Palmetto State Armory AR’s - I’m impressed

[Red*Lion]

Yes PSA still does sell AR's and completed uppers using FN CHF barrels. I had a 16" with an FN barrel that ran great. Gave it to my ex so that she had a rifle on hand in case.

[SteyrAUG]

Colts TDP even has a height measurement for the displacement of staking on carrier key bolts, and their 7075 REs are hammer forged. Again there is a standard.

Every time I consider a budget AR for "whatever", this is what I come back to. If there was a $1,000 price difference I could understand it, it's why I still haven't snagged a Knights rifle even though I've wanted one for 20 years.

But by the time you upgrade a PSA or other budget price AR, you are almost in Colt territory and the difference is even if you completely swap out the BCG and buffer assembly and order it with a FN barrel you still don't have a known quantity.

Now I've had a Bushmaster in the past, they made their 11.5 "entry model" available long before Colt offered their 6933 without a PD letterhead for purchase. I've also got a Armalite factory SBR because I snagged a LE trade in cheap. I put a lot of rounds through both and ran them suppressed and not a single hiccup, but they were never my "go to" carbine if things started looking spooky.

So long as I use reliable mags they will probably both outlast me and run 100% but they aren't gonna be my "go to" firearm because they still aren't a 100% completely known quantity. When I run a Colt for anything serious, it's one less thing I have to be worried about if they are getting worrisome. And to me that's worth a LOT more than $200 to $300.

My Colt SP1 from 1981 probably has 30,000 rounds through it at this point and I'm still on original parts.

[JediGuy]

My Colt SP1 from 1981 probably has 30,000 rounds through it at this point and I'm still on original parts.

That’s just cool.

[BuzzinSATX]

You do understand 99% of the concern is that those good people might one day need to depend on that budget brand and it could fail them. Those new shooters also won't understand (in most cases) how to correct common CQ issues.

Same argument could be incorrectly applied towards “training before being allowed to buy”…as in “most new shooters also won’t understand safe/proper/effective/(fill in blank)”
so we shouldn’t let them buy/own a gun.

Most of these AR’s won’t see 300 rounds a year. As long as it’s brought out and a few mags are fired through it to make sure it functions, the large majority of these guns will work out fine.

We can generally assume the cheaper guns won’t last as long, or shoot as tight, or take as much abuse as a proven brand, but certainly for most people’s uses, the Rugers and PSA’s will be adequate for the level on intended use and purpose.


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[SteyrAUG]

Same argument could be incorrectly applied towards “training before being allowed to buy”…as in “most new shooters also won’t understand safe/proper/effective/(fill in blank)”
so we shouldn’t let them buy/own a gun.

But my point wasn't they shouldn't be allowed to have them, my point was I worry about them. I also worry about untrained shooters for the same reason but that doesn't mean they shouldn't be allowed a gun.

If it was somebody I cared about, I'd rather see them take their chances with an unproven firearm and no real training than have no chance at all if they needed to defend themselves. But I'd worry about the outcome.

As far as other applications...hobby guns never bothered me. I own an XCR, I know what it is.

[BuzzinSATX]

But my point wasn't they shouldn't be allowed to have them, my point was I worry about them. I also worry about untrained shooters for the same reason but that doesn't mean they shouldn't be allowed a gun.

If it was somebody I cared about, I'd rather see them take their chances with an unproven firearm and no real training than have no chance at all if they needed to defend themselves. But I'd worry about the outcome.

As far as other applications...hobby guns never bothered me. I own an XCR, I know what it is.

I understand what you’re saying but folks are gonna prioritize their lives based on resources, preferences, etc.

I think Mr and Ms “I don’t need a stinking AR-15” are waking up. They see the shitshow that our world is entering another level of chaos, and they are entering the evil black rifle world.

The chances today are still very slim they will ever need it, but if they get to the range a couple times a year and have some fun, we might win a new 2A proponent.

Plus, I do believe the PSA business model, which had a rough beginning, has really started putting out better quality products.


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[BuzzinSATX]

As far as PSA products go, I think their most overlooked long gun, even by them, is the KS-47.

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-...ept-rifle.html

They come in and out of stock constantly but I suspect that’s because they are more focused on making their AK clones.

I bought one after a neighbor gave me 3K rounds of 7.62*39 he didn’t want to haul back to Cali when he left Texas. I didn’t want an AK and liked that they took AK mags. The one I have one that has been flawless in the first thousand-ish rounds. I get under an inch group with all steel Wolf blasting fodder at 50 yards.

Will it run for 10K rounds? 20K rounds? I have no idea, but I honestly don’t plan to put that many through it. I shoot couple times a month and plan on shooting much more in a few years when I retire, but my long gun cartridge of volume any more is .22LR (I rebuilt a Ruger 10/22 into a tack driver and it’s a freaking hoot) followed by .223. And to complicate things, I’m getting way more interested in accumulating and shooting bolt and lever guns, so my AR’s are kinda dusty.


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[sadmin]

I think part of it is that we have reached an apex with technology and manufacturing where even a budget AR is OK for intermittent shooting which is all most are partaking in. I have a friend who enjoys touting Bear Creek upper, which has a few K rounds thought it, and it shoots just fine.

18 years ago, my Stag was "budget" and was nowhere near as good as a current PSA, and cost a few hundred more (market dependent ofc) 10 years before that, my Olympic Arms was hot garbage. The sauce is in the barrel so if they are sourcing from FN, and are competent enough to stake a carrier and pin a gas block, its hard to screw it up these days.

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Same argument could be incorrectly applied towards “training before being allowed to buy”…as in “most new shooters also won’t understand safe/proper/effective/(fill in blank)”
so we shouldn’t let them buy/own a gun.

Most of these AR’s won’t see 300 rounds a year. As long as it’s brought out and a few mags are fired through it to make sure it functions, the large majority of these guns will work out fine.

We can generally assume the cheaper guns won’t last as long, or shoot as tight, or take as much abuse as a proven brand, but certainly for most people’s uses, the Rugers and PSA’s will be adequate for the level on intended use and purpose.

I agree. I got a cheap $400 pencil barrel PSA. Nothing has been done to it other than mounting a red dot and brake to tame it down. Four cases and not a single hiccup. It now resides in the back of the safe not likely to see the light of day anytime soon. It served its purpose. Not every gun in the safe needs to be battle-worthy else suffer lack of sleep in worry.

[indianalex01]

I agree. I got a cheap $400 pencil barrel PSA. Nothing has been done to it other than mounting a red dot and brake to tame it down. Four cases and not a single hiccup. It now resides in the back of the safe not likely to see the light of day anytime soon. It served its purpose. Not every gun in the safe needs to be battle-worthy else suffer lack of sleep in worry.

“Tame it down”. What are you shooting through it to warrant taming it down. The recoil is so light as is…