What do y'all think about PSA AK's?

[-]

Kindly_Region@reddit

As long as he isn't one of those nut jobs running drills and rolling around on the range, it will be fine.

PSA makes budget guns. They are not the best, but they get the job done

[-]

As far as American-manufactured AKs go, PSA makes one of the better ones, but it’s still an American-manufactured AK at the end of the day. You’re better off with an AK that was manufactured in a formerly communist country like Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria, etc. PSA does have some AKs that they assembled using Com-Bloc parts kits that are better than their AKs made from their American-made components.

[-]

ThePretzul@reddit

You aren’t any better off with com-bloc AK’s, but that is a popular cope in the AK community.

[-]

AncientPublic6329@reddit

No. Com-bloc AKs are objectively better than American AKs. It is cost prohibitive for American manufacturers to manufacture AKs the way that they do in formerly communist countries because they were gifted the very expensive tooling by the Soviet government. Com Bloc AK manufacturers literally have fewer overhead costs and the backing of entire governments that American private sector AK manufacturers simply do not have. I’m not saying that communism is better than capitalism (because it is not), but communist countries’ ability to manufacture the Kalashnikov platform is objectively better.

[-]

Mausdr1v3r@reddit

What do you mean? The com block makers use proper rivets, their chrome lining is phenomenal, and the wasr series are known for going over 30k rounds before needing a new barrel. My Serbian zpap92 is more accurate than my PSA. Not saying palmetto state is bad, but com block rules you get more for your money

[-]

ThePretzul@reddit

The WASR rifles are excellent quality, I’m not knocking them.

I’m just saying the hate for American-made AK’s is based on entirely non-existent “problems” that were largely cosmetic differences in the very first run of PSA AK’s that aren’t even applicable to current PSA AK production.

[-]

Mausdr1v3r@reddit

That part I can agree on, some people treat Russian manufacturing like it's the most perfect thing. My friend has a vepr and the finish/ smoothness is about on par to a psa

[-]

Danny_PSA@reddit

If you have any questions about any of our AKs, feel free to reach out!

[-]

singlemale4cats@reddit

What is the difference between a gf3 and gf5?

[-]

Mynplus1throwaway@reddit

I have a blem GF3. it is phenomenal. My AK buddy, who ships his AK kits all over to whomever, was shocked out how good it is.

AK ammo has gone up in price quite a bit. I originally justified it by saying ammo was half of what 5.56 is so it'll pay for itself... It did not

[-]

Devin_Mash2@reddit (OP)

He has a shit ton of 5.56 and I was thinking about getting him a 5.56 AK but I heard that's not like acceptable I guess?

[-]

Mynplus1throwaway@reddit

It totally depends on who you are talking to. Does he reload? That would push me towards 5.56. 7.62 is a pain in the ass to get setup for with reloading. I have dies for it but no brass.

Tell him your dad/uncle/whoever is thinking about getting one and you know he has done his research and ask what he would get

[-]

WindstormMD@reddit

Not really that bad? The Prvi cases reload very well, so far averaging 15-16 loadings before failure, I discard them at 12, no separations that were not intentionally tested to failure point.

26.2gr of A1680 in a Prvi case will give you a perfect driver for any of hornady’s .310 Flat base bullets loaded to cannelure length (SST, SP or FMJ)

Buy yourself one of the 840rd bulk packs of Prvi brass and you should be set for years.

Pic is from 2020 but is the only one I have to hand of my clone loads of Hornady Black. Easily tightens up the groups on most rifles by half compared to steelcase stuff.

[-]

singlemale4cats@reddit

I'll probably never reload so my AKs stay on a diet of spam can steel

[-]

Devin_Mash2@reddit (OP)

I know he collects brass but I think he melts them down into bars for other things, I'm not sure.

[-]

Ok_Ordinary6694@reddit

Melting down brass in usable condition is a weird step backwards, but people do dumber things every day.

[-]

Larrythegunguy454@reddit

I suppose that's possible but I have never heard of anyone melting down brass. Lead for casting bullets, yes but not brass.

[-]

TheRealRegnorts@reddit

Nothing wrong with a 556 ak, if it makes him happy then who cares what anyone else thinks

[-]

BrockSramson@reddit

556 AKs can function normally.

7.62x39 ARs have issues.

[-]

killmrcory@reddit

7.62×39 can run well. they just usually take a lot of work to get to that point. i built one during covid because it was the only ammo that wasn't absolutely ridiculous on price and i wanted to shoot recreationally because there wasn't a whole lot else to do while laid off from work and everything closed. thats actually how i ended up getting into AKs funnily enough.

the mags was probably the biggest improvement. i don't remember who makes them off the top of my head but there is a curved AR mag specifically for 7.62×39. it helped with feeding issues immediately.

i got to the point that it ran pretty well with only the occasional error. i could never get it running well enough to work with an FRT though.

[-]

likesweed@reddit

The psa 5.56 guns are known to have more problems than their 7.62 ones

[-]

Relevant-Scholar1948@reddit

😔

[-]

DumbNTough@reddit

I once thought I would get an AK-74 with cheap spam cans as a loaner, range blaster, or whatever. But yeah, no longer I'm afraid.

[-]

Runnermikey1@reddit

All the Warsaw stuff has gone up. My Mosin is probably 15% more expensive to shoot than it was in 2019.

[-]

killmrcory@reddit

i personally love my PSA AK. they are a relatively budget friendly way to get into them.

are the best?

no far from it but they aren't terrible either.

some people will say buying an American AK is blasphemous but who cares.

[-]

Da_Cum_Man@reddit

They seem very good, don't have one because Massachusetts. I wouldn't get an AK in 5.45 purely because of dubious ammo sources

[-]

definitelynotpat6969@reddit

My personal favorite is the Galil, but I'm highly biased. It's the Cadillac of AK variants (and I dont care that it's over gassed). My buddy has a WBP and I love the finish.

My other buddy put a bunch of money into a PSA AK and it seems to work for him just fine.

[-]

Fresh-Wealth-8397@reddit

Get him a gift card to a place so he can pick his specific rifle

[-]

tykaboom@reddit

Fuck that, give the guy cash and say it's twords a rifle.

[-]

lndnmdn@reddit

towards as twords is diabolical

[-]

MikeyG916@reddit

Fuck that, dude is in AIT. Just give him condoms and let him use them in the GF.

[-]

gotthesauce22@reddit

They fuck.

[-]

jeropian-moth@reddit

Check out the search bar on. r/ak47. They have extensive reviews on PSA guns. I’d steer clear of 5.45 AKs for a while because the supply is drying up.

If you don’t want to deal with them, their responses always say “Century WASR 10 (not a VSKA), WBP Jack (comes in 5.56 or 7.62), or Zastava M70 in 7.62 or Zastava M90 in 5.56.

The Romanian Cugir WASR will be the cheapest of all of them and will be the best bet for a first AK or a 20th one.

PSAs have a lot of issues with QC on their AKs and a WASR will be made in a military facility.

5.56 AKs are neat but good ones are far and few between. Really the only good ones are the Beryl and mostly the WBP but I’ve read about some accuracy issues on the WBP.

[-]

wisockamonster@reddit

My ak102 has been perfect

[-]

Absolute_Cinema47@reddit

What is your budget? With AK's it is better to get an imported rifle like a WBP Jack, Zastava m70, or a Wasr-10.

[-]

Mynplus1throwaway@reddit

Have you shot the GF3? It is really solid. Especially for the price.

[-]

youy23@reddit

Not about the quality so much as the fact that imported AKs can stop at any moment. You can always buy an American made AK anytime.

[-]

Mynplus1throwaway@reddit

Fair enough. I think it just depends on personal desire. snobby AK guys exist and I feel that's antithetical to what AK is.

[-]

Devin_Mash2@reddit (OP)

Well he's all about "buying for what you use it for" so he doesn't really like spending a ton of money on rifles he's just shooting in the back yard or going to the range with.

[-]

youy23@reddit

The PSA AKs are okay rifles. They make decent AKs but it’s not a rifle you treasure or love. It’s just a cheap rifle made in America.

For many of the people who love the AK platform, buying an American made AK like the PSA is kind of pointless. If you want an accurate and reliable rifle that’s cheap, just get an AR-15 but people who want AKs generally want that wood furniture and the whole ethos that goes with it. They want a rifle from a factory and country who looked to their AK as an essential tool for their survival and an integral part of their history.

A polish WBP AK has better fit and finish and much better QC than PSA and it’s made in a country with a rich history and relationship with the AK platform. A Romanian WASR is cheaper and has barely acceptable fit and finish but it’s reliable and it works plus the history of it and the intangible feel of getting a rifle from a combloc country is irreplaceable.

You’ll always be able to buy American AKs till the end of time but imports of foreign AKs can stop all of a sudden. I’d get him a WASR for $800 or a Polish WBP for $1,100 if you can swing the extra cash or a Serbian Zastava ZPAP M70.

[-]

2Drogdar2Furious@reddit

I love my PSA AK. Its awesome and a lot of fun to shoot. I wanted mine in its native round but at this point I'd prefer a 556 AK just for ammo availability.

You're an awesome GF btw!

[-]

Devin_Mash2@reddit (OP)

Thank you, I'll consider the 5.56 one

[-]

werewolf013@reddit

I got a GF5-R. So a PSA built romanian underfolder. I love it and it has been great so far. Probably under 2k rounds with it.

[-]

Devin_Mash2@reddit (OP)

Are the Underfolders any good?

[-]

NotJayKayPeeness@reddit

Not a lot. Buy him a VEPR, Saiga, old FEG, Norinco/Polytech and he'll know you're a real ride or die and marry you instead of the stripper he met last weekend.

[-]

BurgersBaconFreedom@reddit

I dont care for my GF3 and am considering selling it. It may just be the shitty magpul zhukov stock but the cheek slap is real and too painful to enjoy shooting. My friends Zastava is a much finer firearm but twice the price.

For the cost, its probably the best budget AK youre going to find, though. If you can, buy once cry once and get a Zastava.

[-]

mattybrad@reddit

I had a random GF3 I got in a trade for about two years and they rifle ate every variety of cheap shit ammo I’d feed it and never failed to go bang. Pretty accurate too and the build quality was surprisingly good.

Overall it’s epic for the price point.

[-]

Crusheddeer1@reddit

Go for a solid stock instead of an underfolder. I’d avoid the 5.45 since ammo is almost impossible to find.

[-]

Devin_Mash2@reddit (OP)

What about 5.56?

[-]

Crusheddeer1@reddit

Not a bad option but I haven’t had experience with the 5.56 aks personally

[-]

Devin_Mash2@reddit (OP)

Ok thank you tho

[-]

TN_REDDIT@reddit

Ammo is available everywhere

[-]

Devin_Mash2@reddit (OP)

He has a ton but are they any good?

[-]

asianRNunite@reddit

Honestly you can just buy the GF3 blem and they go on sale for like less than $600 and it shoots well. Had no issue and put plenty of round down range and it’s not picky with ammo

[-]

Devin_Mash2@reddit (OP)

He graduates around Black Friday so I'm ordering it then

[-]

TheRealRegnorts@reddit

As long as it's at least a gf3 you are good to go, they are actually pretty good guns for the price

[-]

Devin_Mash2@reddit (OP)

It is

[-]

TheRealRegnorts@reddit

I had a gf3 for a long while and it was great, sold it to a buddy so I still get to shoot it. Biggest thing with the gf3 was the forged trunion, which is why I said at least.

Last I saw they had gf5? I think it was. Haven't had fun money in awhile so I haven't been lookin

[-]

FullmetalTaco23@reddit

Pretty good. They go bang and they are accurate. Just wish I had gotten a solid stock one instead of folding one

[-]

Devin_Mash2@reddit (OP)

What's up with the under folders?

[-]

FullmetalTaco23@reddit

Mines a side folder. I just personally like the look of solid wood more ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[-]

Devin_Mash2@reddit (OP)

Oh so just ascetics? Nothing wrong with the stick in general tho?

[-]

FullmetalTaco23@reddit

Nah. Honestly tho, the solid stock IS much more comfortable to shoot. Gives a better cheekweld too. The underfolder isnt bad, but def not as comfortable. Same goes for the side folder.

[-]

Devin_Mash2@reddit (OP)

My bf has mentioned the under folder several times so that's why I'm looking at it.

[-]

FullmetalTaco23@reddit

I say get him that one then 🙂

[-]

tbrand009@reddit

Another question, he's graduating AIT - Is he active duty or guard/reserve?

If he's AD, there may be some hiccups to be aware of before buying any gun.
To start, he can't have any firearms in his barracks, so he'll have to pay to store them off base (and privates don't have a lot of money) or leave them with a friend, and since he's just graduating AIT, he doesn't have any friends for that yet.
Does he have orders for his first duty station yet? And is he being sent to a state where an AK will be legal?

If he's guard or reserves then this doesn't matter. But if he's AD then make sure these are sorted out before you spend all your money.

[-]

Devin_Mash2@reddit (OP)

He's Guard so on base restrictions won't apply

[-]

ASnakeNamedNate@reddit

For your stated purpose of recreation, it'll do just fine. Arguably it will do more than fine, but depending on how far down he is the AK fan rabbit-hole he may have different tastes (many prefer imports). I wouldn't get a 74 or anything chambered in 5.45x39 though, ammo is just too niche for that these days. Stick to the classic 7.62x39mm or the convenient 5.56x45mm offerings.

I'd agree that a gift card for a model you'd think he'd want that you would say "this is for you to get an AK you want" is probably ideal. The features someone could want are pretty specific on these, so I think he'd appreciate the opportunity. I know it's not a spectacle of a gift to unwrap, so maybe you could tape it to a cheap toy AK from amazon or something so that way you preserve the gesture of the thoughtful gift, with a bit of laughs.

[-]

Slowjuke@reddit

I’ve heard people absolutely love psas krink so I assume their new updated aks should be the same

[-]

shadowcat999@reddit

I hope so. They're the only affordable AKS style rifles around and the 300BO offering is a genuine good idea. Better ballistics while having the 74 mag curve.

[-]

D_Costa85@reddit

Same thing I think about all their stuff - cheap and shitty but it works for basic shooting and fun

[-]

TheTexan94@reddit

Love my 101

[-]

twobroke2play@reddit

I bought one of their 74’s because I still have a bunch of 7n6 and I didn’t want to shoot it through my others that are more valuable. So far it has shot great super soft recoil. I only shoot it at the ranch about once a month so I don’t have a high round count on it so take my answer with a grain of salt