AR-15s

[diymirage]

I like Ruger. I had a Mk II .22 years ago and shot the daylights out of it. Currently have a SR 1911 that I like. Was wanting a AR style and found a basic model for under $700. Opinions on Ruger?

love em, my EDC is a SR9
best trigger feel of any of my guns

 

[Rat Bastid]

For all the Palmetto State fanboys:

They suck. Suck as a company, suck for quality, and suck at customer service. I'll tell you why.
For reference, I have extensive experience with firearms, military and civilian. With my time in Naval Special Warfare I have fired just about everything in the Navy's Table of Allotment (Sig 228, 226, M4, GAU-17, M2, M240, M203, Mk19, M32, ... )
I build all my AR's and have put them together for others. I have built many 80% lowers with a router and CNC machine. I quit doing them when I lost access to CNC capabilities. For the last few years I have been building with Aero Precision uppers and lowers with Ballistic Advantage barrels. I use Aero small parts or JP if available. I have built from other boutique suppliers as well but for the price/quality Aero Precision is the way to go. I get a bitchin military discount as well.
Recently, I was training the boy in the forest where we live. The wifey rarely shoots but she wanted to tag along. She loved the experience so I decided I would throw something together just for her.
I didn't want to make this into one of my $X,*** builds so I decided to go slummin' and went to Palmetto State's site. Prices seemed great! I don't know how into it she would be and a budget rifle would suit her just fine. I purchased a Dissipator upper and I was impressed with it. It is a mid length barrel with a rifle length gas system and a fixed front site. I'm not going to spend money on an optic for her unless she really gets into shooting. I also purchased the bolt carrier group and a charging handle at the same time.
After receiving these items I decided to stick with one company and looked at their lowers and parts kits. The lower receiver I bought took 12 weeks to be delivered to my FFL! It was only supposed to take 8 weeks because it was a limited edition run of lowers. I figured I would get the "Because Covid" excuse so I didn't start calling until 10 weeks. Guess what? No answer so I emailed. I got the Covid excuse. Short staffed. And they were rude about it. I was wanting to do this as her birthday present but it turned into her Christmas present.
Anyway, got all the pats in and assembled it. She was excited to get it on Christmas morning. We go outside and shoot a couple of magazines and found out that the bolt catch doesn't operate correctly. I switched BCG's with mine and it wasn't their bolt carrier, however, my bolt would not catch in the PSA rifle. Confirmed: bolt catch.
I called them up. 3 tries. 1 hour on hold and the phone lost connection. Next 45 minutes on hold and I had to hang up an do something. Finally, the third call and about 50 minutes on hold I got an Indian fella. Dot, not feather. They were eager to send me a new bolt catch. Almost like they had heard this story before!
I got the part and installed it. DOESN'T WORK! Bolt doesn't stay open on the last round! Bolt cannot be held open for inspection of the chamber. I don't think the wifey will be doing tactical reloads but I would at least like to train her to do as such. Holding the bolt open for inspection is also important. Plain and simple, this issue would have had this rifle decommissioned if it was a military rifle.
The issue that I have found is that the pin that holds the bolt catch is drilled to low and the catch sits too low to catch the bolt carrier. NOT MIL-SPEC!
Any company can put Mil-Spec on their website but deviate. Palmetto State Armory is a Wal-Mart brand of rifles. I would have been better off buying that Colt that was in the link in Post #1. It would have worked and I could have at least sold it and made my money back due to it's name and pedigree.
There is a difference between manufacturers even if they both claim to be mil-spec.

Who is a fan boy? There are other options than a Colt, especially for someone who is just starting out.

I just posted PSA because I was looking at some stuff on their website on that day.

I can tell you from experience that more of the than not a weapons malfunction is more operator error than manufacturing. I’m not saying that in your particular case, but it is quite often the case.

 

[Treblig]

Don’t mean to offend you but if you aren’t shooting hundreds of rounds a year or thousands than you probably could use some practice. Ammo isn’t cheap but I’d say there are some things worth spending the money on. I am not a great shot by any means and I certainly need more professional training and I am going out around 3 times a month. One way we keep cost down is running timed drills. Drawing and reloading drills can be done with as little as two rounds. Load one round in two magazines and go to town.

No offense taken at all. I have a friend that has a membership at a local gun club. I go with him every time he goes. So I can't shoot my guns when ever I want. If I could I would. I grew up shooting and I love shooting. I got my expert medal when I was in the military, I even got in a shooting contest with the range master when I was in the militray. My eye sight isn't what it used to be but I can still hit the bullseye with almost any weapon. I practiced the old "point and shoot" many, many times as I was growing up so it makes it easy for me to hit a man sized target at close range without aiming. In the military I wanted to be a sniper but I was selected to be a Nuclear Weapons Specialist. Just my luck!!!

 

[Louie70Dart]

No offense taken at all. I have a friend that has a membership at a local gun club. I go with him every time he goes. So I can't shoot my guns when ever I want. If I could I would. I grew up shooting and I love shooting. I got my expert medal when I was in the military, I even got in a shooting contest with the range master when I was in the militray. My eye sight isn't what it used to be but I can still hit the bullseye with almost any weapon. I practiced the old "point and shoot" many, many times as I was growing up so it makes it easy for me to hit a man sized target at close range without aiming. In the military I wanted to be a sniper but I was selected to be a Nuclear Weapons Specialist. Just my luck!!!

LOL, and you had your choice of 6 bases to choose from...... What the hell was a 'dream sheet' good for then.

 

[gzig5]

Don’t mean to offend you but if you aren’t shooting hundreds of rounds a year or thousands than you probably could use some practice. Ammo isn’t cheap but I’d say there are some things worth spending the money on. I am not a great shot by any means and I certainly need more professional training and I am going out around 3 times a month. One way we keep cost down is running timed drills. Drawing and reloading drills can be done with as little as two rounds. Load one round in two magazines and go to town.

If you want to become a better shot and shoot better under pressure situations, I encourage you to search out local clubs holding NRA/CMP Highpower matches and get involved. Actual required equipment is essentially a rifle with scope or irons and an sling and a few magazines. You can invest in a lot more, but a minimal investment gets you started. Course of fire varies based on the particular match and it may be full distance or reduced course, but you shoot slow fire standing, rapid fire sitting, rapid prone, and slow prone. Rapids require 10 shots in 60-70 seconds and require a mag change. Slow fire is single load. You learn a lot about yourself and your equipment. With the right rifle and good ammunition you can get involved some of the long range games, which tend to prove that it is the Indian and not the arrow.
High power rifle - Wikipedia
Three-gun is another fun game to hone your skills. My club does it pretty informally without a lot of running around.

 

[Bad Sport]

Who is a fan boy?

LOL, yeah. The major complaint that I am seeing in reviews is the customer service. That's a shame. But, I can honestly say the uppers I have operate flawlessly. The last one being a 10.5 inch upper for my pistol. Awesome shooter, no complaints here.

I have more complaints about my M&P then I do PSA.

 

[Treblig]

LOL, and you had your choice of 6 bases to choose from...... What the hell was a 'dream sheet' good for then.

They did a really extensive background check on those few that were selected for Nuclear Weapons Specialist. They checked from the day we were born until we enlisted. Seems we were selected on our electrical and mechanical background. Many psychological and mental tests. Even though we were given a few base choices (Minot S.D., or Cheyenne Wyo, or other frozen tundra locations)....we really didn't have any choice at all. They just sent us where we were needed. After I was selected for Nuclear Weapons the base choices were limited. From basic we were sent to Denver CO. for specific training, then we proceded to our permanent base.

 

[Treblig]

If you want to become a better shot and shoot better under pressure situations, I encourage you to search out local clubs holding NRA/CMP Highpower matches and get involved. Actual required equipment is essentially a rifle with scope or irons and an sling and a few magazines. You can invest in a lot more, but a minimal investment gets you started. Course of fire varies based on the particular match and it may be full distance or reduced course, but you shoot slow fire standing, rapid fire sitting, rapid prone, and slow prone. Rapids require 10 shots in 60-70 seconds and require a mag change. Slow fire is single load. You learn a lot about yourself and your equipment. With the right rifle and good ammunition you can get involved some of the long range games, which tend to prove that it is the Indian and not the arrow.
High power rifle - Wikipedia
Three-gun is another fun game to hone your skills. My club does it pretty informally without a lot of running around.

Too old for rapid clip changes...........I just use my 50 rd drum.. NO WORRIES!!!!!!!!!

 

[Johnny Dart]

I don't want this thread to goto N&P. But if it has to so be it. Just stating facts, the latest crime was yesterday, 6 armed punks in 2 cars pull up outside a lady's house, take baseball bats to her car and steal her catalytic converter. WTF. All I can say is if you hate your kids, move to Albququerque.

Unfortunately unloading on these punks is going to get you straight into the penitentiary, more than likely locked up for life. There is a lot of catalytic crimes going on amongst others in my neighborhood, I'm not sure what the answer is as far as dealing with them. The only real way to do it is with law enforcement, but that can be spotty at best.

 

[Phreakish]

There are other options than a Colt...
...weapons malfunction is more operator error than manufacturing.

Both of these statements are true! I'm not a Colt fanboy either, but I do recognize that it's more than a name. At least with the AR. Their other stuff? No clue, and they've also done some absolutely shitty jobs (here's looking at you, All American 2000).

PSA offers budget minded stuff, and it's just that. Some of their parts are flirting with 'spec' quality, but more by accident than design. They're a commodity builder, and there's a place for that.

Best bet is to buy for the mission, whether it be a car or a gun. If budget is the #1 requirement, there's no changing that. But if it has to work like a parachute to save your life, then that should be the top consideration and cost should be closer to the bottom of the list. Everyone has to establish their own needs.

The biggest issues seem to come from those that are trying to cover too many missions with one item, and then are disappointed to find out that it never works that way outside video games.

 

[doogievlg]

If you want to become a better shot and shoot better under pressure situations, I encourage you to search out local clubs holding NRA/CMP Highpower matches and get involved. Actual required equipment is essentially a rifle with scope or irons and an sling and a few magazines. You can invest in a lot more, but a minimal investment gets you started. Course of fire varies based on the particular match and it may be full distance or reduced course, but you shoot slow fire standing, rapid fire sitting, rapid prone, and slow prone. Rapids require 10 shots in 60-70 seconds and require a mag change. Slow fire is single load. You learn a lot about yourself and your equipment. With the right rifle and good ammunition you can get involved some of the long range games, which tend to prove that it is the Indian and not the arrow.
High power rifle - Wikipedia
Three-gun is another fun game to hone your skills. My club does it pretty informally without a lot of running around.

Ive run three gun and they have public pistol corses every weekend at the local range. Just personal preference but I enjoy shooting on private property more. We can set up our corses however. We have moving targets, walls, doors, different barricades that make you go prone or drop to a knee. I can’t post videos but this is a screenshot from a video two weeks ago.

 

[Bad Sport]

Ive run three gun and they have public pistol corses every weekend at the local range. Just personal preference but I enjoy shooting on private property more. We can set up our corses however. We have moving targets, walls, doors, different barricades that make you go prone or drop to a knee. I can’t post videos but this is a screenshot from a video two weeks ago.

View attachment 1715890567

That's a lot like what we do. We add a little fun sometimes by loading each others mags with a dead round in there somewhere, so it forces you to correct a malfunction, we do that both rifle and handgun.

 

[go-fish]

The major complaint that I am seeing in reviews is the customer service. That's a shame. But, I can honestly say the uppers I have operate flawlessly.

In my post I do give credit to their upper. I do really like it. It's a niche upper, mid-length barrel and rifle gas tube. Their bolt and bolt carrier looked good as well.

I like my 80% ers, LMT, Noveske, and Aero Precision rifles but this was a budget build for my wife who will never put 1000 rds down range in her life and will probably never pick it up to defend herself. She has several choices of handguns that I have instructed her on and it would be what she is comfortable with in a home intruder situation.

I can tell you from experience that more of the than not a weapons malfunction is more operator error than manufacturing. I’m not saying that in your particular case, but it is quite often the case.

My complaint about PSA is the customer service and poor craftsmanship on their lower. I have put together over 20 AR's and used a Mk18 SOCOM with Surefire suppressor in Iraq. When I was in the Seabee Battalion I was the grenadier and used an A2 with an M203. I know how to operate a bolt catch. No operator error. They send lowers out the door that aint mil-spec.

I do agree that someone who is starting out shouldn't (or doesn't need to) go out and assemble or purchase a $2,000+ rifle. Get a cheapie and go shoot, learn how to manipulate the firearm, build muscle memory, and learn tactics. If you are like me with Mopar's and AR's then your first won't be your last and you almost always out-do your first attempt.

Hope there are no hard feelings but I'm really glad you're not a PSA fanboy. If they didn't piss me off with the customer service I would even consider buying another one of their drop in triggers. It's pretty slick. I just can't trust anything they actually make. They sell mostly rebranded stuff. They don't make most of their stuff. They DO manufacture their uppers and lowers and it's a lower of thiers that I have that flunks the mil-spec test. Most everything else is from outside sources.

 

[Rat Bastid]

That's a lot like what we do. We add a little fun sometimes by loading each others mags with a dead round in there somewhere, so it forces you to correct a malfunction, we do that both rifle and handgun.

That’s good practice no matter what. Dropping a dead round or two for rifle or pistol is great training.

 

[Phreakish]

That's a lot like what we do. We add a little fun sometimes by loading each others mags with a dead round in there somewhere, so it forces you to correct a malfunction, we do that both rifle and handgun.

It's also an amazing way to teach people that they're anticipating the recoil. Watch the muzzle dip when they pull the trigger on a dead round...

 

[Cope]

My 10 is from AP and man it is nice!

 

[diymirage]

It's also an amazing way to teach people that they're anticipating the recoil. Watch the muzzle dip when they pull the trigger on a dead round...

Don't forget to switch out a few of the birdloads with slugs when skeet shooting and watch em take a seat

 

[Phreakish]

Don't forget to switch out a few of the birdloads with slugs when skeet shooting and watch em take a seat

I haven't been to a range where that would be safe, but in the right places that would be hilarious.
I love slug shooting. It's like mini artillery. Combined with steel targets at 100-200 yards it makes for fun slow-shooting with friends. Really helps with the concept of holdovers and windage with newbies too.

 

[diymirage]

I haven't been to a range where that would be safe, but in the right places that would be hilarious.
I love slug shooting. It's like mini artillery. Combined with steel targets at 100-200 yards it makes for fun slow-shooting with friends. Really helps with the concept of holdovers and windage with newbies too.

They redid my local range a few years ago

Back in the day, it was a big bowl, with 4 concrete shooting benches each about 20 degrees off of the next one

You could shoot whatever, ad long as you picked up after yourself

Which of course no one did

Well, now it has 5 rifle benches and 2 pistol benches
All side by side and facing the same way

I think the lanes are 200 yards, 100 yards and 30 for the pistol lanes

Now they have posts to hang targets from, you got to sign in, there's there's ranks officer, no provisions for chucking pigeons

I'm sure it still serves its purpose when you want to sight it, but they sure squeezed all the fun out of it

 

[Phreakish]

They redid my local range a few years ago

Back in the day, it was a big bowl, with 4 concrete shooting benches each about 20 degrees off of the next one

You could shoot whatever, ad long as you picked up after yourself

Which of course no one did

Well, now it has 5 rifle benches and 2 pistol benches
All side by side and facing the same way

I think the lanes are 200 yards, 100 yards and 30 for the pistol lanes

Now they have posts to hang targets from, you got to sign in, there's there's ranks officer, no provisions for chucking pigeons

I'm sure it still serves its purpose when you want to sight it, but they sure squeezed all the fun out of it

That sucks. Dumb people kill good ranges, sadly. Back when I was in Tucson we had to drive quite a ways to find the 'good' range. The desert always worked, but a good range has things like reactive steel and other stuff that no one can afford when they're 20.
Anyway, some cowboy shooting asshat wannabe was out twirling his pistols and shot himself in the face. After that, every section of the range had to have an RSO present any time anyone was shooting - otherwise the insurance companies would revoke their coverage. Fees went up, fun went down, and eventually it was the same deal. Just a place to sight in twice a year which can be done out in the desert, so why bother?

 

[Bad Sport]

Well, now it has 5 rifle benches and 2 pistol benches
All side by side and facing the same way

Let me guess, DNR range? We had a couple here, they came in and fixed them all up, installed RSO's and now they ain't worth going to.

There is one down in Osseo that is still under our own supervision, but I bet they get to that one too.

 

[diymirage]

Let me guess, DNR range? We had a couple here, they came in and fixed them all up, installed RSO's and now they ain't worth going to.

There is one down in Osseo that is still under our own supervision, but I bet they get to that one too.

Sure thing

DNR - Echo Point Shooting Range

There are a few more ranges closer to me,, but they all require some memberships (to the club, the NRA or even the local police)

I can shoot in my backyard, but anything larger then a .22 severely pisses the neighbours off

 

[pauly]

@diymirage. Twin Lake Gun Club. I’ve been a member there for many years.

 

[1973Barracuda]

I live in Charleston, have 2 PSAs within 30 minutes. Customer service there is pretty good. One thing I don’t think was mentioned is their stuff is guaranteed for life. If it’s broke send it in. I run LWRC and SIG, but one day a PSA 6.5 was on such a good sale I bit. It is decent.

 

[tjpatte]

I am AR d out. Show some stile and get a Thompson

FN/FAL, takes doors off of hinges!