My latest PSA AR15 Build
Been wanting a basic 20 inch AR15.
Looked at A1 20in. upper (no bolt or charging handle) at the KC Gunshow. There was no price tag on it while everything else had price tags. Asked the dealer what he wanted for it. He said $850!!!
I said "Wow $850 for an upper that doesn't have a bolt or charging handle!"
He's like "make me an offer." I'm say "there is no offer that I can make that will come anywhere near what you are asking. I'm used to PSA pricing."
He starts getting argumentative and says this is an "Original Colt none of that PSA JUNK!" I reply, "I wouldn't be able to tell the difference and AR pricing is in the dumps."
I then said "Good luck! Your going to need it" and walked away. Guy seemed like a real prick but I'm sure I wasn't all that nice either.
Anywho - I ordered a 20 inch A3 Kit from PSA, 3 surplus carry handles from Gun Broker, and bought a PSA receiver from my local gun shop. Put this one together for $460:
Did some sighting in this afternoon off my back porch (25yds). Shoots OK if I can do my part. Should've held out for their EPT trigger kit though.
The lawn chair doesn't work that great.
Looked at A1 20in. upper (no bolt or charging handle) at the KC Gunshow. There was no price tag on it while everything else had price tags. Asked the dealer what he wanted for it. He said $850!!!
I said "Wow $850 for an upper that doesn't have a bolt or charging handle!"
He's like "make me an offer." I'm say "there is no offer that I can make that will come anywhere near what you are asking. I'm used to PSA pricing."
He starts getting argumentative and says this is an "Original Colt none of that PSA JUNK!" I reply, "I wouldn't be able to tell the difference and AR pricing is in the dumps."
I then said "Good luck! Your going to need it" and walked away. Guy seemed like a real prick but I'm sure I wasn't all that nice either.
Anywho - I ordered a 20 inch A3 Kit from PSA, 3 surplus carry handles from Gun Broker, and bought a PSA receiver from my local gun shop. Put this one together for $460:
Did some sighting in this afternoon off my back porch (25yds). Shoots OK if I can do my part. Should've held out for their EPT trigger kit though.
The lawn chair doesn't work that great.
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That looks really nice! Thanks for bringing up the carry handles too, I need to scare up a couple more as well. 0 -
Horse Plains Drifter wrote:That looks really nice! Thanks for bringing up the carry handles too, I need to scare up a couple more as well.
Bought 3 from this fella.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/824920211
I don't know if they are US Made original surplus or Chinese junk but they seem to click positively and work decently.0 -
Nice. I put together a PSA AR 10 a couple weeks ago for just a little over 500. My Sightmark wraith came in for it today 0 -
Looks great, Drobs. That's close to what I have wrapped up in mine, but it's a carbine, and a Heinz 57 when it comes to all the different parts I used. This reminds me also that I need a carry handle, too, or at least the real deal this time. The one I picked up from AIM Sports was 100% chinesium potmetal garbage not suitable for an airsoft gun, and their "lifetime warranty" was neither lifetime, nor a warranty. 0 -
I found some genuine beat up looking carry handles on Ebarf. Ordered 1 and should've ordered more.
This PSA Pistol of mine is sporting that one:0 -
Nice!
I bet you that guy from the gunshow still has his Colt upper!0 -
Back when I had my shop, we were authorized Colt LE dealers. I was a virtual slave to Colt, or I was if I wanted more M-16 sales samples. I'm clear of the Colt habit and when I was looking for an A-2 upper for a build using an old Ace tubular stock leftover from the Crime Bill I opted for PSA:
I dumped the A-2 hand guards, which I never liked, and added a quadrail along with a MagPul grip, handstop and a SIG Sauer flash hider. The rifle shoots quite well.
When compared with my PDW, the size difference between the two rifles is striking! (note the use of a single exclamation point :evil:)0 -
Warbirds wrote:Nice!
I bet you that guy from the gunshow still has his Colt upper!
I think you're right. Went to the Springfield Gun Show on Saturday and was a little disappointed he wasn't there.
I was debating buying a Capco A2 Upper from this seller on GB:
https://www.gunbroker.com/All/search?IncludeSellers=3181892
Seems the Capco uppers were used at some point to rebuild Air Force A1 Rifles into A2 Rifles. So the story goes. The above seller has bunch of Capco uppers but only lists them 1 at a time. Problem there is I can build another PSA rifle for the same price as the upper.0 -
mark christian wrote:Back when I had my shop, we were authorized Colt LE dealers. I was a virtual slave to Colt, or I was if I wanted more M-16 sales samples. I'm clear of the Colt habit and when I was looking for an A-2 upper for a build using an old Ace tubular stock leftover from the Crime Bill I opted for PSA:
I dumped the A-2 hand guards, which I never liked, and added a quadrail along with a MagPul grip, handstop and a SIG Sauer flash hider. The rifle shoots quite well.
When compared with my PDW, the size difference between the two rifles is striking! (note the use of a single exclamation point :evil:)
Looks good Mark.
I wanted old school A2/A3 stocks for this one. Have 3 other AR's with Mag Pul accessories.
My AR count is now up to 5 AR's. 4 of which are PSA's.
Friend of another gunboard inspired me with this pic:0 -
I had to go cold turkey and stop opening PSA sales adds
they had me hooked well I built about a dozen all parts bought on the auctions or PSA tossed in a 308 rifle and pistol and a couple 300 blackouts in with the 5.56 .
have a lot of projects going on but
I find myself thinking I heed to order more lowers :shock: :oops: :oops:0 -
"Original Colt none of that PSA JUNK!"
I hate to upset all the "prancing pony" aficionados BUT. I have exactly ONE "PP" (Colt) upper. It has the sloppiest chamber/headspace of any of my AR's. So sloppy in fact that I use it to burn up the improperly sized reloads I end up as a consequence of using mixed range brass.
I'm getting maxed out on AR's since I've been house bound for a month. I've used up all the barrels I'd rat holed over the last couple of years and even hit the BCA bargain bin a few times.
As for "carry handles", I don't care for them all that much. Most things I'd use a .223 for require an optic. If it's close enough for open sights, I use a 22lr.
I do have a couple of A2 uppers that just sit around waiting for a need which hasn't come yet.0 -
I am in many AR-15 groups on Facebook and PSA is the target of quite a bit of bashing. Anyone that dare to show interest or speak kindly of PSA is considered a "poor". Which really gets annoying. PSA and Anderson get trashed while Aero precision gets lauded, haven't figured that one out since Aero and PSA are direct competitors. I've owned, and own many PSA items, and all of them work as they are supposed to...I've built alot of rifles over the years on PSA lowers, and never had one out of spec. i currently have a PA-10, AR9, and several rifles on their lowers. The positive of PSA is they've driven the price of ARs down...great for increasing accessibility, but sucks for devaluing all of my older stuff! PSA is perfectly adequate for most civilians needs, not sure I'd want to take it as my only option into a GTW situation or contracting.
I will be one of the first in line for their new MP5 clone as soon as they finally release it. I bet they will be sold out in the first 20 minutes it's available.0 -
Mobuck wrote:"Original Colt none of that PSA JUNK!"
I hate to upset all the "prancing pony" aficionados BUT. I have exactly ONE "PP" (Colt) upper. It has the sloppiest chamber/headspace of any of my AR's. So sloppy in fact that I use it to burn up the improperly sized reloads I end up as a consequence of using mixed range brass.
I'm getting maxed out on AR's since I've been house bound for a month. I've used up all the barrels I'd rat holed over the last couple of years and even hit the BCA bargain bin a few times.
As for "carry handles", I don't care for them all that much. Most things I'd use a .223 for require an optic. If it's close enough for open sights, I use a 22lr.
I do have a couple of A2 uppers that just sit around waiting for a need which hasn't come yet.
I've been meaning to cut down one of these carry handles to match the $155 LMT Tactical Rear Sight:
https://lmtdefense.com/parts/l8a
DPMS used to make that exact sight in the USA and sell them for $60. I had it on 2 past AR's - that were traded off. Now the choices are LMT or China for that style of sight. The 3rd option is to buy a cheaper surplus carry handle and cut yourself.0 -
shilowar wrote:I am in many AR-15 groups on Facebook and PSA is the target of quite a bit of bashing. Anyone that dare to show interest or speak kindly of PSA is considered a "poor". Which really gets annoying. PSA and Anderson get trashed while Aero precision gets lauded, haven't figured that one out since Aero and PSA are direct competitors. I've owned, and own many PSA items, and all of them work as they are supposed to...I've built alot of rifles over the years on PSA lowers, and never had one out of spec. i currently have a PA-10, AR9, and several rifles on their lowers. The positive of PSA is they've driven the price of ARs down...great for increasing accessibility, but sucks for devaluing all of my older stuff! PSA is perfectly adequate for most civilians needs, not sure I'd want to take it as my only option into a GTW situation or contracting.
I will be one of the first in line for their new MP5 clone as soon as they finally release it. I bet they will be sold out in the first 20 minutes it's available.
What I like about PSA is it's a known quality. They are reliable.
I had 3 uppers from other companies that don't function (double feeds & stove pipes). Have a Radical Firearms Upper on my safe that doesn't work. Had a DSA upper with those same problems. Plus I got skunked on a complete upper I bought off gunbroker while overseas.0 -
drobs wrote:Mobuck wrote:"Original Colt none of that PSA JUNK!"
I hate to upset all the "prancing pony" aficionados BUT. I have exactly ONE "PP" (Colt) upper. It has the sloppiest chamber/headspace of any of my AR's. So sloppy in fact that I use it to burn up the improperly sized reloads I end up as a consequence of using mixed range brass.
I'm getting maxed out on AR's since I've been house bound for a month. I've used up all the barrels I'd rat holed over the last couple of years and even hit the BCA bargain bin a few times.
As for "carry handles", I don't care for them all that much. Most things I'd use a .223 for require an optic. If it's close enough for open sights, I use a 22lr.
I do have a couple of A2 uppers that just sit around waiting for a need which hasn't come yet.
I've been meaning to cut down one of these carry handles to match the $155 LMT Tactical Rear Sight:
https://lmtdefense.com/parts/l8a
DPMS used to make that exact sight in the USA and sell them for $60. I had it on 2 past AR's - that were traded off. Now the choices are LMT or China for that style of sight. The 3rd option is to buy a cheaper surplus carry handle and cut yourself.
I sold an LMT yesterday that had that sight on it...0 -
^^very nice! 0 -
Yeah Radical Firearms is another that has a horrible reputation.drobs wrote:shilowar wrote:I am in many AR-15 groups on Facebook and PSA is the target of quite a bit of bashing. Anyone that dare to show interest or speak kindly of PSA is considered a "poor". Which really gets annoying. PSA and Anderson get trashed while Aero precision gets lauded, haven't figured that one out since Aero and PSA are direct competitors. I've owned, and own many PSA items, and all of them work as they are supposed to...I've built alot of rifles over the years on PSA lowers, and never had one out of spec. i currently have a PA-10, AR9, and several rifles on their lowers. The positive of PSA is they've driven the price of ARs down...great for increasing accessibility, but sucks for devaluing all of my older stuff! PSA is perfectly adequate for most civilians needs, not sure I'd want to take it as my only option into a GTW situation or contracting.
I will be one of the first in line for their new MP5 clone as soon as they finally release it. I bet they will be sold out in the first 20 minutes it's available.
What I like about PSA is it's a known quality. They are reliable.
I had 3 uppers from other companies that don't function (double feeds & stove pipes). Have a Radical Firearms Upper on my safe that doesn't work. Had a DSA upper with those same problems. Plus I got skunked on a complete upper I bought off gunbroker while overseas.0 -
I noticed the gunshops around here have a real boner for PSA anything.The internet commandos have a boner for PSA,40 cal anything and Nikon optics.I have had good results with all 3. 0 -
buddyb wrote:I noticed the gunshops around here have a real boner for PSA anything.The internet commandos have a boner for PSA,40 cal anything and Nikon optics.I have had good results with all 3.
The gunshop I buy the majority of my stripped receivers from carries PSA uppers, lowers, and complete rifles. Seems the smart way to go instead of trying to compete with PSA.0 -
Are your hand guards on that thing really round?
I have a PSA Glock mag fed 9mm AR, wanted to do a "dissipator" style look to it. Got a gas block with set screws and rail height rails on it, a Spikes barrel nut/delta ring/spring set up, and ordered a set of "rifle length round" hand guards from PSA as well as a triangle end cap.
The hand guards are *very* oval. The triangle end cap wouldn't fit - had to go to a round one. The back ends would barely fit into the delta ring.
Dropped PSA an email, they say "that is normal and in-spec" and that I should've used a triangle end cap. Replied back stating that I tried using one of theirs and included a picture of it not fitting over the ends, that was 2 months ago and haven't heard back.
Love my PSA lowers (all set up with A2 stocks), and was considering a AR-10 from them as well but after this experience I'm not so sure....0 -
This thread reminded me I have an old 20" Delton AR with a carry handle hidden away somewhere around here!!
I have a couple of this model carry handle and actually found it to be pretty nice. I got them for less than fifty bucks though. They claim to be designed and made in the US,...who knows for certain. I can say they are MUCH nicer than a couple of Chinee ones I have seen on friends firearms.
https://tinyurl.com/y4hveo2t
I still have two of those old DPMS cut-off style rear sights as well. One is on a .308 DPMS, and I think the second is still in the box.0 -
llama wrote:Are your hand guards on that thing really round?
I have a PSA Glock mag fed 9mm AR, wanted to do a "dissipator" style look to it. Got a gas block with set screws and rail height rails on it, a Spikes barrel nut/delta ring/spring set up, and ordered a set of "rifle length round" hand guards from PSA as well as a triangle end cap.
The hand guards are *very* oval. The triangle end cap wouldn't fit - had to go to a round one. The back ends would barely fit into the delta ring.
Dropped PSA an email, they say "that is normal and in-spec" and that I should've used a triangle end cap. Replied back stating that I tried using one of theirs and included a picture of it not fitting over the ends, that was 2 months ago and haven't heard back.
Love my PSA lowers (all set up with A2 stocks), and was considering a AR-10 from them as well but after this experience I'm not so sure....
Are you talking about M4 hand guards versus carbine hand guards?
Carbine
M40 -
shilowar wrote:llama wrote:Are your hand guards on that thing really round?
I have a PSA Glock mag fed 9mm AR, wanted to do a "dissipator" style look to it. Got a gas block with set screws and rail height rails on it, a Spikes barrel nut/delta ring/spring set up, and ordered a set of "rifle length round" hand guards from PSA as well as a triangle end cap.
The hand guards are *very* oval. The triangle end cap wouldn't fit - had to go to a round one. The back ends would barely fit into the delta ring.
Dropped PSA an email, they say "that is normal and in-spec" and that I should've used a triangle end cap. Replied back stating that I tried using one of theirs and included a picture of it not fitting over the ends, that was 2 months ago and haven't heard back.
Love my PSA lowers (all set up with A2 stocks), and was considering a AR-10 from them as well but after this experience I'm not so sure....
Are you talking about M4 hand guards versus carbine hand guards?
Carbine
M4
Nope, 12" rifle length A2 style hand guards.0 -
Marc1301 wrote:This thread reminded me I have an old 20" Delton AR with a carry handle hidden away somewhere around here!!
I have a couple of this model carry handle and actually found it to be pretty nice. I got them for less than fifty bucks though. They claim to be designed and made in the US,...who knows for certain. I can say they are MUCH nicer than a couple of Chinee ones I have seen on friends firearms.
https://tinyurl.com/y4hveo2t
I still have two of those old DPMS cut-off style rear sights as well. One is on a .308 DPMS, and I think the second is still in the box.
I ended up chopping my carry handle down to look like the DPMS sight. It actually sits straight now, and is at least usable, but it's just a stop-gap at this point. I don't know if the carry handle was cast crooked, or machined crooked, but the front 3/4 was canted several degrees to the left. I'll eventually replace the upper with an A1 or A2 upper anyway.0 -
35 Whelen wrote:Marc1301 wrote:This thread reminded me I have an old 20" Delton AR with a carry handle hidden away somewhere around here!!
I have a couple of this model carry handle and actually found it to be pretty nice. I got them for less than fifty bucks though. They claim to be designed and made in the US,...who knows for certain. I can say they are MUCH nicer than a couple of Chinee ones I have seen on friends firearms.
https://tinyurl.com/y4hveo2t
I still have two of those old DPMS cut-off style rear sights as well. One is on a .308 DPMS, and I think the second is still in the box.
I ended up chopping my carry handle down to look like the DPMS sight. It actually sits straight now, and is at least usable, but it's just a stop-gap at this point. I don't know if the carry handle was cast crooked, or machined crooked, but the front 3/4 was canted several degrees to the left. I'll eventually replace the upper with an A1 or A2 upper anyway.
UTG offers a decent inexpensive set that is similar. Watch when you order since there are different sight heights (mounting front on gas block vs on rail/rail height gas block). Like the site picture on my set better than the flip up magpuls I got. Seems like they are well made, they adjust properly, I have 0 complains and if I need another set of irons I'll happily buy again.0 -
llama wrote:Are your hand guards on that thing really round?
I have a PSA Glock mag fed 9mm AR, wanted to do a "dissipator" style look to it. Got a gas block with set screws and rail height rails on it, a Spikes barrel nut/delta ring/spring set up, and ordered a set of "rifle length round" hand guards from PSA as well as a triangle end cap.
The hand guards are *very* oval. The triangle end cap wouldn't fit - had to go to a round one. The back ends would barely fit into the delta ring.
Dropped PSA an email, they say "that is normal and in-spec" and that I should've used a triangle end cap. Replied back stating that I tried using one of theirs and included a picture of it not fitting over the ends, that was 2 months ago and haven't heard back.
Love my PSA lowers (all set up with A2 stocks), and was considering a AR-10 from them as well but after this experience I'm not so sure....
The hand guards on this 20 inch A3 are definitely oval in shape. It's one of the complaints on the reviews of this rifle kit / upper. They will work for my purpose.
I use this hand guard removal tool:
https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/rifle-tools/handguard-tools/ar-15-m16-308-ar-handguard-removal-tool-prod24202.aspx
I think my only gripe on this rifle is the tapered end of the barrel where the flash hider is attached. Colt AR barrels (from what I've seen) don't have that taper. I'll live with it.0
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