New PSA upper on ArmaLite lower

[Quentin]

I just got a PSA lightweight government profile 16" midlength upper and put together an AR. PSA BCGs were out of stock so I got one from BCM. This is my third build (the others were done with Daniel Defense and BCM uppers) so I had quite a few parts in the closet which helped get this rifle together pretty quick.

I have to say the PSA upper for only $280 during their Labor Day sale was an incredible buy.

Here she is (like my other two) another nice KISS rifle.

Total weight as pictured (except for the Lancer magazine) is 7# 2.0oz. Losing the full carry handle for an MBUS2 would drop 8oz but for now I like the look.





And here's the parts list so far:

Lower Receiver:
ArmaLite M15 Stripped Lower
ArmaLite Lower Parts Kit
PSA M4 Milspec Receiver Extension Kit/H-buffer
Magpul ACS stock

Upper Receiver:
PSA 16” Midlength 1:7 light government profile
BCM M16 Bolt Carrier Group (a different BCG is pictured)
Daniel Defense Charging Handle
Midlength Handguards

Miscellaneous:

Colt A4 Carry Handle (Cardinal Forge)
Lancer Magazine
(no sling yet)

So far I have about $800 in the rifle.

 

[Infidel4life11]

Not a bad deal I like it. Great job.

 

[gotigers]

Nice rifle. I like it.

 

[henschman]

Cool, I am getting ready to do a really similar build for my Dad. We are going to use that same PSA mid length light-profile upper... they are back on sale for $279 for their fall sale. They also have a lower build kit with stock and everything for $80... we should end up with an all mil-spec mid length carbine for about $600 when it's all said and done. We'll probably use a MBUS rear sight too, and maybe a TRS-25 red dot.

I love KISS carbines.

 

[Quentin]

Thanks, Guys!

Glad to hear they're back on sale, henschman. I think you're making wise choices for a nice cost effective carbine for your Dad. Since you're looking at this configuration I'll drop in closer pictures of the naked upper for you.







This looks like a standard government profile but PSA says it's a light profile made by FN. And it is within a couple ounces of a real pencil barrel. And a couple ounces lighter than most 16" midlength gov't profiles.

Here's what PSA says about the barrel:

Barrel: 16" Chrome-lined, chrome moly vanadium. Chambered in 5.56 NATO, with a 1/7 twist, M4 barrel extension, and a mid-length gas system. The special light profile barrel is high pressure tested and magnetic particle inspected and then phosphate coated. Barrel is finished off with an .750" diameter F-marked front sight base with sling swivel, standard handguards and an A2 flash hider. Barrel is made for us right here in SC by FN Manufacturing.

I weighed my BCM and Daniel Defense 16" pencil middys and here's how they compare to the PSA gov't.

All three are 16" midlength, all three have square forge mark uppers (Brass Aluminum Forging Enterprises)
Daniel Defense LW profile CHF (no sling mount under FSB) - 2# 9.5 oz.
BCM LW profile button rifled - 2# 11.5 oz.
PSA gov't profile button rifled - 2# 13.2 oz.

The PSA lower parts and stock kit are a great buy too. I have the MBUS2 and TRS-25 (two each) on my BCM and DD uppers. No problems.

 

[henschman]

Thanks for the pics. That is pretty much what I understood from the description... not a pencil barrel, but a little lighter than A2 profile.

FYI, I just looked at their store, and they just put their FN pencil profile barrels on sale for $279 as well. I might have to go with that one! Also they now have M-16 BCG's in stock for $140. I called and asked, and they told me that they are HPT/MPI. $15 charging handle plus that $80 lower build kit I mentioned, plus the $95 PSA stripped lower we picked up at the last gun show, and we will be in business!

 

[SSN Vet]

very nice!

The only complaint I have about my Delton A2 Middy build, is that the HB makes the rifle a bit front heavy.

 

[Quentin]

Thanks for the pics. That is pretty much what I understood from the description... not a pencil barrel, but a little lighter than A2 profile.

FYI, I just looked at their store, and they just put their FN pencil profile barrels on sale for $279 as well. I might have to go with that one! Also they now have M-16 BCG's in stock for $140. I called and asked, and they told me that they are HPT/MPI. $15 charging handle plus that $80 lower build kit I mentioned, plus the $95 PSA stripped lower we picked up at the last gun show, and we will be in business!

Nice to know! I wanted to go with the pencil but it wasn't in stock when this one went on sale. They recently had blemished hammer forged 16" middys for $280 as well if you're interested. I would have got their BCG but it wasn't in stock and I know the BCM is GTG. I kinda like to go with the same brand BCG and upper as I did with BCM and DD on my other two builds but it was only another $20 + shipping to go BCM. Can't have it your way every time!

 

[Quentin]

very nice!

The only complaint I have about my Delton A2 Middy build, is that the HB makes the rifle a bit front heavy.

Thanks, SSN Vet! By HB I guess you mean heavy barrel? Yeah that does make a difference. I had an ArmaLite HBAR upper that weighed about 8 oz. more than this PSA and it was harder to maneuver. There's not much you can do about the barrel, at least cheaply. I went with this PSA and passed on the ArmaLite upper to my son-in-law. I really like the three lightweight ARs I now have. They all come in around 7 pounds unloaded.

 

[henschman]

Yeah, in this market it is tricky piecing together a build with all the stuff you want, with everyone periodically out of stock on everything. Hey, there's nothing wrong with a franken-rifle if you use all quality parts... I was going to go with a BCM BCG for my Dad's build too, until I saw PSA had them in stock today. I figured the stars were as aligned as they were going to be, so I went ahead and placed my order this afternoon.

Quentin, let us know how that bad boy shoots as soon as you get it out to the range.

 

[Quentin]

Yeah, in this market it is tricky piecing together a build with all the stuff you want, with everyone periodically out of stock on everything. Hey, there's nothing wrong with a franken-rifle if you use all quality parts... I was going to go with a BCM BCG for my Dad's build too, until I saw PSA had them in stock today. I figured the stars were as aligned as they were going to be, so I went ahead and placed my order this afternoon.

Quentin, let us know how that bad boy shoots as soon as you get it out to the range.

Very true! And no doubt that's why many people just buy a DPMS off the rack. It's more work piecing together something you really want but the rewards make it worth it. I hope to get out to the range this weekend. And I bet your PSA build turns out great too!