Quick progress update and a question:

So far I have the Anderson stripped lower and received my roll pin punches. I am still waiting on my armorer's wrench to come in.

I have also ordered my LPK from PSA:
LINK

And a Magpul collapsible stock kit:
LINK

My original plan was to purchase this 16" mid-length barreled upper assembly complete with BCG and charge handle:
LINK

But the more I read and look at pictures, the more I'm really liking the 14.5" or 14.7 length with the pinned flash hider. The issue is, the only complete upper assembly that PSA currently has in this length is about $150 more than the 16" kit I posted above:
LINK

Would you all know of any other companies that would be worth checking out besides PSA that would be around the same price range and quality? Or do you think it would be worth putting a phone call into PSA to find out if they can put a kit together similar to the price range of the 16"? Are shorter barrels typically more expensive? Or could it be more expensive due to the labor required for pinning the flash hider?

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Posted by Propagandalf

Baton Rouge

Member since May 2010

2528 posts

Posted on 7/28/15 at 10:01 pm to Mark Makers

I would say PSA is bottom middle on the quality side. Mostly because playing the "make money moving quantity" game usually, and in this case, means quality control goes out the window.

I would get a 16" and not mess with a pinned FH. That 1.5" ain't gonna make a difference but a pinned FH limits what you can do to the upper later when your taste change.

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Posted by Mark Makers

The LP

Member since Jul 2015

2351 posts

Posted on 7/29/15 at 5:26 am to Mark Makers

I guess I should add to this that I have researched and fully understand the limitations of a pinned flash hider, and am still interested in possibly going this route if it doesn't turn my "budget" build into something more than I am looking to spend at the moment.

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Posted by Buck_Rogers

Member since Jul 2013

1893 posts

Posted on 7/29/15 at 7:56 am to Mark Makers

quote:
The issue is, the only complete upper assembly that PSA currently has in this length is about $150 more than the 16" kit I posted above

quote:
Are shorter barrels typically more expensive? Or could it be more expensive due to the labor required for pinning the flash hider?

The difference in cost is more to do with barrel materials and manufacturing processes. The higher cost one is cold hammer forged and chrome lined as opposed to the lower cost one which is button rifled with a melonite finish. Melonite finish is cheaper than chrome lining, but some argue that it's superior. For what it's worth, the U.S. uses button rifled barrels with chrome lining, and the Swiss use cold hammer forged barrels with a type of melonite finish on their issued rifles. For your purpose, you will not notice any real difference between the two, so don't let it affect your decision too much.

This post was edited on 7/29/15 at 8:00 am

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