Holy crap, .308 has change into costly. I noticed this after receiving the JAKL .308 and beginning to shoot it. I didn’t hear a “bang” with each set off pull; I heard “kaching, kaching.” With the worth of .308 out of the way in which, let’s leap into the brand new JAKL-10 .308 from Palmetto State Armory (PSA). PSA supplied me with the JAKL for check and evaluation. When you’re not acquainted, the JAKL sequence is one in all PSA’s authentic rifles with a novel design.
The JAKL makes use of a long-stroke fuel piston system, very similar to an M1 Garand. The gun-designing public has largely ignored this method in latest many years. Take a look at any newish rifle, and also you’ll possible discover it makes use of a short-stroke fuel piston system—all the pieces from the SCAR to the Bren and again once more makes use of an AR-18-derived system.
The long-stroke fuel piston design has largely been confined to the AK sequence of rifles. It’s a bit overseas as of late, but it surely’s nonetheless a viable technique of constructing a rifle. The common semi-auto .308 will usually fall into one in all two classes: a battle rifle or a delegated marksman rifle.
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What’s The Distinction?
A battle rifle is a full-powered semi-automatic rifle designed to ship highly effective projectiles quickly and successfully. Weapons just like the FN FAL, G3, and M14 are basic examples of battle rifles. A DMR, or designated marksman rifle, isn’t at all times chambered in .308 however is a really correct semi-automatic rifle designed to offer extra vary than the common service rifle with enhanced precision.
Accurized battle rifles usually function DMRs, however loads of intermediate-caliber rifles have additionally labored as DMRs. Whereas battle rifles inherently require a full-powered spherical, a DMR doesn’t. The JAKL-10 .308 doesn’t explicitly declare to be one or the opposite, however via testing, I wished to find out if it leaned in a single route.
The JAKL-10 .308 in Hand
Very similar to the unique JAKL, the JAKL-10 .308 takes some cues from the AR sequence. The decrease receiver may be very AR-like. In keeping with PSA, the JAKL uppers are solely appropriate with PSA’s JAKL lowers and PSA’s PA-10 Gen 3 lowers when utilizing the JAKL decrease construct package. Bear in mind this if you happen to’re planning to construct a JAKL on some other AR-10 decrease.
The JAKL-10 .308 makes use of SR-25 magazines, and it comes with one. Because of Magpul, SR-25 magazines are inexpensive and extensively obtainable in various capacities—they even make a drum for them! The JAKL-10 sequence is available in numerous barrel lengths, together with 14.5 inches. I’ve a 16-inch mannequin, however I personally would like a 20-inch mannequin.
Though the 20-inch mannequin would possibly get awfully heavy. The JAKL-10 makes all the pieces larger, and that features among the points I had with the unique JAKL. The gun may be very front-heavy and unbalanced. This is because of using a long-stroke fuel piston, the .308-sized barrel, and PSA’s personal ultra-hefty handguard.
That handguard might most likely double as a pry instrument as a result of it’s “dummy-thick.” The handguard’s substantial thickness permits it to behave as an efficient warmth sink. Lengthy-stroke fuel piston weapons are likely to get scorching, so a thick handguard supplies little bit of safety to your palms throughout prolonged firing periods. The draw back, after all, is a front-heavy rifle.
The highest portion of the handguard is monolithic with the receiver, which is extremely useful when mounting optics. You possibly can place your optic anyplace you need. I mounted a Maven CRS.3 4-20×50 FFP scope on the gun, and having that further rail area allowed me to realize an ideal eye aid setup.
Ergonomics And Design
Utilizing the AR-10 type decrease makes the gun exceptionally ergonomic. AR lowers have lengthy set the usual for good ergonomics. The security, journal launch, bolt launch, and pistol grip are all completely positioned for simple entry. The journal properly is exactly the place I would like it to be, and magazines slide completely into the gun for fast reloads.
Up prime, we’ve a non-reciprocating charging deal with that may be swapped from left to proper. What I notably recognize about this charging deal with is that my knuckles don’t slap the optics mount when working the motion; it’s thoughtfully positioned pretty low to keep away from this. As talked about, the JAKL-10 is front-heavy, and also you’ll really feel that considerably whereas capturing off-hand.
The inventory design clearly took inspiration from the ACR, which was a sensible transfer, because the ACR inventory was at all times good. The JAKL-10 contains a inventory that accomplishes three issues: it collapses and expands to permit for size of pull changes, it folds to create a extra compact rifle for storage or transport, and it gives a cheek riser for improved consolation. It’s not a foul design. Nonetheless, on the already hefty JAKL-10, the inventory feels very mild, which doesn’t assist alleviate the steadiness points.
Capturing the JAKL-10
Is it correct sufficient to be a DMR? Or ought to it keep on with the battle rifle position? That relies upon closely in your wants and your ammunition. I purchased a mixture of Winchester 7.62x51mm M80 masses and primary 150-grain Remington ammo. Neither is match-grade, however there was an enormous accuracy distinction. Maybe Winchester White Field merely isn’t what it was once, as a result of, holy crap, the teams have been 5 MOA at instances.
I used to be genuinely frightened in regards to the JAKL’s accuracy initially. That’s absurd. I swapped to the 150-grain Remington, fired a couple of teams, and was immediately relieved. The teams grew to become a lot tighter. I zeroed the optic for the Remington ammo and reserved the Winchester for close-range use solely. With the 150-grain Remington FMJs, my greatest group was round 2.25 inches. I measured with a tape measure, so it was plus or minus ⅛ of an inch.
Good open-tip match-grade ammo would undoubtedly tighten these teams additional, however even a 2.25 MOA group isn’t dangerous in any respect. I feel you would run it as a DMR, however it might most likely operate greatest as a battle rifle. This isn’t on account of inherent accuracy limitations, however fairly to the inherent traits of the long-stroke fuel piston system, which is the place the gun really excels.
The JAKL-10 and The Lengthy Stroke System
The problem with a long-stroke fuel system in a DMR utility is the motion created by the big piston and bolt transferring backwards and forwards. Whereas it does assist cut back total recoil, there’s a distinct ahead motion when the motion returns to battery. You possibly can really feel it, and you’ll visually observe it at lengthy ranges via an optic. The reticle goes up, comes down, after which barely “bounces” ahead out of your authentic level of goal. Is {that a} main deal? Not likely, but it surely’s value noting {that a} PA-10 (an AR-10 platform) would possible be a greater devoted DMR for that reason.
There’s something addictively enjoyable about persistently hitting small metal gongs at 200 yards with an improvised relaxation. The .308 wallops metal with authority, and the sound delivers an audible pleasure to my ears. I used to be in a position to take it out to 500 yards at a spread, however on account of vary guidelines, I couldn’t do something fascinating or quick at that distance. At 500 yards, the .308 continues to be fairly flat—flat sufficient for my unskilled self to hit some metal IPSC targets and a few 20-inch metal plates from a rested place.
The JAKL-10 .308 isn’t a battle rifle as a result of it could actually’t be a DMR. Reasonably, it excels as a battle rifle. Bear in mind how the gun is front-heavy? That attribute turns into a profit while you begin capturing quick and up shut. Muzzle rise is considerably mitigated by the front-heavy nature of the gun, which makes capturing it rapidly pretty simple. The back-and-forth impulse of the long-stroke system isn’t a big challenge at 100 yards and in.
Going Quick
Capturing failure-to-stop drills, Invoice Drills, and speedy strings doesn’t really feel troublesome with the JAKL-10. It’s slower than a 5.56 JAKL however nonetheless speedy and surprisingly correct for its energy. This makes me think about swapping the 4-20X scope for a 1-8X LPVO or a prism sight with an offset dot. There’s one thing extremely satisfying about capturing a .308 quickly, even when all I can hear is the sound of my pockets draining.
The long-stroke fuel piston absorbs little bit of rearward recoil, and the general weight absorbs muzzle rise, making this factor a clean shooter when firing quickly. I have to shoot it side-by-side with an AR-10, however I really feel prefer it has much less perceived recoil than a typical AR-10. The hefty handguard that doubles as a warmth sink does a incredible job. I shot 200 rounds in a comparatively brief time interval, and whereas the handguard was heat, it by no means bought too scorching to deal with.
This is the reason I feel it makes a greater battle rifle than a DMR.
Going Reside
I shot 300 rounds of .308 via the JAKL-10 in a few vary periods, and there have been no malfunctions in anyway. Whereas it’s not an exceptionally lengthy reliability check, the worth of .308 ammo makes it robust to shoot this factor with out going broke. I plan to proceed capturing the gun and can replace on the full spherical depend and any flaws discovered.
The JAKL-10 in .308 gives a battle rifle that’s a little bit totally different from the usual fare, and it does so at a good worth level. It’s the most cost effective .308 non-AR, semi-automatic, magazine-fed rifle available on the market. The JAKL-10 is enjoyable to shoot, particularly up shut. It’s genuinely a reasonable and close-range hammer that delivers its energy successfully in a single route.
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About Travis Pike
Travis Pike is a former Marine Machine Gunner, a lifelong firearms fanatic, and now a daily man who likes to shoot, write, and discover methods to mix the 2. He holds an NRA certification as a Fundamental Pistol Teacher and is the world’s Okayest firearms teacher.
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