You are LIGHTYEARS ahead of any other AR platform based channel I've seen on YT. I've only assembled Two AR15's to date and so far I've learned that 1. in spite of the "cookie cutter" platform, each build will throw you small curveballs and learning opportunities varying from manufacturer to manufacturer... and 2. Regardless of that, a quality build will require the same specifications to be met in key areas no matter the manufacturer, calibre or style. Watching your videos gains the viewer years of experience in literally minutes of view time. Thank You!
Ive learned more watching your videos the past few days than i have in the last 3 or 4 years tinkerin' with ARs. Thanks for your time and more content please!
This is honestly one of the most underrated channels on RU-vid. Your knowledge surrounding the AR platform is second to none lol. Thank you for making these videos educational and entertaining.
I have assembled 2 ar 15 rifles for myself. I thought I was through and understand the fit and function. This channel and his methods are the difference between professional and novice. These videos are very helpful in assembly and troubleshooting. Thank alot.
Very interested to see what people look for on the civilian side. I'm a 30 lvl repairman for the military, and we didn't even use half the gauges he used in just this video. Barrel straightness, firing pin, headspace were pretty much our go to gauges. Again very interesting and cool.
This isn't typical civilian haha typical civilian is ok didn't close on a no go gauge so send it. This is more teaching gunsmithing for a living level.
Joel Zera -- "Mil Spec" as marketing phrase is different from materiel & armament actually built for US military use under Fedgov contract. That would explain what you mention. Also, what you mention does NOT excuse the QA & QC failures Chad found on this upper. PSA didn't assemble this upper under Fedgov contract for US military use. PSA just uses MilSpec as marketing, to suggest parts will fit -- and not a guarantee they are up to duty use by military personnel.
As a 30 lvl repairman in the military you have all those gauges available. They are just generally not used because most of the rifles function well enough for military use. The gauges you do use are simply trying to be preemptive about what could cause a failure with injury. They want you to inspect an arms room faster not better. Had an E5 ask me to skip steps because I was taking "to long" during arms room inspections. I told them nope no way I was already doing just the safety and not full operation inspections.
@@jarrodkiser6042never heard of a lvl anything armorer in the Army. Let alone a 30 lvl. That said all these gauges and tools are over kill generally unless you loaded and can justify his per hour fees. Best I see most failures tend to have easy corrections.
These are the best videos. I have learned a lot from just watching Chad. The detail you you get from him about each part, the specs of them & things to watch out for is top notch! Its nice to hear what is wrong and why in detail, not the usual "This is no good" (from Bubba smith) When times improve I definitely have to take some SOTAR classes. Thank you Instructor Chad!
I don't understand how you don't have way more subs. These videos are great. Also you wife does amazing camera work. Getting greasy black things in various holes to show on camera is tough. But everything is in focus and high quality. Thank you.
I am a AR-15 / M16 Guru I love your Channel. So informative, people really don't get it the information you're giving them is very very reliable. Thank you very much again
I have learned more from you in the last week about this weapon than i can get from anyone else. I'm looking at taking your course. I already have approval from the bank (wife). We would use it as a vacation. ;)
Another great informative video, I really appreciate you putting these out here. I just recently did my first AR build, did a AR10 in .243 and your videos gave me a lot of insight on how to do things properly.
@@george2113 Wanted top do something outside the norm but that would be good for coyotes and deer if I so wanted. Whats funny is that now at this point two years later I have put together 8 AR's and not one of them have been a .223. I have done 6mm ARC, .450 Bushmaster, .6.5 Creedmore, .308, 9mm and .300 Blackout but still no .223 build.
@@GreenSweeper lol you’re an odd duck my man but hey I can’t say I didn’t see that coming from someone who started with a .243 “AR10” as a first build. Good job bud
I bought an 10.5" upper with the slant mlok handguard, with the same muzzle device. The gas block screw fell out after firing a few rounds and I noticed the muzzle device touches the handguard. I changed the muzzle device and put in new screws. One other thing to note, the barrel was not dimpled, so I went ahead and done that on my own.
Very impressive autopsy, Chad. Thank you. Shame many commenters can't see this autopsy as being careful & scientific. Shame they focus only on the upper owner's shooting skills, rather than on the mechanical quality control issues you identified.
I have a PSA upper with the FN barrel and geissele gas block, rail, amongst other goodies. Thing runs like a champ, but the base palmetto I got on sale with BCG plain jane required me to change my buffer weight. Dunno, I trust PSA. Decent prices for good products. I know people poopoo on them but most of the time they do a bang up job. Thanks for another fantastic video, Chad. I love your autopsies and physicals. I can watch those for days!
Paul Barclay I have a BCM. Great rifle, mid length 14.5 inch. No need to be rude. I also have a colt le6920 that I’ve had more problems with than my psa upper. But I’m not going around slandering a company. Good day.
They make a LOT of budget AR's.... that said a metric of how many per 1000 or a nother benchmark would be a better analysis... I have several of PSA's rifles and the only issue I had was a out of spec hand guard.....and they promptly replaced it and payed for shipping... I have better rifles....but I find they are a good value for there price...not every rifle needs to be a battle rifle to make someone smile...
These videos have made me so paranoid about my guns LOL. I havent had issues with my PSA parts when I bought and assembled them, but having seen this I will go though my guns and look for the key issues you showed ( at least what I can check without those gauges)
Same my 10.5 psa upper has been flawless with about 300 rounds thru it so far my new 16 inch mid length upper on the other psa has not been fired yet going to thoroughly look them over after seeing this
I understand budget concerns and the appeal of PSA pricing and marketing...however. Not that other manufacturers don't have problems also, but sometimes, just sometimes, you get what you pay for. For example, I personally have had persistent problems with Ruger ARs (decided that they were only toys, not for real world) and I've heard so many horror stories about PSA and have seen some real junk from them. Save your hardearned money for something that not only you can trust, but something you can proudly show off. I'm saying that if you're a serious shooter, spend serious dollars. Go find an LMT, LWRC,DD, FN, Adcor, KAC, or an old Colt...something somewhere that has true milspec parts and survived modern military testing. All those mentioned above have been adopted by someone. Or, admit that you just want a "cool plinker" and enjoy it, but understand it's limitations.
Just subbed, I like your work area. I really like all the special tools you have. I’ve never seen most of them. If I could change professions I would enjoy doing stuff with guns. Especially becoming a gunsmith.
You have a very small sample size. Hasty generalisation fallacy. Because your few were running doesn't mean it's the same for most of them. If you watch a particular barrel autopsy also from SOTAR, there is a former psa QC worker that mentions some years where the QC was worse, people got canned and they source and produce more themselves now. So let's say you'd fall in that category and had a few that sucked. It would again not be sufficient.
One, you've been lucky. Two, how many thousand rounds have you put through them? Three, what is your shooting protocol? Do you push yourself and your PSA rifle, what are the limits? Four...any bad manufacturer/assembler can produce a reliable rifle and any good manufacturer can produce a lemon. One of my favorite ARs ever was an Adam Arms. I drove it like a stolen car and it stood up. However, I bought it dirt cheap and I know I Got LUCKY! Don't let love of a price point cloud your judgment. If you love your life and you honestly believe your life may depend on you operating a machine, get the best machine you can afford. Would you trust your truck mechanic to work on your ride if you noticed he only bought the cheapest tools made in China?
I’m hooked on your channel I watch so many of your videos I’m starting to talk like you!! last night I told my wife I’m going in through the muzzle first!!!
Thank you sir, for providing all these very interesting, educational, insightful and helpful videos! I'm curious, what would have been the things you would have checked if you had been able to disassemble the upper and which things typically have the larges impact on good/poor accuracy there? (barrel extension receiver fit, barrel nut torque, perpendicularity of receiver and inner barrel extension face (the surfaces that wedge the extensions shulder) poorly fittet extensions, damaged crown, misaligned muzzle threading, maybe a loose gasblock.....?)
Your content is an extremely useful well of knowledge. Thank you for your in depth explanations and attention to detail. I would love to take your classes.
Thanx for the views of the 'reaction rods'...finally getting to see what they look like..I have an original Peace River upper assy clamp...Peace River produced them for a while and sold them here in So FL until they went T U in the mid 90s...Brownells bought the design and sells them with the Brownells logo but I have an original...I like the reaction rod...and if I get the money/opportunity Ill get one...
Peace River also sold a number of custom AR rifles with laminated wood stocks...as a sort if "kindler/gentler AR" in anticipation of the 94 AWB..they sold a few before going T U...leaving many disappointed/angry customers who had put deposits on them...I bought a 'Glenwood' model from an estate sale...have only seen one or two anywhere ...including on line auctions...has anyone else ever heard of those ARs???
I'm sure I'll be burnt at the stake for this, but this is should be expected from any assembler claiming they're a manufacturer and selling to the low budget line. Every PSA I've seen has not stood up to hard Alaska use and some not even to summertime playing. If you want a sub-1000rd/yr plaything cheap, buy PSA and enjoy. If you want something to be proud of, go work some OT, save your dimes, and get something from someone reputable.
If anyone has a problem with what you've said, I can't understand them. I took a PSA to thunder ranch and it lasted 2 days. I finished the course with one of their house rifles. I came home and immediately bought a Larue OBR. It has been to thunder ranch and two other courses, and hasn't skipped a beat, other than shooting lower grain ammo like a shotgun. 70+ gr ammo groups less than a minute reliably, so that's weird. My point is you're 100% correct. Decide if you want a toy or a tool. You're going to pay for a real tool, and companies like PSA don't sell them.
Wish I had some of those gauges and tools but I'm broke enough as it is. lol! Still his videos are very helpful and informative. Well worth the time to watch.
i only have 1 poverty pony ar-15, it shoots better than i can, so i'm not too worried, i have inspected the brass on both the .556 and .223 factory ammo brass and i see nothing that concerns me, i think i got a good one. this is my SHTF carbine... you have awesome videos and now i know what i am actually looking for when i clean it... thanks...
Holding a camera to record a computer with a camera and the other hand while trying to keep both of them in focus. Skills. Your AR doctorate skills are already perfected. I needed to find something else.
Excellent video content. Curious which manufacturer you have seen with the lowest defect rate. It would be interesting to put an Aero Precision rifle through your inspection process since they are known for their quality.
I always look for ARs that have been adopted by militaries or reputable law enforcement agencies. Any manufacturer can claim quality and even get someone to promote their product as quality, but unless their rubber meets the highway with serious groups with serious standards and testing...eff 'em. Just saying, YT and internet reputation doesn't mean crap.
Great video! I see you check for magnetism using a washer. I think you'll enjoy a tool i use in my industry for checking for magnetism. The tool is called an ABS detector card. It's extremely sensitive to magnetism. Thanks for sharing what you do!
I know this is an older video but seriously watching this after a long day calms me lol. However lately I have been reading more and more about torquing a muzzle brake or flash hider for a suppressor mount, I wasn't able to see if this muzzle device used a crush washer or shims, however I was wondering your thoughts on that as far as adding to possible reasons for accuracy problems. Keep up the great work and I appreciate the content.
I would have a question about the magnetic test. On one of my AR15s the fireing pin is magnetic, I can lift the splint with it. What woudl be the cause, what problems could it cause? As a reloader I have no intension to ever shoot the mentioned steel cases.
He says in other videos it can pick up debris from the steel case or bimetal jacket of the projectiles. This debris can cause excessive wear and tear as well as malfunctions.
I have the PSA 223 wylde upper w ss barrel. It shoots pretty good. Not really sold on the Wylde, but i bought it because it was only 20 bucks more than buying the vortex strike eagle 1-8 I was already going to buy.
accuracy also comes down to the shooter, but with the hang up on the barrel extension i wouldn't be surprised if thats what is causing the accuracy issue.
Thank you for sharing you info. You have me wondering at 9:45 when you bring on screen a "non magnetic washer" then test two components to see if they are magnetized. Well if the that washer is non magnetic no magnet would pick it up. So I''m not sure what the purpose of this was? Cheers, Billy in Canada.
Please see my reply to Mystery Meat. The object must be paramagnetic, so that it cannot hold a permanent magnetism and thereby be the cause of sticking. Nevertheless, it must be capable of being magnetized temporarily when a magnetized test object is brought near.
