Pictures by Ali Crimson

In 2026 there aren’t many good reasons to buy an AK, particularly not one in a combloc caliber. Import restrictions on both parts kits and ammunition have steadily driven up costs. Long gone are the days of a decent AK costing half as much as a decent AR-15. Now, an AR-15 can cost half what an AK does. 

My reason for wanting a new AK was for use at the growing number of “Red Oktober” and “Cold War” action rifle matches that have divisions for Kalashnikov-based designs and prioritize their use. Some of these matches differentiate between 7.62x39mm and 5.45x39mm/5.56mm guns in their division rules, others do not. 

Regardless of the match rules there are already a myriad of 5.56mm NATO rifles in my safe, and if another full-size semi auto rifle is going to be added, I’d prefer it to do something different than the rest. Accordingly, I wanted something in 7.62x39mm to deliver more energy to target. Managing more recoil can be a fun part of the challenge, and it will knock down steel targets with more authority than 5.45x39mm or 5.56mm NATO.

Seeing an e-mail sales flier last fall from Palmetto State Armory that featured their relatively new Saber AK line. The GF5 model specifically was interesting. The green/tan color scheme looked cool, and it came with most of the features I’d want; rail system, optic ready, side folding stock, and better than standard trigger. 

The fact it was built using a Romanian parts kits with FN Cold Hammer Forged chrome lined barrel suggested the build quality would be good. Having been previously satisfied with the other rifles purchased from PSA, including the JAKL-15 and JAKL-10, I was willing to give the Saber AK a chance.

SPECS:

• Barrel: FN Cold Hammer Forged Chrome Moly Vanadium Steel Barrel; Chrome Lined – Moss Green
• Receiver: Stamped Steel Dimpled Receiver w/ Swell Neck Rivets – Moss Green
• Trunnion: Forged Romanian Front Trunnion
• Bolt: Hammer Forged – Romanian
• Carrier: Hammer Forged Romanian – DLC Coated
• Scope Mount: Side Scope Mount
• Safety: Enhanced Extended Safety Lever
• Caliber: 7.62×39 Caliber
• Twist Rate: 1 in 9.5″ Twist
• Thread Pitch: Thread Pitch: M14x1LH
• Muzzle Device: Sabre Plan B
• Rear Sight: 1000 Yard Rear Sight Leaf – Romanian
• Handguards: Soviet Arms 11.5″ Rail and Soviet Arms Railed Gas Tube – Burnt Bronze
• Grip: B5 AK P-Grip – RAL8000
• Stock: B5 4.5MM Folding AK Stock – RAL8000
• Trigger: ALG AKT Enhanced Trigger With Lightning Bow – DLC Coated
• Magazine: (1) 30 round magazine – Burnt Bronze; Where allowed by law

Palmetto State Armory

$1,099

This was purchased at full retail cost of $1099.99 through the PSA website. This wasn’t a media sample; it was a production unit right off the line. The rifle looked great with the cerakote finish appearing to be fresh and evenly applied, and all the operating parts dry cycled smoothly. Unfortunately, several problems immediately manifested during the first range session.

PROBLEMS TO SOLVE

Magazine Catch Sticking

The magazine catch would stick and was very difficult to operate. To remove the magazine required pushing forward on the magazine to remove tension from the magazine catch. This was necessary with both the steel magazine included with the rifle and with my X-Tech Magazines. It appeared to wear in and get slightly better the more magazine changes performed in dry fire, but it was still unacceptably difficult.

Canted Front Sight

The front sight was canted such that to get a zero at 25 yards, the windage was maxed out. While it was ultimately able to be zeroed, the sight picture was annoying with the left side of the protective hood very close to the front sight.

Rail System Problem

The handguard portion of Soviet Arms rail system shot loose in less than 100 rounds, and the handguard could be moved upwards towards the barrel. This also made the zero wander as the way pressure was applied to the barrel shifted. 

Misfeeding

The Saber AK fed fine from the steel magazine that was included with it. All the other AK magazines available were from X-Tech Tactical. Every round feeding from the right side of the X-Tech magazines would malfunction. It appeared that the right side of the magazine was too low, making the projectiles snag on the way to the chamber and get pushed back into the casing. Fair to assume this issue is also related to the magazine catch and how it was engaging with the magazines.

After contacting Palmetto to let them know about all these problems, including sending video of the problems occurring, they promptly provided a return shipping label and requested that I send several of my X-Tech magazines with the rifle. I let them know that I would need the rifle back within three weeks to be able to use it at the match I had purchased it for. PSA said that wouldn’t be a problem, so the AK was shipped back to Palmetto using the provided label.

PSA reached out on the Monday before the match. They sent me a video showing the rifle functioning properly with all the included X-Tech magazines. Thankfully, I received the rifle back with enough time to go zero and test fire it prior to the match. While PSA knew I was part of the gun press, they assured me they would treat a regular customer with the same level of customer service.

After receiving the rifle back, my zeroing/test fire session went much better. All of my X-tech magazines now fed reliably. The magazine catch was now easy and natural to operate. And I was able to successfully zero the irons without excessive windage. 250 later, and the rail system was still secure.

For a red dot, a Lead and Steel Pandora PB-3 Gen 2 was installed on the gas tube rail using a Reptilia low ACRO mount. With this mount, the iron sights are visible in the bottom 1/4 of the lens for immediate use should the dot die. Zeroing using Norma Tactical 124 grain brass cased ammunition at 50 yards consistently gets 1” groups with this ammunition.

This is pretty good for an AK; no doubt helped by the FN barrel. Cheaper Russian mystery ammo found lying around grouped 4” at 50 yards. This difference doesn’t surprise me; I’ll save the cheaper stuff for shredding paper up close or for decommissioned appliances.

INDEPENDENCE TRAINING’S WINTER SOLDIER MATCH

As part of this evaluation, I took the Saber AK to Independence Training’s Winter Soldier Match in November of 2025. If something is going to go wrong, using it on the clock is the best way to test Murphy’s Law. This event was held at the Camp Savage range. This facility offers semi-natural terrain in volcanic rock and some very high-angle shots with a mountain as a backstop.

Shots ranged from 5 yards to 250 yards. Independence Training added a lot of flavor to the stage designs of this match, including launching a mortar, using a compass to ID target directions, a moving target system, crawling through confined spaces, flash bangs, and drone-shaped targets.

I am pleased to report I experienced no further issues during the match. As a left-handed shooter, I often feel that Aks are set up easier for me to use naturally than right-handers. With its issues fully resolved, the Saber AK was no exception.

The Soviet Arms railed gas tube mounted Pandora red dot with a 50-yard zero made all the targets simply point and shoot. Thinking about holdovers wasn’t required at near or far targets presented at the match. The rail system, being longer than a traditional AK handguard, allowed me to have a more natural hold from a variety of shooting positions. 

One improvement added were X-Tech Rail covers to the open slots; these allow for more venting of heat than traditional rail covers, while still giving stand off from touching bare metal. The B5 pistol grip feels great; I prefer the more vertical feel of these grips over traditional AK grips. The ALG AKT Trigger is light enough and crisp that thinking through the trigger pull wasn’t needed, as it would be with a “mil-spec” AK trigger for more difficult shots.

The B5 side-folding stock is a mixed bag for me. Being able to adjust the length of pull was great, as was the height of the stock, which is perfect for both the irons and the red dot to be acquired naturally, without jamming my face down. A magnet in the stock holds it to the receiver in the folded position, making it both secure and quick to deploy without having to overcome a mechanical latch or press any buttons. 

Two negatives: the split in the stock for the telescoping part can grab your facial hair, and you’ll know this happens when it gets yanked out. This can be resolved with a piece of tape over the split once you have it set to the length you want to use. The QD socket of my Magpul sling pulled out of the QD cup, and it was finicky to get fully latched in. Ultimately, the answer was to remove the rear QD and run the sling through the slot on the stock to secure it.

LOOSE ROUNDS

While the GF5 Saber AK had a rough start for me, in the end, I’d purchase it again. PSA resolved all the issues to my satisfaction in a timely manner. The combination of built-in features made it a good value for me not to have to acquire a bunch of parts separately and assemble the same thing myself. The totality of features and paint job gives it a unique appearance. 

Palmetto State Armory

$1,099

It got a lot of attention at the Winter Soldier match; I haven’t had so many people see a rifle I’m using and ask me about it at one event ever in 25 years of shooting. And ultimately, this rifle just looks cool, and that’s really the important thing when selecting a meme match gun.

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