PSA 20" RIFLE-LENGTH .308 1/10 NITRIDE 15" LIGHTWEIGHT M-LOK STR SSA-E RIFLE

[Asetechrail]

The title to this thread is exactly what I purchased from PSA recently. I got the complete rifle because I have never owned or worked on any AR platform. I have been running AK’s for years but wanted a larger caliber for hunting and some longer range shooting. I have actually used my AK’s in 7.62x39 for hunting deer using a 154 grain soft point. That combination has worked very well out to 150 yards. I have never felt it was enough for elk or for longer ranges. 
 

Not knowing anything about the AR platform I wanted to get a “budget” rifle so started looking at what was available. I can now honestly say that watching a bunch of glowing reports on YouTube is not a good way to get information!  I looked at all different kinds of rifles and almost everything had good reviews including PSA. I really should have looked at and joined some AR forums before making a purchase. Live and learn I guess…

I went and got the gun from my local FFL, did a quick look over and it seemed ok. After getting it home I did a little more detailed inspection. Wow was I ever disappointed in what I found. 

Im not sure how I missed it at the gun shop but guess I was just excited about taking it home and shooting it!  
 

This rifle had taken a blow hard enough to push the hand guard over into the gas block. The gas block itself was off center by quite a bit and was completely blocking off the gas port. I’m pretty sure that it shipped from the factory this way because it was very well packaged and the box was completely undamaged. Any blow hard enough to damage the gun in this manner would for sure have at least crushed the box in. 
 

I contacted customer service and was told that in order for them to do anything I would have to ship the whole rifle back to them. That was not really what I felt like doing so I proceeded to look for more information about the AR308 platform. I did a search online for 308 information and found this forum. Sure wish I had done that before making this purchase. After doing quite a bit of reading here I decided to just go ahead and fix the gun myself. 
 

First step was to remove the hand guard. This should have been pretty easy and straight forward except for the fact that it was under a lot of pressure from being pushed off center and jammed against the gas block. It came off unwillingly!  Next was removing the gas block itself.  I was less then happy with what I found. 
On the PSA website it states “All Gen3 PA10 models come with a dimpled barrel for ease of gas block replacement if you choose to do so.” 

That really doesn’t look dimpled to me. The set screws were were very tight. The original location of the gas block, judging by the set screw marks, was not perfectly aligned with the gas port. It was set up flush against the barrel shoulder but should have been spaced out a bit to line up perfectly. I didn’t take enough pictures to document completely but the barrel is now dimpled in the correct location and gas block reinstalled. 

Im going to have to take it back apart to measure the gas port but that’s not really a big deal now. I did not loctite the set screws yet but plan to after checking gas port size. 
 

I am not really trying to completely dis on PSA in this thread even if it may come across that way. I am simply going to document everything I end up doing to this PA10 to make it a dependable operating weapon. 

[shooterrex]

Loctite comes loose under heat. Rockset works better for gas blocks.

[Asetechrail]

After reading many threads on the PA10, and many detailed responses by 98Z5V and others, I decided to checkout everything else on my new rifle. The carbine length buffer tube measurement is right at 7.000 inches.

The buffer measures 2.500 inches

It weighed in at 3.788 oz

It is getting replaced with a heavier buffer and spring from Kaw Valley Precision. 

[Asetechrail]

6 minutes ago, shooterrex said:

Loctite comes loose under heat. Rockset works better for gas blocks.

Thanks! Will look into Rockset. 

[Asetechrail]

The gas tube on this gun appears to be an AR15 rifle length. I have an Armalite rifle length on the way. 
Time to go pull it back apart and check gas port size. It will get drilled out to .093 if it is too small. 

Edited December 16, 2021 by Asetechrail

[shooterrex]

My PSA 20" had a "midlength' gas tube. The correct Armalite part is a carbine length gas tube to replace the PSA "midlength'" gas tube.

Not sure which one you need but unless they changed something you probably ordered one too long.

[Asetechrail]

38 minutes ago, shooterrex said:

My PSA 20" had a "midlength' gas tube. The correct Armalite part is a carbine length gas tube to replace the PSA "midlength'" gas tube.

Not sure which one you need but unless they changed something you probably ordered one too long.

Well I sure hope not!  I believe the Armilite rifle length tube is 15.5 inches. Mine measures 15.25 and looks to be about .25 to short. 

The offset is not quite enough and does rub on the barrel nut. 

The gas port appears to be correct!

[jtallen83]

2 hours ago, Asetechrail said:

Mine measures 15.25 and looks to be about .25 to short. 

That tube came from ArmaLite as an AR-10 rifle length?

[Asetechrail]

4 minutes ago, jtallen83 said:

That tube came from ArmaLite as an AR-10 rifle length?

That is the tube 15.25” that came with the gun.  The one from Armalite is supposed to be 15.5”. It’s on the way but have not received it yet. 

[Asetechrail]

10 minutes ago, jtallen83 said:

[Asetechrail]

On a side note:  This needs a good cleaning before I go fire it!  Does it look like it needs some feed ramp polishing also?

[jtallen83]

5 minutes ago, Asetechrail said:

This needs a good cleaning before I go fire it!

You mean that's been fired?  seriously though I never worry about polishing unless I have a function issue or obvious burr, the gun will show you where she needs help. 

[Asetechrail]

7 minutes ago, jtallen83 said:

You mean that's been fired?  seriously though I never worry about polishing unless I have a function issue or obvious burr, the gun will show you where she needs help. 

Never been fired, just came rather dirty. Will run a few patches through it before taking it out the first time. It would already have a bunch of rounds through it by now if it had not come pretty well screwed up from the factory. 
 

In comparison to my Chinese AK’s this thing looks pretty rough!

Edited December 17, 2021 by Asetechrail

[98Z5V]

Looks like you already have the hard parts solved - that should run like that (once that AR-10 rifle gas tube shows up), just make sure you lube the hell out of it before you take it out.  

[Asetechrail]

42 minutes ago, 98Z5V said:

Looks like you already have the hard parts solved - that should run like that (once that AR-10 rifle gas tube shows up), just make sure you lube the hell out of it before you take it out.  

I can read and follow directions…most all of the information I got was in your threads here about the problems with the PA10. I myself have zero experience with any AR platform rifles. 
 

Concerning lube, I guess Mobile One would work?  How about the buffer, spring, and tube? It was all dry as a bone.  

[jtallen83]

1 hour ago, Asetechrail said:

Never been fired, just came rather dirty.

They're made to run a little dirty, at least that's one of the excuses I use. 

light coat for buffer tube and such, wipe on wipe is what I do, maybe a little heavier at first but not much, make that BCG dripping wet though.

[98Z5V]

50 minutes ago, Asetechrail said:

Concerning lube, I guess Mobile One would work?  How about the buffer, spring, and tube? It was all dry as a bone.  

Yes.  Light lube on the buffer contact surface, and the outside of the spring, and the inside of the receiver extension.  I have a sad story of not doing this, on dry guns (inspection ready, turned into the arms room), during a funeral detail (with blanks), and the problem was no lube in the recoil system...

45 minutes ago, jtallen83 said:

light coat for buffer tube and such, wipe on wipe is what I do, maybe a little heavier at first but not much, make that BCG dripping wet though.

^^^  Just what he said. 

[Windwalker]

Man I have purchased 4 PSA's two AR pistols and two PA10 308's. The first PA10 308 gen2 is a tack driver, but the Gen3 needed a little work to be accurate, but all of them have been flawless. I am putting together a Aero Precision at the moment and I will compare it to the PSA's. 

[Asetechrail]

1 hour ago, jtallen83 said:

They're made to run a little dirty, at least that's one of the excuses I use. 

light coat for buffer tube and such, wipe on wipe is what I do, maybe a little heavier at first but not much, make that BCG dripping wet though.

 

1 hour ago, 98Z5V said:

Yes.  Light lube on the buffer contact surface, and the outside of the spring, and the inside of the receiver extension.  I have a sad story of not doing this, on dry guns (inspection ready, turned into the arms room), during a funeral detail (with blanks), and the problem was no lube in the recoil system...

^^^  Just what he said. 

Check and check…will give it a good drink before taking it out. 
 

 

10 minutes ago, Windwalker said:

Man I have purchased 4 PSA's two AR pistols and two PA10 308's. The first PA10 308 gen2 is a tack driver, but the Gen3 needed a little work to be accurate, but all of them have been flawless. I am putting together a Aero Precision at the moment and I will compare it to the PSA's. 

Really glad you have had good luck with PSA!  My experience has so far been the opposite but then I haven’t even shot the damn thing yet….                I am determined to make it run good though!

[Windwalker]

If it's not as accurate as you would like then you could always lapp the receiver and barrel. I did it to my Gen3 with phenomenal results. 

[ARTrooper]

@Asetechrail damn good job taking care of things the way you have been. Seems you are getting it squared away with just a bit of reading. It sucks that they had it so screwed up when it got to you. Never heard of them having those issues barrel and gas block issues. At least you got some bones to build off of though.

18 hours ago, jtallen83 said:

They're made to run a little dirty, at least that's one of the excuses I use. 

light coat for buffer tube and such, wipe on wipe is what I do, maybe a little heavier at first but not much, make that BCG dripping wet though.

funny thing is my agency tells us not to lube the recoil system. I always have because I did in the military and definitely doesn’t run smoothly unless you do lightly lube it, plus it is like nails on a chalk board when it is dry.

[98Z5V]

4 hours ago, ARTrooper said:

funny thing is my agency tells us not to lube the recoil system. I always have because I did in the military and definitely doesn’t run smoothly unless you do lightly lube it, plus it is like nails on a chalk board when it is dry.

This is the key, right here.  

[Asetechrail]

Merry Christmas to me!  My rifle length gas tube is supposed to be here tomorrow…

Really looking forward to getting this thing back together and send some lead down range. I have accumulated several different brands and bullet weights to determine what this gun likes. 

[shaffe48]

Good luck.  Too bad it was wacked out of alignment.  

[Asetechrail]

Well I finally got my new 15.5 inch gas tube in. It’s slightly past center but I think it will be fine. We got a whole bunch more snow here in Montana but will get out and fire this thing for the first time this week.