PSL: Talk me into, or out of it!

[Asmodeus6]

Makes absolute perfect sense D90king! I have no idea why that didn't dawn on me sooner.


Keep it coming.

[mak47]

Yeah, the permanent muzzle brake thing does suck. I think the reasoning is that with a thumbhole stock, 10 round mag, and no removable flash hider it isn't ban-worthy for any state.

That being said, I've heard that there are some with removable brakes or just the silver solder making it "permanent".

Normally, I'd say take a look at it before you buy it but at that price even if you need to get a plunger and thread the barrel you're still coming out way ahead of buying anywhere else.

Besides, in my experience, the factory brake does it's job--if it ain't broke, you may not even want to fix it.

[wellcraft]

i owned a PSL and only sold it when i bought a ndm86 but i can tell you the PSL is a great rifle for the price. i paid 700 for mine and have no regrets whatsoever especially since i sold it for 800. i found the rifle to be reasonably accurate for what it is, totally reliable, very low recoil, plus it has the cool factor going for it. if i had the extra dollars i certainly wouldn't mind owning another one and i'd recommend anyone looking for one to go ahead and buy it especially at the price AIM is advertising them for.

[Asmodeus6]

I only wish I could fork over the cash for the NDM86. Unfortunately my budget doesn't allow me to do much more than to cast lusty looks at one right now.

Honestly... given a better financial situation, I would probably genuinely consider forking over the cash for one. I've always had a huge soft spot for the dragunov type rifles. Whether it was in games or the limited opportunities I have had in real life to oogle.

So this is like a band aid on my Dragunov itch. I think the PSL is a good choice because with the low initial cost, it let's me actually go out and shoot the thing without fear of nicking it and it being suddenly worth $1000 less.

[mak47]

Honestly, the guns are accurate and reliable, I see no reason not to go with a PSL.

Other factor, compared to an actual SVD--would you really want to shoot old corrosive surplus ammo out of a $3000+ rifle? I know all I would do is worry about rust spots showing up--I could see myself going home from work on lunch breaks just to make sure nothing was blooming!

Half the reason for a gun like this is the ability to shoot cheap, powerful, accessible ammo, and that's the corrosive milsurp stuff. PSL all the way.

If you're a serious collector, and don't necessarily have to shoot everything you own, then sure an SVD is awesome, but if you want to shoot it...

Anyhow, good luck.

[Asmodeus6]

Of course now that I am pretty much sold on the idea, and scrambling to get the money together. (See also, paying all my bills for the month ahead of time to see what I have left between my gun fund and extra $)

I read on ARF.com Aim is out of the PSL's already.

Figures... guess I'll just start saving. I've been reading and reading and the basic consensus is that you are going to want to handle it anyway. And even then, there's no guarantee what kind of shooter it is going to be, and even then what ammo it will like.

Man... I want one... Fuck...

[Willie D]

At that price I'm sure dealers snatched them up to flip them. Probably a better price than they are getting wholesale.

[Asmodeus6]

Originally Posted by Willie D

At that price I'm sure dealers snatched them up to flip them. Probably a better price than they are getting wholesale.

Those were some of their exact words...
Something to the tune of - a great deal less than I paid wholesale a month ago.


J&G has them for $600.

Still not too bad. Going to have to get this money and get my ass out there looking for one.

I don't want to pay $800 for one when I can get one for $600... that's a case of ammo or a new stock for it. Hell, I could get a GOOD scope for it for maybe a hundred or so more than the difference.

From what I have been reading the Russian scopes, that while at first glance appear to be solid for this rifle, have goofy controls, and sit funny, first plane reticles that can sit off center, and other things that make them a slight pita.

I was looking at a bunch last night and I've seen a mixed reviews, and no real glowing reports about them. Would it be heresy to get the on-center Kalinka weaver rail side mount and pop a Millet TRS-1 on it?

Or would that just piss off a herd of people? I like the 4-16x and the controls on the Millet scope. And you can get one for about $3xx.

Too much scope for a PSL?

[mak47]

There are purists out there who will whine about whatever you do to your gun. Who gives a crap. It's your gun, not theres. If they want it "authentic" then they can buy their own.

I tend to agree with you. You're shooting a cartridge that can hit targets many hundreds of yards away--a simple 4x scope, regardless of how authentic it is, isn't going to enable you to have the accuracy you desire for that purpose.

I wouldn't worry too much about whether or not you're "picking a winner". If you get it and it's not what you expected, it shouldn't be hard to sell it for what you paid, maybe even a few bucks extra, to somebody who would be willing to work out any kinks.

Remember too, when people buy a gun and it works as it should, they usually don't say anything about it on the internet, it did as expected. When they get a dog on the other hand, they'll b*tch up a storm on any site that'll have 'em. These things wouldn't be as popular as they are if the majority were junk. Just like the WASR Ak's, there's a million horror stories out there--but I've never shot a bad one.

[Asmodeus6]

I'm just putting the cart in front of the horse. I have a tendency to dive in once I am interested in something. But this is in part to do with me justifying not only another rifle, but another caliber, etc. How I would use intend to use it.

The reason why I was considering dumping the commie glass is mainly because the 4x scope would be perfect on an AK. I'd just have to figure out a way to switch it from an SKS to an AKM mount part. (If you can?) But for me to shoot even 300yds I need more than 4x. I need like 10x. I just do not have the eyesight for shooting distances. I can't see shit out that far.

My first instinct is to grab the 8x version and just roll with it. But they;
A: Do not sit on center. To me, a newb distance shooter - this is going to make my life even more difficult.
B: Are confusing.
C: Are not variable power...

My buddy has a Nikon Buckmaster scope on his Savage .308 and this is who I will be shooting with. He's going to be very hard to keep up with as it is... and that scope I think goes out 14x or so. (I like this scope too but I figured I'd atleast play with a mil-dot.) That way I can learn how to use that as well.

I guess you don't have to learn that stuff if you stay with the Russian scopes because of the built in range finder. You just use that specific reticle. So again, I don't know which would be better. I looked through Kalinka's site at just about all the stuff but I was checking in on the specific scopes outside of Kalinka and learned despite all their stuff being labeled "russian military" scopes... most of it is from CHINA. And not Chinese military... Just China.

I'm not paying $2XX for some knock off Russian / Chinese scope when I can buy something American that WILL work. No it won't look all Soviet snipery... But it won't be a pofs either.

Thus the dilemma between Soviet or American scopes.

I guess I need to get one first, and see if it will hit a house, let alone a 18" target at 300yds. Before I get all worried about a scope for it. Like I said, cart before horse. Just already thinking about it.