Home-Built Rifle Review: Built in 2013 with Mostly Palmetto State Armory Parts

Independent owner review. Not sponsored by Palmetto State Armory. No paid or affiliate links on this page.

I built this rifle myself in 2013 with mostly Palmetto State Armory parts, and it's still one I enjoy taking out. Target shooting is an American classic pastime, and it's best with good friends.

Thanks to the fine craftsmanship and affordable prices at Palmetto State, putting it together was doable.

My home-built rifle with a 4-12x scope and bull barrel, resting on a bipod on a wooden table, looking out over a grassy field. — The rifle I built with mostly Palmetto State Armory parts, set up on the bipod.

Muzzle flash from the rifle on its bipod, aimed downrange at a target 150 yards across an open field. — Downrange at 150 yards, off the bipod at the picnic table.

The build

Built by: The owner, at home, in 2013
Parts: Mostly Palmetto State Armory
Barrel: 20" stainless heavy (bull) barrel, 5.56, 1:7 twist, rifle-length gas, from a complete PSA upper (see PSA's current barrels)
Trigger: From PSA's Classic ACT lower parts kit (silver), about 5.5 lb. A similar one today is the PSA EPT enhanced polished trigger
Stock: Blackhawk AR-15 stock
Compensator: Picked up on Amazon, surprisingly
Grip: LaRue Tactical pistol grip (black)
Scope: 4-12x

What I like

"Shoots like a .22." That's the easiest way I can put it.
It reaches out. It hits out to about 1/3 mile, about 587 yards.
Steady off a bipod. In my video I'm shooting at 150 yards off a bipod at a picnic table.
I built it myself. Back in 2013, with mostly Palmetto State Armory parts.
Fine craftsmanship, affordable prices. That's what Palmetto State gave me, and it made a home build doable.

The video

My own footage: the build, then downrange at 150 yards off the bipod.

Review by the owner. Palmetto State Armory is named for information only. This page isn't connected to or endorsed by them.