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]

[jkucukov]

Photo on 4-7-23 at 4.26 PM.jpg
Photo on 4-7-23 at 4.27 PM #2.jpg
Photo on 4-7-23 at 4.27 PM.jpg

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

[jkucukov]

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.
Photo on 4-9-23 at 11.07 AM.jpg

[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.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]19644[/ATTACH]

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]

[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).
Photo on 4-9-23 at 8.21 PM.jpg
Photo on 4-9-23 at 8.22 PM.jpg
Photo on 4-9-23 at 8.23 PM #2.jpg
Photo on 4-9-23 at 8.23 PM #3.jpg
Photo on 4-9-23 at 8.23 PM #4.jpg
Photo on 4-9-23 at 8.23 PM.jpg

Here are some photos showing the average finish of the bore including the gas port:
Photo on 4-9-23 at 8.24 PM #2.jpg
Photo on 4-9-23 at 8.24 PM.jpg
Photo on 4-9-23 at 8.28 PM #2.jpg
Photo on 4-9-23 at 8.28 PM.jpg

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 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:
Photo on 4-10-23 at 9.33 AM.jpg
Photo on 4-10-23 at 9.35 AM.jpg

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.
Photo on 5-11-23 at 2.34 PM #2.jpg
Photo on 5-11-23 at 2.35 PM #2.jpg
Photo on 5-11-23 at 2.35 PM #3.jpg
Photo on 5-11-23 at 2.35 PM #4.jpg
Photo on 5-11-23 at 2.35 PM #5.jpg
Photo on 5-11-23 at 2.35 PM.jpg

Same barrel