INTRO/METHOD
A couple of years ago, my husband and I became pretty interested in the world of ARs. In case you didn’t know, AR is an abbreviation for Armalite Rifle, which is the company that developed this specific style of semi-automatic rifles for civilian use back in the 1950’s.
These rifles initially drew our attention because they are so lightweight and easy to shoot (and they’re pretty fun, too). The AR is also quite versatile. I know a number of people who use an AR-10 or AR-15 for hunting, especially for game animals like feral hogs where having the ability to shoot several times quickly is ideal.
The other thing that piqued our interest is the modularity of the AR. It’s not just a one-style-fits-all scenario. If you see a particular rifle you like, you can purchase a complete AR and head straight to the range. But, you also have the option to buy a kit and make your own desired modifications, or you can start from scratch and build your own relatively inexpensively.
So when we saw the JAKL from Palmetto State Armory, we had a couple of thoughts.
First was, “That looks like a pretty sweet rifle. I’d like to get my hands on one and test it out.” The second was, “What makes the PSA JAKL so special that it costs so much more than the ARs they already sell?”
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
The first thing you need to know when reviewing the PSA JAKL is that it is actually NOT an AR style rifle. As a matter of fact, it really is its own type of rifle all together with some pretty innovative design features that make it stand out from the rest.
Palmetto State Armory is known for creating and selling a plethora of modular components for both pistols and ARs, making it easy to customize their firearms so you get exactly what you want. The JAKL is no different. The lower is designed to be AR compatible. This provides some flexibility and adjustability as well as support from that side of the market due to the vast availability of these products.
But after that, we get into what makes the JAKL a different animal.
KEY FEATURES AND BENEFITS
As I mentioned, PSA has a lot of variations of their firearms, and the same is true for the JAKL. The PSA website has at least 38 different complete rifle options for purchase, but the specific model we reviewed is the PSA JAKL 13.7” 5.56 Nitride MOE SL EPT F5 Stock Rifle ($1329.99) in the Flat Dark Earth finish. After shooting and testing out this rifle, a number of features stand out that I’d like to discuss. Most of these are design attributes of the JAKL’s specialized upper.
- Long-Stroke Piston Operating System
Unlike most standard ARs, the PSA JAKL uses a long-stroke piston operating system. This is the same system that is used in the AK series of firearms and is touted as one of the primary reasons that AKs are so resilient and reliable.
One reason for that reliability is that with the long-stroke system the piston is fixed to the bolt group, causing it to move through the entire operating cycle. This decreases the number of moving parts compared to a short-stroke system. Additionally, the long-stroke system is going to lead to less carbon buildup and debris collection as compared to the direct impingement system used in some ARs. And, less buildup decreases the chances for lockups and misfires.
We found this piston system to feel extremely smooth when shooting. The recoil is minimal and feels as though it comes straight back without much muzzle rise. This made follow-up shots quick, easy, and accurate.
- Adjustable Folding Stock
With that long-stroke piston design of the PSA JAKL, the buffer system is fully captured in the upper receiver, so there is no need for an additional system. This leads to a reduced overall length as well as allowing for the ability to have a folding stock.
The left-sided folding stock is a beneficial feature because it makes for easier storage and maneuverability, as it further shortens the length of the firearm. The other nice thing about the JAKL is that it can be fired from this folded-stock position as well if the need arises to shoot quickly. And, we found that from 10-15 yards out, we were pretty equally consistent shooting with it out and folded.
The stock on the model we tested is lightweight and seems pretty rugged. Plus, it has a couple of features I love, such as the adjustable length of pull and an adjustable cheek piece. I also like that the Magpul grip on this model is more vertical. I am only 5’4”, so being able to set up the rifle so I am perfectly aligned with the red dot and able to easily reach the trigger makes shooting a lot easier and more consistent.
- 8 Position Gas Block
Another impressive design feature is the toolless 8-position gas block. This allows the shooter to quickly make any needed adjustments just by turning the “knob” by hand. So, if you are using a suppressor, you can make modifications on the fly that will reduce the amount of gas blowback, allowing for a much more pleasant shooting experience. And, if you remove it, you can quickly switch back.
This adjustability also gives you options to manage recoil better, improve cycling smoothness, and ensure best gun performance of your chosen ammunition.
In addition to the gas block, you won’t need any tools to remove the carrier, recoil assembly, or sled assembly for cleaning. And, you won’t need tools to switch the ambidextrous charging handle for your shooting preference.
- Monolithic Topic Rail
The PSA JAKL has a monolithic receiver so there is no top rail gap. Not only should this further improve the rigidity and durability of the firearm, but it allows you the option to mount your optics, IR lasers, etc. to the same rail. Doing so should improve accuracy and prevent loss of zero.
- Trigger
The JAKL uses the PSA Enhanced Polished Trigger fire control group. Our model had a trigger weight of a little over 4.5 pounds out of the box. We found this to be a heavy enough weight to limit any accidental trigger pulls, but light enough to limit pulling down on the gun.
WHY WOULD YOU BUY
All of these features should make it clear why the PSA JAKL really is its own beast when it comes to the world of lightweight and modular rifles. Combine those features with the fact that they designed the JAKL to be compatible with a wide variety of AR lowers, and it becomes a pretty enticing option.
There are definitely some solid pros to purchasing a PSA JAKL, but there are a few cons as well you should think about.
PROS
- Threaded barrel, so a variety of muzzle devices, including suppressors can be used
- Long-Stroke piston system should make for a more reliable and durable firearm
- A lot of adjustability without the need for tools
- Ambidextrous charging handle – also adjustable without tools
- Folding stock with adjustable length of pull and cheek weld
- 8-position gas block decreases gas blowback when suppressed
- Monolithic top rail adds stability and maintains optic’s zero
CONS
- More expensive than their line of ARs
- Potentially more recoil than AR-15, but very minimal and more straight-line recoil
Where To Buy
The PSA Jakl is found direct on the PSA Website ranging from $1,000 – $1,400.
FINAL THOUGHTS
There’s no denying that the PSA JAKL is a sweet looking rifle. Plus, all the adjustability and features that make it more durable and reliable also make it pretty fun to shoot.
I will say that we ran into a couple of issues with rounds not cycling through. However, it seemed the issue was more with the cheaper steel-cased ammo we were using. When we switched to a different brand, we didn’t see any hiccups with cycling.
Hopefully this review answered most of your questions, and you have found it helpful in deciding if the PSA JAKL might be your next rifle purchase. If you decide that it should be, that’s when the real fun of deciding which one begins!
