PSA AK-104: The Perfect Kalash?

One thing is abundantly clear – Palmetto State Armory is hell-bent on arming the American people in as many ways possible. Ranging from budget-minded AR kits and complete rifles to jumping into the AK game with both feet and now bringing out a solid polymer handgun, PSA is crushing not just the market but the opponents of an armed civilian populace. They’re so committed to the cause they even decided to bring a steel case ammo factory to the US as a big middle finger to the Biden regime and corrupt US State Department. A big part of this is their building a modern AK that is every bit the rival of its Russian-made counterparts, with the 104 being among the best of the designs.

Mag change with PSA GF3. Been running this one for nearly two years now with zero complaints.

The team down in SC really like the AK platform, diligently working to make not just another domestically produced AK, which as the Kalash community knows has been dicey at best, but make the best AK possible in any market. When they decided to build their version of the current AK-100 series AKs here in the US, many were skeptical. They got the AKM right with the GF3, even incorporating features normally found on Arsenal or custom builds at a lower price point and more common availability. [ check out my review of the PSA GF3 ]  Their incarnation of the 100 series is slightly different than the Kalashnikov Concern 100 series; namely, the bolt is a standard AKM pattern (versus the smaller diameter stem of the 74 which Izhmash uses for the entire line) and the barrels are produced by FN, meaning that the operator is getting perhaps the best barrel ever offered in the AK platform. Having a lot of experience with FN barrels both in the M4A1, several of my own weapons, the 240B and M249, I can say they are the very best.

AK-104 bolt carrier group, standard, robust AK pattern.

The decision to keep the 100 series action in line with the AKM series weapons was one criticized in collector’s corners of the internet, lamenting that it wasn’t a ‘true’ AK-100; they’re right. This one is better. The difference between the AKM and the AK-74 and in turn, the 100 series is a small stem of the bolt seating into the bolt carrier. The reason the small stem was kept in the 100 series by Izhmash is simple, they were already mass producing the 74 and the smaller stem reduced weight, although a larger bolt stem, true to the original design, makes more logical sense when stepping up to the 7.62×39.

This weapon reviewed is the AK-104; a more compact version of the AK-103 with an integrated front sight and gas block. The 104 (and 105 in 5.45) was designed as a replacement for the AKSU-74, which was too short for effective use of the 5.45×39 – a problem the 7.62×39 does not suffer with shortened barrels. The AMD-65’s prevalence and favored use in Afghanistan, where I came to appreciate its attributes, no doubt would have an impact on the decision to put this little carbine into production. I’m glad they did.

100m group from rifle-stocked 104, prone unsupported, open sights.

100m group AK-104 pistol, prone unsupported, open sights. One flier to the left was my error.

In reviewing this weapon one was supplied by Palmetto State Armory and another in pistol form was purchased by me as a control. Both proved to be boring – smooth, reliable, and accurate. Typical example of a well-built Kalashnikov. Rivet work, smoothness of the action, even down to the recoil impulse, everything about both of these 104s gets a go. There’s not a lot else you can say about it; its a Kalashnikov, in what is, at least in my opinion, the best expression of the platform. This has quickly become my go-to weapon due to its lightweight, handy nature and higher intermediate terminal performance. I plan on putting and Ultimak and Holosun on them in the very near future.

Get one.

By Published On: November 28, 2021Categories: NC Scout, Weapons3 Comments on PSA AK-104: The Perfect Kalash?

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About the Author: NC Scout

NC Scout is the nom de guerre of a former Infantry Scout and Sergeant in one of the Army’s best Reconnaissance Units. He has combat tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He teaches a series of courses focusing on small unit skills rarely if ever taught anywhere else in the prepping and survival field, including his RTO Course which focuses on small unit communications. In his free time he is an avid hunter, bushcrafter, writer, long range shooter, prepper, amateur radio operator and Libertarian activist. He can be contacted at brushbeater@tutanota.com or via his blog at brushbeater.wordpress.com .

3 Comments

  1. Whydah November 28, 2021 at 10:19

    I have no shortage of ARs and like them very much. Most I assembled myself. But I also love everything about AKs and have owned a number of them of both Asian and Eastern European lineages. Never an American-Made AK. But PSA piked my interest and after reading numerous reviews from people like yourself I have a PSA AK-103 on the way to my local dealer. The FN barrel and AK-74 brake did it for me although my wife is saying I ordered a “purple” rifle. Its PLUM, Darling!

  2. Tunnel Rabbit November 28, 2021 at 14:22

    The M1 Carbine became wildly popular as was much needed club out of the bag of many clubs. In WW2 combine weapons were used to good effect. Temping this old man with a short and sweet pistol package in a .30 cal cartridge that folds to just over 21” in length, is temping for good reason. Not only is it more compact than an AR pistol intended for CQB, this baby is shorter and offers much better ballistics for the job. The AR pistols using M193 loose velocity at rate of about 75 fps for every inch the barrel is reduced. A 10.5 inch AR barrel thusly produces a velocity that is roughly 450fps slower than that ammunition was originally designed for to produce the necessary terminal ballistics needed to stop the fight. Therefore I would rather have an AR in the form of the ASR-15 with a folding stock:https://www.shieldarms.com/asr-kit-16-rifle. Paul Harrel expertly demonstrates the lack of stopping power of the AR pistol in this video: https://youtu.be/VeBwSjMdY0I To compensate for the lack of MV when using M193, I would use Hornady’s .223 V-Max ammunition: https://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/Wound+Database/.224+Cal+-+Hornady+V-Max.html

    From Brent0331 another PSA AK-P Review

    https://youtu.be/ss5KOCA9LBY

    https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-ak-p-red-wood-triangle-side-folding-pistol-with-cheese-grater-upper-handguard2.html

  3. Reluctant Millennial November 29, 2021 at 11:38

    Glad to hear you talk about the bolt stem. When doing research for my purchase of a 103 clone (Kalashnikov USA vs PSA), the PSA kept getting bashed for having the wrong bolt stem and folding stock hinge pin to be a true 100-series clone. I decided on the PSA (picking it up from my dealer today!) for several reasons, but I much prefer a thicker, more robust bolt stem for the 7.62 cartridge over the “correct” thin. Plus it gives the ability to more easily source a replacement bolt.

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