Palmetto State Armory AR-15 Vs. IWI Zion 15

Today, we find out if the PSA AR-15 is just as good as the IWI Zion 15!
Thank you so much for watching today's video. Leave a comment on which one you would rather have if your life depended on it!
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[@AlphaTactics]

Sorry for the bad info guys. Palmetto is based in South Carolina!

[@mikeTyson329]

IWI Zion is made in Pennsylvania, I believe. Palmetto State is South Carolina.

[@voidofbeeswax]

Middletown, PA

[@TheArsenal187]

iwi hands down

[@SolarMoth]

Zion is my top pick for budget priced ARs.

[@jamesh5187]

The Zion doesn’t even hit the mark for for a budget rifle. A reasonable price yes but budget no

[@Roosterboy_00]

It takes all the boxes for a decently priced AR except for accuracy. I’ve seen some people have accuracy issues with it, particularly Mrgunsngear. My main thing is most rifles are 1:9 or 1:7 and I prefer 1:8 which the Zion has and he could have got a lemon but I doubt it

[@noncompliant209cali]

I don't know if I'd consider this budget. For not much more you can get a bcm

[@jolkraeremeark6949]

​@@noncompliant209cali where can I get a BCM?

[@lionelroland6674]

I did extensive homework on choosing my first AR and the winner was IWI!

[@ronaldrotondo3615]

I have been doing the same! Been researching for a month! So you think you made the right choice?

[@bpatt6591]

@@ronaldrotondo3615can’t speak for anyone else… I researched for months and shot several. In the end I chose the IWI, no regrets.

[@GeoffreySage]

Thanks for the review. I had a guy in my local shop, swear on the IWI Zion and after seeing many reviews, I think he was speaking the truth. This would be my first AR platform. Lots of experience with rifles and handguns but first AR.

[@flipperzero9662]

Iwi has a US division in Pennsylvania and the products made there are made in house in Pennsylvania man

[@martyc1533]

Thank You for taking the time to make this video. Palmetto AR Rifles are very affordable and are great for range and plinking. I have several and they go to the range often and then back into the safe. The IWI ZION is the AR you take into harm's way and use to defend your life. The ZION has been tested out to 10,000 Rounds without an issue. I carry a handgun at my job and a rifle in my vehicle, can you guess which rifle?

[@mikelvargas1162]

Hipoint?!

[@theintrovertedcalifornian5047]

As a former Army infantry veteran I would use any of my PSA rifles for combat. Have ran them for 10 year now with no issues. I use them harder than the colts uncle sam issued me back in the day

[@whiterabbit201]

IWI- doesn't have a "bull barrel" but a thick "socom" profiled barrel vs the thin light Pencil profile of the PSA gun. You can feel that extra weight on the front of the IWI and it'll reduce the felt recoil a bit, but there isn't any recoil in a 5.56 anyway so..... Do they both have an "H" buffer??? PSA is known for being gassy. How about the gas rings and BCG other than dumb labeling on the IWI??? Do they weight the same? BTW both are made in the US. (you should do at least a little research before throwing a video out there, JS)

[@AlphaTactics]

Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@Brett235]

The thick part of a barrel should always be near the chamber and slim down from there. The pressure is from the chamber to around the 6" mark. From there on can be pencil barrel because the heat will dissipate quickly the farther down the barrel goes.

[@danielwatson6381]

I was wondering cuz i was about to buy one of each iwi Zion 15 and a psa 15 and last second i said f it ill buy two iwi Zion 15’s 🤣hind sight im good on the extra hundred or two spent no kidding seing the difference yea thats the preference of me also id rather deal with iwi if a return on a qc issue if I had one not saying psa ain’t top notch costumer service all due respect but the uzi galil tavor and jerico has a bullet proof reputation so that was the final deciding factor

[@chrisb9478]

I’ve heard the IWI are good to go. But for a complete rifle, I’d spend a little more and get a PSA Sabre

[@817tactical5]

Lol. He said easy going towards the rear...😂

[@AlphaTactics]

😏

[@itscarve]

$400-450 (PSA AR15) vs Zion 15 ($899)... how are these the same price?

[@steelestabler6281]

He never said they were

[@itscarve]

@@steelestabler6281 did you watch the video? Cause he does..

[@steelestabler6281]

​@@itscarve0.28-0.39 he says the palmetto is cheaper and the Zion is better quality being more expensive but not crazy priced. 2.50 he said the palmetto was at the basic price point. 2:58 he said if you choose to go with the same price point as the Zion with the Sabre (palmetto's 'higher end' ar) you'll get similar features. The sabres are about the same price as the Zion if not a bit more. 4:15 spending less on the palmetto or getting a higher end with the Zion. 10:40 if you're gonna spend the money get the Zion if you want budget get the palmetto. 11:15 he wants to get the palmetto Sabre (more expensive) to compare a more even price point. Not to mention the entire video of him saying you get better parts and fit with the Zion vs the cheaper palmetto. Did you watch the video? cause he clearly didn't.

[@codeannn5550]

Guys he was talking about PSA Sabre which is PSA’s more toward the 1000$ price range but says he doesn’t have one yet. The one in the video is indeed a 400-450$ but the Sabre line is 850-1000$

[@Thomas-el6eq]

Both are fine firearms

[@bmj2k7]

Iwi is made in Pennsylvania

[@Brett235]

Is IWI in the same ballpark as Son's of liberty? Serious question. I'm looking to buy a rifle and the solgw rifles are a little high but after looking at what sotar says about them they look to be a great rifle.

[@AlphaTactics]

Maybe we should purchase one and find out!

[@Brett235]

@@AlphaTactics I just might. $800 for a quality rifle isn't a bad thing.

[@817tactical5]

I heard the PSA make a ping sound when closing the bolt. Did you hear it? Was it an annoying sound? Cheap sounding?

[@AlphaTactics]

It’s only on an empty chamber. Not annoying at all.

[@817tactical5]

@@AlphaTactics I think I'm going to replicate what I have with a 16" barrel.

[@markcam1965]

sabre and zion would have been a better comparison. Good try though

[@WayneOldham210]

Maybe on price point, but good 👍 try 😉

[@savagedan6274]

I’ll stick to my Psa 15 Love my rifle

[@shumardi1]

The ejection pattern is definitely different. The ejection pattern says the PSA is overgassed.

[@Brett235]

I'd rather have an overgassed rifle than an under gassed rifle.

[@spikejones-sz3qv]

GOOD REVIEW !!

[@austinsmith8584]

IWI Zion like most Israeli weapons systems are produced to find the sweet spot between quality and affordability. Obviously there are exceptions like a TS 12, but this generally true from small arms to air defense systems. The motto is always, “more bang for you buck” Palmetto State is good for what it is, but it’s not the beneficiary of a state funded arms producer it’s not going to invest millions of dollars in design, construction, and metallurgy for a home defense and a recreational market.

[@Michael-fh6lw]

What model of PA upper ? Freedom , Premium? And yes PSA IS overgassed, but guess what DD and other more premium ARs are overgassed cause folks will run Russian steel case ammo which can be all over the place in terms of QC . Also, the IWI zion 15 runs with an H buffer compared to the PSA carbine buffer. Also, you can swap out to after market charging handles to mitogate gas to tje face. The PSA carbine you have there is about $500 vs the $1,000 Zion 15 (* you could equip yourself and your wife or son with 2!) The PSA saber is the model that matches the Zion 15

[@AlphaTactics]

@@Michael-fh6lw we plan on getting the saber and doing another comparison to be more fair to PSA

[@Michael-fh6lw]

@AlphaTactics cool, but save your $$$ ! BRD is real. The Aero Precision M4E1 and the Springfield Saint Victor are fairly equal to the Zion 15...

[@coach-]

iwi's were easily found for less than $700 until they started getting a lot of notice for being the best budget rifle. can still be found for $750 regularly on gunbroker. no one is paying $1000 for one unless they have no idea about guns.

[@ImRickSanchez]

iwi is made in the US. It's built to isreali specs

[@GeorgiaDawg404]

I have the IWI 12.5 abd shot my buddies Daniel Defense. Both out the box,IWI was better in my opinion. Call me crazy.

[@GeorgiaDawg404]

Totally agree buddy. Im all in on the American made but now im thinking about the Zion 15 and a Masada slim. Never thought id go Israeli but,here we are.​@b.schmidt3701

[@whiterabbit201]

Crazy, if you think a low end AR like the IWI is better than a DD! LOL!

[@GeorgiaDawg404]

@whiterabbit201 fired them both, and IWI shot straighter and was more comfortable.

[@keelanmiles240B]

M4 stock... A2 is fixed.

[@jamesh5187]

Seems super biased

[@grayblack7506]

Just got back from the website. I don't like it. I don't trust any online store that doesn't have a price showing. Prefer palmetto.

[@tammykennedy4165]

This is one of the worse comparison videos I’ve seen

[@AlphaTactics]

@@tammykennedy4165 thank you for the compliments. We’re glad you enjoyed it!

[@tammykennedy4165]

@@AlphaTactics theres a reason why nobody watches your channel

[@moderngunguy3666]

Actually IWI does not have a better name for reliability they barely started making AR-15s lol

[@AutoBiography903]

While Palmetto may have been making AR-15s for longer IWI has been around for much longer. IWI has also been used in the Israeli military for many years. I don’t believe a military would use firearms that aren’t reliable.

[@moderngunguy3666]

@@AutoBiography903 Yeah but we're talking about AR-15s

[@moderngunguy3666]

@@AutoBiography903 You obviously don't know much about militaries lol 🤣. But yes IWI tends to be a good company but as I said we're talking about AR-15s.. I can't have a name for reliability when it comes to AR-15s because they just started making AR-15s So the reliability is to be determined... I believe they've been making AR-15s for less than 4 years

[@AutoBiography903]

You’re right I don’t know a ton about every military I actually have a life lol 😂. The Zion came out in 2020 and Palmetto has been around since 2008. I would rather have a firearm that came from a company that’s been around a long time. I have both of these AR-15s the Zion is a better AR.

[@joeymedina7115]

IWI has a better name for reliability in general. But If you’re now making the argument about specifically AR15 reliability, then… you’re still kinda wrong lol. At this point the AR-15 design and manufacturing process is so well known and ironed out that literally everyone and their mother can make one and that’s why they’re so cheap and abundant in the market. It’s an old design that has been perfected over the years and it’s very well understood how to make a good reliable AR today. So it’s not hard to setup manufacturing and understand what makes a good AR15 today… IWI AR15s are produced entirely in the USA in a factory that they specifically set up here for the US market… that means American workers and machines and engineers and manufacturing with the money and support of a huge well known, reputable, weapons manufacturer will most likely result in producing a good high quality AR-15. Arguably… more reputable than a PSA made AR.