For many years I had a Colt 9mm upper on a Rock River lower using the Rock River kit...Gun ran wonderfully, no issues. I decided that I wanted a 9mm SBR.....so I bought a Quarter Circle Lower (If  you're going to get a stamp, might as well do it right) and cut the old Colt down to 10"......That left me with a "spare lower" already set up for 9 mm that I knew worked...


About two weeks ago, Palmetto had their 16" upper mid length melonite upper on sale, with bolt and Charging Handle, $300, free shipping......Bought one, showed up earlier this week. I had a small issue with the bolt, it would not run with the Rock River dedicated hammer. I swapped in the Colt bolt from my other upper....works great and the PSA bolt works in the Colt upper....rather than start mucking with stuff, I just swapped them. Path of least resistance......

I made some mods to the upper.....I pulled off the front sight- I wanted to put a low mounted red dot on it and wanted it out of the way, but still wanted a BUIS...... I had a Wyndham gas block, picatinny, with pins lying around.......Since the gas block never gets hot-doesn't handle any gas, I could put it on-not really worried about gas hole line up and use it as a base for a Magpul Mbus front sight. The holes didn't line up all that well for the gas block pins.....rather than drill etc...I used some slighty smaller roll pins....again, not worried about holding a tight gas hole tolerance...... Worked PERFECTLY.....the block is tight and looks good....

The rest of the gun-

MOE Forest Green stock on mil spec 6 position tube
Forest Green Magpul grip
Magpul SLE/MOE Forest Green  Handguard
Bushnell TRS 25 red dot with Riser
KNS Gen II pins

I'm using several different magazines- Old C Products, Brownells house brand (Metal Form?) and some ASC's.

I'm using an H1 buffer and standard Carbine spring.

Today at the range I sighted the gun in with some old CCI Blazer at 25 yards. The first 3 shots were about two inches to the left of the bull and dead on for elevation. I adjusted the TRS and fired a 5 shot group. My dad was on the spotting scope. He says--- "You gotta see this...."  .....I look at the scope....all 5 bullets in a ragged hole, three are almost LITERALLY in ONE HOLE......

I figure, one group does not anything prove......So I repeat it twice. The 5 shot groups are about 5/8 to 3/4 of an inch......My dad, 72....decides he wants a turn.....nearly duplicates my performance, group hits a little over 1"......

Initially I had a rifle spring in the gun. I had two double feeds/failures to eject. I replaced it with a carbine spring and the problem never duplicated in 50 rounds. The gun locked back on the last round every time and cycled properly with all three different types of magazines I used.

I dunno what to say, VERY impressed, for such a cheap upper, cheap ammo etc.....I don't know what more I could ask for. Accurate, reliable, inexpensive....Very happy!

Where are those things that make or break threads?

Exactly , starts with a P      

Been looking at these very seriously. Glad to see a review

And mine came with a ramped bolt

punctuation?