Brand New PSA 20" 6.5 Barrel

[jkucukov]

I just received the package from PSA, it was a 20" SS 1:8 twist barrel with BCG combo. First thing after unboxing i bore scoped the barrel, the barrel rifling was nice and shiny, the chamber portion seemed dull with the throat having an uneven machining finish (I'll post pics).

I was wondering if anyone has taken a bore scope to inspect their PSA barrels?

[VASCAR2]

If a factory cartridge fits the chamber and falls out under gravity when the muzzle is raised I’d shoot it to see how it functions. After seeing the bore of my Type 38 6.5 x 50 Jap rifle which is 100+ years old and how well it shoots I wouldn’t worry about it. PSA has a good warranty and will take care of you if you have a problem. Most of the PSA 6.5 Grendel uppers I’ve seen have an adjustable gas block. Get the gas set properly and the rifle functioning then use a solid rest and see out it shoots.

[jkucukov]

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Here are pictures of the throat, you can see some rifling lands on one side and not the other.

[jkucukov]

If a factory cartridge fits the chamber and falls out under gravity when the muzzle is raised I’d shoot it to see how it functions. After seeing the bore of my Type 38 6.5 x 50 Jap rifle which is 100+ years old and how well it shoots I wouldn’t worry about it. PSA has a good warranty and will take care of you if you have a problem. Most of the PSA 6.5 Grendel uppers I’ve seen have an adjustable gas block. Get the gas set properly and the rifle functioning then use a solid rest and see out it shoots.

There was no binding of round in the chamber, round enters and falls freely, from the photos the lands seem low in the high areas. We'll see how she shoots, I'll report back.

[lazyengineer]

I would absolutely try to send that back - and have. This is way more common than people realize. Not saying it can't possibly shoot well. But I am saying that every round you fire will begin it's journey with an uneven engagement in the rifling and crooked. Upon getting my replacement barrel with an even throat, I was shooting subMOA.

Do not fire a single round through that "to find out". Just get it replaced while still new.

[jkucukov]

I would absolutely try to send that back - and have. This is way more common than people realize. Not saying it can't possibly shoot well. But I am saying that every round you fire will begin it's journey with an uneven engagement in the rifling and crooked. Upon getting my replacement barrel with an even throat, I was shooting subMOA.

Do not fire a single round through that "to find out". Just get it replaced while still new.

I looked at it again just now, it seems the 2 out of 6 lands in the throat area don't extend all the way down to the case mouth. Its a gradual taper from the rifling down to the edge of the case mouth line. It seems the chamber might not be concentric with the bore (ever so slightly off).

Here is another picture showing a gouge on one of the lands right above the case mouth edge.
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[lazyengineer]

I looked at it again just now, it seems the 2 out of 6 lands in the throat area don't extend all the way down to the case mouth. Its a gradual taper from the rifling down to the edge of the case mouth line. It seems the chamber might not be concentric with the bore (ever so slightly off).

Here is another picture showing a gouge on one of the lands right above the case mouth edge.
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Picture #2 compared to Pictures #1 and #3, are the tell that it's an uneven concentricity. This is WAY more common than people think. The reality in my own experience is there are two places that matter in a barrel, the throat, and the crown. In between basically doesn't hardly matter at all. It's why a pitted and corroded barrel, or a barrel damaged by fugitive steel media, can still shoot lights-out. So long as the throat is well uniform, and the crown is good; that barrel will still shoot.

And that barrel - is not.

You have to be careful with optical illusions and dirty aspects misleading you to think mis-machined. So run a few dry patches and reimage, just to be sure. But from what I'm seeing, that is not a square and concentric chamber. Meaning every single shot is starting its journey crooked, within the first 1/2" of its travels.

[VASCAR2]

I think I’d contact PSA on that barrel. From the pictures the barrel chamber probably looks bad with naked eye. With the price of ammunition and other associated cost of shooting I can’t see wasting either until I got a response from PSA. I bought a Stainless Steel 16” 5.56 Freedom upper from PSA which had a badly canted front sight. I contacted PSA and they sent me a return label and fixed the upper. With cheaper AR-15’s and barrels it is luck of the draw, you might or might not get a good one.

[jkucukov]

Picture #2 compared to Pictures #1 and #3, are the tell that it's an uneven concentricity. This is WAY more common than people think. The reality in my own experience is there are two places that matter in a barrel, the throat, and the crown. In between basically doesn't hardly matter at all. It's why a pitted and corroded barrel, or a barrel damaged by fugitive steel media, can still shoot lights-out. So long as the throat is well uniform, and the crown is good; that barrel will still shoot.

And that barrel - is not.

You have to be careful with optical illusions and dirty aspects misleading you to think mis-machined. So run a few dry patches and reimage, just to be sure. But from what I'm seeing, that is not a square and concentric chamber. Meaning every single shot is starting its journey crooked, within the first 1/2" of its travels.

Cleaned the barrel earlier, took some more photos of the throat area capturing each land (starting with the gouged one).
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Here are some photos showing the average finish of the bore including the gas port:
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Its really hard to tell looking down the bore from the chamber end, the throat area appears the same to the naked eye.

[jkucukov]

I think I’d contact PSA on that barrel. From the pictures the barrel chamber probably looks bad with naked eye. With the price of ammunition and other associated cost of shooting I can’t see wasting either until I got a response from PSA. I bought a Stainless Steel 16” 5.56 Freedom upper from PSA which had a badly canted front sight. I contacted PSA and they sent me a return label and fixed the upper. With cheaper AR-15’s and barrels it is luck of the draw, you might or might not get a good one.

I bought a 16" Freedom upper from PSA about 7 years ago and used it for 18" AR Stoner barrel build for a friend, I had the freedom barrel laying around since then in unfired condition. When I got the bore scope last year I decided to go through everything I had (too much fun). That 16" Freedom 556 barrel from 7 years ago has it even worse than this PSA Grendel barrel. I'm afraid getting the 20" one traded in will bring me one thats worse, I doubt the guys operating the stock room know how to pick out a good barrel from a bunch. Its all the same to them once its stocked, doubt the machine shop will go out of their way to deliver budget perfection. Like you said the ammo is not cheap for this sport, its a difficult decision.

[jkucukov]

Few more shots of the Freebore without the mirror:
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Seems like these bullets will be jumping to get to the rifling

[jkucukov]

Quick update, i sent the barrel back last month. Received an email from the PSA today saying that the repair has been complete. The repair involved replacing the barrel and bolt carrier group. They also claim to have assembled the new barrel and bolt on their working upper for test firing. We'll see what comes in next week.

[escott]

Quick update, i sent the barrel back last month. Received an email from the PSA today saying that the repair has been complete. The repair involved replacing the barrel and bolt carrier group. They also claim to have assembled the new barrel and bolt on their working upper for test firing. We'll see what comes in next week.

Hope to see some new pictures so we can compare. Now I'm itching to get a bore scope.

[EastTNHunter]

PSA is good on product support and customer service. Looking forward to the update on your replacement

[jkucukov]

The barrel and BCG arrived back today, from the looks of it they test fired the barrel only and sent it back, no documentation was added describing what was done.
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Same barrel

[rickt300]

Maybe it is a crazy accurate barrel.

[jkucukov]

Its absurd that they say that both the Barrel and BCG have been replaced, yet I received the exact same items back, heck even the packaging has my writing on it. You guys think I should send this back and get my money back?

[lazyengineer]

The barrel and BCG arrived back today, from the looks of it they test fired the barrel only and sent it back, no documentation was added describing what was done.
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Same barrel

Yea.... that's kind of a PSA trick. They are super cool about having you send stuff back. And then they sit on it for a few days, and send it right back to you without doing a single thing to it. Happens with them... a lot. If you actually want it fixed, you have to go to AR15.com, go into their subforum, ask for help there. Then Josiah, who's one of the owners, will respond to you, and get involved, and then it gets fixed.

But otherwise, standard practice is one, sometimes two, cycles of this. And then on the 3rd cycle they'll actually look at it. Seen this reported way too many times.

[VASCAR2]

Since it has been fired I’d shoot it and see how it does before making a final decision.

[BluntForceTrauma]

Agree with VC2. I'd shoot it and keep it if it's a keeper.

However, just on the principle of the thing, I'd be kinda pissed if they just sent me back the original barrel with no changes. Don't piss on my leg and tell me it's raining....