet appropriate specs. Buy PSA branded stuff from their website, they have marketed a "budget" line that I have heard a few complaints about. But considering the volume of sales, even those have been minor.

M4 ramps are almost universally standard now. Even most rifle length barrels are coming with M4 cuts on the barrel extension. There are three possible combinations that work. M16/M16, M4/M4, and M16 receiver cuts with M4 barrels extension cuts. The fourth possible combination, M4 receiver cuts with M16 barrel extension cuts, does not work.

If you must have a treated barrel, chrome, melonite or nitride are all good to go. Untreated barrels shoot just fine and will last tens of thousands of rounds. If you finally wear one out, replacement is easy. So don't sweat it and buy whatever barrel trips your trigger, floats your boat, or other colloquialisms you choose.

Yes, it is possible to just build one and leave it alone. What usually happens though, is you buy a second lower and begin shopping for just the "right" parts list. Because you swore you wouldn't spend money tinkering with the first one. And five years from now you open the gun cabinet and wonder where all these new rifles came from.

 

[bullseye308]

I recently bought the $399 kit with the red dot and assembled the lower with a $40 Anderson I bought a while back. Could have done the $299 kit and had just under $350 in it, but got the red dot to see if I liked it. Ordered on a Tuesday, arrived on Friday. Assembled it in 20 minuets and hit the range next morning and ran 180 rounds through it. The following weekend ran another 250 through it and have yet to clean it, oil it, or anything except build it and shoot it. 0 malfunctions so far. This is my first time assembling one and did it on the kitchen table with a pair of needle nose, jewelers hammer, and masking tape. I’m scared to pull pins in my Glock and completely disassemble it but the AR was no problem. I have no plans to change anything on this one and will be building another as funds allow that will have a few things changed just because I can. They are fun, relatively cheap, and easy to configure, go for it.

 

[hdwhit]

Tallbald wrote:
"...everything but the receiver, rear sight and magazine. $299 shipped."

Saw much the same thing some months ago. Added in the cost of the lower receiver, Magpul rear sight and blackened stainless steel magazine (plus shipping and FFL transfer fee) and decided that the trivial additional cost of buying an S&W M&P-15 Sport II (with an included lifetime warranty) made more sense.

 

[Styx]

<can't delete dbl post of this forum>

 

[Styx]

Saw much the same thing some months ago. Added in the cost of the lower receiver, Magpul rear sight and blackened stainless steel magazine (plus shipping and FFL transfer fee) and decided that the trivial additional cost of buying an S&W M&P-15 Sport II (with an included lifetime warranty) made more sense.

You'll have to pay shipping and transfer fees regardless no? PSA, Anderson, Areo, etc have just as good warranties IMHO. Either choice is a good option. You just save a little more money with PSA kits.

 

[Skylerbone]

If $300 plus a lower gets you to the table, consider spending another $100 gives you a dinner worth eating. What’s it got the other doesn’t? https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa...rifle-kit-with-rear-mbus-flat-dark-earth.html

1. A better stock with a QD socket for your sling.
2. A better grip with storage to boot.
3. A better trigger than milspec because most of us aren’t content with bad trigger feel and the EPT is very tolerable.
4. A rear sight that gets you up and running without a second trip to the store.
5. A treated barrel nitrided, making it more wear resistant and easier to clean.
6. A midlength gas system which gives a smoother recoil impulse.

You could buy a basic Ruger or S&W but the PSA will keep you happy enough if you really do become an AR fan. I still have my first complete AR, the only upgrades being rail covers, a red dot, bipod, and a sling. Still happy with it and on to my 4th this week.

 

[drobs]

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa...ic-shockwave-pistol-kit-black-5165449130.html
I have another $259.99 PSA Pistol Kit at home waiting for a receiver to match the below one.

This one is all PSA except it has an Anderson Bolt Assembly. It works (feeds, fires, ejects) perfectly:


I want a couple full length PSA Rifles and plan to start assembling the parts and pieces.

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-20-classic-a2-rifle.html