Palmetto State Armory has really made a name for itself in recent years…
And part of the reason for that is because it’s PSA’s mission to provide as many guns to law-abiding citizens as possible…
Now, the way they go about trying to do that is by delivering high-quality guns and gun parts at the best prices possible…
And you know what… I think they mostly deliver on that promise…
I’m very happy with the PSA uppers and lowers that I own (and my PSA Dagger), and I recommend them to friends and new shooters all the time…
But here’s the deal, PSA offers a lot of different products on their website, and you can easily get lost if you don’t narrow down what you’re searching for…
And that’s exactly why I’ve created this Top 11 list of the best PSA uppers that are currently available…
These are my favorite complete upper receivers from Palmetto State Armory, and even though they’re all from the same manufacturer, they each offer unique features and benefits to you as the shooter…
By the end of this post, you’ll have a solid idea of what PSA has to offer when it comes to uppers, and you should be able to determine which upper is going to work best for you…
Let’s get started!
Best PSA Uppers – Top 11 List (All Budgets Covered)…
Of all the PSA uppers available, the best is the 14.7″ Mid-Length CHF 5.56 Lightweight M-Lok Upper. It’s the best because the barrel is cold hammer forged and produced by FN (so it’s extremely high quality), and the 14.7″ barrel is pinned and welded making it a very handy upper receiver. It also has a smooth mid-length gas system, and is very reasonably priced…
The following will give you more detail explaining why I think this is the best Palmetto State Armory upper…
And I’ll also share with you 10 other fantastic uppers for PSA that you should consider…
1. PSA 14.7″ Mid-Length CHF 5.56 NATO 1:7 13.5″ Lightweight M-LOK Upper – Pinned & Welded (My #1 Pick!)
If you ask me what my favorite PSA upper is my answer is hands down the PSA 14.7 inch Mid-length (CHF) 13.5 inch Lightweight M-LOK Upper. That’s a mouthful, but I love this upper for several reasons…
First of all, the barrel that you get is super high quality. It’s a Chrome Moly Vanadium steel barrel that is cold hammer forged (CHF) with a 1:7 twist and produced for PSA by FN. Cold hammer forging is a process for making AR 15 barrels, and it basically creates a barrel that is extremely durable and has a long barrel life of several thousands of rounds…
And because this upper’s barrel is produced by FN, you know you’re getting a barrel that is literally good enough to take to war because FN has been making M4s and machine guns (like the M249 and M240) for the U.S. Military for years. That same level of quality goes into the barrel on this upper, and I think that’s really, really cool…
In addition to the extremely high level of quality, the barrel on this upper is 14.7 inches, and let me explain why I like that. The current laws in the U.S. require rifle barrels to be a minimum of 16 inches long (unless you intend to pay a special tax and create what’s called a ‘short barreled rifle’). So most AR 15 rifles that you see have a 16 inch barrel, and that’s perfectly fine (I have a lot of ARs with 16 inch barrels)…
That being said, I find 14.5 or 14.7 inch barrels on AR 15s to be just a little bit handier and lightweight than 16 inch barrels, and I prefer them. Now, the 14.7 inch barrel on this upper has an A2 flash hider pinned and welded to the barrel, and because the muzzle device is permanently attached (at this time), it is legally considered to have a 16 inch barrel and is not considered a short-barreled rifle…
And like I said, in my experience, these barrels are noticeably handier than 16 inch barrels, and I like the way they balance the gun. On top of that, the upper has a sleek and lightweight M-LOK rail which will allow you to mount lights, lasers, vertical foregrips, and pretty much any other accessories you’d like, and it has a midlength gas system which is generally just a little bit smoother than a carbine length gas system…
So all in all, I love this upper from PSA because the barrel is super high quality (which translates to accuracy and longevity), it’s a 14.7 inch barrel (which makes it very handy), it has a lightweight M-LOK rail (which allows you to easily mount accessories), and it has a Mid-Length gas system (which makes it run a little smoother than a carbine length gun). All of these features make this a premium complete upper receiver, and because it’s coming from PSA, the price point is very reasonable.
What Sets This Upper Apart…?
- EXTREMELY High-Quality Barrel (Cold Hammer Forged And Produced By FN)
- 14.7″ Barrel w/ Pinned & Welded Muzzle Device (to meet the required 16″ length and at the same time be more lightweight and handy!)
- 5.56 NATO Chambering
- Mid-Length Gas System (for smoother functioning)
- 1:7 Twist Rate
- Lightweight M-LOK Rail
Click The Button Below To Learn More About The PSA 14.7″ Mid-Length CHF Upper (Over 180 Customer Reviews!):
2. PSA 16″ Mid-Length 5.56 NATO 1:7 Nitride 13.5″ Lightweight M-LOK Upper (With BCG, CH, & MBUS Sights)
Another fantastic upper from PSA is the 16″ Mid-Length 5.56 1:7 Nitride 13.5″ Lightweight M-Lok Upper. First of all, this upper includes a PSA 16″ barrel, and even though it’s not a cold hammer forged barrel, the quality level is still pretty solid…
The twist rate on this barrel is 1:7 which is generally considered to be superior to a 1:9 twist, and the barrel is finished with Melonite which adds to its durability. In addition to that, this upper features a mid-length gas system which will generally run a little smoother than a carbine length gas system, and the lightweight M-LOK rail will allow you to easily mount lights, lasers, vertical foregrips, bipods, and any other accessories you can think of…
Last, there’s a lot of extra value built into this upper because it includes a BCG (bolt carrier group), a charging handle, and a set of Magpul MBUS sights (which are awesome!)…
So all in all, I think this is another fantastic upper from PSA because it’s well-built, reliable, and comes with everything you need. All you have to do is pin it to your lower, and you can start shooting!
What Sets This Upper Apart…?
- High-Quality Barrel (Nitride treated for additional accuracy and durability)
- 16″ Barrel
- 5.56 NATO Chambering
- Mid-Length Gas System (for smoother functioning)
- 1:7 Twist Rate
- Lightweight M-LOK Rail
Click The Button Below To Learn More About The PSA 16″ Mid-Length M-LOK Upper (Over 250 Customer Reviews!):
3. PSA 18″ Rifle-Length .223 WYLDE 1/7 Stainless Steel 15″ Lightweight M-LOK Upper (W/ MBUS Sights, BCG, & CH)
Number 3 on this list of my favorite uppers from Palmetto State Armory is the PSA 18″ Rifle-Length .223 Wylde 1/7 Stainless Steel 15″ Lightweight M-LOK Upper…
If you’re looking for an upper that focuses heavily on accuracy, or if you want to build something like a DMR AR-15, then this is a fantastic upper for you. To begin, the barrel is made from 416R Stainless Steel which is a wonderful material for creating strong and accurate barrels, and the barrel is chambered in .223 Wylde rather than 5.56 Nato (or .223 Remington, which I always avoid because you can’t fire 5.56 rounds safely from it)…
This is a cool feature because .223 Wylde is a hybrid chambering between 5.56 Nato and .223 Remington, and because of the way it’s designed, it’s capable of producing superior accuracy when firing either of those two rounds. So .223 Wylde is an awesome chambering when you want to get the most accuracy you can out of an AR…
I also love that this rifle is an 18″ barrel because that’s going to maximize the accuracy that you get and give your rounds a little bit more velocity when they’re fired from the gun. And at the same time, it saves you a little bit of weight because you’re not having to lug around a heavier 20″ barreled AR-15. On top of that, this upper does feature a rifle length gas system, which generally runs smoother than carbine and mid-length gas systems, and when you have an 18″ barrel, it’s definitely the way to go…
Next, I like the free float M-LOK rail that you get with this upper. The fact that it’s free-floated means that the rifle will function more accurately because nothing is touching the barrel, and the M-LOK will allow you to attach any accessories that you choose easily…
Last, with this upper, you get a Bolt Carrier Group, a charging handle, and a set of Magpul MBUS sights. Now, you’ll definitely want to get a solid scope to go with this bad boy, but you’ll be ready to go dial in your Magpul MBUS sights as soon as you pin this awesomely accurate upper to a lower.
What Sets This Upper Apart…?
- Very High-Quality Barrel (Stainless Steel and built for maximum accuracy)
- 18″ Barrel (for more accuracy and muzzle velocity)
- .223 Wylde Chambering (for maximum accuracy)
- Rifle-Length Gas System (for smoother functioning)
- 1:7 Twist Rate
- Lightweight M-LOK Rail
Click The Button Below To Learn More About The PSA 18″ Rifle-Length .223 Wylde Stainless Steel M-LOK Upper (Over 195 Customer Reviews!):
4. PSA 16″ CHF 1:7 M4 Carbine 5.56 NATO Premium Classic Upper (A Classic M4 Clone!)
Call me old-fashioned but even though I love AR-15s with M-LOK or Keymod rails on them, I also love classic-looking ARs that feature a front sight post. And if you want an AR that looks like it could be an M4 clone, the PSA 16″ CHF M4 Carbine Premium Classic Upper is fantastic…
First of all, the barrel that comes with this upper is amazing. This is one of PSA’s premium uppers, and because of that, the barrel is a chrome moly vandium barrel that is cold hammer forged (CHF) and produced for PSA by FN…
Like I mentioned earlier, FN knows a thing or two about creating amazingly durable and accurate barrels, because they’ve been doing it for the U.S. Military with M4s and machine guns for a long time now. So this barrel is very similar to the barrels used on actual M4s, and basically, the only difference is that it’s 16″ to comply with current U.S. gun laws rather than 14.5″…
In addition to that, the barrel on this upper features a 1:7 twist rate, which as I mentioned earlier, I prefer over a 1:9, and it’s also high pressure tested (HPT), and magnetic particle inspected (MPI), to ensure that you’re getting a super strong and high-quality product…
So all in all, this is a fantastic upper if you want an AR-15 that looks similar to an M4, and the coolest part is that you’re getting literally the same quality as an actual M4 because FN is producing the barrel.
What Sets This Upper Apart…?
- EXTREMELY High-Quality Barrel (Cold Hammer Forged And Produced By FN)
- 16″ Barrel (with front sight post)
- 1:7 Twist Rate
- An Accurate M4 Clone!
Click The Button Below To Learn More About The PSA 16″ CHF M4 Carbine Premium Classic Upper (Over 95 Customer Reviews!):
5. PSA 16″ CHF M4 Carbine 5.56 NATO 1:7 15″ Geissele MK14 M-LOK Upper
If you liked my number 1 pick on this list but would rather have a 16″ barrel that is not pinned and welded (and there are some good reasons why you might want that, for example, you can easily change out the muzzle device), then this is an upper that you’ll like very much…
The first amazing feature that you get with this PSA upper is that super strong cold hammer forged chrome moly vanadium steel barrel that is made by FN. Again, this is basically the same barrel that is featured in FN’s M4’s that are used by the U.S. Military and the durability and accuracy that you get with it are second to none…
In addition to that, this barrel features a 1:7 twist rate and has a carbine length gas system, which I think is just fine because I have a lot of carbine length ARs that run very smoothly…
On top of that, with this upper you get the 15″ Geissele MK14 M-LOK rail. This is a top-tier rail that is built to the highest standard. It’s lightweight which keeps the gun balanced, and it’s super strong and secure. It also looks really freaking cool, and I like that it extends 15 inches on this 16 inch barreled upper because it protects the barrel and allows you to rest the rail on practically surface to gain more stability when you’re shooting…
So all in all, I think this is hands down one of the best uppers that PSA currently offers because the barrel and rail that you get are absolutely top-tier.
What Sets This Upper Apart…?
- EXTREMELY High-Quality Barrel (Cold Hammer Forged And Produced By FN)
- 16″ Barrel (can easily swap out the muzzle device)
- 1:7 Twist Rate
- Strong and Lightweight 15″ Geissele MK14 rail (awesome rail!)
Click The Button Below To Learn More About The PSA 16″ CHF M4 Carbine 15″ Geissele MK14 M-LOK Upper (Over 20 Customer Reviews!):
6. PSA 10.5″ CHF 1:7 A2 Carbine 5.56 NATO Premium Classic AR-15 Upper
If you’re looking for a super high-quality upper for an AR pistol (or SBR), or possibly to create a MK18 mod 0 clone, then you’ll love number 6 on my list, the PSA 10.5″ CHF 1:7 A2 Carbine Premium Classic Upper…
This is an awesome upper because like others that are featured on this list, it includes a cold hammer forged (CHF) chrome moly vanadium steel barrel that is made by FN. By now, you know that this is a super durable and accurate barrel and that the quality level you’re getting is extremely high…
On top of that, the barrel on this upper has a 1:7 twist rate, and it features a carbine length gas system which I think is perfect for a 10.5″ barrel because it runs reliably and smoothly. So again, if you’re in need of an upper for an AR -15 pistol or an SBR, then this is a smooth-functioning upper with an extremely strong and accurate barrel.
What Sets This Upper Apart…?
- EXTREMELY High-Quality Barrel (Cold Hammer Forged And Produced By FN)
- 10.5″ Barrel (is good for an AR-15 Pistol or to create a short barreled rifle)
- 1:7 Twist Rate
- Carbine length gas system (very smooth and reliable)
Click The Button Below To Learn More About The PSA 10.5″ CHF 1:7 A2 Carbine Premium Classic Upper (Over 135 Customer Reviews!):
7. PSA 16″ Carbine Length 5.56 NATO 1:7 M4 Nitride MOE Upper (w/ REAR MBUS, BCG, & CH)
Number 7 on this list of my favorite PSA uppers is the PSA 16″ Carbine Length 5.56 Nato 1:7 M4 Nitride MOE Upper, and there are several reasons why I like this upper…
First of all, the barrel on this upper is not one of FN’s premium CHF barrels, but it’s still very high quality. It’s a Nitride finished 4150V chrome moly vanadium steel barrel (so it’s made from a strong and quality material), and it features a 1:7 twist rate rather than a 1:9 which as I said before is generally considered to be an inferior twist rate…
On top of that, this upper features an F marked front sight post, which is the correct height, and the receiver itself is made from mil-spec forged 7075-T6 aluminum (so it’s very strong). I also like that this particular upper comes with a Magpul MOE handguard. The inclusion of this handguard is a big upgrade over the standard M4 handguards that you often see because it has M-LOK which will allow you to easily mount a weapon light (which I think is essential to an AR-15) and other accessories as well…
Last, this upper comes with a bolt carrier group, a charging handle, and a rear Magpul MBUS sight (to work with your front sight post). And it’s very affordably priced considering the quality that you get and the upgrades that are included with it. So all in all, this is a fantastic upper from PSA, and I love that you get a BCG, charging handle, and rear sight with it because it’s ready to go right out of the box.
What Sets This Upper Apart…?
- Good Quality Barrel (Nitride finish increases durability and accuracy)
- 1:7 Twist Rate
- Included Magpul MEO Handguard (an upgrade over the standard M4 handguard)
- Included Bolt Carrier Group, Charging Handle, Magpul MBUS Rear Sight
Click The Button Below To Learn More About The PSA 16″ Carbine Length 5.56 Nato 1:7 MOE Upper (Over 230 Customer Reviews!):
8. BLEM PSA 16″ M4 Carbine-Length 5.56 NATO 1:8 Phosphate Classic Upper w/ BCG & CH (Fantastic Budget Option!)
Number 8 on this list is the BLEM PSA 16″ M4 Carbine-Length 5.56 1/8 Phosphate Upper, and let me explain why I think this upper offers you a ton of value…
First of all, BLEM stands for ‘blemished’ and it means that there is some cosmetic blemish somewhere on the upper. The blemish does not affect the performance or functionality of the upper in any way, but because it does have a cosmetic blemish, PSA sells the upper at a reduced price! I’ve bought quite a few BLEM PSA uppers and lowers over the years, and they’ve always worked perfectly. On top of that, I’ve rarely even been able to locate the blemished area (which you can duracoat, cerakote, or just spray paint over if you want to)…
Now, the barrel on this upper is made from phosphate coated 4150V Chrome Moly steel, which is a solid barrel material, and it also features a 1:8 twist rate. I like a 1:8 twist rate on AR-15s because it generally produces good accuracy regardless of whether you’re firing heavy bullets or light bullets through the gun, and I think that’s a cool feature included with this upper…
On top of that, this upper receiver is made from forged 7075-T6 aluminum, so it’s very strong, and the front sight post is F marked (which means it’s the proper height). Last, with this upper, you get a mil-spec carpenter 158 steel bolt carrier group, and it comes with a charging handle as well. Overall, I think you get a ton of value with this upper, and all you need to start shooting is an optic and/or a rear sight!
What Sets This Upper Apart…?
- Affordable/Reduced Price Because Of A Cosmetic Blemish (Performance NOT Affected!)
- Good Quality Barrel
- 1:8 Twist Rate (good for shooting heavy and light bullets accurately)
- Included Bolt Carrier Group & Charging Handle
Click The Button Below To Learn More About The BLEM PSA 16″ M4 Carbine-Length 1/8 Phosphate Upper (Over 390 Customer Reviews!):
9. PSA 10.5″ Pistol-Length 300AAC 1/8 Phosphate 9″ Lightweight M-LOK Upper (w/ BCG & CH)
Not all AR-15s have to fire 5.56 Nato/.223 Remington, and one of the most popular alternatives is the 300 AAC Blackout. This PSA upper is chambered in 300 AAC, and as you can see, it features a 10.5″ barrel, so you’ll need to put it on an AR pistol lower or use it as an SBR (short barreled rifle)…
Now, 300 AAC is a much heavier round than 5.56, and it’s designed to pack a punch, especially at shorter distances (much like the 7.62×39 AK round). It also performs really well in short barreled AR-15s, and that’s why I really like this particular upper if you want to go the 300 AAC route…
The 10.5″ barrel on this upper is made from Chrome Moly vanadium steel (so the barrel material is strong and of good quality), and it features a 1:8 twist rate which is considered a good twist rate for heavy 300 AAC rounds. On top of that, you get a lightweight M-LOK rail with this upper, which is always an upgrade that I like to see, and this upper comes with a mil-spec bolt carrier group that is made from Carpenter 158 steel and a mil-spec charging handle…
So overall, I think this is an awesome PSA upper if you want to have the ability to fire 300 AAC Blackout.
What Sets This Upper Apart…?
- 300 AAC Blackout Chambering
- Good Quality Barrel
- 1:8 Twist Rate (for heavy 300 AAC rounds)
- Sleek and Lightweight M-LOK Rail
- Included Bolt Carrier Group & Charging Handle
Click The Button Below To Learn More About The PSA 10.5″ Pistol-Length 300AAC 1/8 M-LOK Upper (Over 130 Customer Reviews!):
10. PSA 16″ Classic M4 Freedom Upper W/ BCG & CH (Fantastic Budget Upper!)
Earlier, I told you it was part of PSA’s mission to legally arm responsible citizens, and their Freedom series is intended to give a good quality AR-15 part at the best price possible. So number 10 in this list is the PSA 16″ Classic M4 Freedon Upper…
This upper features a 16″ barrel that is made from 4150V Chrome Moly Vanadium steel, which is a good, durable material. In addition to that, it’s chambered in 5.56 Nato (rather than .223 Remington), and unlike a lot of other budget AR15 uppers, it features a 1:7 twist rate (rather than a 1:9 twist rate)…
In addition to that, the upper is made from forged 7075-T6 (again, a very strong material), and you get a mil-spec bolt carrier group and a mil-spec charging handle included as well. All in all, this is a great upper if you’re on a budget and looking for a basic AR-15 that will be reliable, accurate, and strong.
What Sets This Upper Apart…?
- Affordable/ Budget ‘Freedom’ PSA upper
- Good Quality Barrel
- 1:7 Twist Rate (better than a 1:9 twist rate)
- Included Bolt Carrier Group & Charging Handle
Click The Button Below To Learn More About The PSA 16″ Classic M4 Freedom Upper (Over 245 Customer Reviews!):
11. PSA 10.5″ 5.56 NATO 1:7 Nitride Upper (Fantastic Budget Pistol Upper!)
The last upper on my list is the PSA 10.5″ 5.56 Nato 1:7 Nitride Upper, and I had to include this option on the list because it’s a fantastic AR pistol option because it’s extremely affordable…
Even though it’s incredibly affordable, the quality is still strong. For example, the barrel on this upper is made from chrome moly vanadium steel (so it’s made from a very durable material), and it’s also a Nitride treated barrel which will improve its accuracy and durability. The barrel also features a 1:7 twist rate, and the carbine length gas system allows this upper to fire very reliably (which is not always the case with short barrels on ARs)…
On top of that, this upper includes an F marked front sight post (so it’s the proper height), and the forged 7075 – T6 aluminum upper receiver is very strong. All in all, this is another fantastic upper option from PSA, especially if you’re interested in putting together an AR-15 pistol on a budget.
What Sets This Upper Apart…?
- Affordable AR Pistol Upper
- Good Quality Barrel
- Nitride Treated Barrel (for improved accuracy and durability)
- 1:7 Twist Rate
Click The Button Below To Learn More About The PSA 10.5″ 5.56 NATO 1:7 Nitride Upper (Over 320 Customer Reviews!):