PA-10 Deal

Okay, was waiting to find a Ruger SFAR for under 1050, but then PSA puts out the Gen 3 PA10 upper and lower blems with free shipping!! Literally in my car waiting to pick up my latest can that finally got out of jail, I order the 18 inch upper and EPT lower for $635 with tax. That’s $400 more to spend on glass! Somebody tell me what a great decision I made!

 

I thought the psa ones were there own thing, think I've seen gen 1 and 2 things don't mix. Could be wrong tho.

 

I have both a PA10 and an SFAR.
My PA10 is a 12lb 20" HBAR,
my SFAR is a 6.8lb 16" carbine.

They are both good at different things. The SFAR is the rifle i'd grab if things deteriorate to that point,
The PA10 is actually very pleasant to shoot and much more fun at the range, unlike the SFAR which is soft shooting but extremely blasty and doesn't do anything at the range that a 16" AR15 won't also do.

 

The differences between the PSA Gen 1, 2, and 3 PA10 are mostly cosmetic even though PSA states they are not compatible. Plenty of people have mixed and matched the different gen PSA PA10 uppers and lowers.

 

You made a great decision! I bought the PA 10 when it was on sale a while back. Haven't shot it yet, but they're a good deal, and I always hear good things about them.

 

I got mine 2 years ago with a 20” barrel. It’s chunky but shoots nice. Mine likes the Winchester M80 white box 7.62 NATO. It also likes 168 grain Speer bullets from 7.62 NATO cases. I think I could push marble out of it and it would shoot well as long as I push them with IMR 4064 powder.


Speer 168s and Hornady 150 grain FMJ both over IMR 4064.


Hornady FMJ with various powder


Subsonic 168 grain Speer and Titegroup with the gas block turned off. Just 25 yards, but they worked.

 

My Gen 2 PA-10 totaled $540 shipped for the upper and lower. While it is not a tack driver, it is “combat accurate” and has been very reliable. Couldn’t say no to a .308 Win AR for under $550 back in 2018. Hope you enjoy yours as much as I have.

 

As much as I like PSA, I cant stand that they don't list the weight of their complete rifles or uppers & lowers on their website.
What weights are you guys seeing that own PSA 10's?

12lbs? Is that with a scope and loaded magazine?
My Springfield M1A Scout supposedly weighs 8.8lbs (unloaded) with the composite stock. I have a wood stock on it and I start huffing and puffing with it hiking the hills here in the Ozarks during deer season.

 

Yea about 12 pounds with optic and loaded magazine. Just over 11 with scope and no magazine. Mine does have a 20” barrel though and I use 25 and 20 round Pmags.

 

Edit wrong person. Thanks for the info!

 

They’re heavy, but I’d rather endure the weight than the blast from a 16” barreled 308 Winchester. After carrying it a couple miles I might change my mind though.

 

I had a 16 inch FAL carbine with a muzzle brake. It was LOUD!!! Even more so on an indoor range!
I have a heavy Dead Air Nomad-L suppressor that now needs a new host and am looking at the light weight, 6.8lbs 16 inch Ruger SFAR. However, an $800 PSA 10 is still tempting.

 

I bought one in 2020 (.308 - 20”) and it shot great, but it was heavy for what I wanted it for (more potent battle rifle I could carry and use for IDPA carbine) so I sold it to a friend who is getting very good use out of it.

I now have a Ruger SFAR 16” that I love but is obnoxious to anyone around me due to the compensator. I finally broke down and ordered a suppressor…so that works for me.

 

No, thats with scope and no magazine. Add a bipod and magazine and I'd say its pushing 14lbs. It's a heavy rifle with a decent mount and a 4-16 scope.
Also of note and probably something you'd want to call and ask them about if weight is a concern...PSA listed my upper as an A2 profile. I guess their idea of an A2 profile is an inch thick to the gas block, then a step to .75 to the threads.

Yup. The M1A Scout is heavy WITH the composite stock and no optics. Once I threw a mount and a scope on my Scout, it definitely made it a bit of a beast to carry.
the SFAR is hands down the easiest semi auto .308 to carry as a hunting gun. the ergonomics and size are well suited to fast, close in shots as well as being perfectly capable of performing to the range capabilities of most shooters.

I haven't shot one suppressed, but if it removes the blastiness while still keeping recoil and overall length down, the SFAR would be much better at the range, although its still tossing money downrange where a 5.56 would offer the same experience for far cheaper.

As far as the OP is concerned, I think for the price thats a good call. An 18" PA10 with the right barrel profile, the right muzzle device, and a modest optic would split the difference between the two without breaking the bank.

 

I have a Gen3 PA-10 in .308. It is heavy but I stand hunt because of decreased mobility. I do think for $800 it is a great deal. I paid more for mine.

 

Do your mags work in both rifles?

 

both the PA10 and SFAR, yes

 

400 bux will go a long way towards glass suitable for a 308AR.
As for taming the blast of a 16" 308 I've got an old gen 5 OSS that dese a great job of just that. Being a reflex it's barely longer OAL than an A2 flash hider and is very comfortable to shoot indoors with just earplugs.
I don't have a meter but would guess it's in the low 140db range

 

I haven't weighed mine, but it's heavy too. It's an 18" with a 4-14x44 primary arms optic. I changed the stock, pistol grip, muzzle device, and trigger.

Have yet to shoot it still...

 

The gen 3 settled out issues the 1/2 had. And the uppers come with an adjustable gas block. They run well. I got a faxon bolt carrier for it and shot the crap out of it. You got a good deal. Hell if they have them left tomorrow I may grab the set up again. I swapped the barrel out on my first one to a 18” black hole weaponry.
Use that extra 400 bucks to get a cam coming for it. I prefer the shorter 308s. My 13.7” ranger barreled rifle I took to 750m easy

 

Someone had a SFAR for sale earlier this week for $899 and in stock. If I remember which company, I’ll post it.

 

I just got a complete PSA PA10, 18” SS with 2 stage PSA lower and I’m pretty sure it was 8 pounds, 6 ounces with no optic and empty magazine. Will confirm when I get a chance

 

No offense, but I have always seen PSA say the opposite, Gen 1,2 and 3 all interchange, but there will be slight cosmetic differences.

For the OP, I love all my PA10's and PA65's, PSA makes a solid foundation for a LFAR.

I have numerous OEM barrels and others with Criterion barrels.

Some of them can out shoot me. Both groups are 10rds, 100yds
Top pic is 10rds 6.5CM Hornady AG 140gr, bottom is 308 Hornady AG 155gr, at the time it was a inexpensive bulk ammo offering.
Note the fliers...

 

None taken.

With PSA it depends on the day of the week and who you ask on what they say. I have seen it stated both ways.

 

The 6.8# for the SFAR sounds all cute until you start adding an appropriate optic and a decent suppressor and a 20 round mag and you still end up with a rig that's really too heavy to carry for long. For myself I'm not opposed to having more guns so having a 10# 308 AR and a 7# bolt gun would be just dandy.