Bore sighted my PSL...feel good about it!

[desert drifter]

I bought a Romanian PSL-54C on consignment at a local shop a couple of weeks ago. I've read that their availability will be drying up and I better get one while I had the chance. The scope that is on it is the IOR LPS TIP2 and when you looked at the reticle the center chevron was way down low in the lower left quadrant of the image. I figured that is just where it sighted in at...not a big issue with me. I was not really convinced that it was the scope that was shipped with the rifle anyway. And there could have been a few folks twisting the turrets before I bought it. Today I got the notion of bore sighting it before a big up coming shoot next month.

I measured the scopes axis at being 3 1/4 inches above the the centerline of the bore (best that I could determine) and left offset of 3/4 inch. I figured that I could laser bore sight it. I set up a table against a far wall in my house and through 3 rooms I place a sheet of paper to laser on the far wall. Thats 22 yards. I set up my "Lead Sled" that I got for fathers day on the table and placed the PSL down into the the cradles.

I then charged up my 7.62x54r lazer bore sighting cartridge and slid it into the chamber of the PSL and slowly let the bolt close down on the back of the bore sighter. Using the windage and elevation adjustments on the Lead Sled I placed the lazer dot in the middle of the 8 1/2 inch x 11 inch piece of copy paper. Now this is just a WAG because I'm not that smart. I walked through the 3 rooms to the paper and measured up about 2 3/4 inches above the laser dot and over to the left about 1/2 inch and drew a dime sized dot with a magic marker. That WAG should compensate for the rise of the bullet and the offset of the scope. When I got back to the PSL I then started twisting the scope turrets until I placed the center chevron on the black dot. It was incouraging to see that the reticle was back centered pretty much in the center of the scopes image. The whole excercise didn't take near as long as it has taken me to write about.

The only thing left to do was to record the setting of the marks on the turrets incase something happens in transit to the shoot. WOW! The elevation turret was sitting at -0- and the windage turret was setting at -1-. That made me feel pretty good about the scope. I had read that PSL scopes were sighted and the BDC and windage turrets were zeroed when shipped with the rifle. I think I lucked out by maybe getting the scope that was originally with the rifle. I'm feeling good about getting this sighted in now.

'drif

[SA1911a1]

That rifle is on my want list. I will be looking forward to the PICS and a range report.

[desdem12]

I like those PSLs too. Too bad they want a leg for them

[Junk Yard Dog]

[websterz]

Mind if we ask what it cost? Mine came from J&G a couple years back for $649 with the scope and 2 mags.

[The Feral Machinist]

I found one last weekend for the low price of $900. Needless to say I passed. I wanted to keep my leg.

[desert drifter]

For the PSL, the scope, scope cover, 4 magazines, accessory/magazine pouch, cleaning kit, cleaning rod, sling and I guess an IR filter and tax it was right at $800. Hard pill to swallow, but I told myself that todays $800 might be next years bargain. And, I didn't want a PSL to be included with a few other things I wish I would have bought in my life when I had the chance.

'drif

[bunkysdad]

Good score drifter. I too would like to see it. Sounds like a keeper so far.

[commie cannon]

My PSL was about the same price with all the goodies. Its dead on

I have the scope manual in a PDF form. It says how to adjust the scope by looseing the screws on the turrets. Ill gladly email it to anyone who wants it. Just send me a PM.

[polymerase2]

Pictures and range report to follow, right?

[Junk Yard Dog]

Pics??

[desert drifter]

Sorry for not responding sooner, Been busy the last week. Here's a pic.



I've pick some '80's Bulgarian ammo. I'm ready to go. Maybe next week.

'drif

[desdem12]

Nice.

[finloq]

Very nice.

[Ironnewt]

At the risk of sounding STUPID , how do you have two scopes in the picture? I mean there is one on the rifle and a second on the display or am I seeing weird things on this computer? BTW a very nice set up.

[desert drifter]

Don't they come with two scopes?

I had a chance to buy the extra one at a bargain I couldn't pass up. Very cheap insurance, I'd rather have it and never need it than to need it and not have it.

'drif

[Jolly Green Chopper]

I have a question about the the PSL . What is the difference between it and the Romaian FPK which resembles the Dragunov,which I have been tempted to give up a leg for. i think one is a Designated Marksman Rifle not a sniper rifle. Thanks and that is a fine PSL, you did good . JGC

[desert drifter]

This is what I've learned from internet studies.

The Dragunov SVD and its clones are DMRs not truely sniper systems but obviously used in that role. The Dragunov is not based on the Kalasnikov action but is designed to be familiar with troops it has a milled receiver, is a gas operated system and is expensive to manufacture. The Norinco NDM-86, Romanian PSL, Yugoslavian model and Iranian model are based on the Kalashnikov action. All of the models fire the 7.62x54r cardridge except the Yugoslavian model which fires the 8x57mm round.

In order for the PSL to be imported into the USA an internal part had to be removed and a new receiver made. The Romanian Cugir arsenal took existing PSL's, removed the part and receiver and rebuild the firearm on new receivers to be in compliance with regulations and renamed it the PSL-54c. That is why you can get a PSL-54C with all matching numbers and dated in the 70's and 80's. The Cugir arsenal also dismantled existing PSLs and made complete part kits (minus the non-complient parts) available. A Tennessee company bought these kits and built the FPL, but they also bought a few PSL-54Cs and rebranded them. Individual FPLs could have been made by the Cugir Arsenal, made in Tennessee from kits using Romanian receivers. Or built in Tennessee with kits using American receivers.

After Romania was accepted to NATO, or abouts, and adopted the NATO rounds it stopped making PSL's. The importation of PSL-54Cs (along with PSLs from Romania) has been diverted to supplying US, Iraq and Afghanistan troops. The rifles you see US, Iraqi and Afghani troops deploying on the evening news are probably PSLs, PSL-54Cs and ocassionally a SVD. It is doubtful that any PSL-54Cs will be imported back into the USA in the near future if ever. When the existing supply of PSL kits are exausted that will be the last of them being made. Russian SVDs and the Chinese NDN-86 have not been imported since the Clinton era. Both the PSL-54Cs and the FPL would make fine shooters and investments as the price of them is growing daily.

The last time I looked on a gun auction site there was a Russian SVD for $28,500; a Norinco NDM-86 for $6000, a few PSL-54Cs listed between $900 and $1500 the FPLs fall in right behind the PSL-54Cs. The Russian Tiger (sporterized SVD not sure of its operating system) are going for about $4000

What I've gathered is what I learned from the internet so take it with a grain of salt.

'drif

[Ironnewt]

Thanks for all the info. What gets me is that you would be extremely hard pressed to show where one of these rifles was used in a crime, which is why the Clinton controls were implemented.

[desdem12]

THere was the one instance where the government committed a crime with the AKs...
But i agree. The crimes are stealing of these and then selling for money.