Which should you buy, Timber Creek or PSA?

Timber Creek for the price, charging handles and furniture. PSA for the price, receivers and complete rifles. Pick Timber Creek if price matters most: builders pay about 43% less than average for the same part. Builders pick its charging handles 2.1x as often and furniture far more often. Pick PSA if price matters most: builders pay about 41% less than average for the same part. Builders pick its receivers far more often and complete rifles far more often. Or mix them like builders do: 23% of Timber Creek builds add PSA, most often the upper receiver.

Is Timber Creek cheaper than PSA?

Close. Timber Creek 43% cheaper than average, PSA 41% cheaper than average.

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

PSA. PSA is in 5.6x as many builds.

Timber Creek or PSA: which internals do builders pick?

PSA. Timber Creek charging handles picked 2.1x as often.

Timber Creek or PSA: which furniture do builders pick?

Timber Creek. Timber Creek picked more often.

Timber Creek vs PSA: AR-15 brands compared

Q: Timber Creek or PSA: which receivers do builders pick?

PSA. PSA upper receivers picked often, Timber Creek rarely.

Q: Timber Creek or PSA: which complete rifle do builders pick?

PSA. PSA complete rifles picked often, Timber Creek rarely.

Q: Can you mix Timber Creek and PSA parts?

Yes. 23% of Timber Creek builds add PSA, most often the upper receiver.

PSA leads in 5 of 7 categories.

Timber Creek for the price, charging handles and furniture. PSA for the price, receivers and complete rifles.

From tens of thousands of real builds and live prices at 30+ retailers.

Our take

Timber Creek is best for:

Timber Creek makes machined aluminum AR-15 and AR-10 parts in a wide range of anodized colors, from handguards and charging handles to safety selectors.

Anodized colors · AR-15 and AR-10 · Machined aluminum

Spending less: about 43% below average
Charging handles, picked 2.1x as often
Furniture (PSA furniture are rarely picked)

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
Receivers (Timber Creek receivers are rarely picked)
Complete rifles (Timber Creek complete rifles are rarely picked)

Many builders mix them: 23% of Timber Creek builds add PSA, most often the upper receiver.

Biggest differences

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

	Timber Creek	PSA	Difference
Price vs average	43% cheaper	41% cheaper
Share of builds	3%	17%	PSA 6x
Parts listed	418	2,037	PSA 5x
Retailers carrying	10	9

Price: Tie

For the same part, Timber Creek parts run 43% cheaper than average and PSA parts run 41% cheaper than average.

Builder favorite: PSA wins

Timber Creek is in 3% of builds and PSA is in 17% 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

PSA upper receivers picked often, Timber Creek rarely.

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

Most picked Timber Creek receivers

Rarely picked

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

Internals: PSA wins

Builders pick Timber Creek charging handles (2.1x) more often than PSA. PSA barrels, bolt carrier groups and triggers are picked often, Timber Creek's rarely. Timber Creek 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 Timber Creek internals

Timber Creek Outdoors Buffer Tube$31.99, in stock at 5 stores

Timber Creek Outdoors Enforcer Mini Small Charging$95.99, in stock at 5 stores

Timber Creek Outdoors Buffer Tube$31.99, in stock at 6 stores

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

Furniture: Timber Creek wins

Timber Creek picked more often.

Most picked Timber Creek furniture

Timber Creek Enforcer 15" M-LOK Handguard$150.62, in stock at 5 stores

Timber Creek Enforcer 13"M-LOK Handguard$175.99, in stock at 3 stores

Timber Creek Enforcer M-LOK Hand Guard 9in M E9 HG BL$90.00, in stock at 4 stores

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

Complete rifles: PSA wins

PSA complete rifles picked often, Timber Creek rarely.

Most picked Timber Creek complete rifles

Rarely picked

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

Shopper clicks: PSA wins

Of recent clicks through to a store for these brands, 92% went to PSA and 8% went to Timber Creek.

The full record

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

	Timber Creek	PSA
Share of builds	3%	17%
Price tier	Budget friendly	Budget friendly
Parts listed	418	2,037
Part types	19	29
Retailers carrying	10	9
In stock now	68%	93%
Price change, 90 dayson the most picked parts	5% lower	n/a
On sale now	None	None