Rifle report. Romanian PSL-54C

This is not a C&R rifle like the other that I have or have had. This rifle has been called incorrectly a Dragunov which was a Russian rifle based upon the SVT-40 from WWII. This Rifle is based upon the Kalashnikov rifle using the same round as the SVT, Mosin-Nagant, and the Dragunov. Some state that this is a sniper rifle. Not so, this is more of a designated marksmen rifle by U.S. Military standards. More accurate than the Main Battle Rifles (the AK) and harder hitting out to further distances but not really sniper quality. Still for what it is, this should be a fine competition rifle or a long range hunter.

Ballistically speaking this round is something of a cross between the .308 and the .30-06. Good long range, hard hitting and rather adaptable by varying loads and bullet weight. This particular rifle is very happy with a lighter bullet. The heavier bullets that I was shooting in the Mosin tend to tear apart the action due to excessive recoil in the gas tube. Luckily the rounds it does like are readily available and fairly inexpensive. I can pick up a case of 880 rounds for about $150. Try that with the AR platform.

First perceptions from when I picked it up.

HEAVY. even with the light barrel this thing weighs in at 10 pounds unloaded.
SIMPLE. Being based upon the AK platform, the operations of this rifle are simple. The Safety is the standard setup, takedown can be done without any tools, parts fit together 'just tight enough'.
NICE. Somehow the layout seems better thought out than that of the AK-47's that I have handled in the past. Maybe its the fact that this one is not a refurb but a new receiver. I don't have enough AK experience to say one way or the other, this is just a feeling I get from it.


I really like the layout for the Scope. This is a Romanian version of the Russian SVD scope. Here is what the Reticle looks like.Click to embiggen and read my notes. It looks busy but once you know the layout rapid range finding should be a breeze. The scope itself is calibrated to the military loads for this rifle and dialing is very easy once range is known.

Here is the 'kit' it comes with.
There is quite a bit of stuff here. (and no, the ammo is what I already had.) Everything functions the way it should and none of this is of 'issued' surplus. Everything is tight and clean (well once I cleaned all of the cosmoline off of it. lol) Even the leather on the armsbag had to be oiled and worked in since it has never been used.

RANGE TRIP! Will post more on that when I return tomorrow.