Psa uppers

[JediGuy]

If you do the math...

$439 - BCM upper
<$100 - Toolcraft nitride BCG (or $125-160 for other good options)
$55 - BCM or Radian Raptor charging handle

Why buy PSA?

You almost have enough to pick up a BCM blemished complete lower for $315.

[Wake27]

I've got a few PSA uppers in 5.56 and 7.62x39. They all run just fine.

So they are maybe not as refined as the top-shelf uppers on the market, but they are about the same as what our military has used for decades.

If you go PSA, it would be a good thing to get the CHF upper, and Premium BCG, if your budget allows it. They are still very reasonable, and have chrome lining and o-ring extractors.

If you are looking for a serviceable, budget-friendly upper, buy PSA with confidence.

Whole lot of nope here. Basic features, sure, they’re similar because they’re all basic. But they’re far from being about the same as our issues Colts and FNs. PSA’s consistency and QA/QC is known to be lacking at best, non-existent at worse. They make tons of guns that work, but they also make a much higher percentage of flawed guns and components than the better brands out there. I’ve been super happy that mine has right around 1k rounds through it without an issue, but the staking on the original BCG was super weak and I still expect it to fail at any point. My current one can shoot a 1” group at 50m while another one that I had was sitting at 3”.

PSAs are good if you truly can’t afford better, without saving for many more months. But that’s only their really cheap stuff and it should have the expectation of failure. Their CHF line is supposed to be better, but typically are so close in price to the actual good companies that it doesn’t make sense to buy them.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Wake27]

Personally I’d pick the cheapest BCM upper I can find and put something like a Centurion or SOLGW BCG in it if I was truly tight on budget.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[JediGuy]

I know you mentioned putting together a lower or something, but unless you plan on using an A5 system, it’s hard to beat and Aero Precision complete lower sans stock for $151.99. And you can probably find cheaper somewhere like armorally.com or spicetac.com.

https://www.rainierarms.com/aero-precision-m4e1-carbine-complete-lower-receiver-w-a2-grip-no-stock-black/

[Rogue556]

BCM Blem Lower for $300 (Plus whatever your go to FFL charges.)

https://www.k-var.com/bcm-gunfighter...group-blk-blem

Or if you want to save a little up front and piece it together, this is a great deal.

Sionics guttless lower receiver. $160

http://sionicsweaponsystems.com/stor...ifle-zero.html

Then slap on whichever BCM/Colt/LMT/KAC/DD upper you want and you're set.

Honestly though, I'd bump up your budget to the $900-$1000 range if possible, it opens a lot of doors and you won't regret having purchased a higher quality rifle.

Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk

[titsonritz]

Whole lot of nope here. Basic features, sure, they’re similar because they’re all basic. But they’re far from being about the same as our issues Colts and FNs. PSA’s consistency and QA/QC is known to be lacking at best, non-existent at worse. They make tons of guns that work, but they also make a much higher percentage of flawed guns and components than the better brands out there. I’ve been super happy that mine has right around 1k rounds through it without an issue, but the staking on the original BCG was super weak and I still expect it to fail at any point. My current one can shoot a 1” group at 50m while another one that I had was sitting at 3”.

PSAs are good if you truly can’t afford better, without saving for many more months. But that’s only their really cheap stuff and it should have the expectation of failure. Their CHF line is supposed to be better, but typically are so close in price to the actual good companies that it doesn’t make sense to buy them.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not to mention having an o-ring on the extractor spring is not a selling point, those o-rings were a stop gap used to make up for crappy springs. Use a Colt copper colored spring or the 5 coil from Sprinco and the o-ring is not needed.

I agree 100% with this summary.

[26 Inf]

If you do the math...

$439 - BCM upper
<$100 - Toolcraft nitride BCG (or $125-160 for other good options)
$55 - BCM or Radian Raptor charging handle

Why buy PSA?

You almost have enough to pick up a BCM blemished complete lower for $315.

Don't forget hand guards and a rear sight.

IMO, a FSB upper would not be my first recommendation for what the OP has mentioned in his posts.

[JediGuy]

$439 BCM upper with FSB
$35 midlength handguards from BCM or takeoffs (quite possibly less)
$49 Raptor charging handle @sunnystateoutdoors
$90 Toolcraft nitride BCG @righttobear (I think)
$162 Aero lower
$35 stock

That’s $810. Doesn’t count shipping from Rainier or BCM. Not trying to race to the bottom here, but that’s bare minimum. I would imagine that a FSB should be on anyone’s single rifle, but that’s just me. A rear sight can run from $25 used to $40 somewhere on sale for Magpul MBUS, as I mentioned before.

Alternatively, if a free float handguard is needed to support night vision or a future LPVO purchase... Ballistic Advantage for $467.25 shipped is below with basic charging handle, phosphate BCG, and free shipping. Can’t speak to the entire quality, though I’d imagine it’s at least decent, and I’d purchase way before PSA. Add in $50 for a Magpul MBUS set from Palmetto State.

[MontanaMarine]

If you do the math...

$439 - BCM upper
<$100 - Toolcraft nitride BCG (or $125-160 for other good options)
$55 - BCM or Radian Raptor charging handle

Why buy PSA?

You almost have enough to pick up a BCM blemished complete lower for $315.

It just depends on the budget.

Your example is a nice way to roll, and runs $594, without handguards.


A complete PSA upper is a viable and serviceable option for $219.

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-...cg-and-ch.html

[JediGuy]

The differences again would be assembly, specs, and QC. Nothing like a loose barrel nut to ruin your day...

If someone were looking to spend under $650 (and since the Colt OEM-2’s are long gone), I’d probably just point to a factory assembled M&P15. At least then you have a warranty on a complete rifle from a huge manufacturer.

I’m not knocking PSA altogether. My SBR lower is PSA, though it’s mostly VLTOR and Geissele at this point. In fact, I just purchased new springs and small parts from FCD which will make the only thing PSA the stripped lower itself. But still, a PSA lower isn’t the end of the world, in my mind.

But if we’re looking at where the explosions happen? I’d prefer that to not be PSA, unless it is an “extra” gun. I’d have no problem with one of their 10.5” CHF uppers. But not as my only carbine.