PSA Builds
- Thread starter SlowFuse
- Start date
- Status
OP
OP
SlowFuse
Member
Nice WestKentucky. How long is that barrel?
I'll post a pic of my pistol build when I get the upper. Hopefully won't be too much longer.
I'll post a pic of my pistol build when I get the upper. Hopefully won't be too much longer.
Maj Dad
Member
I put together a PSA based on a completed blem flat top upper with 18" 416 ss 1-7 rifle length gas system, and blem lower with their trigger kit, Magpul collapsible stock, and Magpul grip (I think it's MP). I bought the complete upper by mail (free shipping) and ordered the complete lower online & picked it up at their store in NE Columbia (40 miles from my house). The guy at the desk and I inspected the lower with great scrutiny and could find nothing apparent that would cause them to be a blem - same with the upper. They guarantee that whatever it is, the dimensions are in spec and are guaranteed to function. I have about $400 in it - looks like a million bucks & shoots like it's supposed to. Not a bad record for this vicinity...
justice06rr
Member
PSA does not make most of their products. So I doubt they QC it much. They assemble and ship out. You get what you pay for.
In the grand scheme of things, this is a very small sample compared to the thousands of AR's that don't have issues.
1stmarine
Member
I understand.
W/o knowing what actually goes into the parts it is hard to know how they are going to result in the long run.
Everyone lies about the mil spec, high pressure testing, and all the mambo jambo.
For example, only Colt, FN, H&K and a couple of others HP test barrels and the rest lie about it.
Aside from the M4 style barrel being a horrible choice I think one would feel more confortable knowing we have a colt barrel, a RRA trigger, and young group just to put an
example. There are many good others of course. But just to say to have some understanding on what goes in the guts with those vital parts vs. whatever you get through the OEM
el cheapo parts kits. Receiver Brands, stocks, are not so important as they are just a shell.
Personally in a DI carbine and the barrel and group being the beating heart of the AR I like to know a bit more about what I am actually buying.
OEM doesn't have to be bad. It is just hard to know w/o knowing and the retailer/reseller brand means nothing. Well aside of having a good return and customer policy that is
also important. Midway do a great job there, no doubt.
Maj Dad
Member
Yeah, it's the Wylde. I bought another 16" complete upper with the 416 SS bbl & 5.56 chamber, then they put the 18" complete w/Wylde on sale the week after I got the shorty, so I bought it and gave the 16" to a friend for Christmas (probably the last 3 Christmas's
). It was such a good deal I couldn't not buy it... Visual/apparent quality is excellent, just need to shake it out when the weather gets over its hissy-fits...
Saddlebag Preacher
Member
My first home built AR, PSA freedom SS mid-length upper on an Anderson lower, my coyote specific rifle for my farm to use in a ground blind. Taking it out next week, just bought my scope for it.
WestKentucky
Member
8.5"
OP
OP
SlowFuse
Member
Looks good saddlebag preacher.
WestKentucky I like that build. May be the carry handle drawing me in. I don't have an AR yet with one.
Well, I just got an email from PSA stating my money would be refunded for the upper I ordered. They said it is out of stock. I replied saying I would rather wait (even longer, it's been two months almost) and get what I order, over the refund. We'll see. They are averaging a 10 day response time on the three emails that I have sent them.
WestKentucky I like that build. May be the carry handle drawing me in. I don't have an AR yet with one.
Well, I just got an email from PSA stating my money would be refunded for the upper I ordered. They said it is out of stock. I replied saying I would rather wait (even longer, it's been two months almost) and get what I order, over the refund. We'll see. They are averaging a 10 day response time on the three emails that I have sent them.
OP
OP
SlowFuse
Member
Got an update here. They refunded my money and I got a "back in stock" notice for the upper they never shipped the next morning. So, I took a chance and ordered it again. It came a few days ago, unfortunately missing the BCG and charging handle.
Took it out today using parts from another rifle and put a whole 20 rounds through it. Tornado and flood warnings in Alabama today put a little damper on the fun. It's pretty blasty but feels good. We'll see if they respond on the missing parts.
Took it out today using parts from another rifle and put a whole 20 rounds through it. Tornado and flood warnings in Alabama today put a little damper on the fun. It's pretty blasty but feels good. We'll see if they respond on the missing parts.
1KPerDay
Member
They will... they sent one of mine without the LPK/build kit and I contacted them with the packing info and they sent it in a few days.
coloradokevin
Member
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2008
- Messages
- 3,285
I've used PSA parts kits in the past to finish AR-15 rifle builds. The one thing I've always found is that their shipping takes FOREVER.
I just bought a 16" mid length nitrided rifle kit from them, and I'm waiting for it to arrive. I'll have to update this thread once I've played around with that. I wanted to build a cheaper AR-15 (hopefully a reliable one) to keep as a truck gun, and this kit looked like it would fit the bill for me. I already have a spare receiver at home, and the rifle kit was on sale for $359. That puts the total price for the entire build around $450, which is definitely in the range of a "cheap AR-15" (didn't want to keep my more expensive AR-15's in the truck on a regular basis).
I just bought a 16" mid length nitrided rifle kit from them, and I'm waiting for it to arrive. I'll have to update this thread once I've played around with that. I wanted to build a cheaper AR-15 (hopefully a reliable one) to keep as a truck gun, and this kit looked like it would fit the bill for me. I already have a spare receiver at home, and the rifle kit was on sale for $359. That puts the total price for the entire build around $450, which is definitely in the range of a "cheap AR-15" (didn't want to keep my more expensive AR-15's in the truck on a regular basis).
coloradokevin
Member
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2008
- Messages
- 3,285
I should also add that in life the saying about "you get what you pay for" is often true, but it's not 100% of the story. In my humble little arsenal I've got a number of very cheap rifles (cheapest cost me $47 new) and some very expensive rifles (one that was over $5,000 new, without optics). You definitely get different quality runs for different prices, but a low price doesn't always mean low quality. My favorite .22LR I've ever owned is the $47 rifle I mentioned above. It fits me right, it has been very accurate, and it didn't cost much. My overall favorite rifle is my Accuracy International. It was very expensive, and it's a very accurate purpose-built rifle. I love that gun, but it's really still in the same accuracy class as my $800 Tikka rifle (which shoots better than it should for $800).
I'll be interested to see how my aforementioned $359 kit from PSA works out. My expectations for this gun are relatively low... I want it to be capable for shooting around a 2 MOA accuracy, and I want it to reliably function. It's destined for truck gun territory, so the price had to fit the purpose. In this instance I wanted a gun that could go in the back of the truck on camping trips, and on these trips we're often away from the vehicle for 10-12 hours each day. I obviously don't want any gun to ever get stolen, but I'd rather risk locking a $450 rifle in the back of the truck than a $4,500 rifle!
I mention all of this because I think people really need to pick the right tool for the job with rifles, especially when we're talking about something as versatile as an AR-15. There is a place for cheap rifles just like there is a place for expensive rifles. Going with a cheap option doesn't necessarily mean you're doing so because you can't appreciate quality, nor does it mean that you don't have the budget for something better. Hopefully my gamble pays off in this case. When I speak of "cheap" rifles I do so with the assumption that it will be a functional and reliable firearm that operates as it is intended to (in that category it doesn't need to be "mil-spec", it doesn't need to stand up to continuous full-auto fire, and it doesn't need to win a match). But, with that said, if it doesn't function as intended, it's not a cheap rifle, it's a worthless rifle.
I'll be interested to see how my aforementioned $359 kit from PSA works out. My expectations for this gun are relatively low... I want it to be capable for shooting around a 2 MOA accuracy, and I want it to reliably function. It's destined for truck gun territory, so the price had to fit the purpose. In this instance I wanted a gun that could go in the back of the truck on camping trips, and on these trips we're often away from the vehicle for 10-12 hours each day. I obviously don't want any gun to ever get stolen, but I'd rather risk locking a $450 rifle in the back of the truck than a $4,500 rifle!
I mention all of this because I think people really need to pick the right tool for the job with rifles, especially when we're talking about something as versatile as an AR-15. There is a place for cheap rifles just like there is a place for expensive rifles. Going with a cheap option doesn't necessarily mean you're doing so because you can't appreciate quality, nor does it mean that you don't have the budget for something better. Hopefully my gamble pays off in this case. When I speak of "cheap" rifles I do so with the assumption that it will be a functional and reliable firearm that operates as it is intended to (in that category it doesn't need to be "mil-spec", it doesn't need to stand up to continuous full-auto fire, and it doesn't need to win a match). But, with that said, if it doesn't function as intended, it's not a cheap rifle, it's a worthless rifle.
larryh1108
Member
I have a complete lower from PSA for their AR308 rifle. I noticed that on the frame it lists it as multi-caliber instead of .308, which is fine. I already have a PSA AR308 and don't want/need another so what other caliber(s) can this "multi-caliber" lower be used for keeping in mind it needs to be a PSA upper since their non-traditional ARs are proprietary?
OP
OP
SlowFuse
Member
Larryh1108, I'm guessing they were covering their side of legalities for people that wanted to rebuild/rebarrel the upper into another caliber of the 308 parent case. Not sure how involved it is but it seems that switching a barrel could get you into 243 win, 260 rem, 7-08 rem, 338 fed or 358 win. Someone that knows what they are doing could probably get it to work.
With so many calibers that can be built on both platforms I would think a manufacturer would be severely limiting itself with caliber specific lowers.
With so many calibers that can be built on both platforms I would think a manufacturer would be severely limiting itself with caliber specific lowers.
OP
OP
SlowFuse
Member
Another update. I got the bolt carrier group last week.
Dropped the BCG they supplied in and shot about 200 rounds though it this past Sunday. The red dot I robbed from another rifle was on @ 50 yards.
They overnighted the BCG after an inquiry, makes me feel better about the company and the long wait. The parts seem like decent quality. It ran through steel ammo (even the green lacquer coated stuff) and brass reloads just fine. Lesson learned with this purchase... PSA has great prices and the product seems fine, but dont be in a hurry to get your parts. Original order: November 15, 2016. Everything was completely resolved February 15, 2017.
Another pic for good measure!
Dropped the BCG they supplied in and shot about 200 rounds though it this past Sunday. The red dot I robbed from another rifle was on @ 50 yards.
They overnighted the BCG after an inquiry, makes me feel better about the company and the long wait. The parts seem like decent quality. It ran through steel ammo (even the green lacquer coated stuff) and brass reloads just fine. Lesson learned with this purchase... PSA has great prices and the product seems fine, but dont be in a hurry to get your parts. Original order: November 15, 2016. Everything was completely resolved February 15, 2017.
Another pic for good measure!
Attachments
Speedo66
Member
About a year ago I ordered a complete sale kit from PSA, minus the lower, and had it in less than a week. Put it onto a $40 Anderson lower from AIM Surplus, and had a complete well functioning rifle for $429.
I later added their $29 enhanced trigger, and overall, I'm very satisfied with the accuracy and reliability. Shoots everything, including Russian steel, without a hiccup. I don't intend to go to war with it or continuously shoot mega amounts of ammo through it. Fits my needs perfectly for a very reasonable price.
I later added their $29 enhanced trigger, and overall, I'm very satisfied with the accuracy and reliability. Shoots everything, including Russian steel, without a hiccup. I don't intend to go to war with it or continuously shoot mega amounts of ammo through it. Fits my needs perfectly for a very reasonable price.
redneck2
Member
I just got an enhanced trigger on sale from $49 down to $29. Got it in a couple days. I haven't tried it yet, bu t one of my friends has one and says it's excellent
ar-newbie
Member
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2016
- Messages
- 234
I have had great results with my PSA freedom rifle kit, but I went with one of their stainless barrels, 16 inch 1:8 twist chambered in 5.56
Headspace was right on the money, and if fed the right ammo, extremely accurate.
Right now I have around 2,000 rounds down the barrel, never a malfunction so far. I do load my own ammunition for it though, so can't comment on factory ammo results.
The standard milspec trigger works fine, I did polish it a bit before the initial installation though. I am now considering putting a drop in trigger in it, only to help me shoot better at longer ranges. I paid $419 for the kit, and finished it with a locally sourced anderson stripped lower for $50.00
For someone just starting out, I would highly recommend one of their freedom kits. You can do a lot worse elsewhere, or better, but who knows?
Headspace was right on the money, and if fed the right ammo, extremely accurate.
Right now I have around 2,000 rounds down the barrel, never a malfunction so far. I do load my own ammunition for it though, so can't comment on factory ammo results.
The standard milspec trigger works fine, I did polish it a bit before the initial installation though. I am now considering putting a drop in trigger in it, only to help me shoot better at longer ranges. I paid $419 for the kit, and finished it with a locally sourced anderson stripped lower for $50.00
For someone just starting out, I would highly recommend one of their freedom kits. You can do a lot worse elsewhere, or better, but who knows?
manithree
Member
- Joined
- Sep 18, 2009
- Messages
- 112
I have 2 5.56 ARs built from PSA parts. Nearly a thousand rounds through each. The only problem so far is one cheap Tula steel casing wouldn't eject. Both my PSA barrels are FN-manufactured, and I blame the ammo for the one malfunction.
I did buy one of their early 9mm AR pistols and had lots of issues with it. But their CS was very responsive. They don't sell the 9mm insert for magwells any more, and I never got that to work reliably. The did offer me my money back, but I found a deal on a CMMG 9mm lower, and I liked the upper, and had already invested in several nice Colt-style mags, so I kept it. Great pistol, now.
I did buy one of their early 9mm AR pistols and had lots of issues with it. But their CS was very responsive. They don't sell the 9mm insert for magwells any more, and I never got that to work reliably. The did offer me my money back, but I found a deal on a CMMG 9mm lower, and I liked the upper, and had already invested in several nice Colt-style mags, so I kept it. Great pistol, now.
saiga308
Member
i was about to buy it over the sagia 308 but something told me it might not be tough enough in real battle conditions weather snow and mud and blowing sand like a ak action would be flawless in, sure the psa its a great target rifle on the range i bet but thats not a real beater if you need to fight with it. its a safe queen
DukeConnor
Member
- Joined
- Oct 30, 2016
- Messages
- 1,123
i was about to buy it over the sagia 308 but something told me it might not be tough enough in real battle conditions weather snow and mud and blowing sand like a ak action would be flawless in, sure the psa its a great target rifle on the range i bet but thats not a real beater if you need to fight with it. its a safe queen
Wow. Where do you live ? Sounds terrible.
d2wing
Member
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2008
- Messages
- 6,415
I bought a PSA upper. It worked ok on a lower I had. Then I decided to build a PSA lower. Most of the pins and small parts were out of spec. I had to buy another brand part kit. Then I had issues at the range with accuracy and function. Eventually I discovered the bolt was out of spec. and binding. And I upgraded the trigger. So my cheap build cost an extra $175 and trips to the range. I also built a Del-Ton kit and everything was perfect and better looking. Oh and PSA had no customer service.
ScrapMetalSlug
Member
I’ve ordered two PSA uppers, a 1/7 stainless 16 inch, and an 18” .223 wylde with free float handgaurds. They both shoot well with no issues. Haven’t shot anything other than m855, to really test accuracy yet(3-4 moa, not bench shooting). They both bust milk jugs at 100 yards with ease.
I’ve built two lowers with PSA parts, with two separate kits. One was great , the other had issues. Detent pins were extremely tight, and I was missing a spring. I bought the 1 dollar spring locally, and deal with the slightly tighter pins for now. Neither has had a problem with reliability or durability.
I’ve built two lowers with PSA parts, with two separate kits. One was great , the other had issues. Detent pins were extremely tight, and I was missing a spring. I bought the 1 dollar spring locally, and deal with the slightly tighter pins for now. Neither has had a problem with reliability or durability.
- Status
