Rex Nanorum reviews the Palmetto State Armory Gen III PA-10 Rifle.
Palmetto State Armory (PSA) has been delivering firearms to the American public at a prodigious rate since opening. With an extremely popular website, PSA has been shipping out name-brand guns, parts, and accessories, as well as its own lineup of American-made guns. This runs right in line with what seems to be its driving line: “that all free men should be armed.”
Palmetto State Armory Gen III PA-10 Rifle
When I ran my own FFL (with SOT), PSA’s AR-pattern rifles were extremely popular for their balance of price and performance. I’ve long since moved on as a dealer, so now I get to revisit the brand to check out PSA’s Gen III PA-10 platform offering, an AR-10 pattern rifle chambered in .308 Winchester.
Palmetto State Armory Gen III PA-10 Rifle Tech Specs:
- Barrel Length: 18”
- Barrel Material: 416R Stainless Steel
- Barrel Profile: A2 Style
- Chamber: .308 WIN
- Twist Rate: 1 in 10”
- Extension: M4
- Gas System: Mid-Length
- Gas Block Type: Low-profile 5 position click switch adjustable gas block
- Upper Receiver: Forged 7075 T6 Aluminum
- Receiver Style: PA10 Flat top with Feed Ramps
- Receiver Finish: Hardcoat Anodized
- Forward Assist: Yes
- Dust Cover: Yes
- Handguard Type: PSA 15″ M-Lok Free Float Rail with Anti-slip and anti-rotation features
- Bolt Carrier Group: Yes, Toolcraft PA10 BCG with extra power extractor spring
- Staked Gas Key: Yes
- Lower Receiver: Forged 7075 T6 Aluminum
- Receiver Finish: Hardcoat Anodized
- Fire Control Group: Enhanced Polished Trigger (EPT)
- Buffer Tube: 7075 T6 Aluminum
- Adjustment: 6-position telescoping stock
- Stock: Magpul MOE Carbine Stock, Black
- Grip: PSA Overmolded A2 Grip, Black
- Magazine: 20 Round PMAG
Gen 3 Benefits at a glance:
- Lower Includes relief cuts for a broader compatibility with 308 BCG’s
- Twice Staked Castle Nuts
- Standardized carbine length buffer tube with short, heavy buffer
- Dimpled 416R Stainless Steel Barrel
- 5 Position Adjustable Click Switch Gas Block
- Extra Power Extractor Springs
- 7075 T6 Charging Handle Included in all uppers
- Black Nitride Gas Tube
- Barrel Nuts properly torqued to military specifications
- Anti-slip and anti-rotation handguards
All right, so we can see Palmetto State Armory has taken things up a notch with their Gen 3 version of the PA-10 rifle. Out of the box, fit and finish look great. There is only the slightest discernible movement between receivers, not even enough to call a wobble. After a quick shot of lube, running the bolt carrier back and forth feels smooth and easy, with no grit or hangup. The staking on the castle nut looks perfect. The adjustable gas block is accessible through the front opening of the handguard with the included Allen key.
The Palmetto State Armory Gen III PA-10 Rifle’s two-stage trigger felt really nice during dry fire familiarization. Clean take-up followed by a crisp break. The second stage is a little heavier than the two-stage target triggers from Geisselle and CMC that I’m used to, I’d put it between 4.5 – 5 lbs. This is a really good spot for a heavier-use gun, whether defensive or hunting-focused. It’s a snappy enough break to be accurate with, but not overly sensitive. I’d be very happy if this replaced the standard mil-spec trigger as the baseline for which all AR platform rifles came.
I tossed on a Burris TMPR 3×32 prismatic optic and hit the range with a pile of Norma Match .308, featuring a Sierra Matchking HPBT projectile. I don’t like accuracy testing during the first couple hundred rounds, so I consider these first two or three range trips to be for familiarization more than a hard baseline of what the rifle can do. That’s especially true with a three-power optic on a rifle, and I’ll be shooting out to 800 yards. The first 200 rounds were spent between 50 and 200 yards, and I only shot a couple of groups at 50 and 100 yards to get zeroed. The 50-yard groups were around 1.1″, while the one group at 100 yards was 1.6″. Not bad for the first magazine through the gun! I’ll follow up once the barrel is fully broken.
The PSA Gen III PA-10 is like a dream behind the gun. It’s really well-balanced and not an excessively heavy hog like many -10 pattern rifles are. Recoil is well managed and the rifle was fully reliable during the admittedly small initial sample size of 200 rounds. Popping clay pigeons at 200 yards was no trouble, showing once again I’m better at taking hit/miss shots than I am at shooting groups. At $899.99, the Palmetto State Armory might not be the Ferrari of Modern Sporting Rifles, but it’s at least a modern Honda Civic. Reliable, economical and faster than you’d think until you turn the key. It’s still early, but so far I’m loving the Gen III PA-10.
Live Inventory Price Checker
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PSA Gen3 PA-10 Rifle 18" Mid-Length .308 1:10 Stainless 15" LTWT M-Lok STR 2-Stage | Palmetto State Armory | $ 1309.99 $ 879.99 |
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PSA Gen3 PA-10 Rifle 18" Mid-Length .308 1:10 Stainless 15" LTWT M-Lok STR 2-Stage | Palmetto State Armory | $ 1309.99 $ 879.99 |
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PSA Gen3 PA-10 Rifle Kit .308 18" Mid-Length 1:10 SS 15" LTWT M-lok MOE EPT | Palmetto State Armory | $ 899.99 $ 549.99 |
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PSA Gen3 PA-10 Rifle 20" Rifle-Length Stainless Steel LTWT M-Lok STR 2-Stage | Palmetto State Armory | $ 1349.99 $ 819.99 |
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About Rex Nanorum
Rex Nanorum is an Alaskan Expatriate living in Oregon with his wife and kids. Growing up on commercial fishing vessels, he found his next adventure with the 2nd Bn, 75th Ranger Regt. After 5 tours to Afghanistan and Iraq, he adventured about the west coast becoming a commercial fisheries and salvage SCUBA diver, rated helicopter pilot instructor (CFII) and personal trainer, before becoming a gear reviewer and writer.”
PSA is a hit and miss, kinda like the author hit the clays instead of the bullseye! A word of advice, don’t throw away your boxes. Oct. 2 – 19, I purchased this gen 3 – PA 10 with the 20in barrel and bought the high dollar lower with nickel boron 2 stage trigger group. The lower was sent with the wrong buffer spring and buffer. I realized this after adjusting the gas port from one extreme to the other. Never got one shell to eject. After 4 conversations with customer service finally got the correct parts shipped to me.… Read more »
Shooting groups with different types of ammo is different than target shooting for bullseyes, but surely you knew that 😉
That’s a rough go with PSA. There does seem to be a higher number of CS issues with them than with other manufacturers/dealers, but that’s my anecdotal experience based on second and third hand info. Perhaps that roll of the dice is the price to pay for such low prices.
If what he said’s true, there’s no excuse for PSA’s actions. Not even the low cost.
That reminds me of Ruger, when I spent a year trying to get a new GP100 to work. They had that 357 more than I did. Sent it back 5 times, never did get it fixed. I really gave them hell, and they finally agreed to send me a new one, but I sold it back to the dealer. I didn’t want it.
That is odd. I have never had a problem with any Ruger that I ever owned, including the GP 100. I finished sighting in My Ruger American Ranch in 5.56 this afternoon. I mounted a Leupold 5HD 3-15x 44, and with the custom elevation turret, it is right on at 100, 200, 300, and 425 yards. I am using a 77 grain boat tail pushed by 24.3 grains of CFE 223.
Yeah Ruger and Leupold are a great combination.
Ruger no doubt makes nice guns. I just got a dud, and terrible customer service.
I don’t know about their customer service. I never had to use it.
Good for you.
I reloaded with CFE 223 and used a suppressor. That is THE dirtiest damn powder I’ve ever used; way dirtier than Unique that I’ve used in pistol reloads. I still have 2# of the stuff. Maybe I’ll use it to make rounds I won’t suppress. But for suppressor use in my AR, Varget or 2520 gave me better results and a much cleaner suppressor and gun.
I have a Ruger Am II in 6.5 creedmor. Love that gun.
That’s damn good camouflage she’s wearing, I’ve never seen her in the woods…
I bought a psa ar 10 upper and a psa ar 10 lower a few years ago. got a really good deal on both from the manufacturer psa. I bought these weeks apart as they were not Both on sale at the same time. A few months later i took it to the range an couldn’t get the bolt to extract the first round. After fiddling with it I managed to get it out an fired a second round same thing; tried adjusting the gas block.. still wouldn’t. the gun smith at the range took it apart walked over to… Read more »
The PSA gen 1 AR 10 functions and shoots well for me . Never had a issue with it other than it’s too heavy to pack for hunting.
@OV, Yes, … and twelve kids … and a cat!
The twelve kids wouldn’t be a dealbreaker, but the cat sure would! I’m allergic to them critters! Phil in TX
@WB – @OV – So long as it’s not twelve cats and a kid.
@Gentlemen, Good fun!
@OV, Why should she make one man miserable… when she can make so many men happy!
@OV, The voice of experience!
I really liked the PSX10 as it was scaled much like an AR15. How does this compare?
EDIT: it was pretty similar to the DPMS Gen II rifles (almost imperceptibly different)
I bought one of the first PA-10 rifle kits and slapped it on a Polymer 80 lower I finished. There was a part compatibility with the PSA LPK, the takedown pins were too short due to the heavier thickness of the polymer at those points. I had to order the Polymer80 LPK. I also replaced the A2 handguard with a quad rail and the A2 stock with the MagPul MOE. I also cut off the front sight post/gas block and replaced it with a low profile one. I believe this is the kit I bought, it’s been several years. Very… Read more »
It can’t be that nice to carry if they don’t put in the specs what it weighs.
I really wish that there would be a standard for the AR10 like there is for the 15. Take any military spec AR15 part and shove it into another and go. The AR10 has no standard and they are built different by all the other manufactures so parts are not interchangeable. Just like the 1911 there is the real thing and wantabees that do not have the same parts.
I do like PSA products though. At one time they made an AR10 upper that would work with an AR15 lower. To me that was the cats meow.
Must have been interesting trying to get a mag into the magwell.
I don’t know if they used special mags or how it was done. I don’t think they make it anymore, maybe that is is the reason why.
What cartridge did you shoot out of it?
It must be a typo on his part.
I’ve never heard of an AR10 upper, being paired with an AR15 lower…
Have you?
Are you saying that if you have never heard of a thing, then it does not exist? You are a regular Suma Theologica.
So what cartridge did you shoot, with your AR10 upper, paired with an AR15 lower?