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Posted: 8/31/2016 7:51:40 PM EDT
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Hi. I need some help with a first time build:
Several days ago I received the following 2 items from PSA: 8779 PSA BCG Auto 556 Premium with PSA Logo PSA 16" SOCOM 4150 Melonite 1/7 with "5.56 NATO 1/7 FREEDOM" Barrel - 7789858 I stripped the PSA bolt, and did a head space check using a Clymer 5.56 GO gauge (1.4636). The PSA bolt did not go into battery on the uninstalled PSA barrel. Next I tried the GO gauge using the PSA bolt in a Colt AR15 and the GO test worked fine. Next I tried the stripped Colt bolt on the PSA barrel using the GO gauge and the Colt bolt also would not go into battery on the PSA barrel. So it looks like the PSA bolt is OK because it passes the GO test on the Colt AR15. And it looks like the PSA barrel is not OK because it fails the GO test on both the PSA bolt and the Colt bolt. So it seems the PSA barrel head space is too shallow (it appears to me to be very slightly shallow). In other words I can see that it almost engages. So should I just return the barrel in exchange for a new one, or should I try something else. |
| I stripped the bolt by removing the ejector and extractor. I tried contacting PSA. Will try again today. I cleaned the chamber but only with a dry paper towel. Should I get more aggressive with the cleaning? If so should I just use solvent? Thanks for the responses. |
| Their freedom line is equivalent to all other cheaply mass produced barrels on the market, so you are probably correct in assuming that the headspace is out of spec. Have patients and go through through the return process. (PSA customer service sucks!).... Buy one of their premium or FN CHF barrels or buy from someone else. |
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Buying cheap is a gamble like that.
As mentioned, I'd try a -chamber- brush and solvent, but I wouldn't bother or even would prefer not to use anything harsher than Hoppes No. 9. Gauges might be cheaper than buying a more expensive barrel, but still prefer to not buy gauges. PSA should make it right. If people start chiming in here about how you should take the barrel off and work on it, or the bolt, etc, ignore them. PSA probably wants to make it right, and probably will. Maybe like Kel-Tec they'll polish the feed ramps for you too when they look at it. 
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