Frost
Well-Known Member
Recently I bought and reviewed a Palmetto State Armory complete AR lower.
I was so impressed with it I went out and bought a complete Upper to match it.
These items I buy are not specially prepared for me they are standard off the shelf assemblies.
I get no special discounts or other consideration for these reviews in fact they are not even forum sponsors.
The one I bought was the basic M4 configuration upper with a chrome lined 1 in 7 twist barrel with the as supplied bcg and hand guard.
I first compared the finish on the upper to the lower and found it a good match.
They are both a uniform black in color with no thin or off color spots.
Everything on the upper is solid in appearance and feel.
Before going any further I fitted the upper to the lower.
There is a small amount of play as found on most ARs but not enough to be of any consequence.
The pin holes lined up perfectly. (don?t laugh this can be a problem)
The assembled rifle has a ready for business feel.
I moved on to sights, as supplied the upper came no rear sight.
I had several types laying around so I elected not to buy any from Palmetto.
I tried a Colt carry handle, I tried a no name carry handle (possibly Chinese), a unknown brand rear sight, a NC Star quick release scope, and Bushnell red dot (the one that sort of resembles an ACOG).
All of them fit just fine with no problem.
I feel confident in saying whatever type of sight you choose to use will fit securely with no modifications necessary.
As we all should do before ever firing a new weapon I cleaned the bore and chamber finding again a bit of protective grease.
I inspected the bore and found the lands and grooves to be sharp with no appearent flaws.
The forward assist worked easily without the gritty feel I have seen on others.
The ejection port cover fit nicely and snapped in place securely.
I next detail stripped the bolt carrier group, as one should expect there was a bit of protective grease in it, easily cleaned.
When inspecting the parts individually I found all to be excellent in appearance with one exception.
There was some coloration difference on the back side of the carrier.
This was of no concern to me as it was cosmetic and in a place than normally cannot be seen.
All in all I could find no problems other than the one cosmetic issue on the bolt carrier.
It was now time to test.
I carried the rifle to Boggy Head for it?s test runs.
I used a variety of magazines, Vietnam vintage surplus 20 and 30 round military, current military, and Magpul 30 round P-Mags. If there was problem with mag well tolerance I was determined to find it.
I was shooting a combination of surplus military and Federal 55 grain commercial from the local Wally World.
As this is a chrome lined barrel I did not feel a break in was needed.
I began the day with the surplus ammunition and at 25 and 100 yards the rifle shot as well as I am capable of.
This was to be true with the scope and iron sights; I did find the Federal to be more accurate than the surplus, no surprise there.
I began experimenting with the magazines fully loaded partially loaded mixed ammunition the rifle did not care. It ate everything I threw at it slow fire, rapid fire, it did not care.
So far so good.
It was now time to give it a real workout.
As y'all know sustained rapid fire will really heat up an AR.
Not being fortunate enough to own a select fire lower I used the next best thing.
For the stress test we used a SSAR slide stock.
We had the gun smoking hot and kept on shooting.
It got to cool off only long enough to load more magazines.
As Pops will attest this gun was really hot and it kept on running with no problems!
I was beginning to get worried, things were going to well.
I took out the oldest, used when I got it 30 years ago magazine I had.
I loaded it with a mixture of loose unknown .223 from the bottom of my bag, the current surplus, and Federal.
I stuck the magazine in the rifle and cranked the trigger.
Using the slide stock one long burst later I was looking at an empty rifle.
I could not make this rifle miss a beat.
I fired 500 rounds through this rifle slow, rapid, and bump fire with not one problem.
Once again I give the products of Palmetto Armory a two thumbs up.
I was so impressed with it I went out and bought a complete Upper to match it.
These items I buy are not specially prepared for me they are standard off the shelf assemblies.
I get no special discounts or other consideration for these reviews in fact they are not even forum sponsors.
The one I bought was the basic M4 configuration upper with a chrome lined 1 in 7 twist barrel with the as supplied bcg and hand guard.
I first compared the finish on the upper to the lower and found it a good match.
They are both a uniform black in color with no thin or off color spots.
Everything on the upper is solid in appearance and feel.
Before going any further I fitted the upper to the lower.
There is a small amount of play as found on most ARs but not enough to be of any consequence.
The pin holes lined up perfectly. (don?t laugh this can be a problem)
The assembled rifle has a ready for business feel.
I moved on to sights, as supplied the upper came no rear sight.
I had several types laying around so I elected not to buy any from Palmetto.
I tried a Colt carry handle, I tried a no name carry handle (possibly Chinese), a unknown brand rear sight, a NC Star quick release scope, and Bushnell red dot (the one that sort of resembles an ACOG).
All of them fit just fine with no problem.
I feel confident in saying whatever type of sight you choose to use will fit securely with no modifications necessary.
As we all should do before ever firing a new weapon I cleaned the bore and chamber finding again a bit of protective grease.
I inspected the bore and found the lands and grooves to be sharp with no appearent flaws.
The forward assist worked easily without the gritty feel I have seen on others.
The ejection port cover fit nicely and snapped in place securely.
I next detail stripped the bolt carrier group, as one should expect there was a bit of protective grease in it, easily cleaned.
When inspecting the parts individually I found all to be excellent in appearance with one exception.
There was some coloration difference on the back side of the carrier.
This was of no concern to me as it was cosmetic and in a place than normally cannot be seen.
All in all I could find no problems other than the one cosmetic issue on the bolt carrier.
It was now time to test.
I carried the rifle to Boggy Head for it?s test runs.
I used a variety of magazines, Vietnam vintage surplus 20 and 30 round military, current military, and Magpul 30 round P-Mags. If there was problem with mag well tolerance I was determined to find it.
I was shooting a combination of surplus military and Federal 55 grain commercial from the local Wally World.
As this is a chrome lined barrel I did not feel a break in was needed.
I began the day with the surplus ammunition and at 25 and 100 yards the rifle shot as well as I am capable of.
This was to be true with the scope and iron sights; I did find the Federal to be more accurate than the surplus, no surprise there.
I began experimenting with the magazines fully loaded partially loaded mixed ammunition the rifle did not care. It ate everything I threw at it slow fire, rapid fire, it did not care.
So far so good.
It was now time to give it a real workout.
As y'all know sustained rapid fire will really heat up an AR.
Not being fortunate enough to own a select fire lower I used the next best thing.
For the stress test we used a SSAR slide stock.
We had the gun smoking hot and kept on shooting.
It got to cool off only long enough to load more magazines.
As Pops will attest this gun was really hot and it kept on running with no problems!
I was beginning to get worried, things were going to well.
I took out the oldest, used when I got it 30 years ago magazine I had.
I loaded it with a mixture of loose unknown .223 from the bottom of my bag, the current surplus, and Federal.
I stuck the magazine in the rifle and cranked the trigger.
Using the slide stock one long burst later I was looking at an empty rifle.
I could not make this rifle miss a beat.
I fired 500 rounds through this rifle slow, rapid, and bump fire with not one problem.
Once again I give the products of Palmetto Armory a two thumbs up.
