New Preban AR - Palmetto Arms Q's

ejewels · #1 10-02-11, 13:33

Hey Guys!

I'm now the proud owner of my first "pre-ban" rifle. I live in CT so this is much more exciting to someone in an AWB state. I bought from a local gunstore who assembled it and they specialize in ARs. In a nutshell, its a Colt 6920 upper with a Palmetto arms lower. The lower has all magpul parts (CTR stock, ASAP sling attachment, MIAD grip, and it has a RRA trigger.

My main question is this. Has anyone heard of Palmetto Arms and preban lowers? All I know is that it is made of solid billet aluminum and it isn't forged? Could I get it forged if I wanted? The reason I ask is that PMAGS don't drop out and are a tight fit. USGI and Troy mags work fine dropping out. I was told this is usually an issue on many preban lowers with PMAGs. Any thoughts on this lower? I was told it has a hefty price tag in AWB states because it is so solid (solid billet).

Anyways, loving the rifle so far!

coryd · #2 10-02-11, 14:20

They were made by Olympic Arms for Palmetto Armory. I was able to contact Olympic Arms and verify that when I owned one, their records were destroyed by a fire, but they were able to confirm the year of manufacture.

Here's one that I owned about a year ago. I picked it up in a trade, but I live in a free state so the pre-ban had little appeal to me and I sold it. No issues with a couple hundred rounds fired and mags dropped free.

I know an SOT here in VA that has one of these lowers converted to full auto and it seems like it's held up well.

ejewels · #3 10-02-11, 16:53

yep, thats the one! Thanks for the response! I read online that Olympic arms will take it in and forge it. I'm wondering if this would be worth it or not. Guess I could always grind it or sand it to take the PMAGs...

VLODPG · #4 10-02-11, 17:24

How bout just using USGI mags & call it a day?

I'm in CT too & since old pre 94 lowers cost a premium to us here,I would just go USGI or if you must, use pmags & mod them.

MistWolf · #5 10-02-11, 17:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by ejewels

...I read online that Olympic arms will take it in and forge it...

Say what?!? The forging process is done to rough out the shape prior to machining

Heidevolk · #6 10-02-11, 17:34

Maybe they melt it down, re-forge and put the serial number on? The antis are only happy if it is pre-94 metal. That metal is less likely to hurt people.

rushca01 · #7 10-02-11, 17:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heidevolk

Maybe they melt it down, re-forge and put the serial number on? The antis are only happy if it is pre-94 metal. That metal is less likely to hurt people.

That is a no no.

shootist~ · #8 10-02-11, 18:35

Just get different mags.

ejewels · #9 10-02-11, 18:36

Ya, I def paid a premium for it, but to me its worth it. How important do you guys think it is for the PMAGs to be able to "drop out"? They seat just fine, its just a tight fit. I just love PMAGs so it kind of annoys me. Is this normal with pre ban lowers? Maybe back then when they manufactured them PMAGS weren't a consideration and only the USGI mags? Weird.

DeltaSierra · #10 10-02-11, 18:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by ejewels

Maybe back then when they manufactured them PMAGS weren't a consideration and only the USGI mags? Weird.

No, it isn't weird, considering that PMags hadn't been invented when the lower was made....

Scimitar2 · #11 10-02-11, 21:25

E-Mags or a little sanding on your P-Mags should work if it is that important to you.

ejewels · #12 10-03-11, 00:12

Maybe I'm being a bit picky, its just that I own many PMAGS and would also like the gun STOCK to be able to accept other PMAGS if need be. Its not the end of the world.. the gun rocks regardless.

I am wondering tho, if I really wanted it done, couldn't I get the inside of the magwell grinded down to have a looser fit for PMAGS or other wider mags? Would a gunsmith be able to do it?

MistWolf · #13 10-03-11, 02:21

Try backing off the mag release knob a half turn at a time and see if that helps

viperashes · #14 10-03-11, 07:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scimitar2

E-Mags or a little sanding on your P-Mags should work if it is that important to you.

I was thinking the exact same thing. The same problem exists with the M27 IAR. EMags work great, PMags not so much.

For your PMags to fit, all you will have to do is sand down the "ribs" on the upper part of the magazine a bit.

If GI mags fit, I wouldn't have the magwell opened up to accept PMags. Once you take the magwell down, you can't go back, and GI mags will likely fit VERY poorly if you ever have the need to use them. Take some fine grit sanding paper, or even an emery board and sand down the areas outlined in red first, on both sides of the mag, then if there is still tight front-to-rear fit, take a little bit down on the spine (marked in green).

Do one of your mags and pay attention to how much you are taking down, and doing the rest should be relatively easy.

ejewels · #15 10-03-11, 23:59

Thanks all. I will try sanding one of them down. I guess its just one of those things that goes along with some pre-ban lowers. They were originally meant to take GI mags anyways, so I guess I can't expect a lower to accommodate for something that hadn't even been made yet when it was manufactured...

And I never thought about that... if GI mags fit, sanding down the magwell would just make them loose.

Either way, the gun rocks and this is just a minor thing that can easily be taken care of...