Barrel shortening. (psl)

[Asmodeus6]

I would like to hack a good portion of the PSL's barrel off. While I am normally a DIY gun owner. This is beyond my skill level I believe. I mean, I know I could cut it off. But crowning the barrel, and rethreading it leaves too many places for error IMO. Where can I get this done in the Pittsburgh area? And how much should I expect to pay. I would like to go down to 18" or so. This gun shoots VERY well and I dont want to risk mucking up a good gun fucking around. That said. If someone has experience doing this type of work with AKs and the like. I would love to hear your thoughts.

Input would be great.

I put this rifle up for sale to perhaps get an RFB. But I am thinking of just shortening it up a little to make it more handy. (And keeping it)

[762xIan]

Personally I would advise against it. You don't know what you might wind up doing to the rifle.

This gun shoots VERY well and I dont want to risk mucking up a good gun fucking around.

Shortening the barrel...who knows what that will do to the accuracy you already get. Add in, with a shorter barrel, it may wind up screwing up the gas system and find the rifle won't cycle (less gas to operate the piston) then you are looking at enlarging the gas bleed hole.

You may just want to sell it and get something you really want.

[Tomcat088]

Personally I would advise against it. You don't know what you might wind up doing to the rifle.



Shortening the barrel...who knows what that will do to the accuracy you already get. Add in, with a shorter barrel, it may wind up screwing up the gas system and find the rifle won't cycle (less gas to operate the piston) then you are looking at enlarging the gas bleed hole.

You may just want to sell it and get something you really want.

I was just about to mention the same things. I'm not super familiar with these particular rifles, but I know a bit about them and about barrel shortening. Changing the length of the barrel usually does effect the way the firearm shoots. It's not always detrimental, and is sometimes positive, but if the rifle already shoots, it may be in a negative fashion. At the very least, it's probably not going to like the ammo that it used to, and you'll probably have to try to find what it does like to shoot. It may have shot almost everything well in the configuration it is now, and may be quite picky after cutting the barrel down.

Shortening the barrel on a gas gun can definitely change the way they cycle and their reliability also. This would probably be depending on the length of the gas system, loads being used, etc, etc. It's possible to end up with a rifle that won't cycle light loads, and may show some unreliability with even standard loads. Have you researched cutting down PSL's much? I'm sure it's been done, and a little more specific information might be helpful. You very well may have to end up opening the hole in the gas block. That I'm sure will have its own complications that can arise, I.E. overgassing, or still undergassing the rifle. It just seems a little bit iffy to me to do to a rifle that already shoots well.

[mpi]

the reliability won't be affected, the PSL is a notoriously overgassed rifle. the rifle usually benefits from shortening if a professional job is done. the barrel of the PSL is long and way too thin for it's intended role and barrel whip is a known problem. the groups usually begin to string vertically when the barrel starts to warm up and accuracy goes away after a certain number of rounds, right?

look over this place, rifle dynamics, they have a very nice package for the PSL and similar rifles called the guerrilla sniper job.

http://www.rifledynamics.com/services/gsr.php

[Asmodeus6]

the reliability won't be affected, the PSL is a notoriously overgassed rifle. the rifle usually benefits from shortening if a professional job is done. the barrel of the PSL is long and way too thin for it's intended role and barrel whip is a known problem. the groups usually begin to string vertically when the barrel starts to warm up and accuracy goes away after a certain number of rounds, right?

look over this place, rifle dynamics, they have a very nice package for the PSL and similar rifles called the guerrilla sniper job.

http://www.rifledynamics.com/services/gsr.php

Yup. Everything mpi just said is everything I've read. TGI even made the FPK para (a seriously chopped PSL) The front sight was literally ON top of the gas block. I assume that they did open up the gas hole. I'm OK with that. I have a system I use on AK's to tailor the gas system to my liking by use of a restrictor in the gas block to tune them down so they aren't so overgassed. It was originally designed with the PSL in mind in a think tank on AK files. So I can drill it out if I need to, and then size it back down so it's perfect.

The PSL will NOT fire heavy ball without literally banging itself apart. It's that over gassed. (Which is why that restrictor setup was cooked up in the first place.) I shoot Russian light ball, and have cases of it. I don't need to shoot heavy ball. But I would VERY much like to take 6" off the front end of the gun. By detaching the factory brake, and going with a better designed and shorter brake. That maybe takes an inch off. But the factory barrel is already 24.5" PLUS the brake. Which means even if I go to 18"... I can lop 6" off the nose of this puppy.

As far as stringing you are right mpi. It's not so bad when you are inside of 100yds. But if you are out further and shooting in any kind of repetitive fashion you might as well lean on the elevation turret between each shot. I'm lucky that it really seems to drift slowly even when it's flaming hot. (I'm not patient, and it's a semi-auto...) Which means if you are used to the gun you know where the next shot is going to be. I think hacking it down, and putting a non-Romanian / AK eske crown on it alone will improve on accuracy. Yes, I'll lose velocity. Yes, it will fuck with my scope which is BDC for this round / offset / velocity / barrel length.

But I'm not a serious long distance shooter as it is. (And if I was, I wouldn't be using a PSL) Increasing portability of this beastly DMR would mean it would get packed up to go shooting more often.

As far as dropping $450 @ rifle dynamics...

Meh. Nope. For that money I will sell it and buy an RFB. Which puts me in an 18" barreled, 26.5" OAL weapon with 20rd mags that uses a more accurate and plentiful albeit more expensive round. (.308)

I just want the barrel cut, crowned, and rethreaded.

Who can do it around here in Pittsburgh so I don't have to ship it?

[Asmodeus6]

Anyway. Here she is.



And here is the FPK para compared to a normal length PSL.

[Asmodeus6]

the reliability won't be affected, the PSL is a notoriously overgassed rifle. the rifle usually benefits from shortening if a professional job is done. the barrel of the PSL is long and way too thin for it's intended role and barrel whip is a known problem. the groups usually begin to string vertically when the barrel starts to warm up and accuracy goes away after a certain number of rounds, right?

look over this place, rifle dynamics, they have a very nice package for the PSL and similar rifles called the guerrilla sniper job.

http://www.rifledynamics.com/services/gsr.php

Revival-edge.

Does anyone actually know what most of what they do entails?
They say they true up a lot of stuff, and re-head space etc.

Is all of this smoke an mirrors? Or does anyone think there is actually a benefit to doing all of the things they list if it's already a decent shooter?

PSL Upgrade Package: $450.00

Shorten barrel to 19"
Cut 11 degree target crown
Re-thread barrel
Uncant sights/gas block [nothing is canted]
Mod rear sight
Correct breach face
Correct bolt face
True/fit bolt carrier/locking lugs
Re-headspace and pin barrel to proper spec
Fit and adjust RSA trigger group [already worked out the stock FCG]
Fit/smooth safety [already did]
Fit Mag catch [mine is fine]
Deburr, trigger guard, charging handle, mag catch anything else needed [not needed]
Install bi-pod swivel
Sandblast and parkerize all metal parts [finish is already good]
25yrd zero on Iron sights [mine were absolutely dead nuts 'ON' out of the box]
Extras

Norrells Moly Resin over park: $100.00
Red Star Arms trigger group: $85.00
Aftermarket wood and Poly stocks available starting at $180.00

I already worked on the factory trigger and it's head's over tails better than your average AK trigger. Or even a G2 IMO as it has a clearly defined break. It looks like most of the services are geared to de-turd, shitty PSL's. I'd like to take advantage of their cut and crown, thread, muzzle brake, and all the 'truing up services if they are warranted. But it seems like 40% of the services included in their package - I don't need.

This is why I wondered if I should just send it out to be cut / crowned / threaded. But am I missing out on things here that have real value?


I'm also considering changing the stock out for a traditional AK stock / pistol grip configuration as well. I didn't like the poly stock at all, so it will likely be a wood traditional stock with a simple rubber pad and I'll get my own cheek piece fitted. I have already added the hole for the pistol grip when I fitted the poly stock to the gun. I could easily turn that into a square for the AK PG nut. Although I might improvise something there too. (Notch the stock, reshape the PG nut, and have the stock "hold" the square remainder of the PG nut in a groove.) I also realize I will have "hang out" on a traditional stock due to the angle cut receiver of the PSL. I've already worked out an idea to clean up that area in my head, so it doesn't look like butthole.

I was thinking of picking up a Mosin carbine to fool with but it's kinda stupid to invest money into scoping one when I have a PSL here with an in spec scope rail and optic already on it. (And it's 10+1 semi-auto)

Having completed one of my other projects I'm back looking at this again. So if I could drag some of you guys back in here to further analyze this I would appreciate it.

[Tim Ault]

Why dont you call and ask what they would charge to just cut /crown and re thread the barrel to the length you spec. if you send them your stripped barrel .And you may also need to have either the FSB opened up bigger or the barrel turned down to the old dia. in that area.