1st Time PSA Experience

[zukiphile]

Still room for improvement, but I'm not sure how much better it'll get with just irons.

I'm not sure I could do better with an MBUS rear sight. The smaller aperture is so large on the MBUS is so large that I don't get any of the greater clarity of front sight and target that I get with ordinary aperture sights.

[GarandTd]

I'm not sure I could do better with an MBUS

that makes me feel a little better. I read up a little on the MBUS prior to getting my rifle and the aperture size was the biggest complaint. I realize the (or this) AR15 is not necessarily a precision rifle, but I'm stubborn and determined and I always think I can do better. I'll probably get an optic eventually, but I may look into an alternative rear sight for a smaller aperture.

[GarandTd]

I was pleased to discover that the rifle kit that I chose included the PSA premium no-logo bcg with hpt/mpi bolt. I would love to claim I knew that, but it wasn't listed in the description.

[SDF880]

You need an M7/M9 bayonet to make sure that lug is on straight! PSA +!

[jetinteriorguy]

I just picked up an upper in 6.5 CM and a lower to go with it. Shot it for the first time last weekend, and returned the upper on Tuesday. The chamber was so rough that the brass came out with rings around it and looked scuffed for most of the body length, lots of machining marks in the chamber. Their response to my phone call was very good and helpful, immediately received a shipping tag in an email. Hopefully their resolution of the problem is as good as their CS has been so far.

[GarandTd]

That sucks you had to send your upper back. Hopefully they take care of things. With the volume they deal with problems are going to surface. How they handle the problems will make or break the deal. Seems like they are handling it. Post an update when you have one.

[CerberusRagnar]

I am looking at buying an upper kit from PSA. I am concerned. I have seen a lot of hit or miss reviews and the last time I tried to buy something online I cancelled after they couldn't tell me how long an in-stock item would take to ship (Black Friday purchase for Christmas and no info by mid December). Guess I will bite the bullet and order as they are the only ones who have what I want for the price I want to pay.

[GarandTd]

CerberusRagnar, I see you're in South Carolina. Would it be feasible for you to visit one of their actual stores rather than ordering online.

[GarandTd]

I need to add that the day I shot the 100yd group in post #25, I slipped on a snow hidden timber at the range. I landed on my left elbow, ripping it open(didn't realize til later when my shirt was crusted to my elbow from the blood). I had the AR in my right hand and smashed it down into the ground/snow. Snow was packed into the muzzle and magwell(no mag in when I fell) as well as the handguard. I opened the rifle up and blew the snow out of the barrel and picked it out of the magwell with my fingers best I could. This all happened before I shot the rifle. The rifle faired much better than I did. Not even a scratch on the rifle and I was hitting close enough that I don't believe the sights were knocked out of alignment. I probably could have used a couple of stitches, but some peroxide, antibiotic ointment, and a band-aid did the trick.

[CerberusRagnar]

I have a great local store that I am in several times a month. Unfortunately the kit is an online only purchased item. The two halves of the business are actually completely separate. You can't even deal with issues with online orders in a physical store. Unique business model.

[GarandTd]

SDF880, I wouldn't mind getting a bayonet. Something I could swap back and forth between the AR and the M1. Why? Because I can.

[jetinteriorguy]

Just received my upper back today. I have no idea what they did to fix the chamber due to a complete lack of communication from PSA. I know we are quite spoiled by the ability to keep in constant communication through the Internet, but I thought at least a note of explanation should be included. I don't know if the barrel was replaced or honed smooth or what. Either way the chamber looks nice and smooth and two weeks door to door is pretty darn good as far as I'm concerned, so I'm pretty satisfied other than curious as to what they did. I'll shoot it tomorrow to make sure it's as good as it looks and then I'll email them to find out what they did.

[GarandTd]

Good to hear. Problems happen across the board. No company is perfect. Seems the way they handle the issue can make or break their reputation.

[jetinteriorguy]

Made it to the range yesterday, rifle shoots fine. Unfortunately the brass is still marked up by the chamber, but a lot better than it was before. They didn't change out the barrel, but must have honed/polished it instead. Even though I am disappointed by this, it's probably not the end of the world. Not sure what I'm going to do at this point, once I got the gas block adjusted right it shoots good and I don't think the marks on the brass are any kind of dangerous thing so I'll probably just go with it. I've never had a rifle do this to the brass before so it's just something new to me.

[kymasabe]

I ordered a new upper from PSA on Sunday night, then processed and shipped on Monday, just arrived today, 3 days later.

[rickyrick]

I’m glad that the shipping times have improved

[GarandTd]

I picked up a Simmons 8-point 3-9x40 a year or 2 ago to mount on my son's Marlin 336 35Rem. It's clear and has held up well and didn't break the bank. I spotted an 8-Point 4x32 for $25, so I snatched it up. Had some rings laying around. Shot a mag at the 25yd line to get close and a mag at the 50yd line to get closer. It was pretty windy so I didn't try at 100. Easier to be more precise than with irons, but I'm retaining some realistic expectations and am happy enough with the results for today. It was only one kind of ammo....WWB 5.56 55grn. Probably 220 rounds through the rifle so far without any failures. Federal 5.56, Federal 223, and WWB 5.56.

[jetinteriorguy]

I went to the range yesterday to start my load work up. It seems with my hand loads the brass doesn't come out all marked up like the factory loads I was using for barrel break in and sighting in. Weird but what the heck, it's all good. Rifle shoots pretty good, I found a pretty good node that shot 1/2 MOA at a hundred and that's good enough for me. I'd have to say that at this point I'm 100% happy with PSA's service and product. Very happy with this purchase.

[GarandTd]

1/2 MOA? I don't handload and have no experience with the 6.5 CM, but that sounds pretty impressive.

My BIL was impressed enough with mine that he ordered a 16" midlength freedom lightweight m-lok kit with front and rear MBUS. I don't think he's shot it yet. I'll be curious to see how the accuracy and feel compares due the free float handguard and midlength gas system. So far he said he likes the feel of my MOE handguard and the A2 front sight post better. His kit cost more, but there are little details about mine that I like better.

[GarandTd]

I dunno if I'm getting the rifle broken in, or just getting more comfortable with it, or both, but I did a little better with it today. I was consistently hitting clay pigeons at 100yds and my best group of the day was 2". That was off of a sandbag at 100yds with 55grn federal 223 and a cheap 4x32 scope. I am pleased with that and I imagine with some more practice and better ammo, I could probably tighten that up a little more. I know this is not a precision rifle, but I'll always be the type to challenge that premise. It'll be as precise as I make it.

[mendozer]

I have the freedom MOE they had for special a year or so ago. It's find for me, was my first AR. I've been thinking of putting a faxon barrel in to make it lighter and probably a better barrel too. But I haven't really shot it at anything over 50 yards as I run a red dot and with my astigmatism wouldn't be able to see very well without a scope

[CerberusRagnar]

I just got the upper and lower for mine a couple days ago. Haven't shot it yet but for the price I couldn't beat it. Shipping took almost 3 weeks for the lower though.

[GarandTd]

CerberusRagnar, bummer about the shipping time especially considering your location. Hopefully the end product was worth the wait. Looking forward to hearing about it.

[rickyrick]

PSA shipping used to be 1month minimum, during those days it was worth the wait and they were at least up front about it.

[GarandTd]

Im now hitting clays consistently at 100 yards with the MBUS. I figured out how I could overcome the large "small" aperture of the rear sight. I simply moved it forward a couple slots on the rail. Now, the "small" aperture appears small enough to get a better alignment with the front sight. It seems counterintuitive since I made the sight radius shorter, but it's working for me.