By: Friedrich Seiltgen
Copyright © 2023
ABOUT PALMETTO STATE ARMORY
South Carolina-based Palmetto State Armory is one of the largest AR pattern weapons and parts manufacturers. Based in Columbia, S.C., PSA has a mission to “sell as many guns to as many law-abiding Americans as possible.” PSA also manufactures AK-47 rifles, pistols, and parts kits. How do they do all this and keep prices reasonable? They have a family of five other companies producing parts, so they have ownership in every step of the process. They also carry other manufacturers’ products and are a one-stop gun shop!
The leadership team at PSA consists of its founder, Jamin McCallum, and CEO and competitive shooter Chad Wylie. McCallum is an Iraq war vet, and his thoughts on freedom and the 2nd Amendment get right to the point:
“I’ve seen what a society looks like when it falls apart. It’s really, really bad. That’s why our mission is to maximize freedom, not our profits. We want to sell as many AR-15 and AK-47 rifles as we can, not to make a massive amount of money, but to put them into common use today.
I don’t want my legacy to be that I made a lot of money; I want it to be that this company produced the maximum amount of freedom. And so, we work every day to do just that. Make high-quality firearms at a price that makes them affordable to the most people possible. Then we back them with a full 100% lifetime warranty.
If we can do that, I can sleep at night.”
THE ADMIRAL 1911
Palmetto State Armory has recently added the “Admiral” Series of 1911 pistols to its lineup. Made exclusively for PSA by Rock Island Armory, the Admiral blends the aesthetics of the 1911 with contemporary functionality. This Admiral caters to both the firearms enthusiast and the collector crowd.
THE FRAME
The Admiral Tactical starts with a standard frame with a Picatinny rail and front strap separation. It features a combat-style hammer, beavertail grip safety, ambidextrous safety, and a checkered slide stop, magazine release, and main spring housing.
PSA finishes it with double diamond checkered grips mounted with socket head grip screws and a Parkerized finish.
THE SLIDE
The slide features ten slots, 1/16” thick, front and rear serrations for positive manipulation, an overcut scalloped ejection port, an unramped bushing-type barrel, and a full-length guide rod.
SPECIFICATIONS
Action Type: Semi-Automatic, Recoil Operated
Caliber: .45 ACP
Magazine Capacity: 8 Rounds
Sights: Front Fixed, Adjustable Rear
Barrel Length: 5 Inches
Overall Length: 8.74 Inches
MSRP: $499.99
URL: www.palmettostatearmory.com
THE VERDICT
If the Tactical version isn’t what you want, PSA offers a basic 1911 in .45 ACP and 1911 in 10mm. Whatever your 1911 needs are, PSA has you covered.
PSA makes guns that run at a great price point.
That’s all for now, folks! Please keep sending in your questions, tips, and article ideas. And as always – “Let’s Be Careful Out There.”
Friedrich Seiltgen is a retired Master Police Officer with 20 years of service with the Orlando Police Department. He conducts training in Lone Wolf Terrorism Counterstrategies, Firearms, and Active Shooter Response. His writing has appeared in RECOIL, Soldier of Fortune, The Counter Terrorist Magazine, Off Grid, American Thinker, Homeland Security Today, and The Journal of Counterterrorism & Homeland Security International.
Contact him at [email protected].