Many newcomers to the AK-47 world may not be aware of one of the most versatile AK models we have ever come across. That model is Palmetto State Armory’s PSAK-7 GF3 line.
This line, which has been on the market for several years now, has a whopping 20 variations of furniture- which gives you a myriad selection of different looks on the same AKM platform! We’ve never seen so many looks, colors, and styles to choose from.
If you’re looking for a classic look they’ve got a couple of wood colors to choose from.
Need a folding stock? They’ve got three types of polymer folders and a steel triangle folder. They’ve also got tactical handguards with the scope and accessory rails as well as cheese-grater gas tube covers. Pretty much any configuration you’re looking for, just pick the one you want and add it to your cart! No need to purchase aftermarket parts to complete the look you’re going for.
As far as we know, nobody on the market offers this many options and has all of them in stock to boot!
Introduction to the PSAK-47 GF3:
The Cadillac of AKs?
Early in 2015, PSA showed off some prototypes of a U.S.-made AK-47 called the PSAK-47 with a retail price of around $699 depending on the furniture. People were impressed. It was compared to AKs that retail at $1,200 or more. Larry Vickers gave the PSAK-47 high praise, calling it the “Cadillac of AKs.”
Eastern Blend
PSA had a lot to live up to as it pushed forward with production, and after testing a PSAK-47 MOE Edition rifle, I have to agree that the PSAK-47 is impressive, well made, outfitted for the modern shooter, and affordable. PSA has indeed remastered the AKM.
The PSAK-47 is truly Americanized. It is not Russian nor Bulgarian or even Chinese, but an amalgamation of all the good design traits of an AK made into one. When asked what AK-47 design blueprint the company used for the PSAK-47, Adam Ruonala, chief marketing officer at PSA, responded with not just one AK-47 design plan but numerous. “We looked at the Russian, Chinese, Romanian, and Bulgarian blueprints and we took what we felt were the best features from each and incorporated them into our AK design.”
The quality controls PSA places on these rifles are rigorous. PSA takes about one and a half hours to assemble a rifle, not including range testing. On AK builds, the company fires 15 to 20 rounds using brass- and steel-cased ammunition. “We want to make sure our rifles perform, so we test with ammo of all quality types, from inexpensive steel-cased surplus ammo to U.S.-made factory-fresh brass ammunition,” said Ruonala.
While in development, PSA took 25 PSAK-47s and ran them through a 10,000-round torture test. The company wanted to ensure its AK-47 would run smoothly and reliably. “We wanted our rifle to not only perform exceptionally but look good doing it,” Ruonala explained. “PSA wouldn’t produce a gun that was not 100 percent.”
Not only does the company check for accuracy—4 MOA or better—but it also looks for things that most shooters wouldn’t notice, like ejection patterns. This is just one of several metrics PSA looks at to ensure its AKs are running smoothly and reliably.
Color us impressed with this solid offering from Palmetto State Armory. The PSA AK-47 is now in its 3rd generation (the “GF3”) and has ironed out a lot of the kinks in their earlier generations. This has led to AKs that are as reliable as similarly priced AKs that are popular amongst AK aficionados.
Specifications on the PSAK-47 GF3:
- Gas Nitride 4150 steel treated barrel
- Stamped 1mm hardened steel receiver
- Hammer Forged Front Trunnion
- Hammer Forged Bolt
- Hammer Forged Carrier
- Side Scope Mount
- 7.62×39 Caliber
- 1 in 9.5″ Twist
- Std. 800-yard rear sight leaf
- Magpul AK-47 Upper/Lower Handguard, Black
- Magpul AK-47 Polymer Grip, Black
- Magpul AR-15 MOE Stock with 6-position buffer tube & AK/AR buffer tube adaptor
- Magpul 30-round magazine (1); Where allowed by law
Potential QC issues with the PSAK-47 GF3:
The majority of issues we’ve come across on forums and YouTube videos is the occasional firing pin failure. We’re not sure if this is caused by improperly heat-treated batches or cheap Wolf ammo with primers that get pulled back into the bolt causing primer material to get jammed up and blocking the firing pin which eventually leads to light primer strikes and firing pin failure.
The bolt retainer pin may be out of spec and fall out easily on earlier batches but this issue has been addressed on current batches, or so we’re told. Our advice is to avoid using Wolf ammo if at all possible and maybe buy a couple of spare firing pins just in case. We haven’t come across any major issues like trunnion failures or bad riveting or barrel issues.
Our Take on the PSAK-47 GF3:
For an AK with this many variations, we think the GF3 is a really good value for an AK of this build quality. The finishes on PSA AKs are some of the best we’ve come across and hold up really well to scratches and the elements. Riveting is also exceptional on such an entry-level AK.
“The PSAK-47 GF3 was designed from the ground up to be a new standard in AK-47 rifles, utilizing all new precision manufactured parts. Thoroughly tested in development, we tortured tested to 10,000 rounds to ensure a quality product. Not to be satisfied with just a good AK-47, we kept improving and now are proud to announce our PSAK-47 Gen3 Hammer Forged (GF3) rifle with a hammer forged bolt, carrier, and front trunnion.
The 4150 barrel is nitride treated for accuracy and durability and is pressed into a new hammer forged front trunnion to ensure the longevity AK-47’s are known for. The hardened steel 1mm receiver features a mil-spec style single hook trigger, and side rail mount. The front trunnion and bolt carrier are engraved with GF3 to designate the GF3 hammer-forged model. The rifle is finished with an Enhanced Aluminum M-Lok Upper/Lower Handguard with Picatinny Top Rail, Magpul AR-15 stock, AK/AR Buffer tube adaptor, PSA 6-position buffer tube, and Magpul AK-47 polymer grip; Rifle ships with 30 round Magpul magazine (where allowed by law).”
SOURCE: PALMETTOSTATEARMORY.COM
Despite using a non-hammer-forged 4150 steel barrel with a nitride coating (for durability), it hasn’t decreased accuracy by a substantial amount. 2.5-3.0 MOA groups at 50-100 yards (respectively) are perfectly acceptable metrics for a reasonably serviceable AK-47 rifle. You can achieve better results with higher-quality ammo though. Tula rounds seem to render the worse groups in my experience but sometimes it’s more important to just put rounds downrange and train!
PSAK-47 GF3 5,000 Round Torture Test:
No more bullshit talk! Let’s dig into the guts of this AK and see what’s inside! (Spoiler: It’s a survivor)
Results of the Torture Test:
As you can observe from the images above, the wear patterns on the bolt, carrier, tang, and trunnion are pretty typical and boring for an AKM after 5,000 rounds. No issues with the riveting and all are holding up and looking good. The slight deformation on the carrier tang is due to the wonky angle geometry they put on these hammers but there has been no progression after these parts conform at their angle of impact.
One trick to prevent this from happening involves removing the hammer from the trigger group, placing it in a vice, and using a Dremel to reprofile the hammer to achieve a completely smooth surface free of ridges, odd angles, and bumps. This will also improve the action of your AK and prevent the carrier from getting hung up when cycling the bolt. We found a good tutorial for you to check out on KLAYCO47’s channel showing you how to do this yourself- if you feel so inclined: How to smooth out your action
PSAK-47 GF3 Price & Availability in 2023:
The prices on the GF3 AKs start at $799 and go up to $899. As of this writing, all 20 furniture variants are actually in stock. All AKs share the same basic part but only differ in furniture setup. These price differences reflect the added cost of the furniture and features used to make that particular rifle. Some of the most popular packages include the Magpul MOE furniture. The all-wood furniture is a popular choice for AK purists or those who simply appreciate the classic “AK-47 look”.
Our Final Score For PSAK-47 GF3
We definitely approve of the PSAK-47 GF3 as a great overall AK to have if you’re just getting into the game. It makes a great starter, entry-level rifle and you won’t feel too bad if you put a few scratches on it whilst larping at your local AK competition match. If it had a premium cold hammer-forged, chrome-lined barrel we’d definitely rate it higher!
Well, that’s all we’ve got for you thus far but check back often to find out about any updates on this particular rifle. As always, thank you for your support by reading and sharing the information we provide to give you all the info you need to help assist in making your final AK selection!
