Mismatched feedramps

[spideyar]

I just received a complete upper from PSA (one of their $400 complete specials) and I came to the conclusions that the receiver has M4 feed ramp cuts but the barrel extension has standard cuts. Basically it looks like the example in the lower left corner of this picture:

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As the picture denotes, this is apparently "Bad". I understand this can lead to feed issues. Since the upper was advertised simply as having "M4 Feedramps" I feel like the upper was not as advertised. I have contacted PSA to see what they have to say, and this isn't an attempt to throw them under the bus (yet) but I wanted to ask:



Is the potential for feed issues as worriesome as it sounds? I haven't shot the upper yet to know if it displays any problems, but since this is a brand-new upper, I don't want to just leave it as is if this is truly a condition to remedy.
Second, and this is probably debatable, would one assume an complete upper that is advertised as having "M4 Feedramps" is going to have the M4 cuts in BOTH the upper receiver and the barrel extension, or is that an inherently flawed assumption?
Last, I have run across reports of guys and shops using a Dremel to remedy the ramp issue. Has anyone here done it themselves or recommend somewhere that would do it in case I am unable to get a satisfactory remedy from the seller?


Thanks for having a look! Oh, and if anyone can tell me how to make my images appear larger than a postage stamp, please let me know! :p

[mutt]

Are you sure you don't actually have m4 feedramps but the extension and the receiver are simply misaligned a bit? I remember this being an issue with PSA uppers in the past. I personally wouldn't accept an upper that had a M4 receiver but a rifle extension. That is the worst of the mismatches. Since you're in Centennial I'd have Rob at Bowers Tactical look at it for you to verify what you have. He could probably dremel fix it properly as well.

[spideyar]

Are you sure you don't actually have m4 feedramps but the extension and the receiver are simply misaligned a bit? I remember this being an issue with PSA uppers in the past. I personally wouldn't accept an upper that had a M4 receiver but a rifle extension. That is the worst of the mismatches. Since you're in Centennial I'd have Rob at Bowers Tactical look at it for you to verify what you have. He could probably dremel fix it properly as well.

Thanks for the reply. Fairly sure it's a M4 receiver / rifle extension. I finally got a decent picture of mine - looks like they aren't both M4 to me and more like the bottom left example in the first post.

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I might run by Bowers to get their input once I get word back from PSA. Maybe PSA will offer a remedy.

Yeah I am not thrilled with this - the upper was affordable but shouldn't be put together with parts that aren't going to play nice together.

[mutt]

Yeah, what they sent you isn't so great. I'd get that fixed. While you may never have feeding problems, it's a matter of having something built right. M4 extensions should go with M4 uppers, especially on a factory new upper.

[spideyar]

Cool, thanks for the reply. I'll see what PSA says.

[KS63]

M4 receiver. Standard barrel extension. That should never have left the factory like that. Good luck.

[NightCat]

Interested to see the outcome of this and what PSA says..

[ChunkyMonkey]

Good luck with palmetto lack of customer service. I had to bitch on their Facebook post to get mine solved. You may also try their rep on barfcom.

[ray1970]

You may also try their rep on barfcom.

He signed up on here as well. Not sure how active he is. He signed up when I started a thread telling what a crappy company PSA is to deal with and how horrible their customers service is.

[spideyar]

Thanks all for the additional confirmation that it's something worth looking into. I will follow up with the outcome.

It's a shame too - I liked the upper and built a lower for it (my second lower build) just last night. We'll see what they say.

[ray1970]

It is a shame. I really like their barrels. Too bad I'd rather spend my money with a company who takes care of its customers.

[jerrymrc]

Still an easy fix. Beat,bang,grind,weld,lap,stone and beat,bang,grind,weld,machine and stone some more are all part of the fun in building guns. If ya don't believe this hack just ask Bert. [LOL][Flower]

AR's are just about the only weapon people "build" that 95% of the parts and things one buys fit the first time. So fix it and keep going.

Just a thought. [handbags]

[spideyar]

Update: I got a response to my email after 4 business days. They are offering to replace it and of course I've gotta pay shipping. No indication from the reply if I got an upper that was incorrectly assembled or they are all like that. I will update the thread with the outcome.

[mutt]

Take it to Rob at Bowers and let him fix it. Cost will prob be the same, less aggravation and no waiting weeks for your upper to come back. And he can see if there are any other issues to address. I understand the desire to hold psa accountable but sometimes it is better to take the easier route. Good luck whatever route you choose.

[DeusExMachina]

Still an easy fix. Beat,bang,grind,weld,lap,stone and beat,bang,grind,weld,machine and stone some more are all part of the fun in building guns. If ya don't believe this hack just ask Bert. [LOL][Flower]

AR's are just about the only weapon people "build" that 95% of the parts and things one buys fit the first time. So fix it and keep going.

Just a thought. [handbags]

ARs spoil people. Not that I'm handy with anything more than a dremel, but it's really a marvel at how well the AR was designed.

[spideyar]

Take it to Rob at Bowers and let him fix it. Cost will prob be the same, less aggravation and no waiting weeks for your upper to come back. And he can see if there are any other issues to address. I understand the desire to hold psa accountable but sometimes it is better to take the easier route. Good luck whatever route you choose.

I'm with you on both accounts - it would probably be easier to have it fixed or fix it myself, but at the same time, it shouldn't NEED to be fixed and they should be accountable.

Brand new upper that was sent to me defective (or incorrectly assembled, whichever), I shouldn't be needing to mess with it either way. If I bought a new computer and the memory wasn't in spec, let's say, I wouldn't feel compelled to take it to Geek Squad to remedy or do it myself even if those options would cost the same and be less of a hassle. I'd have the vendor make it right or refund my money.

If PSA gets it back and cannot provide a replacement that is as advertised, then I will just request a refund and take my business elsewhere. We'll find out how they handle the situation and I'll come away knowing if I'll ever do business with them again or not. I'll come back here some time in 2014 probably with the outcome. :D

[Lurch]

My guess is they will grab one off the shelf if they have a replacement and send it to you, it may have the same issue, it may not. They will take yours and send it off to the next guy and it will be his problem now. I would send pics and ask for compensation for your troubles and fix it yourself. If you have the time and don't need the upper send it back and hope you see something by 2015.

[spideyar]

PSA just emailed me a UPS return label themselves so at least they appear to be ready to pick up the shipping costs which is fair. The label references "standard feedramps" in the description so hopefully I don't just get the same problem sent back to me. Either that or it's telling them to make sure they send my whiny ass one that's got standard feedramps! [ROFL2]

In the end, I want to give a vendor a chance to make things right. Of course that definition of what is "right" varies, but if they are willing to replace the upper with one that is as advertised, even if that takes some time, I'll be satisfied.

[BPTactical]

If not we can fix it!

[cstone]

If not we can fix it!

Bert the Builder [ROFL3]

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[DOC]

Yes we can! Bert did some great work for me once. He's good to go. Especially for a quick fix like that. But I would just spend the time and raise hell with PSA so they know to fix the problem in the factory before it happens again. That's the way corporations work.

[jerrymrc]

ARs spoil people. Not that I'm handy with anything more than a dremel, but it's really a marvel at how well the AR was designed.

I guess I am just use to poor service. Many hobbies one has to deal with the only game in town. I once ordered a custom set of pistons that had the rings lands wrong and the valve reliefs in the wrong place.

I was told "We did the best we could so enjoy them" I guess I should have just asked for blocks of aluminum for my $875.

At least the 1911 guys are upfront about their stuff but they should change the "may require gunsmithing" to "every part will require work to fit" [LOL]

I am glad that PSA is going to take care of spideyar's issue. Matter of fact that does bring up an idea. [panic][Flower]

[spideyar]

Update 12/13: A replacement upper assembly arrived yesterday and it is like it should be with M4 ramps on the upper and barrel extension! So it took a total of (3) weeks to get a resolution which I am willing to call fair. It took about 6 days to get a reply from them, then 6 days for the upper to get to them, and then 6 days for the new one to get here. That's with Thanksgiving in the middle of that, so figure they turned it around pretty quick once they got it.

Overall I am pleased with PSA's handling of this. I would have preferred not to deal with the problem in the first place, but they made it right and that is what counts.

[DeusExMachina]

Just FYI I got the same upper last week and it was perfect, so either you were unlucky or you helped correct the problem. Thanks for that. :)

[spideyar]

Just FYI I got the same upper last week and it was perfect, so either you were unlucky or you helped correct the problem. Thanks for that. :)

Happy to have helped :D

[DOC]

You should have kept it, it might have been collectable like that stamp with the airplane printed upside down.