PSA Krink

Have you seen the latest AK release from Palmetto State Armory? I have been excited about the PSA Krink since they announced it was coming.

I wasn’t convinced I wanted the 5.56×45 caliber model and was going to wait for either the 300 Blackout or the 5.45 model to be close to a true, correct, Krinkov.

However, I couldn’t wait. The options were too good, and I couldn’t wait for the other models to come out, not to mention the price and availability of 5.45 ammo, which is awful right now.

Features

There is no need in not get straight to the point. Let’s dive into this gun and see how Palmetto State Armory did making their version of the Krinkov/AK-74U.

To start, I purchased the side folding JMac Customers version of the Krinkov; you can check it out here.

Muzzle Device

The Krink comes with the historically accurate muzzle booster/flash hider that you would see on the AK74U/Krinkkov.

This muzzle device works and looks extremely historically accurate, but it’s not the end result I wanted on my Krink. I removed it in favor of a Dead Air Wolverine, which I’ll discuss more in the shooting section later.

FSB/Gas Block

Like other PSA AK models the front sight and gas block are one piece. The gas block even incorporates a sling hook to easily mount a sling with a casted swivel hook or similar attachment piece.

The JMac furniture seats up nicely to the Krinks front sight and gas block, making for a great aesthetic, and we all know looking good is half the battle!

Front Trunnion

The front trunnion is another one of those classic Krinkov components that PSA got almost identical.

Like the classic, the dust cover is attached to the front trunnion. There is not much to say about the front trunnion other than it’s there, and the dust cover is attached to it.

Receiver

Ahhhhh. Stamped sheet metal is always a good time. The receiver is well done and PSA’s rivets look good as well.

I know a lot of complaints have been lodged at PSA’s doorstep about their AK line but the last few I’ve put my hands on have been extremely well done.

The receiver is also marketed for both semi and select fire, but obviously, the gun is only semi-auto.

Safety

The safety is a Krebs style safety which is the best in AK safety selectors. It has the upper and lower shelves to make selecting much easier.

I like the oversized rear shelf that lets you more easily keep your grip on the gun while using the controls.

Trigger

This model comes with the ALG Trigger and I cannot reccomend it enough. The ALG trigger is hands down the best AK trigger on the market as of this writing.

I run them on most of my AKs because they are crisp and have a clean, low-poundage break.

Pistol Grip

PSA molded its own grip for the Krink, and while it has the Soviet arms logo on it, it doesn’t feel much different from most of the grips on the market.

That’s not to say that it’s a bad thing; the grip is comfortable and serves its intended purpose.

Magazine Release

Like all AK-style rifles, the magazine release sits in front of the trigger and is a small paddle.

It functions well and I haven’t had any issues with the magazine release so far but I’m only a few hundred rounds into the gun.

Magazine

Since this is a 5.56 Krink, the magazine has to be a 5.56 AK magazine. In this case, I just have the single one it came with from PSA.

I had no issues with the magazine loading it or functionality while shooting. My only regret is that I don’t have more and I have to continuiously reload the magazine to keep shooting, which probably explains my lower round count on the Krink thus far.

Bolt/Charging Handle

The bolt is hammer-forged, so durability isn’t in question, and the charging handle is a classic AK charging handle, giving you that AK feel you’re looking for in a gun like this.

Personally, I love grabbing this gun and ripping on the charging handle. It’s like the Slavic version of the HK Slap.

Brace

With the brace stay in place I was able to grab the braced model with the SB Tactical triangle folding brace.

I like this configuration, but it’s not a stock replacement, so SBR’ing this gun may be an option I exercise in the future.

I also threw on one of our triangle folder pouches for some extra storage.

Handguard

The handguard and gas tube are the JMAC Rail and Railed Gas Tube, which I liked so much I picked one up for my PSA AK-V as well.

It gives you a modern look and feel with a touch of functionality with the 1913 rail on the gas tube and single mlok slots on both sides.

There are also two MLOK slots on the bottom of the handguard, will you can add a hand stop.

Optics for the Krink

I have yet to add an optic to the krink but that doesn’t mean I won’t I’m trying to decide on a low rise red dot sight that I like to attach to the front 1913 rail.

You can easily add optics to the front 1913 rail or use an AK Optics Mount to bring it back to the rear of the gun for a more normal field of view.

Shooting the Krink

Shooting the Krink is ridiculously fun, and since 5.56 ammo has fallen back to the realm of “reasonable” in terms of cost, it’s not one that breaks the bank to take a long range day.

The Krink shoots well out of the box but is very loud, but that’s to be expected from a short-barreled 5.56.

I have yet to do a lot of accuracy testing with it, but I expect it to be within reason for a gun that’s clearly meant to be a fun range gun.

Shooting Suppressed

Shooting suppressed with the Krinkov is one of the most fun things you can do with your clothes on. While it might be a little gassy the recoil impulse and overall experience is unmatched.

I’ve seen a number of YouTube reviews and personalities using the Resilient Arms Putnik suppressor I opted for the Dead Air Wolverine.

I have used several Wolverines in the past and they have always treated me right. The sound suppression is decent, which you can hear in the shooting video above.

Getting a mount and can was a bit tricky and expensive. I had to go for the JMAC Customs 360 24-1.5 Facemount X37 HD – HUB for my muzzle device and get the Dead Air Hub Wolverine Hub adapter.

As you can see those two pieces alone make this an expensive project. However, in the end, it got the function, look, and feel I wanted this Krink to have.

This is hands down one of my favorite “range guns” in my collection. If I just want to have some plinking fun, the Krink with the Dead Air Wolverine is my go-to.

PSA Krink Price & Conclusion

While PSA is known for great prices some of the newer offerings are both hard to find and might cost a few extra dollars.

Most of the Krinks hover around $1,100, but the JMAC upgrades on this model will make it a $200 premium.

While you might think this is a bit pricey, if you want a Kinkov, this might be the most economical option at the moment.

Overall, I highly reccomend the Krink for an extremely fun range gun. The 5.56 is a plus because it keeps your ammo the same as your AR collection (which I assume you have) and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg for a day of fun on the range.