Which should you buy, PSA or LMT?

PSA for the price, upper receivers and lower receivers. Pick PSA if price matters most: builders pay about 41% less than average for the same part. Builders pick its upper receivers 9x as often and lower receivers 3x as often. Pick LMT if you want close to average prices: builders pay 12% pricier than average. Or mix them like builders do: 15% of LMT builds add PSA, most often the upper receiver.

Is PSA cheaper than LMT?

PSA. PSA 41% cheaper than average, LMT 12% pricier than average.

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

PSA. PSA is in 4.5x as many builds.

PSA or LMT: which receivers do builders pick?

PSA. PSA upper receivers picked 9x as often, lower receivers picked 3x as often.

PSA or LMT: which internals do builders pick?

PSA. PSA bolt carrier groups picked 3x as often, close on charging handles.

PSA or LMT: which complete rifle do builders pick?

PSA. PSA complete rifles picked often, LMT rarely.

PSA vs LMT: AR-15 brands compared

Q: Can you mix PSA and LMT parts?

Yes. 15% of LMT builds add PSA, most often the upper receiver.

PSA leads in 6 of 7 categories.

PSA for the price, upper receivers and lower receivers.

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
The more popular pick: in 17% of builds
Upper receivers, picked 9x as often
Lower receivers, picked 3x as often

LMT is best for:

LMT, now LMT Defense, makes rifles for militaries around the world. On the parts side it's known for the MRP monolithic upper and the Enhanced Bolt.

Monolithic uppers · Military contractor · Berry compliant

Close to average prices

Many builders mix them: 15% of LMT builds add PSA, most often the upper receiver.

Biggest differences

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

	PSA	LMT	Difference
Price vs average	41% cheaper	12% pricier	PSA cheaper
Share of builds	17%	4%	PSA 4x
Parts listed	2,037	154	PSA 13x
Uppers picked	14%	1.5%	PSA 9x
Lowers picked	26%	8.0%	PSA 3x
BCGs picked	7.7%	2.6%	PSA 3.0x
Retailers carrying	9	10

Price: PSA wins

For the same part, PSA parts run 41% cheaper than average and LMT parts run 12% pricier than average.

Builder favorite: PSA wins

PSA is in 17% of builds and LMT is in 4% 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 (3x) and upper receivers (9x) more often than LMT.

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

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 LMT receivers

LMT MARS-L Stripped Lower Receiver$320.99, in stock at 3 stores

LMT Upper Receiver$211.50, in stock at 2 stores

LMT MARS-LS PDW Lower Receiver$989.99, in stock at 2 stores

Internals: PSA wins

Builders pick PSA barrels (4x) and bolt carrier groups (3x) more often than LMT. Charging handles are about even. PSA triggers are picked often, LMT's rarely. LMT 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.

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 LMT internals

LMT Defense 5.56 F-A BOLT CARRIER GROUP$247.99, in stock at 2 stores

Lewis Machine & Tool 5.56MM CHARGING HANDLE$97.20, in stock at 2 stores

LMT 5.56 Chrome Lined M4 Barrel$428.40, in stock at 1 store

Furniture: Tie

Stocks are about even.

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 LMT furniture

LMT Defense SOPMOD Buttstock Tan$188.10, in stock at 1 store

LMT Defense SOPMOD Buttstock$188.10, in stock at 1 store

LMT DMR .308 Adjustable AR-10 Rifle Stock$403.65, in stock at 1 store

Complete rifles: PSA wins

PSA complete rifles picked often, LMT 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 LMT complete rifles

Rarely picked

Shopper clicks: PSA wins

Of recent clicks through to a store for these brands, 83% went to PSA and 17% went to LMT.

The full record

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

	PSA	LMT
Share of builds	17%	4%
Price tier	Budget friendly	Mid priced
Parts listed	2,037	154
Part types	29	21
Retailers carrying	9	10
In stock now	93%	70%
Price change, 90 dayson the most picked parts	n/a	Flat
On sale now	None	None