Romanian PSL 7.62x54R

[CGRifleman]

I was looking at getting a Saiga .308 but I started considering the PSL. If I get the PSL I'm probably going to be adding new optics and shortening the barrel to roughly 16".
What are your opinions on the PSL?

 

[gotboostvr]

I bought it with all kinds of plans to trick it out. Took it out shooting once, liked it so much as it came from the factory I'm not gonna screw with it. Buy one, buy some mags and a spam can of ammo, see how you like it before you change anything. Mine shot really well, not Sub MOA, but 1 1/2 at just over 100 yards. I was really surprised.

 

[tkopp]

The 16" Saiga will be more accurate.

The PSL will be cheaper to shoot.

A converted 16" Saiga will be cheaper than a shortened PSL.

 

[Shadow 7D]

Or buy one of the AK's versions out there build on a PSL/ x54r blank, shooting the larger round...

 

[axeman_g]

Dont shorten the barrel. You will not like what it does to the accuracy and flash signature. If you want a short barrel, get the SAIGA and convert it.

 

[Birddog1911]

PSL's can be fun, but be sure that you go into one with both eyes open. The rifle will never be a sub-MOA shooter. It will most likely never be a 1-MOA shooter. Most likely, 3-MOA is realistic. There are a couple of things that you can do to make it more accurate, but you'll only get so much accuracy out of the rifle.

I've had a couple, and enjoyed shooting them for what they were. And they look scary to liberals, so that's always a plus!

 

[henschman]

Dude, have you seen what kind of muzzle flash you get from an M38 or M44 Nagant, with a 20" barrel? A 16" 7.62x54R would probably throw a fireball as big as you. That surplus ammo has some pretty slow burning powder that does best in a barrel at least as long as the factory PSL one. If you must have a 16" barreled high powered rifle, the Saiga in .308 would be a better choice since it already comes in that length from the factory, and surplus .308 has a little faster burning powder, so you can tame that muzzle flash somewhat with a good flash hider.

Chopping the barrel on a PSL would just be more work that it's worth. It would also get rid of your front sight, unless you moved it back. All that work, and the PSL already costs more than the Saiga.

 

[OC_]

My PSL has a barrel just over 20" and I feel that is about as short as you would every want it. As Henschman said, the 54r surplus seems to have really slow burning powder and if you look at the data on 7.62x54r.net, you can see that it is definitely optimized for a longer barrel. I think a 16" barrel is only going to be fun for the first few shots and its not going to be accurate. Bullet velocity is going to be way down and my guess is that its going to have stabilization issues.

A nice PSL with good ammo should do 2" easy out of the box. Mine does .75" right now.

 

[PowerJoker6.0]

i just bought one from a guy on here a few days ago, waiting for it to arrive at my ffl. i can not wait to shoot it. how are the "factory" optics on them? sorry if this hijacks your thread at all OP

 

[Cosmoline]

The optics are tough and full of radium--like Russian soldiers!

 

[OC_]

The PSO-1 scope is good for what is is. Built like a tank. But I didn't really like it too much since it has a very coarse adjustments which doesn't lend itself to well for shooting tiny paper targets. It would be much better off on the battlefield with its ranging system and large adjustments.