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Posted: 7/17/2012 1:55:30 PM EDT
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Just wanted to share my first AR assembly. I bought a PSA lower then came into some money, so I later bought a complete upper, and then a parts kit and stock assembly a few weeks later.
The upper is the chrome lined, heavy, midlength http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/ar-15-05/complete-uppers/psa-16-heavy-mid-length-cl-mp-premium-upper.html My first bit of input would be: PSA shipped right on time with both orders. "allow for at least 15 days" was accurate for the lower and the upper. "allow 5 days" was accurate for the parts. Initial impressions before firing: the overall finish seems easy to damage. my main thing with firearms is WWII and earlier surplus rifles, so maybe I am just disappointed in the durability of anodizing versus hot bluing. the GI carbine stock is pretty flimsy, toylike flimsy, but it works pretty darn good. the A2 grip will be great for the kids to shoot, but is to narrow for my long, skinny hands the FSB doesn't affect sight picture at all with 4x scope or with red dot sight 
After firing: the rifle has definate potential for a semiauto. from an improvised rest, I was very happy with the groups not much recoil, but noticeably different with the 69 grain PMC ammo (different, longer SPROING) LOL 
So, just wanted to say thanks to PSA for a quality product and thanks to AR15 for posting how to assemble the rifle. I did it in 90 minutes taking my sweet time and being very cautious. One question: The fired brass shows a lot of marks, but the scoring on the neck concerns me. Is this normal? From the feedramp? 
That being said, I am going to shoot the hell out of this rifle. Edit to add: it has a heavy trigger pull, going to have to improve that or look for alternative. Also, the scope is the Weaver 4x shotgun scope and is just about perfect with 4" eye relief. |
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Nice rifle.
Good article on trigger work for the AR here. Myself, I just polish the sear faces on the trigger and hammer and put in the setscrew, I don't mess with the springs. Not worth risking a light primer strike IME. Takes the grit and the creep out, but the weight is still there, no hair trigger. trigger work I adjust the setscrew depth by cocking the hammer and putting the safety on, then running the setscrew in until there is just a tiny amount of pull before the hitting the safety. But that's just me. Joe |
| The marks on the case neck are from the back of the lugs in the barrel extension. Yours look pretty normal. As you "shoot the hell" out of it they will smooth out some. There was a thread on here a few weeks ago where they (the lugs) must have actually had burrs or sharp edges on the OP's rifle because they were gouging the necks very deeply. My new PSA upper is marking my brass just like yours. I handload and see no reason for concern nor have I had any problems related to the marks like premature case neck splits. |
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Quoted:
Nice rifle. Good article on trigger work for the AR here. Myself, I just polish the sear faces on the trigger and hammer and put in the setscrew, I don't mess with the springs. Not worth risking a light primer strike IME. Takes the grit and the creep out, but the weight is still there, no hair trigger. trigger work I adjust the setscrew depth by cocking the hammer and putting the safety on, then running the setscrew in until there is just a tiny amount of pull before the hitting the safety. But that's just me. Joe thanks for the link to the trigger work. I was planning on polishing the trigger parts at some level. I know from my Franken-Mausers that a little polishing goes a long way. I am going to study that set screw idea, sounds good. |
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Quoted:
The marks on the case neck are from the back of the lugs in the barrel extension. Yours look pretty normal. As you "shoot the hell" out of it they will smooth out some. There was a thread on here a few weeks ago where they (the lugs) must have actually had burrs or sharp edges on the OP's rifle because they were gouging the necks very deeply. My new PSA upper is marking my brass just like yours. I handload and see no reason for concern nor have I had any problems related to the marks like premature case neck splits. reloading the brass was one of my concerns with the scoring marks. not really worried as the scratches aren't deep. There is a lot to learn about this rifle. |
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Nice build, my first is a PSA also, very happy with it.
As for triggers check out the ALG Defense ACT trigger. If you like military triggers this one is very nice. There are nicer out there but for $65 there aren't too many nice ones that are cheaper. I like it a lot If your budget is higher check Geiselle, I don't have one but I've heard everyone rave(and they are $200+ so they must be doing something right) |
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