PSA vs S&W????

Mike V

Mike V

Lighten Up, Francis
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For the experts out there. Which would be a better buy? A better gun? And, I know I can spend a little more and get a lot more, but for this discussion, I am curious if I would be better off buying another Sport II (I already own several), or using the stripped lowers I have and build a couple (I also have a PSA 556 pistol).

You can get the S&W now for less than $510 delivered (obviously includes lower and sights). The PSA for $400 delivered (have to get/have lower and sights). When it is said and done, dollars will be so close it is negligible.

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa...weight-m-lok-moe-ept-rifle-kit-516446780.html

https://grabagun.com/smith-and-wesson-mp15-sport-ii-5-56mm-16.html

So, opinions??
 
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Mike V said:
For the experts out there. Which would be a better buy? A better gun? And, I know I can spend a little more and get a lot more, but for this discussion, I am curious if I would be better off buying another Sport II (I already own several), or using the stripped lowers I have and build a couple (I also have a PSA 556 pistol).

You can get the S&W now for less than $510 delivered (obviously includes lower and sights). The PSA for $400 delivered (have to get/have lower and sights). When it is said and done, dollars will be so close it is negligible.

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa...weight-m-lok-moe-ept-rifle-kit-516446780.html

https://grabagun.com/smith-and-wesson-mp15-sport-ii-5-56mm-16.html

So, opinions??
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m&p sport 2 for $450

https://www.smga.com/smith-and-wesson/mp15-sport-ii-556nato-69

I like PSA but that smith is hard to beat with a rear sight already.
 
It all falls in with QC and resale.

Both mesures PSA is questionable, unless you know how to tune up a AR, then PSA's QC is a non-issue
 
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JBoyette said:
It all falls in with QC and resale.

Both mesures PSA is questionable, unless you know how to tune up a AR, then PSA's QC is a non-issue
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Thanks John. Yes, resale is important. Some day I may decide I don't need all the guns I have and want the option that will be easiest to sell while it maintains value. As far as QC, anything can have a problem, but the lifetime warranty, and a reputable company, mean a lot to me.
 
Mike V said:
Thanks John. Yes, resale is important. Some day I may decide I don't need all the guns I have and want the option that will be easiest to sell while it maintains value. As far as QC, anything can have a problem, but the lifetime warranty, and a reputable company, mean a lot to me.
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Well you have your answer then. PSA is not it.
 
Jeppo said:
Which is which? :confused:
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Which came first.....lol

S&W is like Honda......dependable, reliable, and k own for being so.

PSA is like Hyundai.....newcomer that's made some good stuff but still doesn't have the extra QC that goes into a Honda and the lifetime reliability and resale values back that.

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Which has been making ARs longer?

Seriously, I don't know.
 
The problem with both in terms of resale is that both are always on sale NIB. If you can get a Sport II for $450 NIB how much are you going to realistically get for a used one? $400 more likely $375-$400. Sport IIs have been selling at that price off and on for 3+ years.

Both brands at that price point have their issues. PSA QC can be all over the place but S&W has had issues with out of battery firing, its not just the 22Lrs. In the end both are low end rifles. My biggest issues with the Sport II is if you don't want the A2 front post and sight because you want to free float the rail etc... For me they are great truck carbines. Leave them in the factory configuration and if you need it it will most likely work but it is so cheap who cares what happens to it in the back of the truck. YMMV
 
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wvsig said:
The problem with both in terms of resale is that both are always on sale NIB. If you can get a Sport II for $450 NIB how much are you going to realistically get for a used one? $400 more likely $375-$400. Sport IIs have been selling at that price off and on for 3+ years.

Both brands at that price point have their issues. PSA QC can be all over the place but S&W has had issues with out of battery firing, its not just the 22Lrs. In the end both are low end rifles. My biggest issues with the Sport II is if you don't want the A2 front post and sight because you want to free float the rail etc... For me they are great truck carbines. Leave them in the factory configuration and if you need it it will most likely work but it is so cheap who cares what happens to it in the back of the truck. YMMV
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Hadn't seen any reports of OOB firing with the Sport. Not sure how that's possible with an AR pattern rifle. I'll have to Google that one.

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Wahoo95 said:
Hadn't seen any reports of OOB firing with the Sport. Not sure how that's possible with an AR pattern rifle. I'll have to Google that one.

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I did not think it was possible either but there are verified reports and IIRC Wolf recommended not shooting their ammo in S&W AR15s.

http://wolfammo.com/advisory.aspx
 
wvsig said:
I did not think it was possible either but there are verified reports and IIRC Wolf recommended not shooting their ammo in S&W AR15s.

http://wolfammo.com/advisory.aspx
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When I Google that it only comes up from the Wolf advisory which sounds more like them passing blame on bad ammo. If you look at how the AR system works the hammer cant co tact the firing pin unless the lugs are locked which is totally different than a blow back system

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I love my PSA ARs, they were all a ton of fun to build and shoot. Learned a lot about the AR platform that way.

That said, S&W all day long in my opinion. I have an original series slick side MP Sport. Was my first ever AR and that rifle is a beast. Has never failed, accurate, and looks good to me. I don’t plan on ever selling it, but if I did I could probably get a decent price on it.

The PSA projects, however, will always be plagued by PSA being your #1 competitor. Why buy a used PSA from you for $500 when I can build a brand new one from PSA for $450-500 when they go on sale...which is about every week or two.


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Wahoo95 said:
When I Google that it only comes up from the Wolf advisory which sounds more like them passing blame on bad ammo. If you look at how the AR system works the hammer cant co tact the firing pin unless the lugs are locked which is totally different than a blow back system

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Yeah I agree except that over on the S&W forum people reported out of battery firing. It made no sense to me but it’s out there.
 
Armslist is FLOODED with PSA rifles that can’t be sold for $400.

I would maybe pay $250 for one if I knew it was made early on. And that’s for a beater gun.

I have one PSA lower, an OIF commemorative edition they did in the 2009ish time frame. Beyond that....not for me.

The owner of PSA stated at an event recently in Lexington, SC that his favorite gun was the WWII FP45 liberator; the single shot .45 that was cheaply made and mass produced to be given to anyone and everyone who could use them against Nazis. His goal for PSA guns was similar; to flood the country with them. I guess the fact that Allied commanders didn’t really help distribute the Liberators and most ended up getting destroyed was lost on him but whatever.
 
B00ger said:
I love my PSA ARs, they were all a ton of fun to build and shoot. Learned a lot about the AR platform that way.

That said, S&W all day long in my opinion. I have an original series slick side MP Sport. Was my first ever AR and that rifle is a beast. Has never failed, accurate, and looks good to me. I don’t plan on ever selling it, but if I did I could probably get a decent price on it.

The PSA projects, however, will always be plagued by PSA being your #1 competitor. Why buy a used PSA from you for $500 when I can build a brand new one from PSA for $450-500 when they go on sale...which is about every week or two.


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Maybe your original Sport with a 5R barrel would get a decent price but how much are you going to pay for a used rifle you can buy NIB for $450 + transfer?

I agree with everyone that PSAs do not resell well but I am not sure the S&W fare that much better. Those rifles that are selling for $250 are they complete lower and uppers or PSA parts assembled by Bubba. There is a difference. Their Bubbas sort of know what they are doing. LOL

Both loses considerable value in the used market. I have a PSA 18" build, factory assembled upper and lower, with some decent upgrades that I was considering selling but when you look at what you can get for it you mine as well keep it. I imagine I would feel the same about the Sport II.
 
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Actually, of those 2 choices, I would always take the PSA with the free float rail. I just don't buy ARs with regular handguards and front sights on the gas block. I have missed too many shots from bracing on an obstacle with an AR that isn't free floated. I also very much prefer the MOE grip and stock. If you like the traditional form, get the S&W. If you want the rail, get the PSA.

They are both basic ARs, and the price difference and time for resale will be small in the grand scheme of things. Get what you want to shoot.
 
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Smith & Wesson will back their product way better than PSA and S&W’s QC on stuff is way above PSA. Now I have used quite a few PSA parts in builds and had no issues (aside from crappy shipping, occasional missing pin, spring or such in a kit, etc) but some of their assembly work (fit and finish) I’ve seen does make me wonder who they hire ... a hand tight only barrel nut was the worst. If I was given both I’d run the S&W way quicker than the PSA which I’d double check the assembly work of before shooting (but I’d also do the same on others like Bear Creek and such).
 
wvsig said:
Maybe your original Sport with a 5R barrel would get a decent price but how much are you going to pay for a used rifle you can buy NIB for $450 + transfer?

I agree with everyone that PSAs do not resell well but I am not sure the S&W fare that much better. Those rifles that are selling for $250 are they complete lower and uppers or PSA parts assembled by Bubba. There is a difference. Their Bubbas sort of know what they are doing. LOL

Both loses considerable value in the used market. I have a PSA 18" build, factory assembled upper and lower, with some decent upgrades that I was considering selling but when you look at what you can get for it you mine as well keep it. I imagine I would feel the same about the Sport II.
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I don’t disagree, but one issue no one has really brought up (that I have seen) is that the market is absolutely flooded with ARs at this time. So it seems that all used ARs are selling slowly and cheaply considering the offerings that can be had new. So debating resale of ARs needs to assume the current market will change again.


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B00ger said:
I don’t disagree, but one issue no one has really brought up (that I have seen) is that the market is absolutely flooded with ARs at this time. So it seems that all used ARs are selling slowly and cheaply considering the offerings that can be had new. So debating resale of ARs needs to assume the current market will change again.


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Yeah I would not sell any AR right now. Honestly the entire gun market is pretty soft right now. Its a buyers not a sellers market.
 
wvsig said:
I agree with everyone that PSAs do not resell well but I am not sure the S&W fare that much better. Those rifles that are selling for $250 are they complete lower and uppers or PSA parts assembled by Bubba. There is a difference. Their Bubbas sort of know what they are doing. LOL

.
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PSA’s bubbas routinely over torque barrel nuts to the point of having to cut them off versus being able to remove them with a wrench and breaker bar. That’s just one extremely common problem. I wouldn’t exactly say they’re any better than a kitchen table gunsmith...they just have nicer facilities
 
wvsig said:
Honestly the entire gun market is pretty soft right now. Its a buyers not a sellers market.
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I agree completely. This is the time to buy guns and ammo and maintenance/reloading gear. Do not wait until Bloomberg's minions cause another buying panic. I do remember well when you could not get an AR for less than a grand and 9mm was all but impossible to get.
 
I figure Mike has made his choice by now, but I have 2 S&W AR's and 2 PSA AR's.
Honestly I'm happy with all 4. They all do what I ask them to do and often better than I can do. :rolleyes:
But maybe I'm not the one to ask. Best I can do at my range is 100 yards before the sight plane drops behind a hill. I wouldn't choose either a PSA or a Sport if I was some of the flatlanders who can shoot out to 300-500 yards with a 15. If I was serious about doing that I'd be looking at a LaRue or a DD or the like. Tight makes right the further you stretch em.
One thing that swings my opinion in favor of the Smith, is that S&W makes their own barrels. One of the few companies that does so, and barrel making is a big deal. Other than that, the peripheral stuff between the two makes is very similar.
 
Friday said:
I figure Mike has made his choice by now, but I have 2 S&W AR's and 2 PSA AR's.
Honestly I'm happy with all 4. .....

One thing that swings my opinion in favor of the Smith, is that S&W makes their own barrels. One of the few companies that does so, and barrel making is a big deal. Other than that, the peripheral stuff between the two makes is very similar.
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PSA makes their own barrels also. The one's they don't make are FN CHF chrome lined ones, and superior to anything that Smith has ever produced.
 
I'd save 200$ and buy a Barnes precision. Or something else.

I'm not really been impressed with S&W quality control at all last few years.
Seen two BCG's that sheared off the gas keys, and one had canted front sight, too. Meh.

I think I'd go with PSA out of those two choices, depending on the model. Just my opinion.
 
If I were buying for resale value, I wouldn't buy either.
If I were buying to tinker and tune and try different configurations, I'd buy the PSA.
If I were buying to shoot "as is", I would (maybe) buy the S&W.
If I were you, I'd probably be pretty confused right now. ;)
 
This is the better deal on GaG for a Smith and Wesson Sport II, since it's the optic ready kit with bag, low profile railed gas block, and comes with a mag charger
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I own the Smith Sport I, it's been rock solid. It was my entry into the AR world and I was living in a place where I didn't have all of the expert help I have here, so I went for the reputation. It shoots any ammo you can stuff in it. It gets about 2 MOA with Federal bulk 55gr at 200 yds (about double that or a bit more with Tula). After I got comfortable with it, I swapped out the handguard and front sight for a free float handguard, put a Vortex Strike Eagle on it, and a LaRue trigger in it and (and a few more mostly pretty things). It's my 3 gun AR and it does the job (out to 400 yds). The PSA would probably manage the same with some work. If you want resale value, as others have said, skip both (and get a jeweled safe queen, if you shoot it, you are not likely to get a lot back out of it).

Not counting the scope, I have about $750 into it (I got it 5 years ago when it was $525 or so). Which is about the same as I have into my PCC (Spike's lower, Kaw Valley upper, selected parts). That seems to be about the number for a basic rifle that shoots well, with some basic upgrades (the AR can be a bit less as the 9mm stuff is still at a premium).

Go shoot, have fun!
 
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