BigSal quietly misses the launch of the PSA Type 56 non-spiker

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - BigSal quietly misses the launch of the PSA Type 56 non-spiker

Posted: 4/24/2023 7:09:21 PM EDT

Surprisingly the blonde version is was in stock. I assume the redwood version will have the most appeal.

https://palmettostatearmory.com/ak-47/type-56.html

Posted: 4/24/2023 9:44:13 PM EDT

[#1]

Quoted:
Surprisingly the blonde version is was in stock. I assume the redwood version will have the most appeal.

https://palmettostatearmory.com/ak-47/type-56.html

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Poor Big Sal, must of took a nap.

Posted: 4/24/2023 9:57:28 PM EDT

[#2]

Son of a gun! You throw your back out ONE time and someone gets the jump on ya!

(Also cool rifle, let’s hope the state of Washington’s ban is overturned).

Posted: 4/24/2023 10:01:06 PM EDT

[#3]

I live to scoop BigSal on AK news. Another page has today been written in my memoirs.

Posted: 4/25/2023 7:18:08 AM EDT

[#4]

would be a lot cooler if it was milled......

Posted: 4/25/2023 8:50:41 AM EDT

[#5]

A milled gun called the PSA Legend or something like that would be nifty.

From what I understand, PSA does plan on selling the various Chinese parts so people can build their own variants or de-ban MAK90s etc. Maybe someone will get a few of these parts and build on a Tortort receiver. That might be pretty cool.

Posted: 4/25/2023 12:39:07 PM EDT

[#6]

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Quoted:
I live to scoop BigSal on AK news. Another page has today been written in my memoirs.

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Have to admit, I enjoyed it also.

Not often Big Sal gets scooped.

Posted: 4/25/2023 7:17:47 PM EDT

[#7]

@PalmettoStateArmory

Any chance of you making a Type 84 kopy? Basically this gun right here except in 5.56? Keep it AC Unity/Beryl mag format for simplicity. A 5.56 Spiker would also be darned cool!

Posted: 4/26/2023 12:14:09 AM EDT

[#8]

Quote History

Quoted:
I live to scoop BigSal on AK news. Another page has today been written in my memoirs.

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Quoted:
I live to scoop BigSal on AK news. Another page has today been written in my memoirs.

Quoted:
Have to admit, I enjoyed it also.

Not often Big Sal gets scooped.

You live on the internet for ten years and are off for just a little bit, and THIS is what happens.... I'll never live it down..

Posted: 4/26/2023 9:09:57 AM EDT

[#9]

I see the model with the yellow wood is in stock again. Should I fo?

Posted: 4/26/2023 9:42:11 AM EDT

[#10]

Quote History

Quoted: would be a lot cooler if it was milled......

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That's what I was expecting. Is anyone making a complete milled AK, or importing one to the States now?

Posted: 4/26/2023 9:59:25 AM EDT

[#11]

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Quoted:
I see the model with the yellow wood is in stock again. Should I fo?

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I would, lol.

Posted: 4/26/2023 10:21:53 AM EDT

[#12]

These are ??.

Darn bills and responsibilities..

Posted: 4/26/2023 10:58:53 AM EDT

[#13]

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Quoted:
These are ??.

Darn bills and responsibilities..

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What about your responsibility of supporting American business? What about the poor downtrodden workers of PSA? I'm sure they have bills to pay as well.

Posted: 4/26/2023 11:07:57 AM EDT

[#14]

Quote History

Quoted:
@PalmettoStateArmory

Any chance of you making a Type 84 kopy? Basically this gun right here except in 5.56? Keep it AC Unity/Beryl mag format for simplicity. A 5.56 Spiker would also be darned cool!

View Quote

No plans as of this time.

Thanks,

Josiah

Posted: 4/26/2023 12:19:39 PM EDT

[#15]

Quote History

Quoted:

You live on the internet for ten years and are off for just a little bit, and THIS is what happens.... I'll never live it down..

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View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
I live to scoop BigSal on AK news. Another page has today been written in my memoirs.

Quoted:
Have to admit, I enjoyed it also.

Not often Big Sal gets scooped.

You live on the internet for ten years and are off for just a little bit, and THIS is what happens.... I'll never live it down..

The internet is fickle and can be humorous.

Posted: 4/26/2023 12:59:40 PM EDT

[#16]

Perhaps this version would be low hanging fruit. I have wanted a copy of this version since the pre-94 gun show days.

Attached File

Armed Forces of Malta Photographer - ©2013 Justin Gatt, all rights reserved

Posted: 4/27/2023 8:39:11 AM EDT

[#17]

Quote History

Quoted:
Perhaps this version would be low hanging fruit. I have wanted a copy of this version since the pre-94 gun show days.

https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/55158/Malta_Chinese_AK_png-2796541.JPG

Armed Forces of Malta Photographer - 2013 Justin Gatt, all rights reserved

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I'll say it, that guy needs to be taught how to get a good site picture.....

I had one of those folders before, and it was just kinda mhe to be honest, but that's just like my opinion man.

Posted: 4/27/2023 6:05:08 PM EDT

[#18]

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Quoted:
I'll say it, that guy needs to be taught how to get a good site picture.....

I had one of those folders before, and it was just kinda mhe to be honest, but that's just like my opinion man.

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@nictra

It looks like he might be right-handed, yet left eye dominant. His position definitely looks strained.

On the Chinese side folder bit, what were your complaints about the setup? Having owned an under folder (Arsenal in-line stock), it seems to me that this type of side folder would only be an improvement with respect to cheek weld. Granted, I have not touched one of these side folders since the early 90s at gun shows, so there may be flaws in the design that I simply don't remember.

Posted: 4/28/2023 9:21:00 AM EDT

[#19]

Quote History

Quoted:

@nictra

It looks like he might be right-handed, yet left eye dominant. His position definitely looks strained.

On the Chinese side folder bit, what were your complaints about the setup? Having owned an under folder (Arsenal in-line stock), it seems to me that this type of side folder would only be an improvement with respect to cheek weld. Granted, I have not touched one of these side folders since the early 90s at gun shows, so there may be flaws in the design that I simply don't remember.

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It's been since the mid 90's for me since I owned one.

I dunno, it's the Chinese furniture really. To me the HG and PG killed it for me. The stock itself wasn't bad, especially if it still has the cleaning kit that kits in it (that's a neat design btw and something I wish the triangle folder had.)

It's just not as well executed as the Russian and Bulgarian stuff, but that's just my opinion. The rear trunnion and folding knuckle is actually quite beefy, and should hold up to quite a few butt strokes.

Basically, it was cool, especially at the time, but not cool enough to keep.

Posted: 5/1/2023 6:06:43 PM EDT

[#20]

Received. Pics will be posted shortly.

Initial impressions are decent. Only immediate complaint is that the gas tube retaining lever is extremely loose. It flops around badly. I will take a brass punch to the left side and see if I can't tighten it a bit.

Posted: 5/1/2023 9:28:41 PM EDT

[#21]

Posted: 5/1/2023 9:34:40 PM EDT

[#22]

Posted: 5/2/2023 11:16:49 AM EDT

[#23]

my spiker had the same issue. Took out my little ballpeen hammer and massaged it so it had better fitment. No more loose gas tube lever.

Brass punch is probably a better option.

Posted: 5/2/2023 2:59:56 PM EDT

[#24]

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Quoted:

Brass punch is probably a better option.

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The brass punch and ball peen hammer didn't have the mass to get what I needed done. All I essentially did here was knock the paint off.

I ended up putting a shop towel around the rear sight block and then squeezing the lever in a vice. This did the trick although the left side cut through the fabric. Now I need to clean things up a little with some sand paper and a little dab of cold blue.

PSA does seem to have a lingering issue with these levers. I guess some people want them to be movable with fingers alone. But this one wasn't even that tight.

Posted: 5/3/2023 7:27:28 AM EDT

[#25]

Damned WA state BS has made it so we cannot get them, would have liked a Spiker variant just for the hell of it…. Don’t really shoot the real one very often. PSA copy would be fine to beat up though.

Been watching them for Norinco furniture also, never seems to be in stock. Need a few copies of the wood!

Posted: 5/3/2023 12:48:49 PM EDT

[#26]

I want a 2nd spiker but I haven't seen them in stock for a while now, was there only one run or will there be more? Anyone have a clue?

Posted: 5/4/2023 7:14:56 AM EDT

[#27]

Quoted:

I want a 2nd spiker but I haven't seen them in stock for a while now, was there only one run or will there be more? Anyone have a clue?

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Spikers will be back in production next week

Posted: 5/4/2023 9:46:48 AM EDT

[#28]

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Quoted:

Spikers will be back in production next week

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I wonder if PSA fixed the bayonet and cleaning rod issues on this new batch? I guess we will know shortly...

Posted: 5/4/2023 10:25:50 AM EDT

[#29]

don't know about cleaning rod issues, but if I was to do the grove in the lower HG retainer myself, it would cause wobble in the bayonet. Not a huge deal as it's easily fixed with a little spot weld and some filing, but something I'm not really wanting to do right now. I mainly bought the Spiker as a tribute to my beginnings.

Posted: 5/4/2023 7:47:52 PM EDT

[#30]

Here are some comparison shots of the PSA rear sight and block compared to one from my demil MAK-90.

As with other items on the gun, PSA seems to have tried to get pretty darned close to the Chinese rather than use whatever blocks are on the GF3, AK103, etc. At least I assume that's the case. Maybe PSA has been using a Chinese inspired block all along.

Chinese:

PSA:

Pretty close in overall style and shape. Note the rather lousy job of flaring the gas tube lever. A combination of poor attention to detail at PSA during final assembly and then a lack of patience and proper tools on my end. Just FYI a ball bearing and a vice work better for flaring than a punch and hammer....

The one thing then that would seem to be the anomaly is PSA using what I assume is the stock trunnion from their other fixed stock guns. Does using this same trunnion mean the T56 is more easily outfitted with an optic rail? Is there an optic rail version planned? If not then why skip this last detail and not use a stock trunnion with more correct rivet spacing?

Posted: 5/5/2023 7:15:10 AM EDT

[#31]

Here's what I believe is a hardness test mark. This should be a good thing. Hopefully it means the end of peening to PSA bolt tails.

Posted: 5/6/2023 7:34:27 AM EDT

[#32]

Did yours come with the cleaning rod?

Posted: 5/6/2023 8:53:26 AM EDT

[#33]

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Did yours come with the cleaning rod?

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Yes.

Posted: 5/7/2023 11:09:23 AM EDT

[#34]

Comparison photos of a Chinese BCG and the PSA.

Just taking measurements here and there, the two assemblies are quite close to each other. The biggest difference would seem to be the depth of the bolt face. The Chinese measures .113" and the PSA is .110" in this regard.

The Chinese assembly fits and hand cycles smoothly in the PSA. I didn't both checking head space with my 7.62x39 field gauge.

Posted: 5/7/2023 5:19:53 PM EDT

[#35]

My 1st shooting session. 120 rounds fired using a Tapco, KCI, PSA and Bulgarian magazine. Ammo was S&B and a few homemade frang using a Sinterfire bullet and 4198.

I did have a stove pipe on the 6th or 7th round through the gun. After that I had no issues.

I had to push the front sight to the left a bit to correct windage. Elevation seemed correct.

I see a slight rolling on the right side of the trunnion. The tail on the bolt carrier looks fine as does the bolt and carrier.

I'd say we're off to a good start.

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