I ordered my first gun, it is an AR15 kit from palmettostatearmory.com, a friend of mine builds and customizes guns and said this would be a good, cheap gun to start. This is my first gun, it should be here tomorrow. All I had to buy was the lower unit, I cant wait to try it out. Has anyone here used one of these? The reviews were pretty good for such a cheap gun. I am now looking to get a hand gun, multiple people have recommended a 9mm, what does anandtech think?
PSA AR15 kit (Re-opened for non-political discourse only)
- Thread starter SAWYER
- Start date
Cheap AR-15 is Cheap. Nothing wrong with that, but I can tell you that you get what you pay for. My first AR-15 is a Mongrel with an Olympic lower and Wilson upper. Once we had it tuned proper it was fine to shoot and reliable.
Once I had more money and bought some full kit I realized how nice it was to have matching upper and lower. My last one is a Ruger (Piston) SR-556 Take Down model. Looking to get a Sig next and call it done. I still have the mongrel AR, but rarely shoot it anymore. Sentimental more than anything else.
As for handguns... Yeah 9mm is common and fairly cheap to shoot and you have a lot of manufacturers and models to choose from. It is a great caliber. Here is some advice though. I bought a 9mm for my first handgun, then followed up with various other semi-auto hand guns. The last handgun I bought however was a S&W 642 J-Frame revolver in .38 Special.
That little snub nose 38 is concealed hammer and double action(DA) only. That gun forced me to learn how to shoot all over again and in effect, caused my marksmanship with the autos to also improve. With a DA snub nose you have to really pay attention to how you grip the firearm and squeeze the trigger. A lot of people don't put much thought into the proper technique, but there is a lot of science/physics behind it. That snub nose highlights every bad habit I had. Ironically at the range I shoot tighter groups with that .38 than the other shooters are with their 3 1/2 inch to 5 inch barrels on their autos at the same distance.
So think about that a bit. Nothing wrong with wanting an auto first, but don't rule out other options as they will surprise you now and then.
Once I had more money and bought some full kit I realized how nice it was to have matching upper and lower. My last one is a Ruger (Piston) SR-556 Take Down model. Looking to get a Sig next and call it done. I still have the mongrel AR, but rarely shoot it anymore. Sentimental more than anything else.
As for handguns... Yeah 9mm is common and fairly cheap to shoot and you have a lot of manufacturers and models to choose from. It is a great caliber. Here is some advice though. I bought a 9mm for my first handgun, then followed up with various other semi-auto hand guns. The last handgun I bought however was a S&W 642 J-Frame revolver in .38 Special.
That little snub nose 38 is concealed hammer and double action(DA) only. That gun forced me to learn how to shoot all over again and in effect, caused my marksmanship with the autos to also improve. With a DA snub nose you have to really pay attention to how you grip the firearm and squeeze the trigger. A lot of people don't put much thought into the proper technique, but there is a lot of science/physics behind it. That snub nose highlights every bad habit I had. Ironically at the range I shoot tighter groups with that .38 than the other shooters are with their 3 1/2 inch to 5 inch barrels on their autos at the same distance.
So think about that a bit. Nothing wrong with wanting an auto first, but don't rule out other options as they will surprise you now and then.
gorcorps
aka Brandon
- Jul 18, 2004
- 30,741
- 456
- 126
Good start. And building it yourself will give you a good understanding on how it works so if you get into it, you'll understand what upgrades you may want down the road (and how to install them).
As for handguns, there's a lot of good options out there with wildly different reasons for picking them. If I was going straight target shooting, I'd be hard pressed to find anything I like better than my CZ SP01 Shadow. It's a full frame metal handgun though, so it's not something I'd carry due to the size and weight. But 9mm is my handgun caliber of choice. Inexpensive and effective.
As for handguns, there's a lot of good options out there with wildly different reasons for picking them. If I was going straight target shooting, I'd be hard pressed to find anything I like better than my CZ SP01 Shadow. It's a full frame metal handgun though, so it's not something I'd carry due to the size and weight. But 9mm is my handgun caliber of choice. Inexpensive and effective.
gill77
Senior member
- Aug 3, 2006
- 813
- 250
- 136
Good deal. You will need a stripped lower. It is the part that has the serial number on it and must be shipped to an FFL or purchased locally.
This seems like a deal:
http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-ar-15-lower-safe-fire-1728.html
madoka
Diamond Member
- Jun 22, 2004
- 4,344
- 712
- 121
9mm is a good choice. Cheap, readily available, low recoil, etc.
The most popular models in 9mm are:
- Beretta 92/M9 (hammer)
- Beretta APX (striker)
- CZ 75
- CZ SP01
- Glock 17
- Glock 19
- HK VP9 (striker)
- HK USP 9 (hammer)
- S&W MP9
- Sig P226 (hammer)
- Sig P320 (striker)
- Springfield XD9
- Walther PPQ
My first pistol was the P226 and my second was the Glock 17, but you really can't go wrong with any of these on the list above.
madoka
Diamond Member
- Jun 22, 2004
- 4,344
- 712
- 121
clamum
Lifer
- Feb 13, 2003
- 26,256
- 406
- 126
PSA is good for entry level and would suit 99% of people anyway. I'm not sure I'd recommend someone building their very first AR but with that kit (aka decent parts) and someone you know that's knowledgeable, I suppose it's fine. Congrats!
9mm is what I'd recommend for pistols. I don't see a huge point for .40 S&W (and I have a Sig P226 in that caliber) and .45 ACP is fine but more expensive to shoot and it's not like 9mm is "weak" and 45 is some magic bullet. Shot placement is way more important and that comes from practice and skill with your piece. In the end though if you like the caliber, including .40, then go with it. All these caliber arguments are just dick measurement contests and a bunch of hot air/bullshit. The Internet loves to argue about the most trivial and useless shit.
9mm is what I'd recommend for pistols. I don't see a huge point for .40 S&W (and I have a Sig P226 in that caliber) and .45 ACP is fine but more expensive to shoot and it's not like 9mm is "weak" and 45 is some magic bullet. Shot placement is way more important and that comes from practice and skill with your piece. In the end though if you like the caliber, including .40, then go with it. All these caliber arguments are just dick measurement contests and a bunch of hot air/bullshit. The Internet loves to argue about the most trivial and useless shit.
I've always been partial to .40 myself but with modern self defense rounds it really is like Clamum said.
I would highly suggest going to your local range and renting a few handguns in different calibers to get a feel for what you might like and going from there. Decent handguns aren't exactly cheap so it's worth it to get it right. Also consider what you are going to be doing with your gun, concealed carry, just going to the range, home defense but no CC. My biggest mistake buying my first handgun, that I intended to eventually carry, was thinking I needed the full size with the 5" barrel because it's more accurate and all that jazz. The problem was it was heavy and bulky which made it pretty uncomfortable to conceal. The truth of the matter is that the vast majority of self defense shootings with a concealed weapon happen at very short range. My second handgun was a compact and the difference carrying it is night and day. I also have a sub-compact that I like a lot too.
I would highly suggest going to your local range and renting a few handguns in different calibers to get a feel for what you might like and going from there. Decent handguns aren't exactly cheap so it's worth it to get it right. Also consider what you are going to be doing with your gun, concealed carry, just going to the range, home defense but no CC. My biggest mistake buying my first handgun, that I intended to eventually carry, was thinking I needed the full size with the 5" barrel because it's more accurate and all that jazz. The problem was it was heavy and bulky which made it pretty uncomfortable to conceal. The truth of the matter is that the vast majority of self defense shootings with a concealed weapon happen at very short range. My second handgun was a compact and the difference carrying it is night and day. I also have a sub-compact that I like a lot too.
DietDrThunder
Platinum Member
- Apr 6, 2001
- 2,262
- 326
- 126
Back when I was into guns, I was thinking about building AR-15s in .223, 9mm, and .22LR.
I was also thinking the same with 1911A1 pistols as well.
I was also thinking the same with 1911A1 pistols as well.
madoka
Diamond Member
- Jun 22, 2004
- 4,344
- 712
- 121
spacejamz
Lifer
- Mar 31, 2003
- 10,984
- 1,706
- 126
So if I wanted to build an AR pistol, I would just need to order these and slap them together with nothing else to buy (not counting mags/sights/slings/grips)?
Upper: http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-...lash-can-bcg-ch-mbus-sight-set-516447329.html
Lower: http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-...pistol-lower-no-magazine-black-516445009.html
Are the pins that you pop out to field strip it included in either the upper or lower or do you need to buy those separately?
Upper: http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-...lash-can-bcg-ch-mbus-sight-set-516447329.html
Lower: http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-...pistol-lower-no-magazine-black-516445009.html
Are the pins that you pop out to field strip it included in either the upper or lower or do you need to buy those separately?
Yes, pretty much. The takedown/pivot pins are included with the lower. A piece of advice, wait for the complete pistol lower with the SB Tactical SOB brace to come back in stock. IMO, that's the best of the pistol "braces" I've tried. I actually like it just as well as a normal adjustable carbine stock.
Last edited:
spacejamz
Lifer
- Mar 31, 2003
- 10,984
- 1,706
- 126
Thanks for the quick reply...
So wait for this one?
http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-...-sbpdw-brace-no-magazine-black-516446451.html
No, I've not tried that one. If I recall correctly that carries a very high price tag as well. It's probably nice though. I was talking about this one (or a variation of, depending on if you want the ept trigger, magpul grip, etc).
http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-ar-15-complete-classic-pistol-lower-no-magazine-black-42838.html
I'd buy the cheapest variation. Because you'll likely end up changing to parts you find you like better down the road anyway. For instance, I'd be tossing any grips they include for either a Magpul K2+ or Hogue Overmolded grip straight away. As well as replacing the trigger with a Hiperfire 24C, those are just my preferences.
Last edited:
spacejamz
Lifer
- Mar 31, 2003
- 10,984
- 1,706
- 126
Still pretty amazing you can build this out for under $500...the kit I quoted was $320 for the upper $140 for the lower...plus FFL (I have one nearby that only charges $10 per item)...
spacejamz
Lifer
- Mar 31, 2003
- 10,984
- 1,706
- 126
I ordered these two yesterday....the upper shipped this morning and will be here on 02/07....
http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-...-lok-freedom-upper-with-bcg-ch-516446396.html
http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-...tactical-sob-no-magazine-black-516444971.html
Lower was $199 and upper was $279...have place that only charges $10 for FFL...
Will post some pics when she is assembled....
http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-...-lok-freedom-upper-with-bcg-ch-516446396.html
http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-...tactical-sob-no-magazine-black-516444971.html
Lower was $199 and upper was $279...have place that only charges $10 for FFL...
Will post some pics when she is assembled....
I hope you filled out the proper ATF paper work and were approved for a short barrel rifle, otherwise that will be illegal as fuck.
TRENDING THREADS
-
Discussion Zen 5 Speculation (EPYC Turin and Strix Point/Granite Ridge - Ryzen 9000)- Started by DisEnchantment
- Replies: 25K
-
Discussion Intel Meteor, Arrow, Lunar & Panther Lakes + WCL Discussion Threads
- Started by Tigerick
- Replies: 23K
-
Discussion Intel current and future Lakes & Rapids thread- Started by TheF34RChannel
- Replies: 23K
-
-
Facebook
Twitter