PSA vs Spike's: AR-15 brands compared
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 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 3x as often
- Lower receivers, picked 4x as often
Spike's Tactical makes AR rifles, uppers, lowers and parts in Florida, with the Spider logo on the lowers. The T3 tungsten buffer is one of their most known parts.
Lifetime warranty · Forged lowers · Tungsten buffers
- Close to average prices
Many builders mix them: 22% of Spike's builds add PSA, most often the upper receiver.
Biggest differences
"Picked" is the share of builds with that part that chose each brand.
| PSA | Spike's | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price vs average | 41% cheaper | About average | PSA cheaper |
| Share of builds | 17% | 7% | PSA 2.4x |
| Parts listed | 2,037 | 332 | PSA 6x |
| Lowers picked | 26% | 5.9% | PSA 4x |
| Uppers picked | 14% | 4.5% | PSA 3x |
| BCGs picked | 7.7% | 4.0% | PSA 1.9x |
| Retailers carrying | 9 | 15 | Spike's 1.7x |
Price: PSA wins
For the same part, PSA parts run 41% cheaper than average and Spike's parts run about average.
Builder favorite: PSA wins
PSA is in 17% of builds and Spike's is in 7% 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 (4x) and upper receivers (3x) more often than Spike's.
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
Builders pick PSA barrels (3x) and bolt carrier groups (1.9x) more often than Spike's. PSA charging handles and triggers are picked often, Spike's's rarely. Spike's muzzle devices 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.
Furniture: Tie
PSA picked more often.
Complete rifles: PSA wins
PSA complete rifles picked often, Spike's 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 Spike's complete rifles
Rarely picked
Shopper clicks: PSA wins
Of recent clicks through to a store for these brands, 66% went to PSA and 34% went to Spike's.
The full record
Everything we track for PSA vs Spike's, from builds, store listings and daily prices.
| PSA | Spike's | |
|---|---|---|
| Share of builds | 17% | 7% |
| Price tier | Budget friendly | Mid priced |
| Parts listed | 2,037 | 332 |
| Part types | 29 | 22 |
| Retailers carrying | 9 | 15 |
| In stock now | 93% | 50% |
| Price change, 90 dayson the most picked parts | n/a | Flat |
| On sale now | None | None |
