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Are Palmetto State Armory AR-15s decent? (hexbear.net)

submitted 6 days ago by Vingst@hexbear.net to c/guns@hexbear.net

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The general word on PSA is they can make decent guns but they have poor quality control. Basically you do the QC for them and send them back the lemons for them to fix. What do you all think? The complete uppers look like a good deal.

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[–] no_pretext@hexbear.net 3 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (2 children)

I have home built several ARs and I shoot all of them at least 200 rounds per month

I'd say send it, I have yet to see a credible argument for the high instance of QC issues being anything other than a reflection of the volume PSA does. The AR15 is a pretty robust platform, especially in the milspec-like pattern PSA guns are built to. Many issues with PSA guns are not "gun no work" they're "professional inspection revealed manufacturing errors that will affect reliability after 10,000 rounds".

~~If you want I can post some basic function tests you can do on a new AR15, or go over to School of the American Rifle and watch some of his videos where he evaluates PSA's and guns that cost a whole lot more to know what to look for and what different things mean.~~

Please excuse me, I did not realize you are an experienced gun owner when I wrote my response.

[–] Vingst@hexbear.net 1 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (3 children)

Also, I think it'd be cool if the gun people on here like you and me could figure out some budget build that we could sticky in the comm. I was thinking a complete upper (upper, barrel, gas system, and handguard), a bolt carrier group, an acceptable cheap lower, a decent lower parts kit with a trigger that isn't terrible. And then maybe like some upgrades, like I like to put BCM BCG (because I really don't want the bolt to break) and LaRue MBT-2S trigger in everything.

I mean that would get someone a better rifle for the money then buying a M&P Sport III, or allow them to build a just-as-capable rifle for cheaper, right?

[–] no_pretext@hexbear.net 2 points 6 days ago

I think you make some good points with regard to saving money and incremental improvements, however these days if I'm going to recommend a practical rifle I think the consistency and simplicity offered by a pre built gun outweigh the potential savings of a hundred bucks or so or the inclusion of an improved milspec trigger for a new shooter.

My match experience has taught me that skills outweigh gear once you have an optic. Maybe as I age fudd tendencies are manifesting, but I feel that it is more important to develop the shooter and system as a whole rather than the weapon itself, in the current market and standard of production we have today.

An AR15 with M193/M855 is most effective at applying a high volume of accurate fire out to ~250 yards (which has been recognized as a decisive factor in infantry combat since the first imperialist world war) and it doesn't need much other than a durable optic, the right ammo, maybe a light, and 8 magazines to do that.

[–] no_pretext@hexbear.net 1 points 6 days ago

MBT-2S

I never ended up buying one as I went with a gamer cassette trigger (SLT-1) at that price point. Have you tried the Schmidt Tool milspec triggers? They are OEM for a lot of companies and they are readily distiguished by the circled S in the casting. They're $30 and smooth with a very workable, consistent rolling break and robust reset, probably 5.5-6 lbs if my finger is calibrated properly. Nice to have for someone who has limited funds.

[–] no_pretext@hexbear.net 1 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

I personally love build spreadsheets, however what's cheap and available changes fast these days as far as parts go.

I think the best way to achive what you mention with higher-end parts would be a complete BCM pencil upper and whatever the cheapest possible lower is on the day you buy the gun.

[–] Vingst@hexbear.net 1 points 6 days ago

No worries, thanks for the advice. And I intend this thread to be for the sake of potential new gun owners looking for a first AR-15, so any thoughts and advice are welcome.