Budget is a factor, but any one fits the budget.

Colt LE****-M4 Carbine (Chrome lined barrel, 1:7 twist, basic sights, dust cover, forward assist) - $1118.00
Smith & Wesson M&P15 (Chrome lined barrel, 1:8 twist, basic sights, dust cover, forward assist) - $899.00
Palmetto PA15 (Chrome lined barrel, FN barrel, 1:7 twist, basic sights, dust cover, forward assist) - $771.00


It is my first AR. Just looking for opinions on these 3.

Thanks for all your help guys

get the PSA and buy ammo

Pick one, you cant go wrong. Just be warned that with P.S.A  you run a higher risk of getting a messed up or very slow delivery....but if they get everything right, it is the best bang -for-buck

Buy the PSA, ammo and/or mags.

I forgot to put that these 3 AR15's are all at 3 different local stores.

I've never heard much about Palmetto

get a psa but with a cold hammer forged barrel

I'd chose the smith between the 3 listed and choose to build my own out of all options in that price range.

Also barrel profile would be a factor for me. Prefer LW profile and anything with a M4 or Gov profile is an instant no go.  Mid length gas system would be my choice as well.

What's wrong with an M4?

Nothing, but it costs more.

Ok, just wondering, since the poster above said an M4 is a no go for him

PSA by a long shot.  I'd probably buy it over the Colt even if they were the same price.

None of those.


http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/ar-15-05/rifle-kits/16-m4-cmv-chrome-lined-premium-rifle-kit.html

Buy this kit, and a lower of your choosing. Then with the extra money saved buy mags, sling, and ammo.


Your welcome

I would go with the Colt.  I don't think its a superior rifle, but the resale is better.  For some reason, Colt has a following and they will pay for the name.

Which M&P 15 model? It matters in making a selection from your choices.

He said "M4 or Gov Profile barrel". It's a preference and some are not fans of the barrel and would prefer CHF or light profile.

I can't remember which model M&P. It wasn't a sport, as it has a dust cover and forward assist, but it wasn't much over the sport.

The M4 profile is pointless unless you are hooking a grenade launcher on there, gov as well.

They are both LW profile under the Handguards and heavier near the end of the muzzle, this distribution of weight makes NO sense functionally in a rifle, it's backwards, you would rather have the thicker profile near the chamber to act as a heat sink or a LW profile the whole way to make it easier to balance.

It's easy to put extra weight on an AR, not so easy to trim the fat.  I prefer to have my rifles balanced and I don't want to have that extra half lb of metal out the hanging on the end of my rifle if I don't need it.  

Another good option (assuming you are running it like a machine gun for whatever reason) is a recon or socom type profile which is tapered to provide the heavy barrel on the chamber end and the LW profile at the muzzle.

If they are all within your budget get the Colt. That is a no brainer.  The problem I have with PSA is you never know what you are buying they sell so many different grades of parts and pieces.

I would however buy a M&P 15A if the price was right. But I think they sell for more than $900 but I could be wrong.

Nothing wrong with a M4 its just a barrel profile.

PSA.

I've seen a couple of reviews on youtube, and they compare the PSA to a Colt

PSA and buy ammo and mags.

youtube huh?

I like the video reviews.

But, if you'll notice, I'm on here too looking for advice

Like I said the problem with PSA is you never know what you are buying. We all know the specs on Colt and SW but who knows about PSA they use so many different grade of parts you never know what you are buying. And it's telling that so many here would suggest PSA without knowing the details of the build.

If the PSA is at a local shop and had the FN barrel that would be my choice, if new. That  way if there's a issue they can handle it for you.

I had a PSA off the rack like that and it was as good as my Colt 6920, only reason I sold it was I made money on it during the panic. I still have a PSA build with the CHF  barrel and its as nice as either of my colts ( I used the profit from the PSA to fund a 2nd 6920 over the summer )

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I also just bought my first AR 3 weeks ago. I went with the Colt LE6920 because of their reputation. I have only put about 60 rounds through it so far, but I already know it is going to be a great gun.

Colt !!!!!!!

None of the above.

Get a lower and get to assembling

Or pick 3 new ones from our vendors here and let me judge

Colt

I would like to build one in 2014, but I want a complete rifle first

I've always been a handgun guy. Sold off my junk, starting over with better quality. I don't want safe queens, but I want quality firearms.

My 13 year old daughter and I shoot twice a month.

Out of those 3 get the colt.

Nailed it. If you were to have only one AR, buy the Colt.

I own 2 out of the three you mentioned . get the colt

Is the Colt a $300 better rifle? If so, why?

The reason I asked if Colt was $300 better was because below is the PSA spec's

Details


Finally a complete rifle ready to go for one low price.  Our M4 Carbine starts with one of our Premium chrome-lined Mil-spec steel barrels in the versatile M4 profile, mated to our forged aluminum upper, and finished off with a standard carbine hand guard, Pinned f-marked front sight post and A2 Flash hider.  The forged lower is built with our 6 position Mil-spec size buffer tube and stock, Standard PSA lower parts kit with A2 pistol grip and aluminum trigger guard.  The rifle is topped off with a Magpul rear back up sight.  It comes with one 30 Round D&H Magazine (where allowed by law) so all you have to provide is the ammo to start having fun.

Barrel:  16" chrome-lined mil-spec chrome moly vanadium barrel, chambered in 5.56 NATO, with a 1/7 twist, M4 barrel extension, and a carbine gas system.   M4 style profile is phosphate coated to mil-specs, and is High Pressure tested, and Magnetic Particle inspected, to ensure quality and dependability.   Barrel is finished off with a standard carbine hand guard, pinned f-marked front sight post, rear Magpul Back Up Sight, and A2 flash hider.

Upper: Forged 7075-T6 A3 AR upper is made to MIL-SPECS and hard coat anodized black for durability. Featuring machined T marks, and a mil-spec finish. These uppers are made for us right here in the USA by a mil-spec manufacturer, and are marked with the Palmetto State Armory logo on the left side, up front, just below the rail.

Bolt: Bolt is made of Mil-spec Carpenter 158 steel, Shot peened, and MPI. Gas key is secured with grade 8 fasteners and staked per mil-spec. Bolt carrier is parkerized outside, chrome lined inside.

Lower:  These forged lowers are quality made using 7075-T6 aluminum and are marked "MULTI" for caliber.  Finish is Black Hardcoat Anodize per MIL-8625 Type 3 class 2.  Mil-spec sized buffer tube is forged of 7075 aluminum, is dry film lube coated on the inside, has 6 adjustment positions, is finished with an M4 stock and has a staked castle nut.  Standard carbine buffer is Black anodized and has the PSA logo on the face.  The standard PSA combat trigger has a smooth pull and clean break.

between those 3, id take the S&W. It has the most accuracy potential of the 3 and generaly the best fit and finish. I had one and at ate every kind of ammo I could find, even mixed in the same mag, right out of the box.  :)

 

I had the same problem until a few days ago. I ended up going with colt myself.
The other option I was looking at was a complete LMT lower from Rainier Arms & a 16" LW middy  upper from BCM.

Get the PSA. I bought a complete upper for a build and have no complaints.

I'm gonna make an offer of $671 for the PSA (they are asking $771) tomorrow, and see what they say. I can't make it to the shop that carries Colt until Saturday. We'll wee what happens.

Is the PSA new or used? If new I doubt you get them to lower the price that much. Used, try 700, I doubt they're going to knock $100 bucks off....even though the panic is over their asking price ain't that far off what I've seen them go for this summer

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I'd get the S&W. First AR I ever owned was a M&P. 2500 rounds and not a single problem. But if you're into name brand recognition and potential resell value, get the Colt.

Yes, Yes, and Yes.

I would suggest you look at the S&W specs again, all the 1/8 ones I've seen came with a melonited, 5R barrel.  A big bonus over chrome lined regular rifling to me.

The S&W Magpul Spec Mid has that, a LW barrel, and mid gas.  I see them sub $1k in places.  I have a Colt I really like (LW barrel too), but S&W Mag Mid vs. 6920 to me is a strong vote for S&W. I also like PSA and have used their parts a lot, but as mentioned, it's variable what you are getting as they use a lot of different parts of different qualities on various guns.  Lots of homework to do on that one. Not so with a Colt, S&W, or other makers.

+1. All the roll mark label whores will cry and moan, but it gets the same job done for less.

+1

No contest. Buy once, cry once.

The PSA is new. If I can get them to come down on price (I'm paying cash) it would be a no brainer

I'm saying this as a HUGE PSA fan...get the colt. Start out with the industry standard. You won't regret it.

Good luck then, I would expect they'd take $50.00 off since you paying cash....let us know. It's still a good deal at that price (I paid $735 plus tax for my storebought PSA this time last year)

OP, check out Daniel Defense you can get an awesome DDM4 V7LW for about $1300. Much better quality then all you listed above. DD is top notch stuff. The DDM4 V7LW was my first AR and it is amazing

Primary Arms had them for $1115 yesterday. Their sale is still going on, but not sure if they're still in stock.