Romanian PSL- purchase or not?

[rockheadd]

With our esteemed Att. Gen. making noises like a ban is coming sooner than later on imports...
Anyone purchased a Rom. PSL from J&G Sales? Any words of advice?
If I had $800 to spend on an AK derivative, would the Hungarian AMD 63 (wood stock) or the PSL be a better choice?
The criteria would be:
1. Reliability
2. Availability of ammo
3. Ease of use
I realize that they are different rifles with different uses. The PSL is best used for longer range, slower firing, more accurate. The AMD is for closer combat situations.
Bottom line, if you had to choose one or the other (and I already have a Ruger Mini-14 180 Series), which would it be?
Thanks in advance.
BTW, I really love my new CZ-75B (9mm)...just put another 200 rnds though it and she just keeps growing on me. Best news is that my 13 yr old daughter now likes it almost as much as my Ruger Mk-I so I can get that back from her.

 

[cbrgator]

If you are going with an AK variation, you can do way better than that AMD from J&G. That is very very high priced. If you really need to grab one right now, I'd go for an AK though. The PSL's seem to be more widely available which means you can wait a little longer. I personally think the PSL is a way cooler gun though.... and you can actually find ammo for it and its much cheaper than 7.62x39. The Mini-14 also kind of satisfies that close range combat rifle type use so if you want some variation get the PSL. It's really just a personal choice but I WOULD recommend an AK other than that AMD.

 

[rockheadd]

I was thinking the same thing about the Mini-14 being sufficient for the closer range situations. Anything I need to know about the 7.62x54 in regard to corrosiveness? I hear that it's similar to the old 8mm in that you need to clean the barrel "immediately" after using it or you'll have problems.
Also, I've read the directions for using the scope are incoherent. Anyone have any insight as to how to use that thing?
BTW, I live about a 1/2 mile from J&G, so I can go to the shop and look at the them in person. Anything to be wary of or look for when picking one out?
Thanks again

 

[doubs43]

Most - probably all - surplus 7.62x54R cartridges are corrosive and I'd always treat them as such regardless.

The windage and elevation controls on the scopes I have for my Romak-3 operate exactly the reverse of civilian scopes sold in the US; i.e., CW goes right or up. I haven't looked at the instructions for the rangefinder function in awhile but I believe it's set for a 5' 10" person/object. Place an average person between the lines and when they touch both, read the distance from the scale. I'm not certain what the chevrons below the center one will be elevation wise and I don't have my instruction manual handy to look at.

 

[WardenWolf]

The PSL is an awesome gun, and absolutely worthwhile to own. The only real problem is that you can't shoot heavy ball ammo. Only 155 grain or less. The good news is that Wolf and PRVI Partisan have a non-corrosive 150-grain round, and the PRVI Partisan is actually quite reasonably priced (the Wolf round is actually PRVI-manufactured, but a lot more expensive).

Some Czech surplus is actually non-corrosive. I'm not sure what the date range is, but I do know for a fact that non-corrosive surplus is out there.

 

[cbrgator]

All the surplus is some degree of corrosive but cleaning it is not a whole lot more of an issue. The additional cleaning is definitely worth the savings over buying factory ammo. Let us know how it shoots I've always wanted one!

 

[chris in va]

I've only shot one PSL, but honestly I think you can do a lot better with your $800 than that thing. Unless you have a 400 yard range, I don't see it being used for it's purpose. If you just want to shoot at stuff less than 100 yards, get an AK clone.

 

[rockheadd]

I just read where these aren't too friendly to left handed shooters. Is it the stock that's the issue or something else?
thanks

 

[cbrgator]

No, its because of the position of the scope being that it is side mounted. You might want to hold one and try it out before you buy it. Still may work for you but there's no way to know until it's in your hands.

 

[rockheadd]

Thanks, I guess I'll stop by and see how it feels.

 

[WardenWolf]

I'm a lefty. Don't worry about it. The scope offset isn't enough to matter. You can also buy optics mounts that will center the scope. They actually do make a rail-mounted version of the 8x PSO / POS scope with the proper 1000 yard rangefinder. If it bothers you, buy one of these and put it on a centered mount.