DefenseReview.com (DR): An online tactical technology and military defense technology magazine with particular focus on the latest and greatest tactical firearms news (tactical gun news), tactical gear news and tactical shooting news.
By Toby Melville of LEPUS210
February 10, 2025
The firearms business in the United States is a fast-paced growing market, with no lack of innovation. Weapon manufacturers rush headfirst into the future with new designs and improvements over existing legacy weapons, and this trend is only outdone by companies that produce accessories for existing firearms. With so many establishments creating new products, I find that it’s the proven historical designs that provide fruitful gains within the industry. As the saying goes, we stand on the shoulders of giants. So, then, Palmetto State Armory has taken a page from history and through giants, has risen to new heights. The PSA Jakl-15 is a new take on greatness from titans of old who have relinquished their secrets to provide us mere mortals with something new.
The PSA Jakl-15 is a well-known and respected rifle. The Jakl is not a combat-proven weapon, but what it lacks in validation, it makes up for it with competent and advanced design and function. Palmetto State Armory is an amazing company that combines innovation with similar ideas to those the once-great Henry Ford pioneered. The concept is a company that can create quality-built products, while keeping the cost down by manufacturing as much as possible in-house. Thus, they own the means of production (or as much as possible of it), and they can streamline the product by not over-stretching their ability by producing too many products. PSA takes this concept one step further than Ford; Henry Ford is noted to have said “Any customer can have any car painted any color that he wants, so long as it is black.” Well PSA offers a host of colors besides black, but the production line is busy with a proven record of good products at various trim levels, with new products coming out regularly.
As many may already know, the Jakl-15 is a combination of previous designs, but combines the best qualities into one ferocious concoction. The use of the AR-15 lower, the iconic American rifle, is almost a prerequisite for any 21st-century design manufactured in the United States. It is the upper receiver where the true genius of the Jakl shines through. Borrowing from FN, PSA uses the extruded one-piece aluminum upper with a modular MLOC lower handguard, and ensures it’s fully compatible with an AR-15 lower receiver. This isn’t groundbreaking, but the PSA chose the gas system wisely. Like the Korean Daewoo 200 and PWS, PSA chose to utilize the AK47’s long-stroke piston operating system. The long-stroke piston has a long-proven combat record. It minimizes moving parts, while offering exceptional reliability.
PSA would not be outdone. They continued to give the customer what they knew professionals, enthusiasts, and YouTube LARPers would like. PSA gave us a captured recoil system for virtually any stock or brace option, a forward-mounted non-reciprocating interchangeable charging handle, and an adjustable gas system. The PSA Jakl-15 is quite literally the “poor man’s SCAR” but without all the issues that come with owning a $3000 weapon that is prone to a host of small issues. That said, the Jakl isn’t perfect. A new platform is going to have problems, and the Jakl is no exception. One thing PSA has been exceptional at providing as a “budget-friendly weapon manufacturer” is customer service. PSA has gone to great lengths to ensure they keep their customers satisfied, and they listen to them. If there are issues, PSA analyzes the problem, seeks to rectify the problem, and determines suitable solutions that address and rectify it.
The Jakl is available in a litany of options, ranging from a plethora of colors, furniture options, barrel lengths, calibers, and rifle or pistol variants. These options are fine and dandy, but it’s the continued expansion of the platform and the continuous updating that shows the longevity of the platform. PSA has the foresight to ensure the Jakl is more than a rifle. It’s a line of products that can be expanded or altered based on the user’s requirements.
There have been three major complaints about the platform. The first is the least of the hierarchy of complaints, the accuracy. The Jakl-15 was not intended as a precision platform, and I would argue precision platforms that are intended as 5.56 (5.56x45mm) chambered weapons are quite limited in true combat effectiveness. This is not due to a lack of lethality of the round, but rather the light weight and the susceptibility of 5.56 to becoming ineffective at distance due to environmental factors, like wind and obstacles. That said, the PSA Jakl meets the US Military’s base requirements of 4 MOA with ease. This is a platform with the potential of becoming a combat-viable weapon as it is refined. I would argue the consistent 2-3 MOA performance is more than viable. The second issue has been with the gas system, particularly when suppressing the weapon. PSA has met this issue head-on by offering a free upgraded gas plug to ensure reliable use with and without suppressors (silencers/sound suppressors). Finally, there have been some minor quality control issues as the weapon has proceeded in production. PSA has been excellent in ensuring customer satisfaction is met, and issues are quickly addressed. One point that some bring up is the weight. The Jakl is a thick boy. No doubt, given the piston combined with the handguard, the Jakl has junk in its trunk. However, I don’t find this to necessarily be a negative for the platform. In my opinion, weight, to a degree, adds to stability…but there is a point of no return.
My journey with the Jakl-15 has been one of great admiration. I actually own a SCAR H, and carried it professionally in Afghanistan. The overall design of both the SCAR and the Jakl are similar. I appreciate the more modular design of the Jakl, and love the simple and robust gas system the Jakl offers. I could see the Jakl benefiting from a high-quality fluted barrel, and maybe even an option for a composite handguard replacement for weight and thermal protection. Maybe in the future, PSA could offer a quick-change barrel, but this is a budget-friendly platform. The Jakl-15 doesn’t suffer from the over-engineered and defining issues that have plagued the SCAR program for over a decade.
Do not misunderstand, the SCAR is an amazing platform, and I’ve trusted my life to it. But, the cost of the Jakl-15 is a third of the SCAR, and the adaptability of the Jakl and its shared parts with the AR-15 give it a distinct overall advantage. From my personal experience, my Jakl-15 goes boom every time I pull the trigger, I do not experience stoppages or malfunctions that I wouldn’t experience in another platform when using old magazines or less desirable ammunition. The ability to choose any AR-based trigger, grip, and other accessories provides a serious advantage to the Jakl. The biggest detractor for the Jakl with the discerning taste of the modern American shooter is the overall accuracy and weight. Although its accuracy falls well within acceptable US standards, many civilian shooters tend to expect Ferrari performance out of Smart Car costs.
Furnishing my Jakl-15 was simple: I use a process I refer to as Concept and Application. I first assess what my particular need is for the platform. Then, after I have my niche, I apply what I believe I will need on the weapon, and decide how it will be configured. Through this process, I’ve built out my Jakl with professional use in mind. Since my Jakl-15 was in a pistol format, I was able to legally carry it for specific work I did professionally in my state. Because I worked in all types of lighting conditions and environments, I then chose to outfit my Jakl-15 in much the same regard as I did overseas or in the Military.
Outfitting my Jakl-15 starts with a Spike’s Tactical flash-hiding inline comp. This provides measured flash suppression and directs concussion directly forward, allowing for better use around friendlies and auto glass. On the hand guard, I’ve chosen a visible and IR laser with visible and IR-compatible light. Hand panels and an angled forward grip with a hand stop are critical for driving the muzzle and enable more stability for longer shots. Next, I chose a <ahref=https://gbrsgroupgear.com/products/gbrs-group-hydra-v2-mount-kit target=right>GBRS Group Hydra Riser with an EOTech HWS (Holographic Weapon Sight) and (EOTech) 3x Magnifier for passive co-witness if I choose not to use my IR laser. The trigger is a Geissele Automatics single stage coupled with a Magpul MOE Pistol Grip. Finishing off the build, I’m running a Magpul ACR Stock with a Picatinny adapter and a QD mount for my sling.
The Jakl-15 is not a light weapon, even with a 10.5” barrel. However, the weight was not a concern given the build’s role as a short weapon tailored for confined urban environments and moving through heavy vegetation. Engagements were expected to be well under 200 meters as a civilian working under license. The Jakl-15 has proven to be a reliable and versatile platform. With the short barrel and folding stock, this SBR can run clean and ensure consistent performance combined with a flexible and modular layout.
With all the modularity one expects from an AR platform, and the legendary operating system derived from the AK, the Jakl-15 is quickly forming a fan base that’s well deserved. PSA has delivered an operating system that lends itself to both camps. With the modularity of the AR and an operating system embracing the AK, the Jakl is poised to grow in ferocity. And, in due time, it’ll mature into a monster of a beast. Even now, the Jakl is a mean dog that’s running in a growing pack of variants that may soon dominate its sector of the weapons market.
Company Contact Info:
Palmetto State Armory
3760 Fernandina Rd.
Columbia, SC 29210
Phone: 877-560-7229
Email Contact Page: https://palmettostatearmory.com/help-center/contact/
Website: https://palmettostatearmory.com
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