PSL (rifle)

The PSL (Romanian: Pușcă Semiautomată cu Lunetă, 7.62x54mm model 1974, "scoped semi-automatic rifle") is a Romanian designated marksman rifle. It is also called PSL-54C, Romak III, FPK and SSG-97 (Scharfschützengewehr 1997). Though similar in appearance, mission and specifications to the SVD Dragunov, the PSL rifle is mechanically completely different as it is based on the RPK light machine gun, with its internals simply being scaled up to accommodate the more powerful 7.62×54mmR cartridge.

After Socialist Romania's refusal to join the Invasion of Czechoslovakia, relations with the Soviet Union worsened. To counterbalance its reliance on Soviet military equipment, Romania accelerated the development of its arms industry, mostly relying on Soviet blueprints and licenses. As the Soviets were not eager to share technical information on the SVD Dragunov, a project commenced to develop the PSL.

PSL rifles were originally made at the Uzina Mecanică Cugir in Cugir, Romania starting with 1974. It was used by all branches of the Romanian Army, several internal troops and police units and the Gărzi Patriotice. After a consolidation of military arsenals when Romania joined NATO, a split of the factory occurred. Production of the PSL continues in Cugir under the brand SC Fabrica de Arme Cugir SA (ARMS arsenal), Romania.

The PSL rifle was designed to meet all the requirements of the SVD Dragunov. Its primary purpose is to be used by a squad level sniper, to engage targets at ranges beyond the capabilities of the standard issue AKM assault rifles. It is built around a stamped steel receiver similar to that of the RPK light machine gun; having a wider forward section enabling a strengthened, more substantial front trunnion. The PSL's operation is the same long stroke piston action of the Kalashnikov family of weapons. Its appearance is similar to the Dragunov sniper rifle, but they only share three components, the ammunition, optics, and bayonets.

North Korea Manufactures a gun locally that appears to be based on the PSL. Although some sources claim it is a Zastava M76 clone.

The PSL is chambered for the same 7.62×54mmR (rimmed) cartridge as the Dragunov, and feeds from a ten-round detachable box magazine. The magazine used on the PSL differs from that of Dragunov models in that it is stamped with an X-shaped pattern on the side, rather than the waffle style stamp found on the Russian and Chinese magazines. The magazines are not interchangeable between the Dragunov and PSL without modification.

The PSL has been in service in Romania since the 1970s and is sold on the world market. Although capable of 1 Minute of angle (approximately 1" at 100 yards) or less, the PSL has had issues with its bolt carriers cracking when used with heavy ball (147 grain or greater) ammo and silencers, in part due to the lack of an adjustable gas system. Aftermarket gas system upgrades (both PSL dedicated and retrofitted standard AK) have been used to solve this problem.

The PSL's skeleton stock includes a corrugated and spring-loaded stamped steel buttplate. When the rifle is fired this helps reduce the felt recoil to a degree. The cheek riser on the comb of the stock is angled to benefit the right-handed shooter primarily.