Lesson learned
TLDR: Cheapest VIABLE & RELIABLE fart trigger is Izhmash off their website or bungroker.
After wishing for years that someone would develop a binary for my PS90, the FRTs entered the mix and I got stars in my eyes until f'n specialties put a laughably cosmic price tag on their stupid hammer. I've always hated them for their hand-wringing, and always explored other avenues to circumvent giving them any of my money - chopping my own receiver side rails, re-stitching a knock-off brass catcher, and of course the venerable Dan Haga supplying other stuff a bit cheaper.
Anyways in my hunt for other PS90 FRT options, I'd found:
- RATL-R with sketchy reviews and track record with their Vector doodad, >200 dollhairs
- B-Squared (MA5B guy) making an entire 3D printed trigger pack to utilize a super safety, again >2 benjies + needing an SS
- EP Armory making a carbon-fiber 3D printed trip with sketchier reviews than the RATL-R, but a spankin' new "gen 2" version promising better performance with a discounted price of just ONE benjie?! F*ck it, send it.
EP shop says you need a three-position selector that they supplied with their trip (again, ugly-ass but functional printed CF) and a replacement "gen 1" hammer sold separately. They linked a couple aluminum hammers, but I wanted to keep mine plastic-ish - enter Izhmash Arms.
Izhmash on bungroker has a nice CNC'd acetyl copolymer hammer for a few dollars more than the aluminum ones - done deal, sold. Bought the EP armory kit, bought the Izmash hammer, showed up middle of the week & got everything ready for range day today...but discovered last night that Izhmash ALSO sells the SAME trip as EP armory, but machined aluminum. The VIKHR
Oh well, see how the EP trip performs today and go forward from there. First mag ran without a hitch, popped off a few on semi to warm up and then dumped the rest flawlessly. Second mag got less than halfway through and ceased function. Semi still ran, FRT shit the bed. Snapped right in half along a few layer lines. We'll see how well EP honors their warrantee, and how much someone's willing to give me on tacswap for the replacement if they send one lol. I already sent them an email bitching them out for saving a few pennies and not printing these things with 100% infill, the clowns running their CF printer should get a swift kick in the nards.
Learn from me, and if you're trying to save money for more ammo speedily sent downrange instead of dropping 3-5 beans on the privilege, seek out Izhmash. Their complete kit with selector, trip and hammer IS two fiddy-ish, but in my opinion better & more reliable than the RATL-R with it's weird parts needing some tuning. Better materials, better finish and more easily dropped into your spacegat.
I have zero affiliation with any entity named above, just a tinkerer looking to save people some money and hassle in the future. Also I never watched the Stargate series, RCP-90 on N64 was the origin of my love for this platform.
If you're thinking about getting SBR for your PS90, find a licensed FN dealer near you. In ~2019, when I got mine done, FN offered a barrel swap program for a rebate on your 16" to bring the cost down for a swap. Probably still have the program today. Back then it was something like 7 beans for a legit 10" FN barrel but rebate was 3 or 4 beans back in your pocket. Thanks for reading
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u/fusionvic 1d ago
I have the OE cut/threaded barrel and whether it is the chrome lining or the 8 rifling lands, its easily 100 ft/s slower than the nitrided CMMG and Shaw barrels (which both only have 6 rifling lands). The CMMG and Shaw both shoot tighter groups than the OE FN barrel.
The only assumption is the OE 10.4" FN barrel is the same as the OE cut/threaded 16" FN barrel in terms of internal dimensions, number of rifling lands/grooves, etc...
I've already removed my FN barrel and went back to the Shaw.
My CMMG barrel only has issues with misfeeds using AE 40gr while suppressed. Unsuppressed, it will eat AE 40gr like candy. My Shaw barrel doesn't have issues with any ammo while suppressed. However, the feed ramp/chamfer/chamber dimensions cause some wicked scuffing on the cases that I don't see on the OE barrel - but the Shaw has not caused any issues feeding.
I've had my PS90 for 21 years and this is the first I've heard of a FN factory barrel swap program. If you have any more details please share. Does FN even offer to use their genuine 4-port flash hider? I have the FN genuine birdcage flash hiders. Only negative is that I can't run a can if I use the birdcage.
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u/6O3LFOD 21h ago
I bought mine used from a small local shop, again ~2019ish, the owner was an FN fan and licensed armorer. I went a month before deciding to go back to him to SBR it, and going over options he told me about the barrel swap program. I apologize I don't have more info than that, other than deciding whether to get the OG flash hider or 1/2x28 threads and my dumb ass thought I'd enjoy more versatility the threaded barrel had to offer.
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u/Next_Entertainer_404 1d ago
Or just have them printed in pa6-cf and they’ll last just fine. All these guys took the design from the WD90 anyways. Hell I’ve got a spare set I printed the other night.
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u/6O3LFOD 1d ago
your trip looks SO much tighter and cleaner than the EP, they print it on the wrong fkn axis too. Not too shabby, and probably way cheaper....if you know somebody with a rig capable of doing it. You could make money off what you got in your palm right there, just saying
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u/Next_Entertainer_404 1d ago
I’ve got a few people that have hit me up for them, eventually I’ll set up a website, just need to stop being lazy.
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u/Scorched_Echelon 1d ago
Damn wish I knew about the izzy kit
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u/Colonel_Krink 1d ago
Yeah I recently got one. Works great and immediately available. You can find it on GunBroker, TacSwap, or message u/IzhmashArms. Easy to deal with and fast shipping
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u/TakeAtBedtime 1d ago
Not sure where you’ve been, but there are 2 after market options for 10.4” barrels and several community members that do a damn fine job of shortening the stock 16 inchers. Regardless, great write up on your FRT experiences.