PSA vs Radian: AR-15 brands compared

PSA leads in 4 of 7 categories.

PSA for the price, upper receivers and lower receivers. Radian for 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
  • Upper receivers, picked 8x as often
  • Lower receivers, picked 6x as often
  • Bolt carrier groups, picked 13x as often

Radian is best for:

Radian makes ambidextrous AR controls in Redmond, Oregon, and the Raptor charging handle is the one everybody knows. They used to go by AXTS Weapons Systems.

Ambi controls · Limited lifetime warranty · Billet charging handles

  • Paying more: about 33% above average
  • The more popular pick: in 26% of builds
  • Charging handles, picked 41x as often

Many builders mix them: 25% of PSA builds add Radian, most often the charging handle.

Biggest differences

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

PSARadianDifference
Price vs average41% cheaper33% pricierPSA cheaper
Share of builds17%26%Radian 1.5x
Charging handles picked1.0%41%Radian 41x
BCGs picked7.7%0.6%PSA 13x
Uppers picked14%1.7%PSA 8x
Lowers picked26%4.6%PSA 6x
Parts listed2,037398PSA 5x

Price: PSA wins

For the same part, PSA parts run 41% cheaper than average and Radian parts run 33% pricier than average.

Builder favorite: Radian wins

PSA is in 17% of builds and Radian is in 26% of builds.

Why Radian: Radian covers everything it sells with a limited lifetime warranty against manufacturer defects.

Receivers: PSA wins

Builders pick PSA lower receivers (6x) and upper receivers (8x) more often than Radian.

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

Internals: Radian wins

Builders pick PSA bolt carrier groups (13x) and triggers (3x) more often than Radian. Builders pick Radian charging handles (41x) more often than PSA. PSA barrels are picked often, Radian's rarely.

Why Radian: The Raptor is an all billet ambidextrous charging handle you can run from either side.

Furniture: PSA wins

PSA stocks picked often, Radian rarely.

Most picked Radian furniture

Rarely picked

Complete rifles: PSA wins

PSA complete rifles picked often, Radian rarely.

Most picked Radian complete rifles

Rarely picked

Shopper clicks: Tie

Of recent clicks through to a store for these brands, 55% went to PSA and 45% went to Radian.

The full record

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

PSARadian
Share of builds17%26%
Price tierBudget friendlyPremium
Parts listed2,037398
Part types2923
Retailers carrying915
In stock now93%63%
Price change, 90 dayson the most picked partsn/aFlat
On sale nowNoneNone

What builders pair with them

PSA vs Radian: questions builders ask

Which should you buy, PSA or Radian?

PSA for the price, upper receivers and lower receivers. Radian for charging handles. Pick PSA if price matters most: builders pay about 41% less than average for the same part. Builders pick its upper receivers 8x as often and lower receivers 6x as often. Pick Radian if you don't mind paying more: builders pay 33% pricier than average. Builders pick its charging handles 41x as often. Or mix them like builders do: 25% of PSA builds add Radian, most often the charging handle.

Is PSA cheaper than Radian?

PSA. PSA 41% cheaper than average, Radian 33% pricier than average.

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

Radian. Radian is in 1.5x as many builds.

PSA or Radian: which receivers do builders pick?

PSA. PSA upper receivers picked 8x as often, lower receivers picked 6x as often.

PSA or Radian: which internals do builders pick?

Radian. Radian charging handles picked 41x as often, PSA bolt carrier groups picked 13x as often.

PSA or Radian: which furniture do builders pick?

PSA. PSA stocks picked often, Radian rarely.

PSA or Radian: which complete rifle do builders pick?

PSA. PSA complete rifles picked often, Radian rarely.

Can you mix PSA and Radian parts?

Yes. 25% of PSA builds add Radian, most often the charging handle.

What is PSA known for?

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

What is Radian known for?

Radian makes ambidextrous AR controls in Redmond, Oregon, and the Raptor charging handle is the one everybody knows. They used to go by AXTS Weapons Systems.

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