Romanian PSL review
 

Made it out to the range with the new PSL that I picked up yesterday. Thought I would post a short review of the rifle.

Cosmetics-
The rifle basically is a Romanian AK on steroids. The fit and finish is nice even for commie rifle standards. The other PSL that I have is a Tennessee gun rebuild from a parts kit and it is not nearly as nice looking as this one. Note-the scope on this one is a PSOP 8x42 with illuminated reticle.

http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/psl1.JPG

Function-
From the start the range trips main function today was to zero my new AR. Between the storms and breaks for others to check targets the AR was zeroed in 12 rounds. It would have been 9 but after the first 6 shots I realized that I hadn�t set the elevation to zero! Anyway enough with the sidetrack. I decided not to crack open either of the cans of Bulgarian so I took a box of Wolf 148gr ball. With the mud and flood of the range I just targeted mud clods on the 100 yard dirt backstop. The rounds were striking about 4-5 inches to the right and with a bit of adjustment I was busting clods with no problem. I will have to take her back later to get a proper paper zero. As recommended with surplus magazines I disassembled, cleaned and oiled it prior to the range trip. I only shot 20 rds. 2 mags of 5 and 1 mag of 10. There were no malfunctions and the bolt locked back after the last round each time.

http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/psl2.JPG

For you reloaders the casings were undamaged and if they had been brass they could have been reloaded.

Cons-
The butstock is a bit on the short side for me.

Pros-
The rifle is a lot of bang for your buck. Ammo is still a bargain and easily found so far. So if you want one you had better get one while you still can!



I hope this helps you guys that are sitting on the fence.

:s1:

Re: Romanian PSL review
 

Thanks. I'm drooling a little.

Re: Romanian PSL review
 

Me too...........dammit - my keyboard has spittle in between the keys now ! :rant:

I need me a PSL :ok:

Re: Romanian PSL review
 

But...but...but...where's the accuracy results (to the nearest 0.01"), and the chronographed velocities? You DO have a chrony, don't you?

If not, what sort of GIM person are you??

(on a semi-more-seriously note) - thanks for your feedback on the Romy PSL. How was the recoil and ease of cleaning?

Re: Romanian PSL review
 

Re: Romanian PSL review
 

ONLY if you have Ammo for your puppy. :yes:

Re: Romanian PSL review
 

Got my 7.62x54 rounds (2 cases of 800)Tues. :banana:

Just got my email that mine got to the FFL yesterday afternoon. :36_1_34:

Gonna be a GREAT weekend!!!

Thanks for the post. Happy to hear i didnt waste $$$.

Re: Romanian PSL review
 

Welcome to GIM, and enjoy your 7.62x54R noisemaker!

Re: Romanian PSL review
 

The recoil is about the same as a .308 and the cleaning is the same as an AK.

This one is from 1977. Post some pics when you get her.

Post some pics when you pick her up.


:biggrin:

Re: Romanian PSL review
 

Glad to be here!


:emotions16:Heard it was a little loud.

Have pics next week.

Re: Romanian PSL review
 

I would like to know about the accuracy farther out, say 300-500 yards.

What I have read seems to indicate that the PSL is not near as accurate as the Draganovs that people want to compare them to.

Let us know, inquiring minds want to know.

Re: Romanian PSL review
 

I don't have a range to shoot at here past 200 yards.

I can tell you that the other PSL that I have will consistently shoot 1.5-2" groups at 100 yards with surplus Polish light ball. The thing about that rifle is it was a nicely used cut up parts kit when it came into the U.S. Then it was slapped back together with a new receiver by a company called Tennessee guns. The stock was ugly so I made it longer and bed lined it black. I also replaced the trigger to give it a better pull. Long story short... if that old beat up bitch can become one of my favorite rifles to shoot and gives me 1.5-2" groups with inexpensive ammo I think that my new minty PSL will be a dream.


:smile:

Re: Romanian PSL review
 

That is certainly the consensus, but I kinda have to wonder are they comparing the PSL to a Drag chambered in 7.62x51 or 7.62x54? I know at one time 7N14 (match grade) was pretty much non-existent in the US. So trying to compare a PSL running spam can 7N1 to a Dragunov running something like Blackhills match grade .308 isn't exactly a fair comparison. That being said, I can definitely tell a quality difference in my NDM-86 compared to the PSL's I've fondled. So there very well may be a significant accuracy difference.

Either way, as poor of a shot as I am, I would think you would definitely be getting ready to have a really bad day if I were peeping at you through a PSOP on either of those rifles at anything under 500m.

Oh yeah...since were posting gun pRon...

Attachment 69984

Re: Romanian PSL review
 

dont bother shooting that bulgarian through it. it's corrosive. while it's great through a mosin, running hot water or windex through a PSL or god forbid a real dragunov to get rid of the corosive salts aint my idea of a good time. i'd stick to comercial ammo for it and save the bulgy LPS for yor mosin(which everyone should have these days :) )

Re: Romanian PSL review
 

I know all surplus 54r ammo is corrosive, some commercial ammo is available in this caliber that isn't corrosive? I managed to trade for some Privi 54r ammo that comes 20 rounds to a box and usually goes for around $10 or so a box, I wonder if this is non-corrosive?

Re: Romanian PSL review
 

Unless you pull the bullet & powder & test the fired primer against a cleaned chunk of steel, you probably won't know for sure.

If I had to GUESS, I think the current PRVI Partisan stuff would be non-corrosive, but wouldn't bet on it.

Cleaning an AK or SKS type weapon for corrosive residue isn't that hateful after all. Shoot what you've got, shoot what gives you the accuracy you need.

I guess if you wanted to be totally anal, you'd be shooting hand loads, with Lapua brass & properly sized boolits, with nice spiffy non-corrosive Boxer primers. In a perfect world, that is.

Re: Romanian PSL review
 

I personally could care less with a PSL if I was firing corrosive ammo through it. Just clean the firearm properly and you will be ok.

Re: Romanian PSL review
 

I'm sorry, but that approach makes too much sense!:sarcasm:

I'm SURE that our fraternal Soviet Brethren only used the finest match grade, non-corrosive ammo for their designated marksmen/sniper rifles. RIGHT?

OK, maybe not. Tear it down & clean it properly, as you would with an AK/SKS/Hakim/SVT/FN49/Garand/whatever after firing corrosively primed ammo. No biggie (as you said).

Corrosively primed ammo is nothing to be worried about, as long as the shooter cleans the weapon properly.

Re: Romanian PSL review
 

Say... could I trouble you to get measurements from either the magwell, or the top of the magazine? Just lengthxwidth will be sufficient. I have a strange project in mind...

Thanks

Re: Romanian PSL review
 

Julian,
I will get the measurements for you later.




PSLs are back in stock at AIM...

http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/R...54R_Rifle.html

:s1:

Re: Romanian PSL review
 

I have the measurements for you.

Looks like 3 3/8" x 1 1/8". I took pics so you can be the judge.

http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/PSL_M.JPG

http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/PSL_M2.JPG

If your thinking about making a mag that would take 20 rds or something it looks like the taper would make it tricky.

Hope this helped

:s1:

Re: Romanian PSL review
 

Appreciate the thread. I have had some practical interest myself with this gun. Thanks. I do wish you had a 3-500 yard range available. That's also my question. Long range accuracy and repeatability. I read different views and would love to see info from a practical exercise.

Another question is regarding quality of construction. How sturdy? How field friendly, so to speak.

Re: Romanian PSL review
 

GoldWampum,
Here's a thread at akfiles that may help you out for the long range questions.

http://www.akfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48416

I fully expect that the guy with 8" groups at 100 yds. has a bad scope or did not adjust the clamp to the rail correctly (tightly).

The PSL is a sturdy rifle much like the AK. The receiver is reinforced just like the RPK so it may be even stronger than the AK in that respect. I would feel much better giving these rifles a 10' drop then say a scoped Remington 700.

My main gripe with the PSL was the stock length but that can be easily overcome.

:biggrin:

Re: Romanian PSL review
 

Thought I would bump this thread. For those that are asking about longer ranges, here is a video

Re: Romanian PSL review
 

minute of man at 600 yard + is good enough for me.

THX N1 for posting this info and starting this thread.

Centerfire systems has a 'bare bones' one for $469. No scope, 1 mag and no case.

http://www.centerfiresystems.com/DRA-GUN-B.aspx

Re: Romanian PSL review
 

Its already on back order


T

Re: Romanian PSL review
 

I've looked at these in the past and I'm still interested. I've got a Mosin collection so lots of ammo here and there. I'm mainly concerned about the scope. I've heard of people getting one that would adjust properly so that they couldn't get a zero. Or getting it zeroed but it won't stay put.

What does the image look like? I mean as far as brightness and sharpness. Did your adjustments seem like they were working in a consistent manner?

Thanks,

Gregg

Re: Romanian PSL review
 

Russian scopes ZERO DIFFERENTLY than US scopes. Or almost ANY OTHER scope manufactured

With most scopes, you take your shot at bulls eye at given range.

After you note WHERE the shot went, you make adjustments. Up, down, left or right.

Repeat until you have success.

The RUSSIAN scope is a little different.

You will find that they shoot low, which is WHERE they are supposed to shoot from the factory. In a very slow process, you slowly move the POI up until you have what you want. It sounds similar to other scopes, but trust me, it's NOT.

If you don't know HOW, you will become frustrated quickly. I DID. I then talked to my buddy 'over there' and he sent me a little diddy on HOW to properly zero in a Russian scope. Piece of cake following his directions.

If anyone is interested, drop me a note. I'll see if I can find it again and forward it on.

Re: Romanian PSL review
 

I think AIM has them for $579. I got mine locally last year for $700 after transfer fees and tax.

Wallew- I still have yet to zero my scope because using the iron sights while plinking in the desert is so much fun. If you can find that info I'd like to give it a shot.

Re: Romanian PSL review
 

Re: Romanian PSL review
 

As requested, as promised:

HOW TO SIGHT IN A PSO SCOPE
Turn windage dial to "O" (zero mark), Turn Distance turret to the number "1" ( one mark). You should feel a click.

You should have the rifle benched, and remember rest the lower handguard on the sandbag/leather not the barrel.

Set up target at 50 yards, using the back of the target so you have white paper. Using the quarter size "Shoot and See" black target dots that turn green when you hit them.

Loosen the two screws on the top of the turrets, but do not remove them, as they are easily lost.

Place three shots. Next, return reticle to target center and dial by turning the top black dial to point of bullet impact on your target, not the silver dial with the distance/windage marks. Meaning: only move the top black dial to point of bullet impact.

So what you are going to do is put the chevron in the reticle to the center of the black dot and then dial to where the bullets last hit the target. You should now be hitting the black dot on your target. You will dial it in until your point of bullet impact is satisfactory to you.

If you are at the top quarter of the black dot at 12 o'clock then you are dead on at 100. These dots turn bright green upon bullet impact.

Sometimes the lower silver barrel may want to move with the black dial no matter how much you loosen the two screws, so you have to hold the silver dial firmly and dial accordingly. Sometimes tedious but you will get there.

Once you have everything where you like it, just tighten the screws snug and your done. Don't over tighten as the screws are often of a soft aluminum and you can mash them pretty badly.

Hope this helps and now we won't have to type this stuff 15 billion times a year