PSA 20" HBAR upper

[FergusonTO35]

Ok gang, I'm about to pull the trigger on a Palmetto State Armory M16A2 style upper with 1:7 twist. I'm planning to shoot 55 and 62 Hornady soft points loaded to .223 power level. Any reason why I should not buy it? I really want an old school upper with non-removable carry handle and 20" barrel, I have zilch interest in flat tops and red dots. Is the 1:7 twist going to work with 55 grain slugs? If it makes minute of coyote groups I'll be happy.

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-...516446027.html

[jdfoxinc]

Yes the 55gr will stabilize just fine. 62gr require the faster twist rate.

[gpidaho]

One in seven is a very fast twist for the 223. It should stabilize the heaviest of 22cal bullets. Gp

[FergusonTO35]

Well, turns out the PSA upper isn't a true A2 style as it uses a removable carry handle. I found a company called Blackthorne Products in Minnesota which sells the same upper with a 1:9 twist for $189.00, so I went ahead and ordered it. I have a new Colt take-off carry handle in my gun junkyard so I'm covered there. Now just need a bolt carrier group and charge handle and I'll be ready to put her together.

[Rick Hodges]

I have two 1-7 twist AR's, a Ruger and PSA. Both handle 55gr. just fine. I usually use 55gr. sierra's or 60gr. Hornady HP's.

[lefty o]

blackthorne is to be avoided at all costs. they used to be hesse, and someone else before that. read up on them.

[nicholst55]

blackthorne is to be avoided at all costs. they used to be hesse, and someone else before that. read up on them.

^^This^^ Run away!!!

[FergusonTO35]

We shall see I guess...

[poppy42]

1:7 will handle a Boolets heavier than 62 grn. I shoot them out of my 1:8 without any problems. Don’t forget the old A1’s and A2’s had a 1:12 twist. 55grn was about it for them

[Texas by God]

We have two 1-7” PSA premium uppers here. The barrels are FN made. Great accuracy with 50 thru 80 gr bullets. I hope your choice works out for you. I’ve just built another carbine using a CMMG 1-7” upper and I expect it to do well also.

[FergusonTO35]

Thanks bro. I'm consoling myself right now by saying that, if the barrel shoots well enough, anything else should be fixable. Blackthorne claims they get their barrels from Wilson and Mossberg, two decent manufacturers. Everything else on the rifle will be from Anderson, made right here in the Bluegrass.

[FLINTNFIRE]

I went through JSE for my nephews build as what he carried in iraq , I to saw the blackthorne but your front sight base is a f mark , I asked and that was the reply as for the upper and for your front sight base the sights are extra and you need the rivet and front sling swivel . I will say assembling the a2 sight was a bit of interesting work , and remember triangle cap for rifle length hand guards , I built his as a hbar and it had 1-9 twist , to find everything and to keep cost down I had to buy from different sites and included other items for myself to knock shipping costs , all in all you could buy the delton at midsouth for just a touch more and was may still be free shipping and 1-7 twist, enjoy the fun of putting one together . Going with the old 20 round mags? I have cleaned a lot of older ones that were shot and used and not cleaned and tossed for being bad , a little elbow grease some eds red or diesel and run like a champ again.

[Texas by God]

I’ve used Anderson parts more often than not. I really like their lightweight Sport upper receiver that dispenses with the forward bolt assist and dust cover. I also prefer the 20 round magazines-because they hold one box of ammo!

[FergusonTO35]

Thanks. I have all the front sight stuff and a couple of 20 round mags in my Midway cart.

[FergusonTO35]

From my reading, it looks like many of the complaints about Blackthorne uppers have to do with the bolt carrier group. That part is coming from Anderson so hopefully one less thing to worry about.

[FergusonTO35]

The Blackthorne upper showed up today, it looks really nice for $189.00. The bore is shiny with what appears to be sharp rifling. The front sight base appears to be clocked properly (something Remlin still can't do most of the time) and does in fact have the sight post and sling swivel. I'm not an AR expert by any means but it doesn't look any worse than the common $500-600 AR's for sale around here.

[Lloyd Smale]

yup rick ive got 4 with 1-7 twists and get moa out of 55s with a bit of load development in all of them. Don't see a need for any other twist rate in an ar15 myself.

I have two 1-7 twist AR's, a Ruger and PSA. Both handle 55gr. just fine. I usually use 55gr. sierra's or 60gr. Hornady HP's.

[Lloyd Smale]

Yes the 55gr will stabilize just fine. 62gr require the faster twist rate.

a 1 in 7 twist will stabilize even 80 grain 223 bullets If anything the problem will be spinning the 55s to fast. Even 1-9 will easily stabilize 60s.

[FergusonTO35]

Everything except charging handle and mags has arrived and its all together. I'll start a new thread on it.

[Barman54]

I have a 1n8 Matched AR using a Satern Barrel, shoots 80's and below just Fine
My Practice Rifle is a Olympia with a 1n9 and Heavy Barrel, I put a Float Tube on it as I use a Sling.
Been shooting Speer 50 TNT's at 100 yards using Reduced Targets.
For 200 Yards Practice I use 69's.
I have shot some of my 77's at 200, and they are still stabile.

So some 1n9's will shoot 77,or at least some Hornady's 75's.

Barman54
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