PSA breaks $400 AR Barrier

[A.J. Holst]

I was at Bud's today, numerous ARs in stock

DPMS, SW, Ruger, Bushmaster priced from $500 - $650

I thought I saw a DD piston for $699.

I would like to see the rank and file assrmbled AR at or below $500...

[mikegideon]

2 minutes ago, Gotthegoods said:

I was at Bud's today, numerous ARs in stock

DPMS, SW, Ruger, Bushmaster priced from $500 - $650

I thought I saw a DD piston for $699.

I would like to see the rank and file assrmbled AR at or below $500...

A handguard can range between $15.00 and $300+. It's too easy to move the price of the rifle by moving any of the parts away from milspec.

[runco]

I guess I have to state I was being facetious or maybe tittering on a slight satire. 

[ARO Matt]

6 hours ago, mikegideon said:

A handguard can range between $15.00 and $300+. It's too easy to move the price of the rifle by moving any of the parts away from milspec.

This is what I was getting at with my point.  Receivers, with some exceptions, could probably be chosen based on your favorite looking roll mark or machine finish quality.  So where I want to be I'm spending money on a trigger, a barrel capable of sub MOA, preferably stainless, and a nice slim hand guard, free float, that is 13-15 inches long.  16" midgas 1:8, Wylde chamber you're ball parking $200.  Good trigger, ballpark another $200.  BCM KMR15, $275.  So just to change three items on these "under $400 builds" you're at $675.  Add the remaining parts, a Magpul or B5 stock, H2 buffer, and an inexpensive red-dot on top and you're at $1000 just as a rough guess.  But it'll outshoot the standard PSA carbine kit all day.  This is not to knock PSA, this is to say, for what I want and expect out of the AR platform, the sub $400 just doesn't get there until I change out parts to suit my needs, then it's not what PSA aimed for for certain customers.

[mikegideon]

44 minutes ago, ARO Matt said:

This is what I was getting at with my point.  Receivers, with some exceptions, could probably be chosen based on your favorite looking roll mark or machine finish quality.  So where I want to be I'm spending money on a trigger, a barrel capable of sub MOA, preferably stainless, and a nice slim hand guard, free float, that is 13-15 inches long.  16" midgas 1:8, Wylde chamber you're ball parking $200.  Good trigger, ballpark another $200.  BCM KMR15, $275.  So just to change three items on these "under $400 builds" you're at $675.  Add the remaining parts, a Magpul or B5 stock, H2 buffer, and an inexpensive red-dot on top and you're at $1000 just as a rough guess.  But it'll outshoot the standard PSA carbine kit all day.  This is not to knock PSA, this is to say, for what I want and expect out of the AR platform, the sub $400 just doesn't get there until I change out parts to suit my needs, then it's not what PSA aimed for for certain customers.

Don't underestimate some of the psa barrels. Last one I built for my brother was sub moa with a stainless freedom 16 inch middy barrel, Kmr handguard, and a Geissele Ssa-e. I did lap the upper receiver and bed the barrel extension. 

Edited January 29, 2017 by mikegideon