PSA 18" 6.8 SPCII Stainless Steel Special Lighter profile barrel

[Xman]

My PSA barrel must be at the opposite end of the accuracy spectrum from yours DZ. I've had mine out two weekends in a row with the same results - I'm lucky to get 3 MOA groups. I've tried factory Hornady 110 V-Max, 110 HPBT Match, and three different handloads with 95 TTSX and AA2200. PSA said they get 0.75 MOA with their test rifle using the factory Hornady ammo. I am concerned about investing more time into a barrel that shoots like this.

[DZelenka]

My PSA barrel must be at the opposite end of the accuracy spectrum from yours DZ. I've had mine out two weekends in a row with the same results - I'm lucky to get 3 MOA groups. I've tried factory Hornady 110 V-Max, 110 HPBT Match, and three different handloads with 95 TTSX and AA2200. PSA said they get 0.75 MOA with their test rifle using the factory Hornady ammo. I can't invest any more time into a barrel that shoots like this. Still waiting for a response from PSA if I can return the barrel.

Mine hasn't liked 2200 under anything. It is just lucky for me that the gunstore had 10X, but no 2200 because I may be cursing my rifle right now. It does like those 95s over 10X though. It is a bit slow, but oh so accurate. Bambi's momma is in the hurt locker and doesn't even know it yet.

Dan

[Xman]

Decided to try a third set of reloads today. Got two under 2 MOA with AA2200, 95 TTSX, SSA Brass, and CCI 450 primers. I need to work this barrel more and try some Hornady brass. I see some light at the end of the tunnel and will report more later. (disregard image, unable to remove)

[RicMic]

I finally got mine when I got back home last night, UPS had it for a week. I looks pretty nice. I'm hoping the various bits of my bcg show up and I can try it out this week.

[Xman]

Well, fourth time out and my PSA build is beginning to shine. It took over 75 rounds before the accuracy began to stabilize. It still doesn't like factory Hornady 110 HPBT Match much (now 2 MOA) but that's probably because the brass is so undersized, e.g., 0.416" base diameter in a 0.423" chamber. Switched to Hornady brass and I'm getting 1 MOA with 29.3gr of AA2200 behind a 95 TTSX and 450 primers reaching 2900 fps. It shot 90gr HP Sierras well across the load spectrum but was most accurate down near 28gr of AA2200 around 2700 fps. Other positives, the interior finish of the chamber is excellent and the bore must be also because I've never had so little copper fouling on a new barrel.

[chrisw]

I've shot the barrel twice, once to warm it up and break it in and the second time to sight in the scope. Its within 1 MOA with both the SSA "sale" 115 HPBT ammo and Hornady 6.8 SPC 110 gr V-MAX outa the 18" SS PSA barrel.

At the moment I still feel the limiting factor is my shooting and not the gun or ammo. If I had a nice led sled or something like that I'm confident could get it down to under .5 MOA. most of the shots I felt I hit all where within .5 MOA. I haven't really shot much in 17 or 18 years so I'm quite a bit out of practice.

My gut feeling is the Hornady is just slightly better but its also slightly more expensive. I would not be surprised to discover the SSA practice ammo was more accurate though.

[Xman]

My appreciation for the PSA 18" SPR keeps growing. As I initially reported, it started out shooting shot 3+ MOA. I thought it was the barrel but every check I did on the barrel showed is was 4.0. I have never had a new barrel shoot so clean - barely any fouling. Turns out that the DPMS upper used in my build was manufactured at Max tolerance and I didn't have a tight barrel fit. A 0.001 sim did the trick. I haven't found its sweet spot yet but everything I load is 1.5 MOA or less. I have a handful of loads at 1 MOA. Velocity has been good - equal to or better what others are posting. I wanted a light hunting rifle that was easy to handle. My build came in a 5 pounds 15 oz sans scope.