PSA vs Midwest Industries: AR-15 brands compared
PSA leads in 6 of 7 categories.
PSA for the price, upper receivers and internals.
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 42x as often
- Internals (Midwest Industries internals are rarely picked)
Midwest Industries makes AR-15 handguards, sights and mounts. Their Combat Rail is a slim 1.5 inch free float handguard.
Free float handguards · Limited lifetime warranty · Iron sights
- Close to average prices
Many builders mix them: 20% of Midwest Industries builds add PSA, most often the upper receiver.
Biggest differences
"Picked" is the share of builds with that part that chose each brand.
| PSA | Midwest Industries | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price vs average | 41% cheaper | About average | PSA cheaper |
| Share of builds | 17% | 9% | PSA 1.9x |
| Uppers picked | 14% | 0.3% | PSA 47x |
| Parts listed | 2,037 | 543 | PSA 4x |
| Retailers carrying | 9 | 17 | Midwest Industries 1.9x |
Price: PSA wins
For the same part, PSA parts run 41% cheaper than average and Midwest Industries parts run about average.
Builder favorite: PSA wins
PSA is in 17% of builds and Midwest Industries 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 upper receivers (42x) more often than Midwest Industries. PSA lower receivers are picked often, Midwest Industries's rarely.
Why PSA: PSA owns its supply chain, including Spartan Forging and DC Machine, from forging the receivers to finishing the muzzle brake.
Internals: PSA wins
PSA bolt carrier groups picked often, Midwest Industries 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 stockMost picked Midwest Industries internals
Rarely picked
Furniture: Midwest Industries wins
Stocks are about even. Midwest Industries handguards are picked often, PSA's rarely.
Why Midwest Industries: The Combat Rail is 6061 aluminum with a Type 3 hard coat anodized finish and a heat treated 4140 barrel nut.
Complete rifles: PSA wins
PSA complete rifles picked often, Midwest Industries 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 Midwest Industries complete rifles
Rarely picked
Shopper clicks: PSA wins
Of recent clicks through to a store for these brands, 69% went to PSA and 31% went to Midwest Industries.
The full record
Everything we track for PSA vs Midwest Industries, from builds, store listings and daily prices.
| PSA | Midwest Industries | |
|---|---|---|
| Share of builds | 17% | 9% |
| Price tier | Budget friendly | Mid priced |
| Parts listed | 2,037 | 543 |
| Part types | 29 | 24 |
| Retailers carrying | 9 | 17 |
| In stock now | 93% | 68% |
| Price change, 90 dayson the most picked parts | n/a | 12% higher |
| On sale now | None | None |
