After getting my first rounds downrange with the Palmetto State Armory Olcan chambered in 300 Blackout rifle, I got here away considering one thing I didn’t anticipate: this setup would possibly lastly change the complete bullpup dialog.
Bullpup rifles have all the time lived in an odd paradox within the firearms world. Individuals love them for the way compact they’re, however criticize them endlessly for his or her ergonomics. They get debated to dying on boards and in video remark sections. And truthfully, numerous of us deal with them like novelties.
A part of that popularity comes from historical past. Bullpups, with their motion and journal positioned behind the set off, have been round in a single type or one other for the reason that early 1900s. To some shooters, they nonetheless appear to be bizarre engineering experiments slightly than critical combating rifles—though a number of international locations around the globe have fielded them in actual operations. They’ve additionally been pop-culture icons for many years. Bullpups present up in every single place—from 80s sci-fi films (test the Web Film Firearms Database) to overpowered trophy weapons in video video games like Name of Obligation.
In case you’re like me and really acquire bullpups, you know the way the dialog often goes. Bullpup followers are inclined to get politely escorted to the nerd desk whereas the “critical operator” crowd talks about AR setups. That’s a part of why the PSA Olcan caught my consideration.
Dwell Stock Value Checker
What PSA Did Otherwise
The Olcan is PSA’s tackle a bullpup platform—however as a substitute of making an attempt to repeat bullpup traditional rifles just like the Steyr AUG or the IWI Tavor, PSA approached the thought from a totally completely different route. And to me, it makes good sense when you perceive PSA’s philosophy: Freedom Over Revenue and their dedication to creating high quality firearms inexpensive for on a regular basis People.
For years, I attempted convincing PSA engineers to construct a bullpup “for the folks.” More often than not, the response got here down to 2 issues:
Bullpups are bizarre.
Bullpups are costly.
They usually weren’t unsuitable. Trendy bullpups usually land someplace between $1,500 to $2,000, which places them out of attain for lots of consumers. When PSA first launched the JAKL, numerous us bullpup nerds instantly noticed potential. It felt like PSA was experimenting with one thing larger.
The JAKL had:
A protracted-stroke piston system
A monolithic higher
A side-charging deal with
An adjustable gasoline system
It wasn’t fairly an AR. It wasn’t fairly an AK. Nevertheless it was clearly one thing modular. Now with the OLCAN, PSA has taken the following step by transferring the JAKL right into a bullpup configuration. On paper, that sounds fascinating. On the vary—particularly with the 300 Blackout model PSA despatched me for testing—it turns into genuinely compelling.
What the OLCAN Really Is
The OLCAN isn’t a standard ground-up bullpup like an AUG or Tavor. One of the best ways to consider it’s this: It’s a bullpup decrease designed particularly across the JAKL higher. Meaning the core mechanics keep the identical:
Lengthy-stroke piston system
Monolithic aluminum higher
Totally captured buffer system
Reversible ambidextrous side-charging deal with
Software-less adjustable gasoline block
What modifications is the geometry. By transferring the motion and journal behind the firing hand, PSA shortens the general rifle whereas protecting significant barrel size. The configurations at the moment supplied embody 14.5-inch pinned-and-welded barrels in each 5.56 NATO and 300 Blackout. And this isn’t about chasing a sci-fi aesthetic. It’s about stability, suppression and real-world usability.
Vary Time with the OLCAN
After all, none of this issues till you truly get the rifle out on the vary. For this analysis, I hung out capturing the 300 Blackout OLCAN alongside Walter of Security Harbor Firearms and Patrick of Chrome Vandium Arms. Between the three of us, we’ve spent numerous time round uncommon firearm platforms, so it was a great group to reply the primary apparent query that got here up:
Is that this an actual bullpup?
The OLCAN raises an fascinating philosophical debate. Because it’s constructed across the PSA JAKL system, some folks will inevitably ask whether or not that is only a bullpup conversion package slightly than a “true” bullpup rifle. The truth is someplace in between. It appears to be like like a bullpup, clearly—however the extra vital query is whether or not it capabilities like a contemporary bullpup ought to.
After spending time capturing it, the reply is basically sure. The motion sits behind the set off, the stability shifts rearward as you’d anticipate, and the general footprint turns into dramatically shorter with out sacrificing barrel size. Due to the best way the system is configured, the 14.5-inch barrel setup requires the muzzle gadget to be pinned and welded to satisfy general size necessities. Which may sound like a limitation, however in observe, it reinforces the concept that this rifle is supposed to be run suppressed, particularly in 300 Blackout. And that’s precisely how we spent most of our time capturing it.
Taking pictures Impressions
The very first thing that stood out was the rifle’s thinness. Loads of bullpups can really feel chunky due to how every part is packaged behind the grip. The OLCAN feels noticeably slimmer than many within the class, which helps it level naturally. The guide gasoline adjustment system can be refreshingly easy. No instruments required, and changes are simple sufficient that you could tune it shortly relying on ammo or whether or not you’re operating suppressed.
Talking of suppressed, operating the OLCAN with a can is the place it actually turns into enjoyable. Though we didn’t have subsonic 300 BLK available throughout this session, the setup nonetheless felt extraordinarily pure for suppressed capturing. The rearward stability works in your favor right here, protecting the rifle from changing into front-heavy as soon as a suppressor is hooked up.
Now, let’s be sincere about one thing that each bullpup shooter already is aware of. Sure, it provides you with a face filled with gasoline.
That’s form of a part of the bullpup expertise, particularly once you’re capturing suppressed. With the motion sitting nearer to your face, you’re going to note gasoline greater than you’ll on a standard rifle. The OLCAN is not any exception. However that’s additionally the tradeoff you settle for once you get this degree of compactness whereas sustaining barrel size.
Set off, Modularity, and General Really feel
The set off is respectable, which in bullpup phrases is definitely a praise. It’s predictable and usable with out making an attempt to faux it’s one thing it isn’t. In case you’ve shot different bullpups, you’ll know precisely what I imply. The set off is strictly what you’d anticipate from a bullpup set off. It’s usable. It’s predictable. Nevertheless it’s not a precision set off, and it doesn’t faux to be. For a rifle constructed round compactness, suppression, and sensible capturing, that tradeoff feels cheap.
The place the platform will get actually fascinating is modularity. As a result of it’s constructed on the JAKL system, the OLCAN faucets right into a platform already designed with modularity in thoughts. That opens the door to future prospects in a method most bullpups merely don’t provide.
And truthfully, there’s one thing humorous about this complete factor. Through the years, once we talked to PSA about bullpups, the reply all the time appeared to be that they weren’t significantly interested by constructing one. But right here we’re. And in typical PSA style, they didn’t simply construct a bullpup—they constructed one in a method that leverages a platform they have been already creating.
A Sensible Function
After spending time with it, the function that makes probably the most sense for the OLCAN in 300 Blackout is fairly clear. Arrange with a suppressor and subsonic ammo, it turns into an especially compact and controllable platform that will make an amazing truck gun or home-defense rifle. The general size stays brief sufficient to maneuver simply in tight areas, whereas the cartridge itself is well-suited to suppressed use.
And possibly probably the most fascinating a part of all is accessibility. For consumers who already personal a JAKL, the OLCAN decrease affords a really inexpensive solution to step into the bullpup world with out shopping for a wholly new rifle system. That alone may introduce much more folks to the format. Which could be precisely what PSA supposed all alongside.
Why 300 Blackout Actually Makes the OLCAN Shine
One factor I observed shortly whereas capturing the 300 BLK OLCAN is that bullpups amplify each the strengths and weaknesses of a cartridge. Fortunately, 300 Blackout traces up nearly completely with what the OLCAN is making an attempt to do.
One of many greatest complaints about suppressed 300 BLK rifles is entrance heaviness. Add a suppressor to a standard AR, and out of the blue the entire gun feels prefer it’s dragging ahead. With the OLCAN’s rear-biased stability, that additional suppressor weight sits a lot nearer to your shoulder. The rifle feels shorter and simpler to regulate than the measurements recommend.
For a cartridge designed round brief barrels, heavy bullets, and suppressed capturing, the bullpup structure out of the blue feels much less like an experiment and extra just like the pure habitat for this setup.
Fuel Tuning That Really Issues
Bullpups could be unforgiving in terms of gasoline—particularly when suppressed. An excessive amount of gasoline and also you’ll really feel it instantly, as a result of the motion is actually nearer to your face than on a standard rifle.
That is the place the OLCAN’s tool-less adjustable gasoline system turns into greater than only a spec sheet characteristic. With the 300 Blackout setup, I used to be in a position to:
Tune simply for subsonic ammunition
Get dependable biking as soon as the gasoline was set appropriately
Discover much less gasoline blowback than many direct-impingement rifles
The long-stroke piston system performs an enormous function right here. As a substitute of venting gasoline again into the receiver, it retains issues cleaner and smoother—one thing you actually begin appreciating throughout longer suppressed capturing periods.
Steadiness and Actual-World Shootability
Whereas capturing, I too frightened about velocity or group dimension—I used to be involved about fatigue. The OLCAN’s stability makes it simpler to maintain the rifle on track over time. Transitions between targets really feel quicker, and the gun doesn’t combat you when transferring between capturing positions. That’s one of many quiet benefits of bullpups. As a result of the mass sits nearer to your physique, the rifle doesn’t really feel prefer it’s swinging on the finish of a lever. For defensive eventualities, car work, or tight areas, that distinction turns into apparent instantly. Reloads are completely different, in fact. They all the time are with bullpups. However to me that’s extra of a coaching problem than a design flaw. In case you’ve spent years operating ARs, your muscle reminiscence simply wants just a little recalibration.
Ergonomics and Controls
The place PSA may maintain issues acquainted, they did. The OLCAN contains:
AR-style security
Ambidextrous journal launch
Built-in cheek riser for constant head place
Ejection is at the moment arrange for the suitable facet, which left-handed shooters will wish to take into consideration earlier than committing. That’s a kind of areas the place bullpups nonetheless require just a little extra private analysis than conventional rifles.
PSA’s Greater Play
Essentially the most fascinating half could be the value. With the OLCAN touchdown within the mid-$1,000 vary, PSA has created one of many extra accessible bullpup choices available on the market—particularly one that features a piston system and suppressor-friendly gasoline tuning. PSA isn’t making an attempt to dethrone legacy bullpups. They’re creating an on-ramp for shooters who’ve all the time been curious concerning the format however weren’t able to spend boutique-level cash.
At first look, the OLCAN may appear to be simply one other remix of the JAKL platform. However after spending time with the 300 Blackout model, I see it otherwise. That is a kind of uncommon setups the place the cartridge, working system, and structure truly align.
In 5.56, the OLCAN is fascinating. In 300 Blackout—particularly suppressed—it simply feels proper.
It’s compact with out feeling compromised, adjustable with out feeling fragile, and purpose-built with out being pretentious. The OLCAN most likely gained’t convert each bullpup skeptic in a single day. Nevertheless it does make one of many strongest arguments I’ve seen in a very long time for why the bullpup format nonetheless deserves a seat on the desk. That could be PSA’s actual success right here—not reinventing the bullpup however constructing one which lastly feels at house.
About Hank Unusual
Hank Unusual is an enthusiastic supporter of the Second Modification, an avid filmmaker, author, blogger, music producer, and digital artist. Hank is a prolific YouTube content material creator, having printed over 1,000 movies so far on life-style subjects within the realms of firearms, automobiles, and know-how.
A proud American citizen since 2003, Hank was born in Guyana, South America, of mixed-race parentage (his father having African ancestry and his mom being of East Indian ancestry, amongst others). He has traveled to some locations on the planet together with his household, residing in London, England, and Nigeria in West Africa, earlier than settling in NYC. Hank and his spouse, Lola, are each Federal Firearms Licensees and at the moment stay and work in Florida. Passionately pursuing the Life of the Locked and Loaded! Tune in to the every day Gun Tradition Information “Podshow” Who Moved my Freedom Podcast (WMMF) on the Life of the Locked and Loaded YouTube channel.
Hank’s work will also be seen on www.youtube.com/consumer/hankstrange/featured, Fb www.fb.com/hank.unusual.77, Instagram instagram.com/hankstrange, his Private Weblog hankstrange.com, and different Social Media.
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