I feel you on this brother. I got pinned in May and the pay raise isn't so bad.
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Congrats Navy on the P'cola gig. Doesn't get much better than being stashed in P'cola. Do yourself a favor and go down to Joe Patty's and have them steam you up a couple of pounds of shrimp to take home. Mix with plenty of beer and friends. Don't get any better than that. My kid went thru there last year and is living the dream in Meridian now. He misses the shrimp though.
Concur about the BCM uppers. They have a very wide selection and if what you want is out of stock sign up to be emailed when it comes back in. Then act quickly LOL.
I was an early adopter of light weight barrels back when almost no one but Bushmaster made them. Still have a couple of them and they have served me well.
I'm a BIG fan of BCM's light weight middy uppers. You couldn't go wrong with that.
S/F Navy and good luck in API and Primary. Enjoy that Gucci T-6B if you get VT-3 or 6.
Rocket
I hear you man, when I got my first 14.5" I was amazed at how much better I liked it than my 16". I would say that since you already have a 16" that you like, go for the 14.5". Just make sure that the muzzle device is what you REALLY want.
As for rail systems, you have the Centurion Arms C4 (that's what's on mine), the Midwest Industries 2-piece rail, and the DD Omega to choose from. These are all very nice free-floating rail systems. So while you are a bit limited, I'm sure you can find something you like out of these three.
As for PSA or BCM, I am not sure. Notice that out of all the reponses telling you to go with BCM, there is not one substantive, objective qualitative reason given. On paper, they are identical (assuming you are comparing PSA's higher end stuff with BCM).
However, I do think that there is at least some value in the notion of something being tried and true, which BCM is, and PSA, well, isn't quite yet. I built a complete PSA rifle for my mom using a 14.5" FN CHF barreled upper and it shoots like a dream, but it's a sample size of one so that doesn't really count for much. If I were you, I would probably get the BCM, but I still think the PSA would be a great choice.
I would also check out Rainier Arms' "combat series" uppers. They offer them in a 14.5" format, and use the absolute best quality components.
How about BCM carbines have a long proven track record of quality, reliability, and customer service.
BCM sends their carbines out for extensive T&E.
PSA is a newcomer who have only proven that they can not get past their teething issues.
I would not trust a PSA upper with my life.
You know, I think alot of people read a post until they find something they disagree with and then hit the "reply" button without reading the rest of it.
If you would care to read the rest of my post, you would see where I said "I think there's some value in the notion of something being "tried and true"...which PSA isn't quite yet". That's pretty much exactly what you said, albeit in fewer words.
As for not trusting a PSA rifle with your life, I think that's being a bit too dramatic. I know plenty of people with PSA rifles who say they've been rock solid and my experience hasn't been any different. But if I were looking for a self-defense carbine I would still choose BCM over PSA for exactly the same reason I already gave in my original post.
I did read your whole post.
You wanted substantial, objective, quantifiable, (I think that's what you meant), reasoning behind the suggestion of BCM over PSA.
The OP also stated that the rifle will serve him as a home defense rifle.
So trusting it with one's life is hardly being dramatic given it's choosen purpose.
I'm not bashing PSA or the quality of their components ( which are fine ) but I'm hesitant to recommend their builds. If want to build your upper with their components that's fine, but the 3 out of the last 4 times I've been in their store, someone has come in with a Mid upper that had a carbine gas tube. And the last time this young guy comes out from the back, looks at the gas tube and says something like "yeah I'm not sure if that's a mid or carbine tube". Let me check with someone". That's not a confidence winner for me.
Don't get me wrong, I like PSA and I've bought a lot of stuff from them. But I won't be buying any built uppers anytime soon.