Palmetto State Kits

[Archangel14]

Okay, I know that I'm going crazy on the whole AR thing, but I'm OBSESSED!

I was checking out Palmetto State Armory's site. They have ready made "kits" that include everything needed for an AR build, sans the lower receiver. Price is right (typically mid-$600 range). PSA claims that they're barrels are mil spec and made by FN (most of them). PSA seems to have a good reputation.

What's the skinny on these kits? Anyone have experience here?

 

[Birddog1911]

I've had great experiences with PSA. One thing to keep in mind: they are a small shop, and with the prices they have, they can get backlogged pretty easily. You might have to wait a short time to get your toy.

The barrels are just as they advertise them.

 

[Tim the student]

I just put one together. I would order from them again with no hesitation. (Pro-tip: Order extra detents. )

It will take a while to ship though, but I knew and accepted that going in.

 

[plouffedaddy]

^those are two of the PSA builds I've done that I've kept. Both run 100% and are very accurate rifles. I've built at least 8 for myself and friends---all run great. FN barrels are very high quality as well.

As others have said, be prepared to wait for your order to show up. With their quality and prices they're very very busy.

 

[henschman]

I have an all-PSA rifle, and it has worked great so far. It is a 20" A4 upper with FN barrel, with a magpul CTR stocked lower. But as has no doubt been pointed out to you in other threads, a few people who have a positive experience is no guarantee that anyone else will (small sample sizes and all that). What really gives me peace of mind about the PSA is that it meets or exceeds all the mil specs (well, except for the fire control group ). There may be other manufacturers who have been in the business longer and have more established reputations for quality, but I figure that the mil specs are a sort of minimum guarantee of quality that I figured is more than good enough for me, and PSA is certainly the cheapest manufacturer to offer all those features. That is why I went with them.

 

[Mr. Farknocker]

Purchased and built my first AR15 kit with a complete upper and complete MOE LPK from PSA in April 2012. I added a $99 Delton stripped receiver and slapped it all together in an hour and half and was good to go. The parts are of excellent quality and the rifle is very accurate. At a recent outing at my local shooting range I shot at an 18" square plate 234 yards out with iron sights and went 9 for 10. PSA just recently ran a series of specials including free shipping. When I purchased my kit, shipping was not free but the price of shipping to Hawaii was the same to anywhere else in the Continental U.S. so that was a real bonus for me. Shipping time for their products from order to actually deliver was two weeks. PSA's website posts the actual shipping information so tracking the shipment was a breeze and took the stress out of knowing when things are shipped and when it will arrive.

I would not hesitate to buy another product or build another rifle from PSA.

 

[fanchisimo]

I have an all Palmetto State AR, minus some furniture and lower receiver, but it has been flawless. The only negative with PSA I experienced was it took a little bit of time for the kit to ship and arrive, but if you know that going in you will not be disappointed. I plan on building another AR eventually and have no question as to using PSA for it's parts.

 

[henschman]

Yeah, it took them a few weeks to ship my upper, but the other stuff I ordered like my LPK, stock, and mags, got there in a week or so, so I was able to assemble my lower and have it ready to take shooting when the upper finally got there. I have to say, having a lower with no upper sitting there for a couple weeks was pretty maddening ... though it was well worth the wait considering how it would have cost about $200 more to get a comparable product from another manufacturer.

 

[Fishbed77]

I've built a few lowers with PSA kits and stripped lowers, and have always been very pleased with the quality.

I haven't purchased one of their uppers yet, but from handling them at thier stores here in Columbia, they are well-finished and look to be very-high quality pieces.

 

[mastiffhound]

Go with PSA, I got my upper in 11 days. Fit, finish, and quality parts make them #1 for the price. I can't say how happy I am. I had your same problem when looking for my 20 inch A4 upper. After comparing prices and quality across companies and listening to feedback it became a no brainer. When it arrived I was so happy with the fit and finish too. Any time someone asks me who made that I say PSA, let them look my baby over and answer their questions. I have had 1.5 to 2 inch groups at 100 yards with 55gr american eagle. It does have a 1 in 7 twist. I'm working on reloading some 62gr and 69gr rounds and I'm hopefull for 1 moa or better. I smile every time I talk or just think about it.

 

[Hacker15E]

Didn't buy a kit, but assembled a carbine from mostly PSA parts. Extremely happy with the result, especially for the price. Highly recommended.

 

[Gtscotty]

I didn't buy a PSA kit, but I did buy a PSA upper and a PSA lpk + stock and attached these parts to a PSA stripped lower... basically the same parts as a kit, but I wanted a different configuration than was available in kit form. I ordered the the hammer forged 18" SS 6.8 SPCII upper, and originally received an upper built to my specifications, but with the cheaper non hammer forged SS Barrel. After I called PSA they set things straight and paid shipping all around.

I believe that this barrel mixup was an honest mistake, and would not hesitate to order another upper or kit from them. Since I got the right upper, and got the lower assembled, the rifle has worked great. I'd like to someday pick up a full sized 20" AR to complement my carbines, and I definitely plan on buying the upper from PSA.

 

[Snowdog]

Got a complete lower, then complete upper from PSA and couldn't be happier. It has been both accurate and 100% reliable from the start with XM193, XM855 and 60gr TAP.

I would think mine uses the same lower internals as the kit you're spying, so I would say go for it.

 

[finnfan]

Didn't buy a kit, but assembled a carbine from mostly PSA parts. Extremely happy with the result, especially for the price. Highly recommended.

Same here. Runs like a champ.



Already started another too. Did have to wait just a little while for some parts though. I guess they're pretty busy!

 

[ritepath]

I ordered a cmmg 22 conversion kit Sunday, I received it yesterday. On their site it still says processing....LOL

 

[rhinoh]

A couple of comments on PSA- I'm local to them.
They aren't that small IMO, they have two good sized facilities in Columbia SC and apparently a store in Ridgeland SC..
They are, however, apparently overwhelmed with their sudden growth.
I have actually ordered stuff from them online when they have the free shipping- one of their stores is less than a mile from my office but sometimes they are so busy you can't get waited on!
True to form it took them a week to ship but I got it the next day. The odd part was 2 weeks later I got an email stating they'd shipped my order! Duh...had it hand for 2 weeks..
One tip for anyone visiting their stores- they will NOT honor their web pricing in the store. Found that out when I ran down to buy one of their deals and they rang it up much higher.
Asked about it and was informed they don't match web prices-even their OWN! Two different companies the clerk said.
Ok, went back to office and ordered it with FREE shipping..kind of a screwy way to do business if you ask me. Didn't mind the wait in that case since I was just stocking up on ammo.

I was also told there really isn't a way to order online for local pickup. Too bad, they a had a rifle I wanted but I'll be dang if I'm gonna pay a FFL transfer fee for a weapon they sell in the store too. There went the savings. I could buy the same gun TODAY at Academy for about the same price since I wouldn't have to pay the transfer fee. I get dinged for sales tax either way since I'm local to PSA.

Don't misunderstand- I like them- and have bought at least 4 guns from them and untold other items, just hope they get/keep their act together.


Added in edit- FN has a plant here locally- don't know if that is where they get their barrels from, could be.

 

[fxstchewy]

Just bought a ready-made PA-15 yesterday, i am new to the AR world so i am learning as i go, shot it this morning and all went well, seems to be well made.

 

[Dane17]

I generally like palmetto state armory. My last lower parts kit from them did ship with 3 missing parts. It was no big deal because I have a lot of extra AR small parts around. But it would have been terribly annoying if it was my first build.

 

[Hacker15E]

Added in edit- FN has a plant here locally- don't know if that is where they get their barrels from, could be.

Yes, many of their barrels and other parts are FN-sourced.

Some of their barrels in 2010 and 2011 were from Wilson.

 

[Infidel4life11]

I'm putting one together right now with a spikes lower. Went to a gun show this weekend and a buddy of mine bought the kit and the lower. I am very pleased with everything so far I should have it done, sighted and tested by friday I'll let u know. With the way everything is going at the shop and with the Army I may try to get my hands on 10 or so of these kits and do them all with spikes lowers and sell them at the shop.