AR pistol build... PSA or BCM ??

Juancts · November 19, 2019, 05:27 PM

I'm planning my first AR pistol build. Already have a Spikes lower with brace.

Both Palmetto State and Bravo Company have complete AR pistol uppers available. BCM is more expensive. Which one you prefer and why ??? Which brand is better quality ???

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smee78 · November 19, 2019, 06:55 PM

I have built 2 pistol builds and used PSA kits. Went together fast and easy with no complaints. I would use them again with out a dought.

raimius · November 19, 2019, 08:41 PM

BCM is likely going to be put together a bit better (materials quality and specs) and likely face a more stringent quality control process.
If this is a gun for defense or demanding training, I'd go BCM.

PSA gets generally good reviews, and some trainers recommend them as budget guns/training guns. If you want a reliable upper, that is 80% as refined/tuned but half the price, go with PSA.

I have uppers from both companies, and they are both fine (I don't have a lot of rounds through the PSA uppers, though).

Cheapshooter · November 19, 2019, 09:11 PM

My first build was a 300 AAC Blackout on a AP lower. Used the whole kit from PSA. Lower parts kit with enhanced trigger, SBA3 pistol brace, and PSA complete upper. No complaints what so ever. Went together without any problems, functions well, and is accurate with Sig Romeo 5 optic.
Second build, again a AP lower. This time lower kit, and Mag Pull stock from PSA. With AR Stoner complete rifle upper in 450 Bushmaster from Midway USA. Again, quite satisfied with the results.
You might want to look at MidwayUSA uppers just for grins.

veprdude · November 20, 2019, 01:13 AM

I bought a PSA pistol upper. No issues so far (~200 rounds- not saying much). Internals and coatings are nothing special. Functional though. I don't think you're going to wow anyone with a PSA anything.

BCM seems higher end. No experience with them though.

odugrad · November 20, 2019, 10:25 AM

Just out of curiosity, what's a pistol upper? It's just a short barreled upper, right? Am I missing something?

Of the two, BCM all the way. BCM makes top notch products and their QC is second to none.

TrueBlue711 · November 20, 2019, 12:41 PM

BCM would be better quality no doubt. But the PSA will work great too. You need to ask what your budget is. If money isn't a concern, I'd go BCM. But if you want to save some money and use the savings for other things, I would go PSA. My pistol upper is also a "budget build" and it's never failed me in the 5+ years I've had it and hundreds of rounds going through it.

Theohazard · November 21, 2019, 06:59 AM

I’d go BCM if the gun is going to be for serious use. BCM is generally considered to be of higher quality than PSA.

Quote:

Originally Posted by odugrad

Just out of curiosity, what's a pistol upper? It's just a short barreled upper, right? Am I missing something?

Yeah, it’s just a sub-16” upper than can be used on a pistol or an SBR. You’re right, there’s really no such thing as a “pistol upper” since a pistol can have any length barrel, even over 16”, but it’s a fairly common term.

MagnumWill · November 21, 2019, 11:13 PM

Don't turn your nose up at Palmetto. BCM makes some good stuff for sure but so far I've had nothing but fantastic dependability from all of my PSA builds.

Granted I'm not buying their budget line stuff, but the sentiment still stands.

Fishbed77 · November 22, 2019, 09:14 AM

I own both. The BCM is the superior product, hands down.

Better finish, smoother cycling, and BCM's attention to QA/QC is well-known. If this is a defensive gun, it's a no-brainer.

That said, I own several PSAs in several calibers, and none of them have given me any issues, except for one 9x19mm carbine that required a lengthy trip back to PSA to cycle reliably.

Safestuffer · November 24, 2019, 12:40 AM

BCM for business
PSA for pleasure

November 19, 2019, 05:27 PM	#1
Juancts Member Join Date: July 16, 2013 Posts: 54	AR pistol build... PSA or BCM ?? I'm planning my first AR pistol build. Already have a Spikes lower with brace. Both Palmetto State and Bravo Company have complete AR pistol uppers available. BCM is more expensive. Which one you prefer and why ??? Which brand is better quality ??? Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

November 19, 2019, 06:55 PM	#2
smee78 Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2008 Location: South Carolina Posts: 2,918	I have built 2 pistol builds and used PSA kits. Went together fast and easy with no complaints. I would use them again with out a dought. __________________ We know exactly where one cow with Mad-cow-disease is located, among the millions and millions of cows in America, but we haven't got a clue where thousands of illegal immigrants and terrorists are

November 19, 2019, 09:11 PM	#4
Cheapshooter Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 8,306	My first build was a 300 AAC Blackout on a AP lower. Used the whole kit from PSA. Lower parts kit with enhanced trigger, SBA3 pistol brace, and PSA complete upper. No complaints what so ever. Went together without any problems, functions well, and is accurate with Sig Romeo 5 optic. Second build, again a AP lower. This time lower kit, and Mag Pull stock from PSA. With AR Stoner complete rifle upper in 450 Bushmaster from Midway USA. Again, quite satisfied with the results. You might want to look at MidwayUSA uppers just for grins. __________________ Cheapshooter's rules of gun ownership #1: NEVER SELL OR TRADE ANYTHING!

November 21, 2019, 11:13 PM	#9
MagnumWill Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2009 Location: Central Colorado Posts: 1,001	Don't turn your nose up at Palmetto. BCM makes some good stuff for sure but so far I've had nothing but fantastic dependability from all of my PSA builds. Granted I'm not buying their budget line stuff, but the sentiment still stands. __________________ Those who hammer their swords into plow shares will plow for those who didn't...

November 19, 2019, 08:41 PM	#3
raimius Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2008 Posts: 2,199	BCM is likely going to be put together a bit better (materials quality and specs) and likely face a more stringent quality control process. If this is a gun for defense or demanding training, I'd go BCM. PSA gets generally good reviews, and some trainers recommend them as budget guns/training guns. If you want a reliable upper, that is 80% as refined/tuned but half the price, go with PSA. I have uppers from both companies, and they are both fine (I don't have a lot of rounds through the PSA uppers, though).

November 20, 2019, 01:13 AM	#5
veprdude Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2019 Location: Texas Posts: 429	I bought a PSA pistol upper. No issues so far (~200 rounds- not saying much). Internals and coatings are nothing special. Functional though. I don't think you're going to wow anyone with a PSA anything. BCM seems higher end. No experience with them though.

November 20, 2019, 10:25 AM	#6
odugrad Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2013 Location: The East Coast Posts: 477	Just out of curiosity, what's a pistol upper? It's just a short barreled upper, right? Am I missing something? Of the two, BCM all the way. BCM makes top notch products and their QC is second to none.

November 20, 2019, 12:41 PM	#7
TrueBlue711 Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 2011 Posts: 489	BCM would be better quality no doubt. But the PSA will work great too. You need to ask what your budget is. If money isn't a concern, I'd go BCM. But if you want to save some money and use the savings for other things, I would go PSA. My pistol upper is also a "budget build" and it's never failed me in the 5+ years I've had it and hundreds of rounds going through it.

November 22, 2019, 09:14 AM	#10
Fishbed77 Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2010 Posts: 4,862	I own both. The BCM is the superior product, hands down. Better finish, smoother cycling, and BCM's attention to QA/QC is well-known. If this is a defensive gun, it's a no-brainer. That said, I own several PSAs in several calibers, and none of them have given me any issues, except for one 9x19mm carbine that required a lengthy trip back to PSA to cycle reliably.

November 24, 2019, 12:40 AM	#11
Safestuffer Senior Member Join Date: November 15, 2013 Posts: 101	BCM for business PSA for pleasure