Colt outsources a lot of their stuff, do you're buying a rifle with parts and components from some unknown nameless manufacturer, and then are being upcharged for the Colt branding.
PSA is pretty good from what I've seen and heard about making things right. I haven't heard too many disgruntled customers when it comes to their ARs compared to the volume they're moving.
I own BCM AR15s, several PSA kits that I put together, and I've assembled several AR15s via handpicked each and every upper and lower part using quality components (Geissele, LaRue, Aero M4E1 and Spikes uppers and lowers, Knight's Armament, BCM, military overrun CHF barrels and Ballistic Advantage barrels, SoloGW or CMMG LPK which don't use MIM parts, Superlative Arms adjustable gas blocks, etc). To be honest, unless you plan on going to war and shooting thousands of rounds rapidly without the rifle cooling off, or you're a sponsored competition shooter who shoots thousands of dollars worth of free ammo through your AR, a PSA, Ruger, S&W, etc entry/mid level AR15 will last a lifetime. All my AR15s regardless of cost do the same thing to tell you the truth. I just pay more for looks and brand name recognition.... The expensive stuff looks better to me, and I have more pride of ownership without gaining much else for my use.
@DetBrowning if you want to splurge on a budget, purchase a PSA lower with a PSA FN upper. FN barrels are well respected in the AR snob world, and FN makes barrels for militaries. They are cold hammer forged and chrome lined to withstand sustained rapid fire (full auto). As a civilian with a semiauto rifle in a 1st world country, it's not really needed IMHO, but if you want an upgrade without breaking the bank, that's the way to go.
My only grip with PSA upper assemblies is I heard they do not pin or dimple their gas blocks to the barrel on the non FN uppers. That has never been an issue for me though. Other than that, everything on a PSA ARs pretty standard, and the bold carrier group (BCG) is manufactured by Toolcraft which is another well respected company.
In short, Colt AR15 are over priced and hyped for what they are IMHO. A PSA lower with an FN upper and their standard Toolcraft BCG would be my best bet if I wanted a good AR without wasting hundreds on brand names.
