PSA 300blk upper

[cdknox]

I’m sure it’s been asked a bunch but how are the newer PSA complete 300blk uppers? I’m thinking of picking one up and I’ve heard nothing but good things but want to make sure. For $250 with a BCG and CH it’s tough to beat.


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[Apoptotic]

Reading extensively about PSA complete uppers I’ve noted that many owners have complained about the rail systems being loose and/or canted out of the box. Further, once the rails have been sorted out, the rails seem to loosen easily and repeatedly after very low round counts. Personally, I’d pass.

[GH41]

At that price point you have to wonder where the parts came from.

[26 Inf]

At that price point you have to wonder where the parts came from.

Smith shields run under 250.00 there all the time, wonder where the parts come from?

When you look at the AR and modern manufacturing, pretty much everything in the upper, minus the barrel, is a comparatively easy CNC process.

I didn't bother to look up the specifics on the upper, but I'd bet you 1) aren't getting a C-158 bolt, and 2) aren't getting a chrome-lined barrel. Probably not going to be a difference for most average shooters.

Take all that and a business model that stresses low prices and sales quantity and you can get prices like that.

What do think that ToolCraft, for example, has in a BCG? IDK. Some vendor or another always has ToolCraft C-158 BCG's for somewhere between $89 and $100, and that is with them taking their slice of profit out of the price.

Plus, the gun business is pretty flat right now, so folks are cutting deep to get sales.

Notice, at no time did I say PSA was top quality. But, IMO, PSA is acceptable quality for the AVERAGE user, and with massaging, perfectly adequate for hard use.

[ViniVidivici]

Our sample of one complete upper, 16"midlength in 5.56, ("classic" style) has run fine so far, and is surprisingly accurate.

[cdknox]

Here is the one I was looking at. It claims it’s a Toolcraft BCG.

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-...ib-bcg-ch.html


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[26 Inf]

If you want a 7.5" 300 Blackout - buy it.

[tehpwnag3]

Amazing price tag. I'm sure there is good value there. You might get a good one or you might get a lemon. My experience is hit or miss. I have the tools and skills to deal with smaller issues, but what I don't have is the time and patience to deal with their CS, as that is also hit or miss. Some issues just are not worth the hassle. In summery, you roll the dice with low price.

Toolcraft BCG's are good (knowing that they only manufacture the carrier and spec/outsource the other components). Some of the details of how the bolts are made and tested (like HPT and/or MPI) are not detailed in the description. More times than not, these details were cut out of the process to keep the price very low and it probably reflects what PSA spec'd in their order. After many dogmatic years, I actually now prefer 9310 bolts. Neither choice is wrong, however.

I don't like NiB (Nickel Boron) coating on BCG's. I actually prefer cheap old black phosphate. It's less money and IDGAF if it's not white glove clean. I'd rather that money went to, at the very least, a MPI process on the bolt.

Here is the one I was looking at. It claims it’s a Toolcraft BCG.

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-...ib-bcg-ch.html


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[26 Inf]

Toolcraft BCG's are good (knowing that they only manufacture the carrier and spec/outsource the other components). Some of the details of how the bolts are made and tested (like HPT and/or MPI) are not detailed in the description. More times than not, these details were cut out of the process to keep the price very low and it probably reflects what PSA spec'd in their order.

See, this is what happens on the internet - More times than not, these details were cut out of the process to keep the price very low and it probably reflects what PSA spec'd - somebody posts conjecture in a manner that seems factual, and the next person then posts it as fact.

Nearly as bad is commenting about the quality of an upper that you bought and never shot. Fvck me running, am I on ARFCOM?

Here is the deal, Toolcraft may in fact play juggle the bolts in their BCG's. Seems to me it would be a hassle keeping the various bolts separate, I can imagine breaking in the new guy:

"Okay in this bin we have the 9310 bolts that have been individually MPI and HPT tested." "Now in this bin we have the 9310 bolts that have been batch tested for MPI and HPT." "Over here we have the C-158 bolts that have been individually MPI and HPT tested." "Next bin over are the C-158 bolts that have been batch tested MPI and HPT."

New guy: "Why not just decide what you want the bolt manufacturer to do and buy bolts to the spec in C-158 and 9310? Then you'd only have two bins. I learned in industrial management that..."

Old hand: "Save that book stuff, kid, this is the real world."

Could be, IDK. What I do know is that, regardless, if the bolt breaks Toolcraft will replace it. I honestly don't believe they would have that guarantee without a baseline of some sort.

[tehpwnag3]

First, I didn't comment on something I don't have experience with. You must have me confused with someone else.

Second, Toolcraft buys bolts. They do not make them. If you have proof that everything they sell is held to the same quality standard (OEM, distributor, and retail), please provide it and I will gladly tip my hat to you. As a cautionary tale, if the product doesn't list it, don't expect it. That's what I was trying to say. Everyone knows that non-HPT and non-MPI bolts are cheaper to produce.

From the PSA product page: "Bolt Carrier Group: ToolCraft nickel boron BCG has a bolt made of mil-spec shot-peened Carpenter 158 steel. Gas key is secured with grade 8 fasteners and staked per mil-spec."

See, this is what happens on the internet - More times than not, these details were cut out of the process to keep the price very low and it probably reflects what PSA spec'd - somebody posts conjecture in a manner that seems factual, and the next person then posts it as fact.

Nearly as bad is commenting about the quality of an upper that you bought and never shot. Fvck me running, am I on ARFCOM?

Here is the deal, Toolcraft may in fact play juggle the bolts in their BCG's. Seems to me it would be a hassle keeping the various bolts separate, I can imagine breaking in the new guy:

"Okay in this bin we have the 9310 bolts that have been individually MPI and HPT tested." "Now in this bin we have the 9310 bolts that have been batch tested for MPI and HPT." "Over here we have the C-158 bolts that have been individually MPI and HPT tested." "Next bin over are the C-158 bolts that have been batch tested MPI and HPT."

New guy: "Why not just decide what you want the bolt manufacturer to do and buy bolts to the spec in C-158 and 9310? Then you'd only have two bins. I learned in industrial management that..."

Old hand: "Save that book stuff, kid, this is the real world."

Could be, IDK. What I do know is that, regardless, if the bolt breaks Toolcraft will replace it. I honestly don't believe they would have that guarantee without a baseline of some sort.