Mega Rad Gun Thread

[Club Sandwich]

First I was told to get a PSA AR. Now everyone says PSA is shit.

question people who might not have a wide, informed, and numerous first hand experiences to draw on, yet have strong opinions on what you should do in your situation. trust, but verify. if you have a particular rifle you what to buy, put hands on it and inspect it and shoot it, and if you like it buy that specific gun. this will avoid many issues if you are reasonably informed on how to inspect for function and mechanical quality.

i suggest PSA because they manufacture a minimum viable product and AR-15's are functionally lego parts where someone with some mechanical aptitude can parts swap to fix most issues easily. i've worked on a few dozen PSA rifles and the worst and most consistent issue was severely over-torqued barrel nuts, lacking staking on the gas key and/or castle nut (which isn't required technically, but it's good practice and is part of the M16 technical data package for assembly) and on multiple occasions PSA seems to not include a sling or cleaning kit, but that seems normal at the budget end.

PSA isn't Hesse/Vulcan. they aren't Special Weapons or Double-Star or Bear Creek or whatever. it's not a mix master of custom parts assembled by idiots like PO's Carbon-15 or various CAI firearms over the years. it's not an early RobArms or FAC's G3 weirdness. a basic PSA AR-15 is an AR-15, one of the most popular rifle designs on the planet. you aren't in a lurch if you need spare parts or something fixed or lack of guides/tutorials.

it's worth noting that there are only a dozen forges for AR-15 parts, and small parts are made by only a slightly wider array of companies. after this you're dealing with secret sauce parts that are unique to a manufacturer. what most labels do is finish machining, metal finish, assembly, and provide QA/QC. out of that, the business is managing a retail inventory, COTS, fixed costs, and CS. where some companies decide to put more money and effort into varies.

if you want the "easy answer", then drop $2k on an LWRC or LMT or KAC and call it a day. any failures will be on you at that point.

 

[Falcos_Commisar]

First I was told to get a PSA AR. Now everyone says PSA is shit.

TWO people are bleating about PSA.

You've also been told to save for a no shit runs like a scalded ale upper as well but you repeated mentioned you have an extremely tight Budget.....

If you said "Kiwibros, I'm getting drafted to go to a trench in Ukraine next week and I need to buy my own AR" we'd say, get an XYZ so you'll be absolutely sure it's gold to go in combat.

An AK.... Same thing, get an XYZ so you know it's good to go.

 

[Club Sandwich]

to be completely fair, too, i can see how a PSA basic bitch AR might be a lot less tolerant of lack of PMCS from unformed owners than an SR-15 or MARS.

 

[Boney]

to be completely fair, too, i can see how a PSA basic bitch AR might be a lot less tolerant of lack of PMCS from unformed owners than an SR-15 or MARS.

I just don't expect to have to do a dis & ass right out of the box. The guy getting paid to put it together should be doing a better job than me. Sure, if its all in spec it just doesn't matter. But ehhhhhh....

 

[BallsMcLongDong]

At least for the AR platform it is relatively simple that you can build one from parts/rigging. Good luck making a watch movement from scratch.

You rang? It's not as simple but can be done, typically the same way you do the rifle. You find the base and buy parts till you put one together.

 

[Darkholme's Dungeon]

If you said "Kiwibros, I'm getting drafted to go to a trench in Ukraine next week and I need to buy my own AR" we'd say, get an XYZ so you'll be absolutely sure it's gold to go in combat.

Just pick up an AS Val as a battlefield drop like that Ukrainian farmer did lmao.

An AK.... Same thing, get an XYZ so you know it's good to go.

Speaking of which, what's a good AK to buy prebuilt? I wanted a 5.45 version so I'm guessing either a WBP 5.45 AKM or SAM-5?

I wanted to build an StG-942 from parts (If I could even find parts) but I realized I'd just probably be better off modifying a Arsenal 10 parts kit and replace the wood furniture.

You rang? It's not as simple but can be done, typically the same way you do the rifle. You find the base and buy parts till you put one together.

I know about 2 people (Edit: That I've met) who can make an entire watch (movement included) from scratch. One's an instructor and the other does older aircraft mechanical movement repairs for a living.

 

[EggImpregnator]

First I was told to get a PSA AR. Now everyone says PSA is shit.

BUY A PISTOL

 

[BallsMcLongDong]

I know about 2 people (Edit: That I've met) who can make an entire watch (movement included) from scratch. One's an instructor and the other does older aircraft mechanical movement repairs for a living.

It's the same thing, just on a micro scale. You pick a (watch) caliber you like or want to work on, buy all the parts and assemble. If we're talking manufacturing your own gears, rubies, etc...That's a little different level of autism. When you assemble a rifle, most people aren't milling their own parts, it's like lego.

 

[Romulus augustulus]

I'll say this: My LMT never choked on any kind of ammo (and with 5.56 i only shoot the worst TBH) while my PSA M4orgery chokes on anything but the nicest brass case.

Probably shouldn't have sold it but i made a handsome $500 profit on it. Had a Stiener 3x optic on it.

 

[WhoBusTank69]

Taurus makes an FNC in 30 carbine

I only want it because .30 Carbine is sweet and it probably has less stoppages than an M1(A1).

Meanwhile Remington literally made trash for nearly 20 years and they're still getting passes.

Counterpoint: People pay the ~$800 for a stock 700 all so they can use the receiver for M24 or M40A3 LARPing.

 

[Club Sandwich]

I'll say this: My LMT never choked on any kind of ammo (and with 5.56 i only shoot the worst TBH) while my PSA M4orgery chokes on anything but the nicest brass case.

Probably shouldn't have sold it but i made a handsome $500 profit on it. Had a Stiener 3x optic on it.

isn't that an anderson lower? i'm guessing it's a PSA upper? tbh, standardizing on good ammunition instead of mix mastering gucci and trash ammo in your logistics is the way to go. i like to recommend people stick with M193 (or XM193, whatever the label is) ammunition since that hits the "medium" between the two, nearly all AR-15's perform well enough with it for fighting purposes, and from a reputable manufacturer there's very little variance because it's used so widely from inside and outside the US that also use 5.56 (Europe, Asia, Americas, surplus, commercial, et c).

 

[T-800]

First I was told to get a PSA AR. Now everyone says PSA is shit.

Just get one of those poor people credit cards and buy a good gun faggot.

 

[Burekbossman]

Speaking of which, what's a good AK to buy prebuilt? I wanted a 5.45 version so I'm guessing either a WBP 5.45 AKM or SAM-5?

I've got an SLR 104FR, so I'd vouch for Arsenal's quality with the SAM-5..

 

[likeacrackado]

to be completely fair, too, i can see how a PSA basic bitch AR might be a lot less tolerant of lack of PMCS from unformed owners than an SR-15 or MARS.

I've met enough people that couldn't tell that their gas block walked off the shoulder to recommend something like PSA to a newbie. But if someone puts in the time to learn and actually shoot, they're alright guns(same with all big brand "mil spec" budget ARs). If not, there isn't an AR under $1k I'd trust straight out of the box.

 

[BohrokSwarms]

I am prior service Army and I was very familiar with the M4. If everything 5.56 really is just a semi-auto only M4 then I feel like I can take it apart from memory, it was really easy to learn even for me. If what I get turns out to be completely different internally somehow then yeah I guess I’ll probably break it or let it break itself without realizing

 

[Pretend To Imagine]

isn't that an anderson lower? i'm guessing it's a PSA upper? tbh, standardizing on good ammunition instead of mix mastering gucci and trash ammo in your logistics is the way to go. i like to recommend people stick with M193 (or XM193, whatever the label is) ammunition since that hits the "medium" between the two, nearly all AR-15's perform well enough with it for fighting purposes, and from a reputable manufacturer there's very little variance because it's used so widely from inside and outside the US that also use 5.56 (Europe, Asia, Americas, surplus, commercial, et c).

I just shoot M193 out of a 20” barrel. Same ammo for practice and defense

 

[WhoBusTank69]

I've met enough people that couldn't tell that their gas block walked off the shoulder to recommend something like PSA to a newbie.

You've got me there, at least Aero tells you that the gas block screws on their assembled uppers aren't torqued down and the barrel isn't dimpled.
Wait, they don't

 

[Club Sandwich]

I am prior service Army and I was very familiar with the M4. If everything 5.56 really is just a semi-auto only M4 then I feel like I can take it apart from memory, it was really easy to learn even for me. If what I get turns out to be completely different internally somehow then yeah I guess I’ll probably break it or let it break itself without realizing

it'll be around 90% the same as an issued M4 minus sticky tape on the stock, missing finish and someone's random HSLD PX/BX bullshit still on it (and the shoe lace, paracord, or rubber bands tying the carrying handle to the quad rail).

at least it won't have the krylon secret squirrel camo job that collects sand in just the right spots to catch facial hair.

consider buying a complete PSA M4 lower: https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-ar15-complete-classic-stealth-lower.html

and having that transferred to your FFL, then get a complete 14.5" pin/welded upper (with bolt carrier group and charging handle).

snap them together and you have a semi-auto M4. the "pin and weld" part is for the flash hider, which will bring the length up to the minimum required to avoid "short barrel rifle" laws. usually the flash hider is slightly lengthened from the A2 birdcage we used, or the barrel is 14.7" instead of 14.5".

BCM, Daniel Defense, LWRC, Colt, FN USA, Noveske, LMT, et c are ones to look for, with shout outs to Windham Weaponry, older Bushmaster, and a few others. for price/performance BCM will probably be your ticket when they're in stock.

https://bravocompanyusa.com/bcm-standard-14-5-mid-length-upper-receiver-group/

note that any M4 carbine handguards should work, or get a quad rail if you like. you will pay around $700-800 and get a good rifle out of it no worse than a rack M4.

 

[Darkholme's Dungeon]

It's the same thing, just on a micro scale. You pick a (watch) caliber you like or want to work on, buy all the parts and assemble. If we're talking manufacturing your own gears, rubies, etc...That's a little different level of autism. When you assemble a rifle, most people aren't milling their own parts, it's like lego.

Spoiler: Horlogical degeneracy

Good luck getting a movement that's not Chinese or Seiko. Europe generally doesn't sell movement or parts with the Swatch trade mafia. I'd rather suckstart a glock than have to deal with Swatch. Chinese shit don't usually sell you spare parts (the chinglish don't help). Your only real luck is Seiko and Citizen (whoever the OEM on that was).
Russian movements, well lmao I don't slav rune well.
More like building with a a complete upper + lower minus some furniture and the trigger group. It's more fun to fab your own escapement but I hate myself.

 

[EggImpregnator]

I love my AR with a 10.5 pencil barrel and Aimpoint t2.