PSA vs CMMG: AR-15 brands compared
PSA leads in 4 of 7 categories.
PSA for the price, upper receivers and lower receivers. CMMG for triggers.
From tens of thousands of real builds and live prices at 30+ retailers.
Our take
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
- The more popular pick: in 17% of builds
- Upper receivers, picked 4x as often
- Lower receivers, picked 7x as often
CMMG makes complete AR rifles, pistols and parts, and it's known for Radial Delayed Blowback, its action for pistol caliber ARs in rounds like 10mm and .45 ACP.
Lifetime quality guarantee · Radial Delayed Blowback · Pistol caliber ARs
- Close to average prices
- Triggers, picked 2.9x as often
Many builders mix them: 26% of CMMG builds add PSA, most often the upper receiver.
Biggest differences
"Picked" is the share of builds with that part that chose each brand.
| PSA | CMMG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price vs average | 41% cheaper | 8% cheaper | PSA cheaper |
| Share of builds | 17% | 9% | PSA 1.9x |
| Lowers picked | 26% | 3.8% | PSA 7x |
| Uppers picked | 14% | 3.5% | PSA 4x |
| BCGs picked | 7.7% | 2.6% | PSA 3.0x |
| Retailers carrying | 9 | 21 | CMMG 2.3x |
| Parts listed | 2,037 | 1,054 | PSA 1.9x |
Price: PSA wins
For the same part, PSA parts run 41% cheaper than average and CMMG parts run 8% cheaper than average.
Builder favorite: PSA wins
PSA is in 17% of builds and CMMG is in 9% of builds.
Why PSA: PSA's Full Lifetime Warranty covers the guns and parts it makes, and it transfers to later owners.
Receivers: PSA wins
Builders pick PSA lower receivers (7x) and upper receivers (4x) more often than CMMG.
Why PSA: PSA owns its supply chain, including Spartan Forging and DC Machine, from forging the receivers to finishing the muzzle brake.
Internals: Split
Builders pick PSA bolt carrier groups (2.9x) more often than CMMG. Builders pick CMMG triggers (2.9x) more often than PSA. Barrels and charging handles are about even. CMMG muzzle devices, gas blocks and buffer tubes are picked often, PSA's rarely.
Why PSA: PSA's upgraded BCGs use a Carpenter 158 steel bolt that's shot peened, high pressure tested and magnetic particle inspected.
Why CMMG: In a Radial Delayed Blowback gun the bolt has to rotate and unlock before it cycles, which slows the carrier enough to run safely.
Furniture: CMMG wins
Stocks are about even. CMMG handguards and pistol grips are picked often, PSA's rarely.
Complete rifles: PSA wins
PSA complete rifles picked often, CMMG 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 stockMost picked CMMG complete rifles
Rarely picked
Shopper clicks: Tie
Of recent clicks through to a store for these brands, 54% went to PSA and 46% went to CMMG.
The full record
Everything we track for PSA vs CMMG, from builds, store listings and daily prices.
| PSA | CMMG | |
|---|---|---|
| Share of builds | 17% | 9% |
| Price tier | Budget friendly | Mid priced |
| Parts listed | 2,037 | 1,054 |
| Part types | 29 | 30 |
| Retailers carrying | 9 | 21 |
| In stock now | 93% | 49% |
| Price change, 90 dayson the most picked parts | n/a | 2% higher |
| On sale now | None | None |
