While many AK buyers love the fit and finish of "classic" comblock AK's, others love the allegedly better overall quality of many American made AK's. Of these American Kalashnikovs, the PSAK-47 may be the very best.
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Introduction:
They are the most produced assault rifles in world history, as well as one of the most common rifles of any kind on the planet- of the estimated more than 100 million AK-pattern rifles in the world today, at least three-quarters of them are AK-47's. They have seen service on battlefields across the world since the 1950's and continue to be in widespread use today.
Known for their rugged reliability, classic look and their association with criminals, terrorists and freedom fighters alike, they have become a symbol of counterculture etched into the minds of millions- both gun lovers and gun haters alike, and everyone in between. The modern incarnations of the AK are even stronger and better than their ancestors, and, far from being obsolete, are still considered potent and quite effective battlefield weapons.
In the United States, they have acquired a special sort of cult following- a unique group of enthusiasts who simply adore this weapon- and for a good many reasons (but let's be honest, the countercultural aspect of the Kalashnikov is also a big draw for many).
This cult has long since firmly established itself in the firearm industry, with many major manufacturers keen to cash in on the AK craze. Among the very best of them is Palmetto State Armory and their fantastic AK lineup. Their latest AK-47 clone- which is undoubtably their best yet- the PSAK-47 GF5- in particular pushes new standards for American made AK-47 clones in more ways than one.
But why is it so great? Read on to find out!
Initial impressions and hands-on experience:
The feel of a classic:
A quick trip to your local gun store and you'll probably be able to find any ordinary AK clone on the rack- pick it up, and you'll notice many of the same commonalities among all of them. The PSAK-47 GF5 is no different in many ways- It's a bit heavy toward the front, due to the classic- but supremely reliable long-stroke gas piston system.
It feels firm, solid, and classy- and after all, it is the weapon of choice for many across the globe. It has a slant muzzle break at a 45-degree angle, also like many AK-47's, that helps counter muzzle climb and reduce recoil- and while associated with the classic AK look and feel, its effectiveness is somewhat arguable. It's also got an aesthetically pleasing wooden grip (although PSA appear to have gone with their own AK pistol grip design, it still looks like it belongs) and, of course, that iconic, large, crescent-shaped magazine.
In short, it's got just about everything any other AK has- it is cosmetically (minus the furniture, which we'll explain more later) no more or less different than any other AK in existence, and its operation is identical, so you'll have the same reliability, feel, function etc. as your WASR-10, Arsenal, DPMS, Riley Defense etc.
Internal upgrades, but same reliable function:
However, internally- it's got some upgrades- one vital point of improvement is the barrel- it is chrome lined (in essence, this makes it better able to withstand the heat of sustained, rapid fire and also increases the barrel's lifespan). Palmetto State Armory claims to have torture-tested these rifles out to 10,000 rounds, and while I didn't get a chance to shoot anywhere near that amount, this is quite typical of AKs with chrome-lined barrels.
Chances are, in fact, the barrel will last much, much longer than that (how long will depend on the frequency of shooting and possibly what ammunition the shooter is using, e.g., corrosive vs non-corrosive ammo, the latter is less common in military surplus ammo from former comblock countries).
Fit, function and features:
Fit and function wise- like we mentioned earlier, it feels quite typical of most AK's. Upon firing it, it feels like the action is a tad bit over-gassed, but not monstrously so- it's still maybe a bit rough, but this is typical of AKs with their loose tolerances- especially the one's firing the 7.62x39 Russian round (which the PSAK-47 does). Keep in mind however- that an over-gassed system, while more reliable, will also recoil more and increase the wear on the rifle, shortening service length.
The trigger- which doesn't really bother me but certainly can't be overlooked- is excellent for an AK trigger, thanks to Palmetto State Armory taking the step of installing an ALG AKT Enhanced Trigger with a Lightning Bow (this is normally an aftermarket product as far as I'm aware, and significantly improves both the feel and performance over the normal AK factory triggers).
It feels smooth and crisp- not too light, not too heavy, and has very little take-up on the model I got a chance to fire, though individual user experiences may differ by person.
The grip on this gun is also a bit better than most AK's- it's still small, but it feels better and easier to grip than most AK's- especially imports from overseas (e.g., the WASR-10). Additionally, some of the models PSA is offering come with Magpul grips- which will almost certainly make it a bit easier and more comfortable to hold for the majority of people.
Many choices to make:
Another notable perk of this lineup is how diverse it is- it comes in literally dozens of different variations and colors, as well as different color schemes.
Prospective buyers can get them with standard black polymer furniture, wood furniture, side-folding stocks, under-folding stocks, models with unique color patterns on their handguards and grips, even ones with real comblock and milsurp furniture and parts are available on their website (although they tend to be quite a bit more expensive than their regular products) etc. the sheer number of variants is a bit overwhelming especially if you're like me and have a hard time choosing and just want a rifle that works reliably.
Shooting it:
Speaking of that, it's an AK, so the problems here with reliability will be very far and few between. I fired approximately 250 rounds out of this weapon so far and literally had zero problems even after no cleaning of the weapon.
It shoots Tula, Wolf and Red Army Standard steel case ammo 100% flawlessly.
The extraction, however, is a bit rough because of the slightly over-gassed system. It's still not horrible, however, and there are aftermarket adjustable gas piston systems to "calm" the extraction and reoil down quite a bit available, if even this slight increase in recoil is too much for you to bear. I personally found it just fine, but even so, many novice shooters may find it a bit jarring.
Yes, you cannot go wrong with a fine rifle from a renowned manufacturer like Palmetto State Armory- especially if it's a proven model with a decades-long track record of excellence like the AK-47, but we should, nonetheless, talk a bit more about its pros and cons.
Pros and cons:
To summarize the pros of this fantastic offering from Palmetto State Armory...
Pros:
Excellent and legendary AK reliability
Chrome lined barrel provides longevity beyond what many AKs would normally offer
Trigger is fantastic for an AK
Huge array of options to choose from
Cons:
Extraction and recoil are a bit rough (but not intolerable)
A bit front-heavy (though not intolerably so)
Final thoughts and best deals:
Nyet, rifle is fine- it's beautiful, functions flawlessly, and should be pretty much everything an AK owner is looking for in a gun. Palmetto State Armory isn't a newcomer to the AK market- they've been making them for years now and have continuously improving on them all the time. The PSAK-47 GF5 just proves that as time goes on, they'll only get better, more reliable and more loved by the AK community. Truly, this is an AK "klone" worth buying whether you prefer American made AK's or not.
Finding good deals online isn't hard, but as always, we've brought them straight here to you below! To buy them from Palmetto State Armory, visit the following link:
Gun stats:
Caliber | 7.62x39 Russian |
Barrel length | 16.25 inches |
Overall length | 34.5 inches |
Weight | 7.5 pounds |
Magazine capacity | 30 (standard, many different sizes available) |
Action | Semi-Automatic (Long stroke piston system) |
MSRP | 899.99-1099.99 USD |
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