View Full Version : Opinion on the PSA 16" M4 CMV Rifle Kit?
Palmetto State Armory has been having these rifle kits on sale. I bought this same kit on black friday for $464.99 + shipping. For a rifle kit costing less than $500, and assembled by PSA, is there any reason not to buy it?
I built my wife a PSA m4 earlier in 2013. Overall I am happy with it as a casual shooter for my wife. I would like to build a few more rifles just to have around and this PSA rifle kit looked like it would fit the bill. Buit before I buy a bunch of them over the next few months I would like some feedback.
http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/featured/psa-16-m4-cmv-rifle-kit.html
16" Barrel length
Chrome moly vanadium barrel
5.56 Nato Chamber
1 in 7" twist rate
Chrome-lined bore - not hammer forged.
HPT/MPI Barrel
M4 Feed ramps
F-Marked Front sight post
A2 Flash Hider
Sling Loop
Standard Hand Guards
Forged Upper Receiver
T-marks
M16 Bolt Carrier Group - I'll have to wait and see about the quality and staking of gas key.
Carpenter 158 Bolt
Charging Handle
PSA Classic Lower Build Kit - supposed to include mil-spec receiver extension.
What is the bolt made of? Is it shot peened, HPT, MPI?
What is the receiver extension made of?
What weight is the buffer?
What is the bolt made of? Is it shot peened, HPT, MPI?
I am going to guess this is the bolt carrier the kit comes with, http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/m16-bolt-carrier-group.html
MPI Carpenter No. 158® steel bolt
It looks like the bolt is mpi, but not hpt.
What is the receiver extension made of?
What weight is the buffer?
I can not find specs on either of those parts.
PSA lower classic build kit - http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/palmetto-state-armory-classic-lower-build-kit.html
HackerF15E
12-07-13, 14:45
IMHO you are better to piece together a PSA rifle by buying the upper, the BCG, the LPK, and the receiver ext/buffer separately. They can all be from PSA, but just purchased separately (and optimally over time by taking advantage of the daily deals).
That way you can ensure you will get the premium PSA BCG (the branded one), the classic LPK with whatever grip you want, ensure you'll get the 7075 receiver ext, and be able to get an H buffer instead of a carbine buffer.
thebarracuda
12-07-13, 15:31
What Hacker said, they have good products, but they also have some more bargain based products, which is fine if you want that. But for not much more money, you can get the testing, materials, etc that ensures you have something that you can expect to last. Sometimes the package deals leave a few things out. Not always, just something to watch for.
IMHO you are better to piece together a PSA rifle by buying the upper, the BCG, the LPK, and the receiver ext/buffer separately.
That sounds like a good idea. Or get something like a bcm complete mil-spec buffer extension.
This is not going to be my main rifle. Its more like a spare. But I want it to be a good quality spare.
HackerF15E
12-07-13, 16:08
Or get something like a bcm complete mil-spec buffer extension.
Yep, that is exactly what I did with a PSA build a couple years ago. BCM let me pick which buffer and which stock I wanted (which PSA didn't allow), and not only was that very convenient but it also explicitly stated it was a 7075 tube where PSA's materials were not listed.
Yep, that is exactly what I did with a PSA build a couple years ago. BCM let me pick which buffer and which stock I wanted (which PSA didn't allow), and not only was that very convenient but it also explicitly stated it was a 7075 tube where PSA's materials were not listed.
I think that is what I am going to do.
Take the psa receiver extension and put it in storage with other spare parts. Then buy a 7075 mil-spec tube. The shoulder stock itself should work on both tubes as it is supposed to fit a mil-spec sized tube.
As for the bolt carrier assembly itself, as prices continue to come down I might replace it later on. Rainier arms and the PSA premium BCGs have both been on sale lately for between $109 - $119. I ordered a PSA premium BCG a couple of days ago for one of my current rifles.
The charging handle in that kit is probably one of their cheaper 6061 aluminum ones instead of their stronger mil-spec 7075 aluminum one.
Joe Mamma
Its a decent kit for the price, but as mentioned by others, you would benefit by swapping other parts with more quality products.
Now if this kit was cheaper (say in the $450 price range), then its a good buy just as long as you understand what you are getting.
Avoid the kit, buy specific parts.
Buy one of their FN barrelled uppers. Buy one of their 7075 reciever extensions. Buy their $50 blem lower. Get their "classic" LPK without a FCG and put an ALG in it. Buy your BCG and CH from BCM.
KingsideRook
12-24-13, 14:39
Avoid the kit, buy specific parts.
Buy one of their FN barrelled uppers. Buy one of their 7075 reciever extensions. Buy their $50 blem lower. Get their "classic" LPK without a FCG and put an ALG in it. Buy your BCG and CH from BCM.
This has worked well for me as well. The individual parts, including their FN barrels, can be judged on an individual basis and are worth buying, but the kits are made to be cost-cutters. I wouldn't want the mystery budget receiver extension or some other parts in the kits, but they have deals on individual components, such as those listed above, that I've found to be excellent. I have seen that they still can't stake a BCG right, I'd send my money to BCM, DD, Ranier, G&R or buy a Colt BCG first.
They sometimes sell lower parts kits with ALG/Geiselle triggers, which is nice when they have the one you want.
I actually got three with ALG triggers and didn't know it ahead of time. I was pleasantly surprised. Also got two that weren't that were the same product number. I have no idea what they are doing there but you can certainly get good parts if you're smart.
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PA PATRIOT
12-24-13, 17:44
That's the bad thing about PSA's kits is that the complete upper maybe decently made but the supporting LPK and BCG are low end non disclosed items.
In summery of the kit.
The gas key bolts are thin, staking is ok, and the BCG has a thin phosphate finish. The finish is not near as nice as the PSA premium BCG with the PSA roll mark.
The end of the barrel is not phosphate coated. Which leaves me wondering if the barrel did not pass QC. Rather than selling the upper by itself. put it in a package deal on deep discount. I have another thread on the end of the barrel - https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?144606-Anyone-seen-the-end-of-a-barrel-not-phosphate-coated Even though people say there is nothing wrong with that, I wonder if the barrel did not pass QC and was discounted for that reason.
It just so happens my wife bought me a PSA premium BCG for christmas. So the m16 BCG is going into storage, and the premium is going into the upper.
The hand guard had double heat shields, which surprised me.
Overall, for a price of $464.99, which included shipping, I am happy.
Attached picture shows the PSA premium BCG on top, and the PSA m16 BCG that came with the kit on the bottom.
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