1st Time PSA Experience

[GarandTd]

After resisting for some time now, I've finally taken the plunge into the vast world of AR-15s. Since I have an affinity for budget arms, I looked at Palmetto State Armory.

While I tend to lean toward inexpensive firearms, I do my homework, make informed decisions, and to some extent, take my chances. This technique has not failed me yet and PSA is no exception.

Once I had made my decision, I "sealed the deal" with the local purchase of an Anderson stripped lower receiver. It cost me $52 after tax. I then started watching PSA daily deals. I ended up ordering the 16" carbine rifle kit with gray Magpul MOE furniture, MBUS rear sight and 16" nitride barrel for $299 with free shipping. It was $318 after tax.

I placed my order on the morning of Saturday, January 12. My payment was collected on Tuesday, the 15th. While waiting for word from PSA, I hit the LGS and picked up a gen2 30 round Pmag for $13.99 and a Colt brand aluminum 30 round mag for $15.95. I may have over paid a little for the mags, but I supported a local business and was comfortable with the price. I received notification that a shipping label was created on Monday the 21st(a federal holiday). This morning, my package was delivered. 11 days from my order to my doorstep. Pretty dang good in my opinion.

I assembled my rifle in about an hour and a half. I did it with pretty basic tools. Palmetto did an excellent job of packaging the parts in small collections which really made the process of assembly that much easier. They even included an extra detent and spring for the takedown pins. Fortunately, I didn't need it. All in all, I'm very pleased with my purchase. The rifle looks and feels pretty darned good. Unfortunately, it'll be a couple days before I can get it to the range to test it out.

I'm right around $400 for my complete rifle including 2 mags. Based off of this experience, I will definitely consider PSA again and also recommend them to patient people looking for a good deal.

[Cheapshooter]

Good job. I too just completed my "Erector Set" I bought myself for Christmas. I had picked up a lower back in November to get things started. My upper, and lower build kit came from PSA, and I am quite happy with the experience.
My little set ended up being an AR pistol in 300AAC Blackout.
I'll pass the warning my son gave me on to you.....It's habit forming. I agree as I am already deciding between a 223 Valkrie or 450 Bushmaster.

[jonnyc]

Nice job, good choices.
My words of warning are to avoid buying another stripped lower "just in case" or "to build in a year or so when I decide what I want"........you will only end up building it right away and be forced to get another lower to replace it. And then........
I built 4 for myself within the last two years, and I could easily do another 2 or 3 without any planning........and they're all significantly different!

[Arub]

Congrats! Hope the rifle shoots as good as it looks. Looking forward to a range report when you put it through its paces.

[GarandTd]

My "erector set" was a reward for a promotion I got at the end of last year.

You will only end up building it right away...

Haha....this 1st one already went down that way. I was planning to drag it out a little longer, but it all kind of happened in a few weeks.

[GarandTd]

I will definitely update with a range report.

[Cheapshooter]

I'll get a pic of my little sweetie up when I actually get it done.LOL. Kinda left out one tiny detail in my first post. Opening the "erector set" box and removing all the goodies there was an unnoticed hole in the bag of trigger parts. I heard something hit the rubber mat on the floor at my bench, and with a quick look found I had no disconnector spring. Those work shop mats bounce things to the next state, or devour them like a hungry tiger. So no trigger just yet. My son has a spare I'm sure, but while I'm freezing in the coldest weather of the year, he's in Cozumel! Tried a couple local shops with no luck. Got one ordered, but it'll be a couple days. Meantime I'm gonna try another place tomorrow.
Didn't post a pick because I know TFL members all too well. It would have taken someone three seconds to see that there was no trigger. LOL

[5whiskey]

I don’t think you’ll be disappointed in a PSA kit. I’ve done a few myself. I have a PSA upper, freedom I think, that will shoot my bulk plinking load just in a moa. Which is not bad considering the that’s about as good as you can expect from the cheapest bulk hornady projectiles in most any rifle.

[pkevinb]

Glad to see you like your kit. My stepson and I just ordered the same kit and are waiting for delivery. Were going to our local gun shop tomorrow to pick up lowers.

[GarandTd]

I got it out to the range today. I only fired 75 rounds. I was loading the mags with half of their 30 round capacity. I had to make some adjustments to both the front and rear sights. At 25 yards, where I started, the rifle was printing a couple inches to the right and about 4 inches low. I made the adjustments and was making 5 round ragged holes on target. I moved to the 50 yard range and had to adjust to the left a little more, but got it centered well. At 100 yards, I was shooting a little high. I didn't change anything because I think the problem was me and not the sights. I need to get used to these sights.
The ammo I was using was Federal American Eagle 5.56 xm193. I would have spent some more time at the range, but it's 12 degrees here today with the wind chill bringing the feel down to about zero. In the below picture, the right hand target was 15 rounds at 50 yards and the left hand target(paper plate) was 15 rounds at 100 yds. On the 100 yard target, 7 rounds were on the plate, the other 8 were right above it, all within an inch of the paper. Nothing worthy of bragging rights, but before today, I'd only shot about 5 rounds out of an AR15.

[GarandTd]

I forgot to mention the trigger. I don't think my PSA kit had any special trigger included, but it didn't seem anywhere near as terrible as everyone makes them sound. Not too heavy and relatively crisp. I didn't notice any grit or mush either, but I'm no trigger aficionado. I also didn't experience any malfunctions other than a mental one when I slid a mag in upside down.

[rickyrick]

Keep close tabs on the account you used to pay them.

There was someone working at PSA that was dipping into people’s bank accounts.
Happened to me twice in 2015 and was traced back to PSA.
I think they may have solved the problem, but I still use a burner credit card when buying from them.

I like many of their products BTW.

[GarandTd]

Rickyrick, I have seen that complaint amongst various reviews of Palmetto State Armory. I always keep an eye on my accounts, but thanks for the tip.

[GarandTd]

I am also loving how easy it is to assemble/disassemble the rifle.

[Geezerbiker]

I've bookmarked the PSA sight. The have some pretty good prices and I'll keep in mind about ordering from a burner card...

Tony

[drobs]

I've been real tempted lately to buy that exact gray magpul PSA rifle kit.
Makes for a good looking gun.

I put together 2 of their $260 PSA pistol kits. Lightweight, short, and handy things at a price that is impossible to beat:

Windham Carbine on top:

[GarandTd]

I was going to get one if the $260 build kits, but for $40 more I got the Magpul MOE furniture and rear MBUS. I like the look of the Magpul over the classic stuff. No way I could have made those upgrades for $40.

[drobs]

GarandTd,

I know what you mean - I bought 3 sets of magpul furniture over Christmas....

Was looking at flashlight mounting options and it just makes more sense to me to use magpul forearms.

[rickyrick]

You can set email alerts and snatch the good deals up if you are wanting to buy.

[Mobuck]

While doing some clean up /reorganization in my gun room, I realized how much "stuff" I've ordered from PSA. Those daily emails are getting expensive.

[smee78]

+1 "I've been real tempted lately to buy that exact gray magpul PSA rifle kit. Makes for a good looking gun."

I too have been real tempted to buy that kit and assemble another AR. I have assembled a couple of rifles from their kits and stripped receivers and have been happy with all of them. The prices of these kits makes it hard to say no to building a sub $400 AR. I'm sure your groups will improve once the temps get above 40 degrees outside lol. Congrats on the new addition and yes they are habit forming.

[Cheapshooter]

Here's my new Erector Set all completed.



Areo Precision Milspec G2 stripped lower
PSA pistol lower kit with SB3 brace and EPT (enhanced polished trigger
PSA 300 AAC Blackout 8 1/2" upper
2A Armament 10" M -Lok handguard
PSA Fluted flash can
Sig Saur Romeo5 red dot optic
Dagger Defense 45° flip up BUIS
MWG Tactical MagWell
Magpul PMAG 30 AR300B Gen M3 300 AAC Blackout dedicated magazine(s)

[berettaprofessor]

At the gun show today, complete builds of Anderson lower and PSA based-rifles were as low as $385. And I’m thinking, “aw, that takes all the fun out of building them yourself so they are cheap.”

[kenny53]

Very nice looking gun. I hope you enjoy it.

[GarandTd]

Those are some sharp looking AR pistols. The arm brace and short barrels really make them a tight package.

I wasn't satisfied with my 100 yard paper plate from the other day so I hit the range briefly with a Splatter burst target I use with my 22. I know people say aim small miss small, but I needed a bigger target to see with the iron sights. I did better. Still room for improvement, but I'm not sure how much better it'll get with just irons.