Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles Palmetto PA-10 Gen3 308

Looks a lot better. I always forget you shoot left handed. That stock has some miles on it. Good choice though.

I also have a Magpul fixed rifle stock on hand, but the A2 has that nice sloping angle on the underside that works well with a rear beanbag.

Maybe could send just that part back. I would call them.

Nope. They would happily exchange the entire set, but not piece-meal.

Oh well. It was a thought.

Why did you buy that,
Instead of this,
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1025634253?pid=379129.


Am I missing something?

Full length stock?

DB, I was switching from a carbine stock/buffer system, to a rifle stock/buffer system.

I shot it today for the first time with the rifle length buffer system and A2 rifle stock. Super smooth and soft shooting. My best 5-shot group was 2" at 50 yards. Ammo was more of the IMI 7.62 NATO 150gr FMTBT.

Sounds like crap, but it was going 3" on the first outing. I've seen reference to these barrels needing 100 rounds or so for break-in, so maybe it will tighten up more as we go along. I've put about 75 rounds through it now.

I need to snag some FGMM 168gr and 175gr and see how those shoot. They are pretty much the benchmark for 308 accuracy ammo.

Tuning the gas block to IMI 150gr FMJ.

PSA calls the gas block a '3-position' gas block. That's kind of confusing. It's actually 3 detent positions per full revolution.

Starting off I turned the adjustment screw fully inward (clockwise viewed from the front). This closes off the gas system completely.

For the following sequence, I only loaded one round into the magazine, to test for lock-back on the empty magazine.

I opened the port 4 'clicks' for the first shot. The fired case only extracted about halfway, did not eject.

I opened the port 1 more click to 5 clicks total. The fired case ejected, but the bolt didn't lock back.

I opened the port 1 more click to 6 clicks total. The fired case ejected, but no lock-back.

I opened the port 1 more click to 7 clicks total. Ejection at about 4-oclock, and the bolt locked back.

I left it there at 7 clicks. The information that came in the box with the rifle did indicate 7 clicks was the factory setting for 150gr ammo. Since I had changed the tube/buffer/recoil spring to rifle length, I went through that tuning process, but it turned out to be the same as the carbine system setting.

Shane, you handload, don't you? The FGMM may be the epitome of accuracy according to some, but I was always able to load better ammo for my Armalite AR10 308.

BSA, Yes I do handload. The thing is, nearly all my .308" bullets are in the 208-225gr range. These bullets will be too long for anything in the magazine of the PA-10. Also, my powders are more for the heavy bullets (RL-17).

I do have some H335, and Ramshot X-Terminator on hand though. Those should be about the right burn rate for a 168gr or 175 gr bullet. Maybe I just need a box of bullets.

Just remembered I have some Remington 180gr PSPCL bullets on the shelf, maybe I'll load up 10 or so and see how that goes. Not a match bullet, but likely more consistent than the M80 style 150gr FMJ.

I thought you did. Yes, that X-terminator powder should work well. Or, If you have any CFE223 or IMR8208, or AR Comp, those powders work very well with those weights. My AR10 loved AR Comp with the 168gr bullets. Those 180gr PSPCL will work well too, for plinking and barrel break in. As for the 150gr FMJ. I had a bunch of those, and loaded some up for my AR10. They actually didn't do too bad, considering they are not a matchgrade bullet. They shot around 1.6 moa for 10 shots. Not great, but not horrible either.

I was expecting about 3 moa with the 7.62 Ball ammo, and actually I have done a little better than that with some sub 1.5" groups at 50 yards.

Anyhoo, I ordered a few different kinds of AAC ammo from Palmetto, a box of 20 each of these AAC 308 offerings:

150gr FMJ
168gr OTM
168gr SMK

So those will give a few more data points. In the mean time I gave the barrel a good scrub, and will put more of the IMI Ball through it to continue seasoning the bore.

I cleaned the bore with Bore Tech Eliminator. The barrel had about 75 rounds down it.

With the Eliminator, the patches turn quite blue if the bore is coppered up. The patches indicated there was hardly any copper in the bore, so that's not a bad sign.

Montana,
Are you going to leave the adjustable gas on there or change it to a standard block?

Nice looking rig by the way.

I have two of these PA 10's.

One is set up with irons for as a full knock around rifle in .308.
The other is scoped for longer stuff.

Best
Heavy

Heavy, I'm going to leave the gas block as it is, so long as it is working well. So far there haven't been any failures, except when I deliberately choked down the gas port, for the purpose of tuning it.

I could see picking up another upper down the road, like an 18" mid-gas with the A2 profile barrel and FSB, for a lighter option if I was going to pack it around very much.

Curious how the AAC Ammo does for you. I too have three to try.

150 Sabre Blade
150 SP
168 OTM

BTW, awhile back I bought two blem PA10 SS 18" mid uppers and two blem EPT MOE lowers to go with them. Nothing but pleased with the parts. Yah, 7 clicks on the 3 click AGB. Not too heavy. Everything fit well. Functioned perfectly. A nice bargain with rubber grip, decent butt and trigger. EZ come EZ go.

Thanks for sharing your experience.

I haven't gotten out and shot my AAC ammo yet. Should get that done in the near future. I'll definitely share the results here, be they good, bad or ugly.

Right on. I'm tempted to test some in a bolt rifle, maybe also.

That's what I was planning on too. Comparing groups with the PA-10, to a Rem 700 rifle that I know is a sub-moa shooter with good ammo.

I was kind of planning on getting out there today, but it's getting breezy, and forecast is gusting to 37 mph this afternoon. I'll do it on a calmer day, and try to give the rifle/ammo a fair shake.