Palmetto State Armory Gen3 PA10 6.5 Creedmoor Rifle Review

PSA Gen3 PA10 6.5 Creedmoor Rifle – First Look

The 6.5 Creedmoor is loved and hated throughout the hunting and shooting communities.  It seems like people either praise this cartridge above more traditional hunting cartridges or it’s labeled as a “fad” round.  Well, I finally had the chance to get my hands on a 6.5 Creedmoor from Palmetto State Armory in their popular AR-10 platform.  I already own this exact same gun in a .308 and love it.

I tested PSA Gen3 PA10 6.5 Creedmoor Rifle from the perspective of an avid deer hunter from the steep Appalachian Mountains of southern West Virginia.  I’ve always claimed to be more proficient with archery equipment than I am with a gun.  However, I’ve recently found myself enamored with the PA10 platform from Palmetto State Armory and keep finding more motivation to pack a rifle into the woods.

Can you hunt with an AR-style rifle?

Hunting with an AR-10 can be tricky in some states but many states offer hunting seasons in which this gun is perfectly legal for big-game hunters.  For instance, in my home state of West Virginia, I can’t take my 6.5 Creedmoor AR-10 coyote hunting at night but I can use the smaller AR-15 (5.56 or .223) to hunt coyotes at night.  The easiest way to figure out what is a legal weapon in your state is to reach out to your local conservation office or DNR office and ask about the local laws.

Be familiar with your state’s magazine capacity regulations, as well as their caliber restrictions.  Magazine capacities seem to be a more common hurdle from state to state.  You may need to purchase a smaller aftermarket magazine in order to be legal in your state, but don’t let this deter you from utilizing an AR-10 for hunting.  They’re a lot of fun to shoot and a great investment for recreational shooters and hunters alike.

How accurate is the PSA Gen3 PA10 Rifle?

To be perfectly honest, the PSA Gen3 PA10 Rifle is more accurate than I am.  Recognizing that the shooter is the only hindrance to every bullet hitting its mark is a tough task for many hunters but the truth is, this gun is only as accurate as the person pulling the trigger and the ammo that you’re sending downrange.  Speaking of the trigger, the two-stage trigger is smooth and crisp.  Stage one hits around 2 pounds and stage two comes in around 2.5 pounds.  Personally, I’ve seen sub 1″ groups with this gun at 100 yards right out of the box with Sellier and Bellot ammo and that’s plenty good enough for me.  I haven’t tested this rifle and ammo combo at distances longer than 100 yards.

The gun is more than capable of shooting longer ranges and you must understand that ammo plays a huge role in the accuracy of any weapon, regardless of price or brand.  Ammo shortages seem to be improving across the country but it won’t be long before we will see the shelves empty again.  Thankfully, True Shot Gun Club supplied some Sellier & Bellot ammo for this review and I was lucky enough to pick up some different rounds at a local gun store.

One way to save money on ammo is to initially sight your rifle in with the cheap stuff.  Once you’ve got it dialed in, simply throw in a few rounds of the good stuff and fine-tune your set-up.  Not all ammo is created equal either!  If you can find it, pick up several different options to see which grain or style shoots best out of your gun!

What ammo did I shoot out of the 6.5 Creedmoor PSA Gen3 PA10 Rifle?

Let’s face it, ammo is hard to come by, and lucky for me, True Shot Gun Club was generous enough to supply a couple of boxes of Sellier & Bellot 6.5 Creedmoor FMJ BT 140 grain ammo for the review.  I had never heard of Sellier & Bellot ammo but they shot exceptionally well in this set-up.  Are you looking for 6.5 Creedmoor Ammo, then check out this page that updates every time you look at it with the best deals and discounts on 6.5 Creedmoor Ammo.

Specification and Features of the PSA Gen3 PA10 Rifle

If you’re a Gun Guy who wants to know all of the details of the PSA Gen3 PA10 Rifle, here’s what Palmetto State Armory has to say about their latest upgrade to AR-10 line-up:

• 20″ Heavy Barrel: The dimpled, 416R Stainless Steel, 6.5 Creedmoor 1/10 twist, rifle-length gas system upper is paired with a Palmetto State Armory 15″ M-Lok free-float rail, low profile adjustable click detent 5 position gas block, and an A2-style muzzle device. The gas system is enhanced with a nitrided gas tube in order to better resist high heat and corrosion.  Palmetto State Armory makes their own barrels and they’re great!  This barrel is equipped with standard 5/8″ threads, which should match up to most standard suppressors.
• Upper Receiver: Precision machined from forged 7075-T6 aluminum, then Black anodize hard coated to MIL-8625 Type 3 class 2. With enhanced dual retention anti-slip and anti-rotating handguards.
• Bolt Carrier Group: Tool craft 9310 steel bolt assembly with extra strength extractor springs that is nitride for increased durability. 8620 carrier, nitride treated, with a nitride treated gas key properly staked with grade 8 fasteners. A 7075 T6 aluminum charging handle is also included.
• Lower Receiver: Precision machined from forged 7075-T6 aluminum, these lowers are then Black anodize hardcoated to MIL-8625 Type 3 class 2. With a 2-Stage Nickel Boron Fire Control Group, a Magpul STR Stock, and a PSA Overmolded A2 Grip. This is an ideal platform for the 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge.

PSA Gen3 PA10 Rifle AR Platform Options

The PSA Gen3 PA10 Rifle comes in many different options, including .308 and 6.5 Creedmoor calibers.  The 6.5 Creedmoor AR-10 can be purchased with an 18-inch barrel or 20-inch barrel. The .308 is only available with a 20″ barrel at this time.  I chose the longer 20-inch barrel for the purpose of big-game hunting and in the hopes of increasing my effective range.

If you’re into building your own black gun, you can also pick up the upper receiver and/or lower receiver separately.  A lot of shooters like to build their own guns and both options would be a great investment in your custom-built rifle of choice.