So far I’ve been completely satisfied with the ARs I’ve assembled from PSA kits, but have yet to get any of the “Blem” items. I’ve read many reviews and the statement PSA has included in the Blem listings. Since the upper I’m looking at has a standard A2 fsb, I’m wondering if blem can mean the sight could be off center or canted to one side. The PSA statement implies only cosmetic blemishes with finish, scratches or machining marks. Those things I can live with, but not a canted front sight. I’ve seen just one review of a non blem that mentioned an off centered fsb. But has anyone who’s gotten these Blem Uppers had that issue?
I would love for others to chime in, but I am of the opinion that you will be hard pressed to find the blemishes on our “Blem” items. I personally own several.
Blem should be cosmetic only. I have only found slight milling marks under the anodizing. Very very slight and if i wasn’t specifically trying to find something I most probably would have never noticed. Any defect that would impede proper functioning or accuracy would be a complete no go. Even if you buy something that is a blem, if it doesn’t function properly then send it back to PSA. Blem doesn’t mean anything but something cosmetic. I really can’t make it any simpler than that. I have plenty of blem stuff. I wouldn’t accept anything that would in any way affect reliability or accuracy period.
I’ve never thought of a gun as something other than a tool - like a hammer or a wrench. When those get scratches, as long as they still do the job they’re designed to do, I am happy.
Bought two full AR 16" kits from PSA earlier this year, because I had never owned or shot a rifle before. I used 80% lowers to complete those.
Now that I have done that - and spent a lot of time on this site and others - I’ll probably only ever buy blemished items when available for less money.
I have 4 “blemmed” items (2 uppers, 2 lowers). I couldn’t find anything more than very minor rub marks (like you get as soon as you take your weapon out to shoot it) on any of them.
Thanks for the replies guys, that actually helps a lot. It gives me a better idea of the standards for what’s considered a blem. Placed an order and will post how it compares to the non blems I’ve gotten. Can’t wait!
I’m sorry guys but I havent had such luck, bought my first blem upper and ( not good! ) the first problem is the M4 feed ramp’s. the feed ramps on the barrel nut was much smaller then the reciever leaving a lotta overhang causing the cartridges to not feed but slam into upper right portion of barell, causeing many gouges and some of the bullets slamming back into the cartridges getting gunpowder all over the place. thankfully I found this in testing and not live fire, 2nd thing I found was the front part of picatinny rail was out of spec making it unable to accept a Magpul MBUS sight and the corners were very sharp. the upper is now at PSA being repaired, I sent pics and they agreed that it needed attention…so we will see? but the plus is they wee very cool and understanding on the phone, very quick response, emailed me as soon as they recived the upper and said they will try and resolve it, Ive got $600 in this with a red dot, If this gets fixed I will definitly give PSA another shot and do bussiness with them, I hope it gets fixed because I really liked the upper and enjoy building and this was suppose to be the start of me and PSA’s relationship…WE’LL SEE???
Sorry to hear about your experience. I definitely don’t think functional issues is the norm. Not sure how sharp your pic rail was, but I know what you mean. My first PSA upper seemed to have sharp rail edges, but not like razor sharp. But the next one I got was better and the last one looked like the edge was beveled. The strange thing is that one doesn’t have a forging mark, but the sharper ones do. I’ve never encountered a functional issue though and do recommend PSA to friends, so I hope your upper is sorted out soon and you have as good of experiences with them as I have.
Blem sales are purely cosmetic, not functional blems. They will get you squared away.
Just a little update,got my E-mail this morning from PSA saying that the upper has been repaired, feed ramps were adjusted,test fired and works,so I’m happy for that. I’ve read a bunch of horror storys about PSA’s customer service. mines was completely awesome!! they called back within a hour, got me a shipping label,emailed me when upper got there, when it was repaired,and when it was shipped which is this morning. I’m hoping I will be one of the many happy customers I see in the reviews.
Good to hear and I’m sure before long you’ll be chomping at the bit to build another!
Well my blem upper arrived and as others have said… I can’t find a thing wrong with it! There were however some differences I noticed from an identical one in a different color I got before in a kit.
- The barrel… it’s the kind you typically see in photos posted here. It says “Freedom” following the caliber and twist rate engraving. The first one I got didn’t have that and the caliber and twist rate was stamped instead of engraved. There is also a notch at the muzzle just before the compensator where my first one is the same diameter all the way up. I am curious about these differences since a few of the posted pics have this difference. Were they from a different manufacturer/supplier? Or maybe they’re an older version of the freedom barrel?
- The upper… it doesn’t have a forging mark. My first one does. And the sides of the pic rail are nicely smoothed as opposed to the somewhat sharp sides of my first one.
Not that either of these differences make any difference in performance, but if I were to be real picky, I’d prefer the barrel of my first one and the upper of this one… Oh, and the price of this one! Lol What a deal!
Post some pics.
Lemme see what I can do. Other forums make you pay membership to post features like pics and signature pics!
Well not the best image, but it shows what I mean. Something else I hadn’t noticed before is the color difference in the sight bases. The darker one also feels smoother, so I wonder if that’s a different carbon content or what.
This image you can see below the rear mbus the forging mark on the top one and none on the bottom.
Oil the FSB and it will probably turn the same color black.
I always lightly oil external surfaces and wipe off any excess. That’s not it.
I just bought a blem upper for my first rifle build. Can’t wait for it to get here. I have big plans for an eye catching, mostly MilSpec rifle in FDE/black.