Most of my 5.56 rifles descend from the infamous family of AR-15 rifles. One of my favorites that is not an AR-15 (at least not completely) is the JAKL 5.56 from PSA. This gun is a hybrid AK and AR with a small resemblance to the FN SCAR. Designed as a long-stroke piston rifle, the piston and spring are located on top of the bolt, so there is no buffer spring in the stock.
PSA designed it to run on an AR-15 lower, so you still get some of those familiar controls when using it. If you are the proud owner of a JAKL, you may be looking for ideas on setting it up. For some, this is no simple task because there are so many options out there. Over the years, I’ve had numerous people ask me how a rifle “should” be set up.
My answer will always be, “That depends.” There isn’t one specific way all rifles must be set up. If you ask the top 10 most experienced professionals how to set up a rifle, you will likely get 10 different answers. Everyone has their own reasons why they prefer a specific configuration for their rifle. In this article, we will discuss some ideas for setting up the JAKL 5.56. But in the end, your rifle should be set up to work for you.
What is the purpose of your JAKL?
One of my favorite things about buying a new rifle is setting it up with some cool accessories. But before you start throwing stuff on there, decide what your purpose is for that rifle. This could be home defense, competition shooting, hunting, range fun, or even a Gucci rifle. It’s okay to have a “fun gun” you think looks cool; just remember that looking cool and being practical may be different things.
So, ask yourself what you need from your rifle and what items will help you fulfill that need. We are specifically talking about setting up the PSA JAKL today, so it’s probably safe to say you are not setting this gun up as a long-range marksman rifle. Because of its somewhat AK design, it’s extremely reliable but not the most accurate rifle for long distances.
I set my JAKL up as a defense weapon for my truck. I like how short it is and that I can fire it with the stock folded if I need to. For home defense, I want an optic with a large window and an easy-to-see reticle. I also want some type of light with easy-access controls. When something kicks off in the middle of the night, I don’t want to be fumbling with switches or turning things on. Everything should be working when I grab it.
Another thing I like to have on most of my rifles is a good sling. Slings are like holsters for rifles, and I like having the option to sling my rifle and utilize both hands for something it needed. Unfortunately, I’ve learned the hard way over the years to always have a sling. Again, this doesn’t mean you must have one, but it’s something to consider.
Adding an optic to the JAKL
Probably the first thing people consider when setting up a new rifle is the sight system. If you like to keep things simple and want iron sights, go for it. Daniel Defense, Midwest Industries, Sampson, and others all make some great fixed sights for rifles. But most people these days choose some type of red dot or magnified optic. I went with the Holosun HE512T-RD because I like the reticle and large window.
The 512 is an open reflex sight made from grade 5 titanium and has Solar Failsafe, which extends the life of the battery. Speaking of battery life, the CR2032 battery will run the 512 for more than 50,000 hours on its own. When you add the Solar Failsafe feature, it extends the battery life even more. I have had the same battery in this optic for almost two years now, and it’s still running strong.
Another feature I like about the 512 is the Shake Awake technology, which ensures the optic is always ready when you grab your gun. You can also change the reticle from a dot-only to a dot with a circle around it. I like using the circle for faster target acquisition.
The upper receiver and top rail are one piece on the JAKL, a feature I really like. This allows an optic to be placed as far forward as you want without worrying about bridging. Again, deciding which optic to install will depend on what you are setting the JAKL up for.
If you haven’t made up your mind about an optic yet, here are some other great options for the price:
- Eotech 512
- Aimpoint ACO
- Vortex Spitfire AR
- Swampfox Raider Micro Prism
- Sig Romeo 7
Rifle slings, do you need one?
Yes, you need a sling on your rifle, at least in my opinion. I’ve found there are many benefits and very few negative aspects to having a sling on your rifle. There are lots of styles and brands of rifle slings to choose from, including how they attach to your rifle. On some of my rifles, I use a loop on the buttstock and a QD attachment on the front. Others are looped at both ends, which makes them extremely durable.
PSA added a QD mount on the folding stock and handguard, so you will need a two-point QD sling for the JAKL. A sling is used for multiple tasks and is important to train with if you’re going to use one. I have the GrovTec 2-point Sentinel camo sling on the JAKL. The Blue Force Vickers Combat sling and Magpul’s MS1 QDM sling are also great choices for the JAKL.
One thing I would recommend is using some type of band to keep the sling close to the rifle when you’re not using it. If you need to pull it from a car, closet, or other area, you don’t want the sling getting caught on things. Some use rubber bands so they can pull the sling open, breaking the bands.
You can also use a ranger band (pictured above) and tuck the end of the sling under it. When you pick up your rifle, just pull on the sling, and it will come out. GrovTec also makes a rail guard with elastic bands sewn onto the sides if you want to go that route.
Nightstick LGL-160 Long Gun Kit
I like to have a light on most of my firearms, especially if I plan to use them at work or for home/self-defense. A long gun light doesn’t get in the way and adds very little weight to the gun. You can find some great quality lights at reasonable prices if you don’t want to spend an arm and a leg for one. I mounted the Nightstick LGL-160 to the JAKL, which I love.
If you want a solid light that comes with everything you can imagine for mounting it, try the LGL-160 Kit. You get the light and batteries, along with multiple brackets, including a rail and M-LOK offset mount. A remote switch, wire management box, and two different mounts for the remote switch are also included. It features a durable 6061-T6 aluminum housing and boasts a powerful 1,100-lumen maximum output.
Is that all it needs?
At some point, I will add some backup iron sights for redundancy, but that’s all I plan to add to the JAKL. If there is something else you want on your gun, by all means, add it. Some wish to add a vertical foregrip, laser, IR illuminator, or other accessories. For me, this is all I need on the JAKL for it to serve my purpose.
It’s a great shooting gun and appears to be extremely reliable. It uses standard AR-15 mags, comes suppressor-ready, and features a non-reciprocating side charging handle. I like how it shoots and looks and the folding stock is nice for storing in my truck. I plan to upgrade the pistol grip in the future, but for now, this gun is ready to go.
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