Prince Yamato
Member
I've never shot one of these guns, but I find them very sexy. They just look awesome. I've never even shot the 7.62x54 round, but somehow, I just know that it has to be good. It's Soviet, so therefore, it must "work".
PSL Romak 3
- Thread starter dunlop
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WardenWolf
member
It works, all right, but I'm very wary about steel-cased ammo. Some of the ComBloc nations had powder that was still slightly corrosive (ALL primers were corrosive, as well). This can result in steel-cased rounds corroding from the inside out and becoming unsafe. Russia eventually switched to brass cases, but I'm always wary about surplus 7.62x54R unless I know it's brass.
GarandOwner
Member
Dunlop, you do realize that that exert you posted is about the Dragunov and not the PSL, and the PSL has absolutely nothing in common with the Dragunov other than the round.....and that some sales people will tell you a PSL is a "Dragunov"
GarandOwner
Member
So because its on youtube it MUST be true
GTSteve03
Member
I'm pretty sure Russia is still using steel-cased ammunition. They just switched to non-corrosive primers.
yea i know what i posted was about the dragunov and not a psl, but they have the same stats. i know they are different, and have diff gas pin.. however the psl was reversed engineered off the dragunov platform. The psl has a stamped receiver and dragunov has milled receiver, but this still does not change the stats.
i dont know if they get a bad rep from people getting kit guns, or just ammo.. who knows? Although they have made alot of different kinds of Psl's, Romak 3's, FPK's, and SSG 97's.
After Romania joined Nato they started making them a way lot better.
i dont know if they get a bad rep from people getting kit guns, or just ammo.. who knows? Although they have made alot of different kinds of Psl's, Romak 3's, FPK's, and SSG 97's.
After Romania joined Nato they started making them a way lot better.
WardenWolf
member
Actually it's the other way around. Their primers are still corrosive, but their cases are brass. This is a standard-production actual Russian round, straight out of a 1990-dated spam can:
PSL's mostly get a bad rap because of the kit guns. Most newer ones are very good, and produced at the modernized Cugir factory.
alemonkey
Member
The two guys I know who have them both get around 1" groups at 100 yards with handloads. Pretty good for a self loader, IMO.
I'd really like to have one. The scopes they come with are really neat, very clear and I like the reticle.
I'd really like to have one. The scopes they come with are really neat, very clear and I like the reticle.
GarandOwner
Member
I believe you have your facts wrong, it is the NDM-86 (Chinese Dragunov) that was reverse engineered from the Russian, thats why the two are almost identical.
The PSL's were derived from the AK, similar to Yugoslavia's M76.....Thats why they are called ROMAK's - ROManian Automat Kalashnikov. It was in no way derived from the Dragunov. The internals are COMPLETELY different. They only call them "Dragunovs" over here as a sales ploy
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While PSL's certainly were derived from the AK, (heck, they are AK's), I think it's fairly obvious that they were trying to emulate the Dragunov with them. The two rifles were intended for the same role and bear a striking resemblance to each other. That's pretty telling when you consider that just about nothing else out there looks like either one.
WardenWolf
member
Most people who have fired military models of both PSL and SVD say there's absolutely no difference in actual performance. Romania was trying to create a locally-produced rifle that would perform the same as the Dragunov and allow a basic degree of interoperability with their Russian allies. To this extent, they created a heavily reinforced AK action chambered for the same Russian round, and with an effectively identical scope that was interchangeable with the Russian version. They managed to achieve the same degree of performance as the actual SVD, while actually eliminating some of the quirky drawbacks associated with the SVD's short-gas system.
Which is "better"? If you get a good, recently-produced PSL, the PSL is going to be 1/4 the price, more reliable, and offer the same performance. You judge for yourself based on that.
Which is "better"? If you get a good, recently-produced PSL, the PSL is going to be 1/4 the price, more reliable, and offer the same performance. You judge for yourself based on that.
It's not a bad rifle...for what it is. If you want to shoot 1" groups every time, buy a bolt gun. $750 will go a long way towards a nice Rem 700.
If you like semi, cheap ammo, optics, nostalgia, in one "ready made" package, your choices are few. This appears to be the best bang for the buck around using those filters.
As far as MOA accuracy with Russian/Czech ball, I would say it's not happening...or at least not in my hands. The consistency in 20-50 year old military ammo sucks and communist arms plants aren't known for precision work.
You may get a few sweet 3 shot groups, but they're usually 1.5" or more with the new Wolf or silvertip.
They have a nice roar!
If you like semi, cheap ammo, optics, nostalgia, in one "ready made" package, your choices are few. This appears to be the best bang for the buck around using those filters.
As far as MOA accuracy with Russian/Czech ball, I would say it's not happening...or at least not in my hands. The consistency in 20-50 year old military ammo sucks and communist arms plants aren't known for precision work.
You may get a few sweet 3 shot groups, but they're usually 1.5" or more with the new Wolf or silvertip.
They have a nice roar!
Which Romak 3 should I buy?
I am looking to buy a Romak 3 and I think I have it narrowed down to a few locations.
1. AIM is selling gun w/ scope and 2mags for 699.00
2. J&G has gun w/ scope and 2 mags for 750.00
3. Classic arms inc claims it is factory new with scope and 2 mags for 799.00
4. I.O. comes with 1 magazine, no scope and makes this statement "US made tactical precision rifle. It features a 1.2mil Mil-Spec receiver, & chrome lined match barrel. Not to be compared to the low quality imported rifles. Limited lifetime warranty." for 729.00
Does anyone has any additional information, IE quality of the rifles at these retailers, if they are imported from cugir new or if they are kit guns, etc? If so I would greatly appreciate it, I am just trying to get ahold of the best quality PSL that I can find.
I am looking to buy a Romak 3 and I think I have it narrowed down to a few locations.
1. AIM is selling gun w/ scope and 2mags for 699.00
2. J&G has gun w/ scope and 2 mags for 750.00
3. Classic arms inc claims it is factory new with scope and 2 mags for 799.00
4. I.O. comes with 1 magazine, no scope and makes this statement "US made tactical precision rifle. It features a 1.2mil Mil-Spec receiver, & chrome lined match barrel. Not to be compared to the low quality imported rifles. Limited lifetime warranty." for 729.00
Does anyone has any additional information, IE quality of the rifles at these retailers, if they are imported from cugir new or if they are kit guns, etc? If so I would greatly appreciate it, I am just trying to get ahold of the best quality PSL that I can find.
WardenWolf
member
The IO gun is obviously a kit.
Mine says "PSL-54C" and "Made by CN Romarm SA / Cugir In Romania" and "Imported by CAI" (Century Arms International, in this case; the instruction manual that came with it was a Century booklet for WASR's).
Near as I can tell, CAI is importing fully assembled PSL's direct from Cugir.
Mine says "PSL-54C" and "Made by CN Romarm SA / Cugir In Romania" and "Imported by CAI" (Century Arms International, in this case; the instruction manual that came with it was a Century booklet for WASR's).
Near as I can tell, CAI is importing fully assembled PSL's direct from Cugir.
DO NOT buy from IO. I had my most negative shopping experience gun related or otherwise with that company. They screwed up my intitial order. Then when it cam time to recitfy it they wanted me to pay the shipping. They only agreed to pay return shipping after I pitched a small fit. They then shorted my order the next time the shipped it. I waited over three months for them to send the rest of the order. They gave me deadlines two different times that they missed. Then simply refuesed to offere a date that they might have it. After another month of waiting and three more calls they told me "oh I don't think that is something we will ever get in." I honestly dont believe they ever would have called to let me know that. Mind you there website never showed it as backordered in the first place. They had my money with basically zero intent to ship me what I ordered for months.
By contrast I have ordered from classicarms.us and had a really positive experience. The classic rifles are likely from century (they carry a lot of century stuff). The aim rifles might be the samething which if they are $100 savings is hard to beat.
By contrast I have ordered from classicarms.us and had a really positive experience. The classic rifles are likely from century (they carry a lot of century stuff). The aim rifles might be the samething which if they are $100 savings is hard to beat.
WardenWolf
member
A friend got his PSL from AIM Surplus. He got a good one. He's shooting 1-inch groups at 200 yards with it, using 7N1. Pretty obscene.
WardenWolf
member
Don't Loctite it! That lever is used to lock it in place. Here's what you do:
Take the scope off, flip it over. You'll see the cam locking piece that locks to the underside of the rail. Push it down on the spring with your hand, then rotate the screw to adjust the tightness. You want it loose enough to slide on, but tight enough so that, with the cam locked, it won't be going anywhere. It takes about 5 minutes of fiddling with it to make it work.
Take the scope off, flip it over. You'll see the cam locking piece that locks to the underside of the rail. Push it down on the spring with your hand, then rotate the screw to adjust the tightness. You want it loose enough to slide on, but tight enough so that, with the cam locked, it won't be going anywhere. It takes about 5 minutes of fiddling with it to make it work.
If the scope keeps moving, you're probably installing it backwards. If you install it from the front of the mount to the rear, the stop on the scope won't engage and although it will appear secure, it will move slightly with every shot.
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WardenWolf
member
Wrong. They go from back to front, exactly like an SVD scope. However, if you want to install a PSL scope on an AK, you have to do it from front to back.
Whoops, my bad. It's been too long since I've dinked around with the scope on it and it does slide on from the rear to the front. What I said about getting it on backwards though still holds true. It can be attached backwards. It will appear secure, but as you fire the rifle it will move slightly with every shot.
WardenWolf
member
Make it a little tighter and oil the rail. Eventually the finish will wear down some and it will slide on more easily, and it'll bite better.
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