Palmetto State Armory AR Range report/review

[Big D]

Hey yall. Just got back from taking my PSA AR15 out to the informal range for the first time. The rifle has a mid-length 16'' chrome chamber/bore flattop upper, and standard PSA lower. I mounted a Troy fixed battlesight to the flattop. I used what I could to sight it in @ 25 yards, using a large 34lb cat litter box with a bullseye marked on it lol. Hey, it worked. My first 5-shot group was a tad low and right of center. So, one click to the left for my rear and two clicks up and I was hitting dead center. Note, I have never fired an AR15 before....but I managed to get 20/20 of my first magazine on the box, mostly center offhand. I then stepped out to 50 yards with two gallon jugs, just to see how well the small aperture on my Troy battlesight would work. First round exploded the first jug. Second shot was just off the second jug, with the third round taking out the jug. Overall, I fired 180rnds of .223 Wolf HP 55gr, with NO malfunction whatsoever. I made sure to clean and lube before the trip. I am suprised to say that my barrel is cleaner after firing the Wolf ammo than it was after the factor test firing. Also, the weapon is not overly dirty, as some have claimed of Wolf. Again, I only fired 180rnds, enlough to get the rifle quite hot and smoking and run it through its paces. Overall, I am extremely pleased with PSA and my AR thus far. I plan to post pics as soon as I can get my camera up and running!

 

[wally]

Also, the weapon is not overly dirty, as some have claimed of Wolf.

I shoot lots of Wolf, can't beat the price, but it is pretty inconsistent, some lots are great, others -- hard to believe its the same ammo.

I mostly shoot steel plates where speed counts and accuracy requirements are modest. With the volume of shooting I do, quantity has a quality all its own.

 

[justice06rr]

Congrats on your AR. it should serve you well with lots of shooting fun!

Btw was your PSA AR in stock or did you wait?

 

[Big D]

I ordered it on 03/14 and received it on 03/30. They have a 15 business day wait because of building the upper, but I think the one I ordered is out of stock now.

 

[Snowdog]

I think the one you ordered is out of stock too. I tried to order the same thing on the 18th and it went out of stock that very day, according to PSA. In turn, I had to order the 16" mid-length with FN "double chrome hammer forged machine gun steel barrel" for $70 more. Not that it will do anything more for me than the standard non-FN barrel, but I really wanted something to complete my PSA lower that I had received a few days earlier.

I did receive order confirmation on the 21st, so I still have some time to wait, but I'm looking forward to it. I've heard only good things about PSA lately. But they do seem to be going through some growing pangs.

 

[highpower]

I have a PSA 14.5" M4gery that I built back in December. I've never really tried for ultimate accuracy with it as my eyes are shot and I don't have a scope for it. I did, however install a Vortex SPARC red dot sight. Sighted in at 50 yards with some PMC M193 I have had since 1981. With that combination I was getting 2-3" groups off the bench and was hitting a 3' steel plate @300 yards 20 out of 20 offhand. 200 rounds from a brand new gun and no FTF, FTE or missfires

I really like this rifle and I think they are a heck of a value for the money.

Warning: Gun porn

 

[courtgreene]

Highpower: I've got the EXACT same parts list as you with the exception of a bushnell reddot. Did you have any trouble with the front sight getting in the way of your red dot sight? I had to put a riser on mine to get it to look right. No complaints and no function issues at the moment (about 300 rounds).

 

[highpower]

Both front and rear sights co-witness through the SPARC, but they don't interfere with the dot.

 

[courtgreene]

Thanks. I was just curious.

 

[Big D]

Bump, thread now has pics.

 

[ronford21]

Both front and rear sights co-witness through the SPARC, but they don't interfere with the dot.

How do you like that SPARC sight? I was thinking about getting that for my AR.

 

[highpower]

I like it. Plus the company I bought it from gives excellent service.

http://www.3riversprecision.com/

 

[henschman]

Sweet -- looks like a nice rifle. You should take that thing to an Appleseed marksmanship clinic... you will have a blast, and will walk away a lot better shooter. www.appleseedinfo.org

Yesterday, I ordered my upper and all associated parts needed to complete my stripped lower I bought from them earlier this year. Mine will be a 20" gov't-profile... not the hammer forged one, but still an FN-made barrel. I am going with a collapsible stock setup with a CTR. When I bought the lower, I was planning on finishing it with a BCM upper... but then I saw PSA's stuff, and saw that I could get an upper made to the same specs with the same quality control for about $200 less!

Whatever the terms are of their relationship with FN, it sure does let them sell at a great price point. You can put together a whole mil-spec rifle for $650 shipped. There are few enough AR's at that price point period, and there sure aren't any others with MPI and HPT barrels and bolts, properly staked gas keys, M4 feed ramps, 4140 1/7 gov't-profile chrome lined barrels, Carpenter 158 bolts, the works.