Palmetto State Armory AR 10 platform

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ar-newbie

ar-newbie

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Looking at the PSA website, I see they are sold out of complete PA10 rifles, but do have lots of uppers in stock. They also have a few different rifle kits which are missing the stripped lower.

Locally I have seen some Anderson AR10 lowers listed for sale, would they fit the PA 10 uppers?

I am interested in putting together a .308 in the AR 10 platform.
 
Because PSA would not say exactly which lower is a perfect fit for their upper, except theirs of course, I went all Aero for my build.
 
Just talked my brother into the complete rifle the other day. $479 shipped. For a complete AR-10 with stainless barrel, that ain’t bad.
 
My brand new PA-10 right out of the box had three problems that kept it from working. Their QC and customer service was horrible. I would go with a different manufacturer if I were you.
 
ih772 said:
My brand new PA-10 right out of the box had three problems that kept it from working. Their QC and customer service was horrible. I would go with a different manufacturer if I were you.
Click to expand...

That's interesting. The reason I was considering them is the incredibly good results I have had with their guns in the past (ar 15 platform)
I bought a very inexpensive ar 15 rifle kit from them, and it turned out to be a consistent sub moa gun. I have also assisted friends with similar builds and theirs turned out excellent as well. Is it just the PA10 platform that you feel has those issues?
 
I have had excellent luck with AR-15 components from Palmetto, but have no experience with their AR-10 line.


All of my components have been unassembled, and I did assembly myself. I have heard of some spotty QC issues on some of their complete uppers. They are definitely a volume shop.
 
AR 10s are not the well worked out AR15s ! I researched them extensively before I begin my project one. No I have not shot it yet as I am massaging every part properly and thoroughly in my Aero M5 upper and lower build.out. I added a different manufacture barrel which are supposed to be very good with a bolt headspaced to it. I also added a JP adjustable gas block which seems to be a real important item in .308 . Otherwise all Aero working parts except a better fire control. I will let everyone know how it shoots in Oregon next month. For some reason DPMS AR10s are supposed to work pretty well as is out of the box , once broken in. Go figure !
 
I have come to learn that DPMS has made both high-tang and low-tang AR-10 uppers (with corresponding matched lowers). It's not enough to just say 'DPMS compatible, as it turns out.....

And yes, it actually matters for both upper and lower - the buffer tube ring on the lower is matched to the upper receiver tang height. It also matters when shopping for a float tube; if the tube has an upper rail that you want to have lined up with the upper receiver rail.

Aero M5's, for example, are DPMS 'high' (also called Gen 1) upper/lower pattern. Current PSA offerings are DPMS low (Gen 2) offerings.
 
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It’s pretty common knowledge, but just to reiterate, AR10 style rifles are much more finicky about parts fitting then ar15s. They are not the same...each company has proprietary standards it seems.
Which is why it would be uncertain if a PSA upper will fit any specific lower. Even the take down pins have different standards depending on the lower.
I have noticed aero parts fit a lot more DPMS “compatible” parts, however I would recommend for the simplicity, safety and reducing the cost of trial and error of a build, to stick with a single manufacture.
 
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I built my very first AR 15 in November of 2016. I put it together back then, and over the time since, I have upgraded some parts and now am a happy owner of an extremely accurate and comfortable to shoot rifle (palmetto state armory freedom rifle).

Based on that experience, I am in the planning phase of doing an AR 10 style build, starting with a Palmletto State Armory PA10 gen2 stripped lower.

Over the past 6 months or so, I have been watching the availability of lowers and uppers on their site, and the lowers seem to constantly be out of stock. Based on this, I just ordered yesterday morning a special 10 year anniversary lower receiver set (ar15 and pa10) with matching engraving and serial numbers.

So, this will put me in a position of having the stripped lower, but not in a huge hurry to take the next step.

What spooks me a little bit, are all the stories I see on the web of issues with the PA10 platform in general. Specifically their tendency to be severely over gassed, and high amounts of recoil due to this, and brass ejection issues, bolt not holding at empty magazine etc..

Anyone here with some experience on the PA 10 platform, who might guide me to reliable information, and possibly ease my mind about which parts to get? I am hoping to educate myself up front, before getting into a mess.

My end goal with this, is to end up with an accurate and pleasant to shoot .308 for long range target shooting.

psa_8025_1_.jpg
 
Yes, they are borderline on being overgassed. Shouldn't be an issue unless you're running suppressed, though. I have two, and both ran fine unsuppressed. It was when I screwed a can on that the issues presented, but that happens with other semi autos, so though it's nice when they run without any changes, it's somewhat expected that they'll need adjustment.

If you do happen to get a PA10 that's overgassed to the point of having problems, the fix starts at $40:

http://www.primaryarms.com/radical-...le-gas-block-750-set-screw-style-rf-adj-750_2

As far as accuracy, the PA-10 barrels I believe are made by their sister company, DC Machine, and seem to be on par with most others in the "standard" category. That is, they'll be around MOA with decent ammo, and likely sub with tailored handloads. I typically see 1.5-2 MOA with cheap ball.

My first PA-10 upper, an 18" stainless with MI 15" handguard, had 6 groove rifling. My second, which became my 13" full auto post sample, is also stainless, but has 4 groove rifling. It was one of their $299 complete uppers with BCG. That one is equipped with an EOTech and used to test suppressors and entertain potential customers, though. I've never benched it with decent optics, so I can't really comment on accuracy.
 
I would buy one of their complete lowers. Some of the parts are propitiatory, like take down pins and bolt catch. I have a friend that picked up a PA 10 stripped lower. When he went to build it, PSA was out of their lower kit. After waiting several months he bought a DPMS lower kit. He had to order the propitiatory from PSA to finish his build.
 
GunnyUSMC said:
I would buy one of their complete lowers. Some of the parts are propitiatory, like take down pins and bolt catch. I have a friend that picked up a PA 10 stripped lower. When he went to build it, PSA was out of their lower kit. After waiting several months he bought a DPMS lower kit. He had to order the propitiatory from PSA to finish his build.
Click to expand...

A little late for that now, what I was able to get is the stripped lower. Right now I am waiting for an email when their lower parts kits come back in stock to at least finish the lower. Later down the road I can get the upper stuff.
 
ar-newbie said:
A little late for that now, what I was able to get is the stripped lower. Right now I am waiting for an email when their lower parts kits come back in stock to at least finish the lower. Later down the road I can get the upper stuff.
Click to expand...
Be sure to wait for their lower kit because, it will cost you about $30 worth of parts from PSA if you get any other brand.
 
PSA had a 1 day deal on stripped gen 2 pa10 lower along with a matching serial number ar 15 lower, so I went ahead and ordered it. I will order the remaining stuff all from PSA to make sure it works together.
 
ih772 said:
My brand new PA-10 right out of the box had three problems that kept it from working. Their QC and customer service was horrible. I would go with a different manufacturer if I were you.
Click to expand...
PSA does not have QC, you are their QC but they do have wonderful customer service; their customer service is hard to reach if you try to call them. Try call them first ting in the morning. May take over a week to get an email reply if you try to reach by email, Once you are connected with their customer service, you get quick response. My experience is always within the next day. AR15 forum has a PSA sub forum and they have representative to take care of folks, very responsive. I had a few issues with my PSA purchases and they took care of me. No complaint so far. One upper was purchased over a year ago that I set aside, had issue when I took it out to shoot and they took care of me under Life Time Warranty. First they sent me a firing pin ( was a 7.62x39 upper), still didn't work, they took the upper back and replaced BCG. Keep you invoice for warranty.
By the way, my Gen 2 PA10 shoots well.
 
Here ya go.... I posted this here, but not many were interested.. so I updated the thread over here...
In a nutshell... quality is GTG, just needs so spit and polish from you
Recoil isn't insane... but it can be readily tuned to a very pleasant 100% reliable level with an Adj. GB.... that will turn the rapid cyclic speed into a smooth easy going .308 AR.... easier to stay on target, easier on the parts, easier on the brass, easier on your confidence ;)

Trust me... you'll like it. Read the linked threads.

And the reason the lowers are always out of stock... is because they do work.

I do suggest you buy a complete PSA upper though. And trust me on that... if you'd like details I will be more then happy to share... just remember a .308 AR has quirky parts commonality / and no Mil-Spec...

Feel free to IM me with ANY questions concerning the PSA PA10 GenII.... I am VERY happy with mine....

https://www.ar15.com/forums/industr...terion-barrel-results-10-Sept-17-/301-284190/

And the 6.5CM ...
https://www.ar15.com/forums/industr...-again-UPDATED-with-Tn-G-results-/301-285762/
 
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IMG_2383.thumb.JPG.0f459d35488bb0d9219c65d487f79d67.jpg

That is with 168gr FGMM out of the factory Nitrated PSA barreled upper....

And Hirt. cheap surplus..
IMG_2389.thumb.JPG.adcfe4e4cae4bef71fd529a631740c4a.jpg



10rds ( all at 100yds ) 168gr FGMM..

IMG_2410.thumb.jpg.91eb04cd1b243835b4f9fedd20c45d13.jpg


Remember ... this is all with the $400 PSA complete upper and some simple tuning shown in the linked threads.
 
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"What spooks me a little bit, are all the stories I see on the web of issues with the PA10 platform in general. Specifically their tendency to be severely over gassed, and high amounts of recoil due to this, and brass ejection issues, bolt not holding at empty magazine etc.."

OP, you have a valid reason to be concerned. My PSA PA-10 had some of the issues you mentioned above and a couple more as well. This was a new in the box rifle too.
  • My buffer tube wasn't screwed in far enough to keep the buffer retainer from popping out when I manually cycled the bolt for the first time. QC issue.
  • When I chambered a round the first time it got stuck so bad I had to mortar the thing to get the round out. This turned out to be an issue with the extractor. Google extractor issues on the PA-10 and you'll find what I'm talking about. Design issue.
  • My bolt catch wouldn't pivot in either direction unless I applied quite a bit of finger pressure to it. It was very stiff and binding on the roll pin. Then it still wouldn't hold the bolt back 9 times out of 10. The problem was there was only about 1/64" of the bolt catch actually blocking the bolt. The slightest bump would allow the bolt to slam forward. I solved those two problems by grinding the back side of the bolt catch a little bit so it could pivot more before bottoming out on the receiver. And I slightly enlarged the roll pin hole so that it was no longer binding on the roll pin. QC issue.
  • Over gassed! Mine was so over gassed it was constantly jamming. There are you tube videos showing the same thing happening to other people as well. I put on an adjustable gas block and that took care of that particular issue. Design issue.
It is fairly accurate now that I've got the kinks worked out. But I'm really disappointed in the poor quality control and especially disappointed in the really poor customer service I got while trying to get them to resolve the issues with a brand new rifle that shouldn't have a single let alone 4 problems right out of the box. I got so tired of dealing with their poor customer service, that I said screw it and ended up doing all the repairs myself. It cost me an additional $250 in parts and tools to get it to run.

One the other hand I have an AR-9 and an AR-15 from them and they run great and I enjoy them a lot. So it seems to be hit or miss with them but their PA-10's seemed to have a much greater frequency of issues than their other rifles.

This has been what I experienced, other people may have had a completely different experience. YMMV etc.
 
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