Well, I may being going down the AR rabbit hole

[AZ_CZ]

I agree prices on ARs and a lot of other guns are crazy low. Makes it hard to resist. You have always struck me as someone who has a few really good guns with excellent taste in upgrades/accessories and who focuses on shooting them well. If you have the Bren why bother with an AR? I'm in the AR campground looking at Brens. If it's just for "fun" then go 5.56. Nothing terrible about PSA either.

 FYI it's not really a hole, more like a cavern.

[M1A4ME]

For maybe 2 years now I've ordered almost exclusively from PSA.  I had some lowers and I would, every so often, order the parts to complete a rifle/carbine with one of the lowers.  I haven't been dissatisfied with any of it.  Also bought/put together 2 or 3 pistols from PSA kits/parts.  All of them functioned from the first round on.

18" with a rifle length gas system and .223 Wylde chamber, 1 turn in 7".  I'm really sort of stuck on the shorter A1 butt stock over the A2.  This one has Bushnell 3X12, 30mm tube scope with that funny reticle that only has thick cross hairs on the sides and bottom.  It also has an illuminated red dot at the center for low light shooting (not sure why as the cross hairs are visible in very low light).  All my rifles have GI web slings on them as it really does help you shoot better if you use them correctly.  I did have to open up the gas port on this one in order to get reliability with my favorite load of IMR4198 and a 55 grain FMJBT.  IMR4198, apparently is a little on the fast burning side for AR15 gas systems.  All of my AR's eat it like candy except for this one.  Once the port was opened up I had no more issues with this one either.



16" with a mid length gas system and 5.56X45 chamber, 1 turn in 7".  This was prior to getting the stuff to put the front swivel on the keymod free float tube.  It has a GI web sling on it now.



16" carbine with a mid length gas system and 5.56X45 chamber, 1 turn in 7".  This one did have an Aimpoint on it but now has a Bushnell 1X4 AR scope on it.

[MadDuner]

The AR rabbit hole is deep!

They end up being like potato chips.... Really tough to have just one.
And then of course you want different flavors.
But it's all good!

[armoredman]

I can see that! I am VERY fond of my BREN, fantastic rifle, does everything I want...and it's a wee bit heavy for long dirt tromps as I grow older and wider. Coyote dogging would ask of me a lighter rifle, so a PSA carbine in 5.56mm would be just fine, I think.

[MadDuner]

I can see that! I am VERY fond of my BREN, fantastic rifle, does everything I want...and it's a wee bit heavy for long dirt tromps as I grow older and wider. Coyote dogging would ask of me a lighter rifle, so a PSA carbine in 5.56mm would be just fine, I think.

I haven't seen these prices in years!
The first AR I purchased back in about 1978 or 79 was $350.
When you figure for inflation - that was a pricey gun!

The pricing now is fantastic if you are looking to buy one.
I don't think you can go wrong with anything from PSA.
I know all of my PSA ARs have functioned perfectly....
Even the ones I built! hahaha

[Swamp ash]

Ruger just announced the AR 556 MPR -

Nitrided, better trigger, rifle-length and free-floated.
Plus ~ $656 at bud's!
http://www.ruger.com/products/ar556MPR/models.html

[tact]

PSA is crap.....or good enough for the hardly ever use crowd.  You get what you pay for.

[MadDuner]

We can't all be gun snobs! Hehehe

[M1A4ME]

I guess I've got too many to shoot any of them enough to wear them out, yet.

But so far:

PSA 8" AR15 pistol - 100% function, no broken parts
PSA 10.5" AR15 pistol - 100% function, no broken parts
PSA 18" AR15 rifle - function issue with my 21.0 grains of IMR4198 w/55 grain FMJBT (short stroking).  Many folks say IMR4198 is "too fast" for an AR15, but it works great in every other AR15 I have.  After opening up the gas port in the barrel this one works great.  It was 100% with CFE 223 and BLC2 loads prior to the gas port mod.
PSA 16" AR15 carbine - 100% function, no broken parts
PSA 16" AR15 MOE carbine - 100% function, no broken parts
PSA 16" AR15 carbine - this one hasn't been shot yet, need to take it to the range
PSA 10.5" AR15 pistol - .300 BO, hasn't been shot yet either

Yeah, I'm cheap.  I hate to pay twice the price over a name when the cheaper stuff works as well for me.

My next one will probably be a lemon, that's the way it goes.

[armoredman]

If that happened to me I'd have to send it back or find a local gunsmith - power tools and I generally don't get along well. The PSA is about all I can afford right now, and even Arf Dot Com has some nice things to say about them. I would love to buy something really high speed/low drag, but the state hasn't given me a raise in 12 years. I can, of course always buy small parts here and there and learn to install them, I suppose, to better customize the rifle to me?

[MadDuner]

I have had ZERO problems with any of my PSA ARs ever.
They all eat any ammo I feed them without a hiccup....and I shoot a bunch of it.

[AZ_CZ]

I can, of course always buy small parts here and there and learn to install them, I suppose, to better customize the rifle to me?

Why this platform is so popular! With $20 of harbor freight tools and a YouTube video you are qualified 'smith. Assembling a lower or removing a front sight block certifies your credentials,


Seriously, buying a complete upper or lower or parts to get what you want* (requirements subject change or whim) is the way to go. The only upside to a complete rifle is the manufactures warranty.

The CS and shipping issues with PSA is well documented, but the problems with their parts seem spotty. More like "everyone has a lemon once in awhile". It's too bad they don't address it. As long as their prices are lower then the competition people will buy and they don't have to.

My big issues are the BCG the sights that cheap kits come with. At a minimum I want one that is MPI tested. Read the fine print on any supplied BUIS. The gun is only as good as the sights and replacing cheap knockoffs can cost $100.

I have read a couple of your mail order delivery sagas in the past. You will NEED to upgrade or find a work around for parts home delivery. Maybe it's a sign I have a problem but the regular UPS guy and I are on first name nod and wave basis at the grocery store or around town.

Can't wait to read about cast bullets in an AR or a head to head Bren comparison. Going to need to see pictures when you step up to level 2 'smithing,






Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[armoredman]

UPS and FedEx are usually pretty good - it's USPS and I that get along like gasoline and a match...

I am hoping to maybe get the first part next payday, if everything goes right...if...

[jameslovesjammie]

If you are going to spend money on an AR, don't skimp out on the barrel or the trigger.  There are other places you can absolutely scrimp and save on, but I wouldn't recommend doing so on these two areas.

If you are looking for top accuracy, make sure you go with a free float rail instead of a delta ring setup.

[Vernonion]

I can recommend the MBT (meticulously built trigger) from LaRue. It's a really nice two stage trigger that can be had on sale just about every holiday for 99 bucks.