Surplus Ammo and Arms

Which would you prefer?

  • Surplus Ammo and Arms Upper

    Votes: 7 19.4%

  • Del-ton Upper

    Votes: 9 25.0%

  • PSA Upper

    Votes: 20 55.6%
  • Total voters
    36
  • Poll closed .
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A

A_Matthew

Member
Joined
Dec 23, 2010
Messages
298
Location
North Idaho
So I ordered a PSA lower receiver and build kit on cyber Monday, and while waiting for it to get here, I'm trying to decide on which upper to get. (Those of you who are tired of reading AR threads may now leave...:rolleyes:) So it's come down to these three.

Surplus Ammo & Arms

Del-ton

Palmetto State Armory

So, I don't know a lot about the Surplus Ammo and Arms, which is why I started the thread. I tried a search, and only found one or two short threads about them. It looks like a good upper, and I really like the fact that it is a 1:8 twist. But I'm not sure about the actual quality. So do any of you have experience with them? Thanks.
 
rifle choices

What do you want to do with the rifle? What do you want to feed it?
Palmetto has some excellent specs.

My advice would be to check the contour of the barre and the composition of the steel. PSA is more than likely a government contour with 4150 steel where the SA&A and other budget builders typically uses a heavy profile barrel with a 4140 steel.

In a 16 inch barrel i'd go with a midlength gas system over a carbine. I just prefer how it shoots over a carbine gas system.

I was in your boat recently and ended up going with a dsa upper and SAA bolt. the saa bolt is staked, but it isn't as well done as the bolt in an issue rifle.
 
I did like the Del-ton, but it had a 1:9 twist, which would limit me from shooting heavier loads like 70-80gr. I suppose the bulk of what I would be shooting would be 55-62gr, but I would like to have the option of shooting heavier bullets. That's why I liked the SA&A because it had a 1:8 twist.

So I looked at the SA&A barrel and it said it was made from Match Grade 416 Stainless Steel.:confused: (I'm not much of a metal guy.:eek: Is that good or bad?) I couldn't find anything on the PSA upper or the Del-ton upper.

I just looked up BHW, and I really liked the looks of their barrels, but I couldn't see that they had any complete uppers. This is my first time on an AR build, so I'd like to start with a complete upper and just worry about building the lower.

Mostly what I'd be doing with the gun is occasional varmint hunting, maybe some HD stuff, and plinking. Like I said before, the bulk of what I would be shooting would just be cheap 55-62gr ammo. If I started reloading, then I'd want to start shooting some heavier rounds.
 
Wow, I must be blind. I didn't even notice that the SA&A upper had a BHW barrel! Gosh, I feel foolish now...:eek:

So I've been looking at different uppers, and I really like the SA&A and the PSA. I guess it's between those two now...
 
Wait, I was wrong. 1-in-9 will handle supposedly up to 70 gr. One thing you need to be aware of is this: If you plan on using lightweight (40 - 55 gr.) .22 bullets, specifically hollowpoints and soft points, realize that the really fast twist barrels are hard on these light bullets due to the high rotational speed of the bullets. The bullets tend to disintegrate a few yards from the muzzle.

Shilen Barrels has a table here: Calibers and Twists



Good luck,
35W
 
I have a SA&A Lower that is made by Aero Precision. It is higher quality than most I have seen. If the upper is the same I would get that.
 
Okay, that's one reason I really liked the 1:8 twist barrel. Not to slow, not too fast, just right. :cool: I wasn't really planning on using anything lower than 55 gr. bullets, but you never know. Like I said, I would like to have the option... :)

So according to the poll, the PSA is winning. But I really like the looks of the SA&A. Humph. ;) Well I still got a little while to think on it...
 
I can't tell you anything about the barrel, but the Surplus Ammo and Arms guys are top notch. I've purchased a ton of ammo and a firearm or two from them, and they not only have great prices but in the one instance where something wasn't right with my purchase I was well taken care of.
 
I think the SA&A uppers are going to be as high quality as PSA. They seem to go the extra mile to put their name on only high quality stuff.
 
The PSA barrel and BCG are better, the 2 most important things on the rifle.

PSA barrel and BCG are MPI/HPT tested, SSA is not
PSA is also hammer forged barrel made by FN

Plus I hate that gas block rail mumbojumbo
 
So just because a barrel is not mp tested it automatically is inferior? Should I start doubting my old M1 Korean war workhorse now because the barrel has not been magnetic partical tested? I mean it shoots 1.25" groups and helped to win a war.
 
It seems like SA&A is a reputable company, which is one of the things I wanted to know. So no worries about ordering from them... :)

saddlerocker said:
Plus I hate that gas block rail mumbojumbo
Click to expand...

That is actually one reason I liked the SA&A upper over the PSA; I really wanted to put some flip down battle sights on it (if that's what you call them). With tritium inserts. ;)

My lower should be coming within the next few weeks. So by that time, I might have the funds to purchase the upper. And so far, it looks like the SA&A fits my bill the best out of the three. Of course, who's to stay I have to stop at just one upper? Might just by all three some time in the future...:D
 
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