Which should you buy, PSA or BCM?

PSA for the price, lower receivers and complete rifles. BCM for upper receivers, bolt carrier groups and charging handles. Pick PSA if price matters most: builders pay about 41% less than average for the same part. Builders pick its lower receivers 5x as often and complete rifles far more often. Pick BCM if you don't mind paying more: builders pay 24% pricier than average. Builders pick its upper receivers 1.7x as often and bolt carrier groups 3x as often. Or mix them like builders do: 37% of PSA builds add BCM, most often the bolt carrier group.

Is PSA cheaper than BCM?

PSA. PSA 41% cheaper than average, BCM 24% pricier than average.

Which do more AR-15 builders use, PSA or BCM?

BCM. BCM is in 2.2x as many builds.

PSA or BCM: which receivers do builders pick?

Split. BCM upper receivers picked 1.7x as often, PSA lower receivers picked 5x as often.

PSA or BCM: which internals do builders pick?

BCM. BCM bolt carrier groups picked 3x as often, charging handles picked 5x as often.

PSA or BCM: which furniture do builders pick?

BCM. BCM stocks picked 7x as often.

PSA or BCM: which complete rifle do builders pick?

PSA. PSA complete rifles picked often, BCM rarely.

PSA vs BCM: AR-15 brands compared

Q: Can you mix PSA and BCM parts?

Yes. 37% of PSA builds add BCM, most often the bolt carrier group.

BCM leads in 4 of 7 categories.

PSA for the price, lower receivers and complete rifles. BCM for upper receivers, bolt carrier groups and charging handles.

From tens of thousands of real builds and live prices at 30+ retailers.

Our take

PSA is best for:

PSA sells affordable AR lowers, uppers, BCGs and complete rifles, and it makes them in house from forging to finished part.

Lifetime warranty · Transferable warranty · Value pricing · Vertically integrated

Spending less: about 41% below average
Lower receivers, picked 5x as often
Complete rifles (BCM complete rifles are rarely picked)

BCM is best for:

BCM makes mil-spec AR uppers, barrels and bolt carriers, and it test fires every complete upper and bolt carrier group before it ships.

Mil-spec parts · Test fired uppers · Chrome lined barrels · Veteran founded

Paying more: about 24% above average
The more popular pick: in 37% of builds
Upper receivers, picked 1.7x as often
Bolt carrier groups, picked 3x as often

Many builders mix them: 37% of PSA builds add BCM, most often the bolt carrier group.

Biggest differences

"Picked" is the share of builds with that part that chose each brand.

	PSA	BCM	Difference
Price vs average	41% cheaper	24% pricier	PSA cheaper
Share of builds	17%	37%	BCM 2.2x
Lowers picked	26%	4.8%	PSA 5x
BCGs picked	7.7%	26%	BCM 3x
Parts listed	2,037	776	PSA 2.6x
Retailers carrying	9	17	BCM 1.9x
Uppers picked	14%	24%	BCM 1.7x

Price: PSA wins

For the same part, PSA parts run 41% cheaper than average and BCM parts run 24% pricier than average.

Builder favorite: BCM wins

PSA is in 17% of builds and BCM is in 37% of builds.

Receivers: Split

Builders pick PSA lower receivers (5x) more often than BCM. Builders pick BCM upper receivers (1.7x) more often than PSA.

Why PSA: PSA owns its supply chain, including Spartan Forging and DC Machine, from forging the receivers to finishing the muzzle brake.

Why BCM: BCM M4 uppers are machined from 7075-T6 forgings with a Type III hard coat anodized finish.

Most picked PSA receivers

PSA Upper 5.56 16" Mid-Length Nitride 13.5" M-LOK$249.99, in stock at 1 store

PSA "Stealth" Stripped Lower Receiver$79.99, in stock at 1 store

PSA Built Stealth Upper Receiver$99.99, in stock at 1 store

Most picked BCM receivers

Bravo Company Manufacturing 5.56 NATO Mid-Length Bhf$880.95, in stock at 2 stores

Bravo Company Manufacturing Lower Receiver$525.00, in stock at 6 stores

Bravo Company Mfg Upper Receiver w/ Laser T-Markings$129.00, out of stock

Internals: BCM wins

Builders pick BCM barrels (1.7x), bolt carrier groups (3x) and charging handles (5x) more often than PSA. Triggers are about even. BCM muzzle devices, gas blocks and buffer tubes are picked often, PSA's rarely.

Why BCM: The BCM bolt is Carpenter 158 steel, shot peened, high pressure tested and magnetic particle inspected.

Most picked PSA internals

PSA Bolt Carrier Group 5.56 Full-Auto Nitride MPI$89.99, in stock at 1 store

PSA /PA10 EPT$49.99, in stock at 1 store

PSA Custom Charging Handleout of stock

Most picked BCM internals

Bravo Company Bolt Carrier Group$199.00, in stock at 4 stores

Bravo Company / BCM 6 Position Receiver Extension$37.49, in stock at 5 stores

Bravo Company BCM GFHMK2MED MK2 Charging Handle$74.95, in stock at 6 stores

Furniture: BCM wins

Builders pick BCM stocks (7x) more often than PSA. BCM handguards and pistol grips are picked often, PSA's rarely.

Most picked PSA furniture

Palmetto State Armory MOE Stock KIT$79.95, in stock at 1 store

Palmetto State Armory MOE Stock KIT Flat Dark Earth$79.95, in stock at 1 store

PSA AR-V 10.5" 9mm 1/10 Hex M-LOK MOE EPT SBA3 Pistolout of stock

Most picked BCM furniture

Bravo Company Mfg M-LOK 13" Modular Rail$224.95, in stock at 3 stores

Bravo Company Mfg Mod 1 Pistol Grip$17.95, in stock at 6 stores

Bravo Company BCMGunfighter Stock KIT$95.64, in stock at 9 stores

Complete rifles: PSA wins

PSA complete rifles picked often, BCM rarely.

Most picked PSA complete rifles

PSA PA-15 16" Nitride M4 Carbine 5.56 NATO Classic 13.5"$549.99, in stock at 1 store

PSA PA-15 16"Nitride M4 Carbine 5.56 NATO Classic Rifle$499.99, in stock at 1 store

PSA Guardsman-15 16" Midlength 5.56 NATO 1/7 CL$617.49, out of stock

Most picked BCM complete rifles

Rarely picked

Shopper clicks: BCM wins

Of recent clicks through to a store for these brands, 62% went to BCM and 38% went to PSA.

The full record

Everything we track for PSA vs BCM, from builds, store listings and daily prices.

	PSA	BCM
Share of builds	17%	37%
Price tier	Budget friendly	Premium
Parts listed	2,037	776
Part types	29	34
Retailers carrying	9	17
In stock now	93%	82%
Price change, 90 dayson the most picked parts	n/a	Flat
On sale now	None	None