Palmetto State Armory
PSA JAKL 16" 5.56
Long-stroke gas piston 5.56 with a monolithic upper, non-reciprocating side charging handle, and an F5 side-folding stock that runs without a buffer tube. Uses standard AR-15 lowers and STANAG magazines.
Key Highlights
- •Long-stroke gas piston action with an 8-position adjustable gas block
- •Side-folding F5 stock with no buffer tube in the upper
- •AR-15 lower and STANAG magazine compatibility
Specifications
- Price
- $1,300
- Weight
- 8 lb 2 oz
- Calibers
- 5.56x45mm, .223 Rem
- Rail Type
- mlok
Capability Profile
0-10 Scale Across 8 Axes
Compatibility Tags
Overview
The PSA JAKL is Palmetto State Armory's long-stroke gas piston take on the 5.56 carbine, and it solves two problems that dog most piston ARs: it folds and it stays clean. The action is AK-derived, with an 8-position adjustable gas block and a non-reciprocating ambidextrous side charging handle that clears the optic rail entirely. The monolithic 6105 aluminum upper captures the recoil system, so the F5 Manufacturing stock folds flat against the receiver with no buffer tube in the way; the rifle fires folded in a pinch. It runs standard AR-15 lowers, AR fire control groups, and STANAG magazines, so the controls and feeding are familiar even though the upper half is proprietary.
Key Features
- 16" 4150V chrome-moly-vanadium barrel, 1:7 twist, nitride finish, 1/2x28 threads
- Long-stroke gas piston operating system with 8-position adjustable gas block
- Non-reciprocating ambidextrous side charging handle
- Monolithic 6105 aluminum upper with M-LOK at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock and a full-length top rail
- F5 MFG side-folding stock with no buffer tube; fires while folded
- Standard AR-15 lower receiver, AR fire control group, and STANAG magazine compatibility
Pros
- +Adjustable gas piston runs cleaner than direct impingement and tunes easily for suppressors
- +Folds flat without a buffer tube, and fires folded
- +Side charging handle avoids charging-handle and optic interference
- +Uses standard AR-15 lowers, triggers, and STANAG magazines
- +1/2x28 muzzle accepts common 5.56 muzzle devices and suppressor mounts
Cons
- −Roughly 1.5 lbs heavier than a comparable direct-impingement AR-15
- −Front-heavy balance from the piston mass
- −Proprietary monolithic upper limits barrel and handguard swaps
- −Folding stock has some play when deployed
Detailed Specifications
- caliber
- 5.56 NATO / .223 Rem
- Barrel Length
- 16 inches
- Twist Rate
- 1:7
- barrel
- 4150V chrome-moly-vanadium, nitride finish
- Gas System
- Long-stroke gas piston, 8-position adjustable gas block
- Muzzle Device
- Threaded 1/2x28
- handguard
- Monolithic 6105 upper, M-LOK at 3/6/9 with full-length top rail
- stock
- F5 MFG side-folding modular stock, no buffer tube
- Receiver
- 6105 aluminum monolithic upper, forged 7075 lower
- msrp
- Line MSRP around $1,299.99; package and finish dependent
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1 shared compatibility tags
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