Palmetto State Armory AK74 - the Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Published on April 16, 2023
Duration: 17:25

The Palmetto State Armory AK74 offers impressive accuracy, achieving a 1.97-inch 90% grouping at 100 yards, rivaling premium imports. It features a soft-shooting, well-gassed system that allows for fast follow-up shots. Despite initial production issues with a bent piston and oversized firing pin channel, PSA addressed these, making it a viable US-made AK option.

Quick Summary

The Palmetto State Armory AK74 achieves excellent accuracy, with a 1.97-inch 90% grouping at 100 yards, and features a soft-shooting, well-gassed system for fast follow-up shots. While early models had piston and firing pin channel issues, PSA has addressed these.

Chapters

  1. 01:01Introduction to PSA AK74
  2. 02:28Rifle Overview and Modifications
  3. 03:40Technical Measurements
  4. 05:20Stock and Internals
  5. 06:25Accuracy Testing
  6. 08:46Gas System and Recoil
  7. 11:34Mechanical Issues: The Piston
  8. 13:34Mechanical Issues: Firing Pin Channel
  9. 15:14Conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions

How accurate is the Palmetto State Armory AK74?

The PSA AK74 demonstrated impressive accuracy, achieving a 2.55-inch 9-shot group and a 1.97-inch 90% grouping at 100 yards during testing, placing it among the top-performing AKs reviewed by the channel.

What are the common mechanical issues with the PSA AK74?

Early PSA AK74 models faced issues such as a bent piston causing binding and an oversized firing pin channel that could allow primer debris, leading to the rifle seizing. These were reportedly corrected by PSA.

How does the PSA AK74 handle recoil?

The rifle is noted for its exceptionally well-gassed system, resulting in very soft recoil, often described as a 'pop gun.' This allows for fast and accurate follow-up shots without the carrier slamming the rear trunnion.

What are the key technical specifications of the PSA AK74?

The PSA AK74 is chambered in 5.45x39mm, features a 16-inch barrel with a 1:6.5 twist rate, made from 4150 CMV steel, and has M24x1.5 RH muzzle threads. The MSRP was listed at $999.99.

Related News

All News →

More Reviews Videos You Might Like

More from 9-Hole Reviews

View all →