As always, I have no affiliation with Palmetto State or any other gun company, and this is presented for your information only. Check local regulations, etc. before buying. I assume most of you already get the PSA deal emails but if you don’t….
An upper with a stainless barrel including the bolt carrier group and charging handle for $269.99 and a complete lower for $99 freaking dollars? $370 plus a little for tax, shipping and likely a transfer fee at your local gun store is still a smoking deal. I am not a big fan of shiny stainless barrels for your primary go-to AR but that is a hard to beat price. You could probably rattle can it if you wanted but it needs to be a paint that will withstand high temps.
While most of you, and also speaking to myself, don’t need another AR-15, some of you might and this is one of those great deals that will disappear if something serious happens, either before the election or after Trump “wins” and takes office.
I like the Palmetto State alright for uppers and components. I get my lowers from 80% Arms and have them ceracoated after machining.
Without looking at all the details that does indeed seem to be an excellent deal. When I built my AR from scratch 5 years ago about half the parts came from Palmetto.
Just zeroed (irons) on a PSA complete upper ($230) and complete lower ($99). Good trigger, no issues.
Looking for a good value optic for it which doesn’t cost more than the carbine, and a good sling in the same category.
Holosun for red dot or Primary Arms for a prism or LPVO, other things are decent budget choices.
PSA sometimes has sales on optics too.
It makes my skin crawl, buying “combat” equipment from the Chinamens.
But…Holosun and PA have excellent glass, excellent emitters, they have great features like solar collectors and shake-awake that Trijicon, Aimpoint, EoTech and Steiner don’t have…it’s getting harder and harder to justify buying American and European instead of Chinese. The PA prismatics look really interesting-I might have to actual try one out.
FWIW, I’d recommend a prism type optic. One that has an etched reticle. They are often illuminated, so you get the benefit of that, however, they will keep working once all the batteries die. Everyone with cheap red dots will be in deep do do if all the 2032s dry up. Just my 2 cents, YMMV, etc…
Do you have a brand that you’d care to pass along? It would be greatly appreciated! What manufacturer is PA? Thanks.
“PA” is “Primary Arms.” They have some really neat prism scopes, which like Bowman said, have some excellent features. Think ACOG, at 1/4-1/3 the price.
Used a Vortex Spitfire (I think it was) on another guy’s AR. Etched reticle, BDC, and 3X magnification.
Amazing optic and a great price.
I use an AIMPOINT PRO on one of my ARs and, other than astigmatism turning the dot into a squiggle, it’ll do. But the Spitfire was about 30% of what the PRO cost!
I get my LPVOs from Primary Arms
I am the process of obtaining a AK-101 from them. It is 5.56. It being in the caliber as my AR-15, I will not need to start buying ammunition in a different caliber.
Back in 2020 I switched to just 5.56/9mm for most everything, I have 6.5 for deer/long range but otherwise just the two most common calibers.
Something not to forget is training. The one is none, two is one thing is fine, but you can’t buy your way to being proficient with your platform. This thing is a real gamechanger:
https://mantisx.com/pages/blackbeard-ar-trigger-resetting-system?msclkid=e04b2b5ee0f1119e74384dd4551cce32
Stove paint or engine paint if you want to go cheap and fast.
Aluma-Hyde from Browneĺs
If you want to take your time and spend a couple of more bucks. I’ve used both. Aluma-Hyde is actually a good product. Do a good prep, follow directions and you’ll be happy with the results.