Thinking of getting an AR15 pistol in .300 AAC (Blackout), probably an 8" bbl. that could later be suppressed. This would be a home defense and travel backpack pistol, so I don't need fancy and expensive...just dependable and accurate. Obviously there are lots of options, but I've kind of narrowed my choice down to Palmetto State or Diamondback (FDE or Coyote Brown). The DBs come complete and are manufactured locally close to me...but I'm also looking at buying a PSA upper and PSA complete lower and putting it together myself. Any thoughts on either of these two choices? Value, fit and finish, dependability, accuracy? Thanks in advance.

I have a Diamondback 9mm pistol that takes Glock mags. Well made for the price.

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213th FBINA

FWIW...

One of my buds caught a great sale at PSA and purchased their AR 9mm carbine. It was listed as blemished.

We looked over it and couldn't find any blemishes. It looks fantastic and performs perfectly. Me and another bud were so impressed, we both ordered one.

Ours are impressive too.



,

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Death? Smile back...

I have owned multiple PSA uppers, lowers, parts kits, complete rifles and three PSA AK’s. I wouldn’t choose to parachute into a Third World country and fight my way to the border with a PSA if a higher grade weapon was available; however, for hunting, target shooting, plinking mine have been reliable and accurate for the price point.

I have also had DelTon, Diamondback, Aero Precision, Anderson, Colt, Bushmaster, Olympic Arms, CMMG, S&W, DPMS, RRA guns which were basically all trouble free.

You might consider the OD of the suppressor you intend to use compared to the ID of the handguard that comes on the firearm you choose. No need to drop another $100.00 or so on a handguard if your suppressor doesn’t fit. My son had to replace the handguard on his WC Protector so he could use a Sandman S suppressor on it.
Look on YT for reviews on the particular models that interest you.

Of the two, I'd get the PSA. I'd recommend a BCM, but that wasn't an option.

I have a PSA pistol in the "normal" caliber of .223. It's definitely well made but IMHO way too cumbersome for home defense. YMMV

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Come and take it!!

I have owned at least 8 PSA "AR pattern" rifles over the years. Never a problem with any. I prefer SS for ease of care. Blemished is usually indistinguishable from not. Veteran owned too. Joe

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Behavior Creates Destiny

You mentioned accuracy, the bullet weight and rifling twist have a lot to do with this. Think ahead: In the long run, do you want a semi auto 30-30, or a close to silent weapon?

150 gr for the 30-30 equivalent. 210/220 for stealth. I opted for stealth as I already had the can.

Ivan

I got the PSA with a 5.5" barrel. It was the shortest I could find.
An AR15 pistol snubby?

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Keep on Chooglin'

Nothing wrong with PSA other than there’s not one very close by.

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I’m your Boogie Man, uh huh.

As far as a PCC, I already own a SIG MPX Gen II (9mm) that is an outstanding and dependable firearm. I did register it as an SBR and added a folding/extendable stock. But I was thinking that a rifle caliber pistol would be a great addition. Seems that the .300 AAC has more punch (.30 cal.) and performs better out of a shorter barrel than does the 5.56, although the 5.56 ammo is more readily available and cheaper. I'm not in any rush, so I'll keep an eye out for PSA and DB sales or special offers.

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PSA. Sometimes QC is off, but they'll take care of you.

I had an 8.5" and currently have a 7.5" 300 blk upper of theirs, and they've both run fine. My current 7.5" upper runs supers and subs without issue & I have it set-up for HD duty.

I've owned and built countless AR's using PSA uppers (some cheapo's and some premium) and have never had an issue.

I've also spoke to one of the owners on a few occasions, and he's a solid guy.

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Watch & Pray

These are both PSA uppers on Anderson "poverty pony" stripped lowers that I built out with PSA kits. Both 8.5". Top is 5.56, bottom is 300 BO. Both have now been SBR'd, and wear stocks and better optics.

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Only a cold warrior

Some AR-15 officianados think PSA is trash. I do not agree. My PSA 20" AR15/A4 is a solid shooter and has never jammed or failed to fire. I have no experience with their pistol AR types, but I would have to assume they are good quality and reasonably priced.

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I just bought a PSA 300 Blackout with 8.5" barrel a couple of weeks ago. I paid a few bucks extra for the elctropolished trigger and it was worth the money with a better than average trigger pull. It also came with the desert tan Mag-pul handguard and grip with storage area which I like. I think with tax and shipping it was a bit over $500. I added a Holosun 510 hologram sight which I absolutely love, and I've ordered a Yankee Hill Resonator .30 cal can and will shoot mostly sub sonic ammo. I got some Sellier and Belot ammo which is pretty cheap and supposedly very quiet and accurate and I've had several PSA AR's and can't tell that my Colt was any better.

The general consensus among shooters I know is PSA is good enough. I agree I have a couple.

Get a blem if you can. They’re an even better value.

I have a PSA .300BLK pistol, and it's always worked fine, though honestly I haven't shot it a whole lot. Very quiet with a 9mm can.

I also have a PSA 16" 5.56 AR that I consider my 'utility' AR. It's darn near MOA accurate, has been shot a LOT, and has run perfectly.

Both were built from lower kits and complete uppers. I don't have any experience with Diamondback, but PSA is good to go.

Something to think about with .300BLK: the difference in POI between supers and subs at 100yds is nearly a foot. Makes it pretty difficult for a single gun to be sighted for one and accurately shoot the other, so they don't do well as dual purpose. With subs, they do make a decent home defense option, especially suppressed, the only real concern being bullet expansion at subsonic velocities.

IMHO, it's PSA all the way...

Cheers!

P.S. You can easily design and build (assemble?) it yourself and designate it as a multi-cal "other".

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Sit Reloader Sentiret

I live in SC, about a ten minute drive from the main PSA store and range, and shoot there several times a week. The range chaps are good guys, and we often talk about this and that. One of them shot my new .22 D&W pistol yesterday. I have bought a number of firearms and lots of cheap ammo from them. I will say that their so called "blemish" rifles are fine, on mine, and others friends have bought, there is NO visible or other defect. I think their "blem" prices are a way to sell more rifles for less.

As for short rifles, I don't have any, and can't comment on them.

SF VET

I agree with the sentiment on going better if this isn't just a range toy myself. I have two, I plan on surpressing the 300.
A Springfield Armory .556 Saint 7.5" and a Daniel Defense 300BO 7". Unfortunately, now these new are only available as SBR's through them now. But, I can say the fit and finish is way superior than on my sons Palmetta Arms carbine he built for fun, which I wouldn't put my life on, personally.

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Dave Ramsey Cultist

I pre-ordered one of these PSA AR-15 lowers a few weeks ago. They are supposedly making them now, and hope to start sending them out in January or February.

No idea about the quality of the receiver, but hoping for the best.

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PSA for sure.

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Find a way or make one.

I have had for several years one of the "blem" rifles, works fine. Have a 4x scope on it. But all of PSA rifle barrels are a 1/7 twist, which isn't optimal for the cheap and always available 55 grain ammo. Mine is better with heavier bullets, like my 62 and even more so with my 77 grain bullets. Enough I can tell the difference when shooting them at 100 or more yards off a rest. I have thousands of 55 gr bought or reloaded, and thousands more 55 grain bullets in boxes. But my 1/7 PSA just is more accurate with the heavier bullets. I wish PSA made their barrels in 1/9 so I could use up my 55 grain stuff.

I have found my 223, my 5.56, and my 243, my 270 and even my 308 rifles are very sensitive to bullet wt and length to have the accuracy I strive for.

But ultimate accuracy likely isn't vital with the short barrel 5.56 rifles anyway. SF VET

What model Holosun are you using, and how do you like it?

Where in NC do you live? They have a store north of Charlotte, and in Greenville, Florence, and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I would guess one of those is pretty close to you. I live in Greenville and obviously have a store here, but to tell you the truth, I rarely go to the store. I still shop online, because it seems to me that many times what I am looking for isn’t in stock at the store anyway.

What is a D&W pistol? Is that one of the Diamondbacks?

I wonder why they are only sold as SBR’s now?

I believe they’ve been making their own lowers for quite a while now. They seem to come up with “specialty” ones, like the Trump version, very often.
Larry

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Miss Buddies crsides & fat tom

It's the HS510C and I like it a lot. It has a 2 MOA dot and a 65MOA ring. You can use either or both. The brightness can be set to either automatic or manual. It has auto shut off, shake awake and a bunch of other features I'll probably never use.
It's actually more than I need for this gun, then again I don't really need this gun....

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Keep on Chooglin'

I have a PSA 16" upper with BCG and 1/7 twist. I get 2" groups at 50 yards and 4" groups at 100 yards using a Sig Romeo 5 Gen II 2 moa non magnifyed red dot using cheap Wolf 55 grain soft points. After I shoot all that up, I'm going to try some heavier bullets to see what it'll do. But all in all, for what I want it for, it's good to go.

Now my Savage Model 12FV bolt gun, it can put five rounds under a dime at 200 yards. I think that rifle cost me a little over 200 bucks new.

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Green or Red?
Larry

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Miss Buddies crsides & fat tom

Red dot...

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Keep on Chooglin'

I have the same Holosun but with a green dot. I find the green dot is better for my eyes.

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I’m your Boogie Man, uh huh.

That’s why I was asking, I have one of their sights with the green too.
Larry

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Miss Buddies crsides & fat tom

Larry, I find the green is great under all conditions and is sharp and less blurry, again for my eyes.
I always look for green or combo red/green sights.

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I’m your Boogie Man, uh huh.