my first ar15. psa?

[bullseyebob47]

all i want is an ar15 that will function with cheap steel case ammo. my shooting range is 160 yards with a 9" gong.

im impressed with this video:


which lower?
http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-ar-15-complete-blem-lower-classic-edition-no-magazine.html

or

http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-...wer-magpul-moe-edition-black-no-magazine.html

and im looking at this upper:
http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-...7-melonite-freedom-upper-with-bcg-and-ch.html

don't care to spend much more than that unless you see major flaws. still need optics and mags.

 

[ilbob]

I doubt you will go wrong with either.

keep in mind steel cased ammo may have an adverse affect on your extractor over time. you might want to acquire a spare parts kit when you get the rifle.

 

[NWcityguy2]

If I were you, I'd pay the extra dollars up front to get the lower with magpul furniture. Once you get used to a gun that is comfortable to hold, there is no going back.

 

[cdb1]

I doubt you will go wrong with either.

keep in mind steel cased ammo may have an adverse affect on your extractor over time. you might want to acquire a spare parts kit when you get the rifle.

I know there a many many people shooting steel cased ammo with zero issues. I can't bring myself to do it.

 

[ilbob]

I know there a many many people shooting steel cased ammo with zero issues. I can't bring myself to do it.

it will almost certainly wear a little more than brass cased ammo will. but most people do not shoot enough that it will make any real difference.

 

[hdwhit]

bullseyebob47 wrote:
all i want is an ar15 that will function with cheap steel case ammo.

I don't think you can go wrong with any of the so-called "entry level" ARs; whether from PSA, Ruger, S&W, Bushmaster, DPMS and the like.

I don't shoot steel case ammunition because as a matter of pride, I load everything I shoot and that means I work exclusively with brass cases.

The steel case is not as much a source of wear with "cheap" ammunition as are the bi-metal bullets since they are harder than conventional gilding metal jacket bullets and so wear the rifling more quickly. The oft-repeated "torture test" by Lucky Gunner (http://www.luckygunner.com/labs/brass-vs-steel-cased-ammo/) found bi-metal bullets pretty much shot out an un-lined barrel in about 10,000 rounds. To put that in perspective, I am on the verge or retirement. Based on my shooting in the past, I have gone ahead and bought the reloading components I anticipate needing for the rest of my life and that's only 4,800 rounds of .223.

 

[FL-NC]

Steel cased ammo is "iffy". One of the many problems with it is that that russian... stuff.. itself isn't very consistent. I have had a case of it that ran fine through my range beater and another of the same stuff that wouldn't.

 

[Mosin Bubba]

Entry-level ARs are six of one, half a dozen of the other. PSA is as good as any.

My AR shoots better than I do with Federal brass - it's probably somewhere around 2 MOA from a $480 rifle and a $25 Chinese peep sight. I don't get that kind of accuracy with steel. Between that and how hard 223 steel ammo is on barrels, I have never bothered with cheaper ammo. I've got nothing against Wolf, and I run it in a lot of other guns. But for an AR, the price difference for brass is worth it to me.

 

[AJumbo]

I was warned away from steel-cased ammo because the the lacquer on the case may melt off the cases and collect in the chamber, causing feeding/extracting issues.

 

[adcoch1]

I went with the magpul lower for my last rifle, and i picked up PSA's mid length 16 upper. Threw a magpul midlength foreend on it and a utg peep sight on the rear for a cheap, but nice knock around utility rifle. It looks great and the furniture is so much more comfortable than standard stuff its worth the few extra bucks....

 

[d2wing]

A lot of guys like PSA but I had trouble with parts not fitting and poor to no customer service.

 

[M1key]

Buds Colt sans furniture $717...rah

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/2679

M

 

[WestKentucky]

Magpul MOE are the only affordable stocks I have handled that actually felt substantial and comfortable. I run a MOE rifle on my rifle lower. I run an adjustable MOE on my carbine lower. Pistols can't wear stocks so it doesn't get to join in the Magpul fun. Get quality up front. GI stocks are ok, but the Magpul are better and the price difference is minimal.

 

[Hokie_PhD]

I'm a fan of PSA
I agree with others in that I was told about problems caused by steel cases ammo. I've also heard about mixing steel and brass.

Learn where you can cheap out and learn where to spend extra. It'll save you in the long run!

That said I've learned to reloading and am getting to the point that I only shoot what I load.

As far as PSA
Get on their mailing list and watch the deal of the day
Get a blemish lower when they're on the daily deal. Then buy an upper either at the same time or when you find you on sale. Pin them together and bingo inexpensive AR.

Field strip it. Clean it, oil it, then reassemble. Test functions.
Then go to range
Shoot it

Enjoy then learn what you like and don't. You'll get hooked and be on the path to building your own like I am!