Just wondering if any one has actually gotten a round down range with one of these? I’m on my last leg in sending it back. I put some middle of the road 168gr rounds thru it and had severely bulged primers. Tried some 147gr while I didn’t experience blown primers it would even get on paper at 50 yards prior to it haven been bore sited in. I-am now installing a adjustable gas block to see if I can even get it to shoot. Just wondering if other PSA customers have experienced these issues ? Will it really shoot a 308 round or will I be limited to 308 service rifle? I didn’t purchase it to just shoot service riffle
Welcome @kevint525 ! My psa ar10 is a gen 2, although at this point it is more of a homebuilt. Can you give us some specifics on the rifle? Take note that if you want to send it in you will need to contact customer service as they are not on the forums. I will try to help you out here if you want to troubleshoot it.
Thank you Guitar Guy!
It’s a gen 2 on a PSA 10 lower,
I’m beginning to think it’s way over gased and the bolt is leaving the breech before the bullet ! I have tried numerous “308 Win “ loads going to try some muddled down service rounds once I get the gas block installed.
I have several big bore AR’s and haven’t had this problem, 450 BushMaster 458 SOCOM
I’am a licensed Pistol Smith but new to the AR platform and I’am familiar with “tuning” but I would have figured it would shoot a 308 round without pressure problems! Will see
What buffer and spring are in it? That might be the easiest way to see if the bcg is traveling too fast. Also, are you shooting factory ammo or your own reloads.
I started out with some bench loads, I have several customers who use them in competition, 168gr. Sierra match over 47 grains of BL(c)-2 those were bulging primers. Then I kicked it down to some Hornady 150gr. Match over some H 335 I believe it is, and tried some with Varget 4064 typical hunting loads. The buffer and spring was next on the list, it’s a PSA heavy buffer not sure of the spring. It’s tough times to be tuning any thing right now! No parts for much of any thing. I also kick my tail pipe for looking it away until I needed it that’s on me.
Pair of 19-3 I bought for parts, ended up being my favorite and most accurate 6 shooters. Spent about 6-7 months on those. Thank goodness I caught Brownells before they ran out of old S&W OEM parts between them and a few pieces from e-bay
Try a Wolff heavier power spring or a heavier buffer. Make sure you get the correct buffer (based on whether you have a carbine extension or rifle extension). IIRC, KAK Industries sells a buffer kit that comes with extra weights so you can tune it to your needs.
Thanks Guitar Man! That was my next step, I was a bit surprised that the upper has a rifle length gas tube on a carbine buffer. The stock buffer weight is marked heavy but as you said I now suspect the buffer spring and weight isn’t sufficing.
Regards,
Kevin
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@kevint525 PSA also uses an intermediate tube, which sounds like the one you have. Make sure you measure to make sure which one you have.
Pictures of your set up would help.
I disassembled the buffer system, Although the buffer tube is labeled PSA 10 it appears they stuck a 556 spring in it! I counted 30 coils at just over 11” which by all the research I’ve done is inadequate. The tube is a 7” the buffer is 2 1/4” marked heavy! At 3.2 ounces, It is aluminum and had shavings in the tube and was visibly worn after only 20 rounds at most. So I have since installed an adjustable gas block, and on your advice and after further research have ordered a KAK heavy tungsten L.R. 308 heavy carbine buffer along with a orange Springco LR 308 carbine buffer spring. I’m appalled PSA would put something like this out there. If I would have known I would have just gone with a DPMS or BushMaster. But I suppose there are no lessons learned other than the ones you teach yourself. I really appreciate your help! If it doesn’t run after this it’s going to be a trade in at a gun shop. They might swap it for a SCCY or a Taurus of some sort LOL
A Cop shop P226 357 Sig converted to a 40 S&W, Installed a Sig factory short reset sear, and a Sig 40 cal barrel, along with a Armor Craft custom trigger, up graded all the spring as well. It’s a gem to shoot ! Oh replaced the sights with Trijicon tritium duty carry nite sights. They most likely traded this in for a modern Poly
@kevint525 can you post some pics of the 308 tube, spring, and buffer please?
Also, check this thread.
Lots of useful information about the PA10 on here. I’ve been using it to fix my PA10 G2 issues. I’ve had countless FTF, and FTE issues with mine. I’ve mostly turned it into a “project gun” for the sake of just trying to get it to shoot more than 5-6 rounds at a time without it messing up. I’ve definitely learned a lot about how much less forgiving the AR10 platform can be compared to the AR15 platform.
@ GuitarGuy
3 1/4” buffer
That looks like PSA’s intermediate tube, so the buffer and spring are correct. Have you checked the gas block alignment?