Garand Thumb tests a $400 PSA upper

[xerts1191]

I’d say they got their $400 bucks out of it

[QuangTri]

Wish they had examined the chamber reaming better.

I posted my disastrous PSA Freedom barrel with grossly off center chamber reaming.
Never again.

[xerts1191]

Did PSA make it right?

[Old Jeff H]

For the cost, run 5K through it and then slap another one on the lower.

Thanks for turning me on to the channel. Those guys are hilarious.

[QuangTri]

Did PSA make it right?

They sent me two (1 extra) barrels. Both exhibit slightly off center chamber reaming, but nowhere as bad as the first one. The evidence of this is the rifling not starting with all at the same distance into the bore.

Built a spare upper with the "best" one and set it aside. Built a good one with a Ballistic Advantage barrel.

Some day i will see how the PSA shoots, but inspection shows that a sample of three Freedom barrels all have low quality machining. i am sure it will function, but I am picky about accuracy even at the cheap end.

For the price, what you get I suppose

[TimW]

They sent me two (1 extra) barrels. Both exhibit slightly off center chamber reaming, but nowhere as bad as the first one. The evidence of this is the rifling not starting with all at the same distance into the bore.

Built a spare upper with the "best" one and set it aside. Built a good one with a Ballistic Advantage barrel.

Some day i will see how the PSA shoots, but inspection shows that a sample of three Freedom barrels all have low quality machining. i am sure it will function, but I am picky about accuracy even at the cheap end.

For the price, what you get I suppose

I wonder if they're making that line using seconds or blemished barrels. Easier and more profitable than scrapping all the metal, even if they have to replace barrels here and there. They keep shipping that quality, though, and even Century Arms might start looking good.

[QuangTri]

They are probably selling all they can make. Most AR guys are not into accuracy, just the bang.

I suspect it is an outside barrel supplier that makes them to a price point. I offered to send the lousy barrel back so they could QC inspect the thing. They were not interested, which says a lot IMHO.
They either know of the issue, and/or do not care if you are a bottom tier buyer.

[javelinadave]

I'm trying to warranty out an over gassing $180 upper with them right now. Let's see what happens.

[TimW]

Good luck!!

[Old Jeff H]

Pretty sure that FN makes 100% of their AR barrels.

[Old Jeff H]

I was wrong about the above. Just watched a video and PSA makes a lot of their own barrels now.

[DM47]

My understanding is that FN still makes the CHF barrels for PSA's "Premium" line, and that DC Machine (a PSA company) makes the other PSA branded barrels.

[Dangerruss]

I have two of the CHF FN made barrel uppers and would compare them against any other "duty type" AR. I wanted the chrome lining for longer life. This is a 10.5 and a 14.7 so not a sniper or DMR type build.
I do not have any first hand experience with the lower Freedom line or even their nitrated barrels. I would be interested in what would the results be if the rifle in the video would get a cleaning to remove all the copper?

[Old Jeff H]

My understanding is that FN still makes the CHF barrels for PSA's "Premium" line, and that DC Machine (a PSA company) makes the other PSA branded barrels.

Thank you for the clarification.

[QuangTri]

My understanding is that FN still makes the CHF barrels for PSA's "Premium" line, and that DC Machine (a PSA company) makes the other PSA branded barrels.

Didn't know who made the cheap barrels, but this arrangement is what I understood.
This is why I was irked that PSA did not want the goofy barrel back to inspect.
If a supplier was shipping me defective products, I would want to know about it.

The FN barrels are a major step up in quality and price of course.