The Romanian PSL sniper rifle is commonly encountered now in the US, often sold as a "Dragunov" to the unwary, it is cosmetically similiar & uses the same basic style furniture but is a different rifle. The PSL uses an RPK reciever (stamped versus the milled Dragunov receiver) w/the AK long stroke piston for the 7.62x54r cartridge, they also have a bolt hold open device built into the receivr. Most are found w/Russian scopes but the military guns use a Romanian version of the Soviet PSO1 scope which doesn't have the external battery compartment for the illuminator, it used Tritium to light the reticle. These guns have been sold as PSL's, FPK's, & Romak's (aside from being erroneously called Dragunov's). Some of the guns I believe were actual military guns with the bayonet lug ground off & the brake tack welded in place, some never had the bayonet band put on (or were removed) most were built for commercial sale in the US & have a smooth barrel, no stop for the bayonet band, no band & have the Russian mfg scope. There are also some currently on the market that were assembled from parts kits onto a new receiver.
Album by willyp. Photos by willyp. 1 - 53 of 53 Total. 63446 Visits.
PSL w/accs A Romanian PSL sniper w/issue kit, including the bayonet/scabbard (early version w/leather frog), pouch, 4 spare mags, scope cover, sling & cleaning/maintenance tools in pouch
PSL set w/accs detail Shown here is the cleaning kit, 3 section cleaning rod & tool, lens cloth, 4 spare mags wrapped in original plastic.
PSL w/cover Shown here w/the scope action cover over the action.
Different PSL w/o bayonet lug This is another PSL, this one has no bayonet lug band fitted but still has the finned barrel & stops for the lug band. SPF
PSL butt right side
PSL swivel Shown here w/the Romanian leather sling, which I believe was the earlier issue,later the Romanians also issued a bright green nylon weave sling.
rear of PSL receiver The PSL used an RPK receiver but also added this reinforcement in the rear for the full battle rifle size 7.62x54 cartridge.
Action right side note the RPK style receiver w/the reinforcing flanges in the front & the additional reinforcement in the rear. Also note scope which is a Romanian issue not the Russian battery powered scopes many of the commercial guns came with.
RPK front reinforcement flange
Serial number on front of mag This particular rifle came w/2 10 round mags which are both numbered to the gun
PSL forend
Muzzle w/bayonet fitted The bayonet/scabbard match each other but not the rifle. Bayonet has the correct Romanian insulator, leather frog & wrist strap.
Barrel rib detail A closeup of the barrel where it meets the rear of the bayonet lug band. The ribs are for cooling, & there is a small shoulder for the band. Many of the later guns had smooth barrels (better commercial appearance) & no shoulder (no bands were to be fitted).
Muzzle of the other PSL This rifle has no (& doesn't appear to ever have had) bayonet lug band but the barrel has the rough fins & the shoulder for the lug band.
Romanian scope, inside (rail) view Here's a view of the inside of the Romanian scope mounting rail, the scope has the rifle serial number stamped next to the locking/adjustment screw. There is also a small tag tied w/twine w/the rifle number written in ink tied to the front upright
Closeup of the serial number stamp
Scope/action cover right side very similiar to the Soviet SVD style but is a nylon? material not canvas
Scope/action cover left side The cover can be strapped over the scope off the rifle & fits in a large pocket in the mag/accs pouch, it will also cover the scope & action when affixed to the rifle.
Romanian scope left side view. It is very similiar to the Soviet PSO but uses a tritium element to light the reticle rather than an external battery as the Soviet scope does. The tritium elements have a limited life & most that were left in place on the scopes that made it to the US are no longer functional.
Windage drum for scope This scope has no markings on the drums, this may indicate they were replaced for export?
Range drum The scope is adjusted the same way the Soviet PSO scopes are.
Paper tag w/rifle number
Metal plate on scope mount
Muzzle detail left side
Bayonet lug This rifle had the lug restored, it had the lug band on the rifle but the lug had been ground. Most have no lug band which would make it fairly difficult to restore.
Muzzle left w/bayonet
Muzzle w/bayonet affixed
Barrel fin detail just in front of gas port
Forend left side
PSLLugMagAccs 1
rear sight
Markings on rear sight base left side
Left front receiver reinforcement flange
PSLLugRail 1
Left rear receiver reinforcement plate
PSLLugActnL 1
Receiver markings on the other PSL
Rear receiver cover latch detail
Numbered action parts Here's a view of the bolt, bolt carrier & recoil spring assembly all of which have the rifle serial as does the receiver cover.
Left side butt
Closeup of sling attachment & buttplate
PSLLugLW-Accs 1 Here the scope is dismounted
Accs/mag pouch The pockets on the front hold the mags, there is a seperator inside for the scope/mount, w/seperate pockets for the cleaning rods, kit, lens cover & tool.
Tools Here's a view of the 3 pc cleaning rod set, small tool, lens cloth & the cleaning kit w/jags etc. The square kit came w/the rifle, I thought they used the standard Romanian AK round tube kit, this may be just another variation, there is a round pouch in the flap that the round kit would fit into but this square kit fits into a square pocket at the bottom of the pouch.
Left view w/the cover on
PSLLugSetL 1
PSLLugL 1
Bolt open device in action These rifles have a bolt hold open which is a mechanical device built into the receiver. There is a lug that slides through the receiver center support, it is spring loaded & has a "foot" on the bottom, when the mag is empty the floorplate contacts & raises the "foot" pushing the lug up in front of the bolt face as shown here. The only other AK type actions that have hold opens are the Yugo & some Chinese models although these aren't actually "devices", they use a raised ridge on the rear of the mag cartridge follower to hold open the bolt, the device is part of the mag not the rifle.
Bolt hold open w/empty mag in well In this view the bolt/piston/cover are off, an empty mag is in the mag well & you cansee the bolt hold open lug in the raised position.
Bolt hold open w/no mag in the well This pic was taken w/no mag in the well, the lug is down & even w/the center support.
Bolt hold open "foot" This is a pic into the bottom of the mag well w/no mag inserted showing the "foot" of the hold open device w/it's spring in the lowered (or fire) position.
