Palmetto State Armory has quickly risen to become one of the top American firearm brands. There are several key facets to its success, and they were all evident at SHOT Show 2025 in Las Vegas. 
 

First off, unlike most companies out there, Palmetto State Armory involves the public in its process. Sometimes, SHOT Show can feel like a closed-off, industry-only event to the public, and PSA wants to break down that stigma by allowing its customers to vote on what they want to see the company focus on for the future. 

Second, PSA is simply more daring and seems to launch more new designs than any other company. This year’s SHOT Show proved that to still be true, with the company churning out tons of new concept guns, along with follow-ups on concept guns that PSA brought last year. 
 

PSA 570 Shotgun & Semi-Auto Concept

The PSA 570 was leaked a while ago, and the design has been slightly tweaked since it was first debuted. This pump-action 12-gauge shotgun design now has a lighter and slimmer free-floating forend piece that holds the magazine tube and barrel together. 
 

The piece can accommodate attachments and move anywhere up or down the barrel to fit any magazine tube or barrel length. The shotgun uses Glock-pattern sights and features an RMR cut in the top of the receiver for optics. 

New for 2025 is a semi-automatic concept that ingeniously fits onto the same 570 pump receiver. This innovation gives the user the ability to have a pump or semi-auto function, all with the change of a few key parts. This is achieved with a fixed forend with charging handle attachments that are under spring tension and ride under the barrel. 

The name of the game is modularity over at PSA. Now, shotgunners can take a step further in customizing what they want. After all, it is America, so why not have both? 
 

PSA .22 LR Rifle/Pistol Concept

Sticking with the sporting theme, PSA also announced a semi-automatic .22 LR rifle concept. This design is similar to that of the Ruger 10/22, and it even uses Ruger 10/22 magazines while also accepting most 10/22 parts on the market. 

This semi-auto concept can be either a rifle or pistol, with a plethora of barrel lengths, barrel profiles, stocks, and other accessories. It helps Palmetto enter into the sporting market, giving its customers an inexpensive option for hunting, plinking, and training. 
 

PSA Jakl 2.0 Rifle

There are a few updates to PSA’s very own Jakl design. PSA debuted the Jakl 2.0 this year with the goal of increasing modularity. The new Jakl features a lighter forend with a free-float M-LOK rail that runs the length of the barrel. There is a cut in the rail so the user can access the adjustable gas system.

The two major changes with the rifle start with the barrel. PSA is working with several barrel manufacturers to develop a modular barrel system. This will allow users to change barrels at home, giving the owner more barrel profiles and caliber options in the same platform. 

The second major change is that the receiver is not completely mil-spec compatible, though it still maintains the ability to use standard AR triggers and pistol grips. This gives PSA more options with the receiver for things like ambi controls and lightening cuts. The upper receiver has the charging handle moved forward slightly. 

PSA does not plan on discontinuing the original Jakl, as many folks like the backward compatibility with mil-spec parts and lowers. The Jakl 2.0 will simply be a new product that is offered. 

On top of that, PSA is releasing its own line of furniture, which will be present on the new Jakl and available for standard AR-15s as well. 
 

PSA Vuk Updates

There have been a bunch of updates to the Vuk line for 2025. The Vuk is a Jakl/AK hybrid that uses certain features from both platforms. The feedback from last year was that people wanted it to be “more AK,” and that is exactly what PSA did. 
 

In fact, the platform is looking more and more like a domestic version of the AK-12, except with much higher production quality. The combo has a gas block at the front that features an eight-position adjustment switch for shooting different types of ammo or using a suppressor.

A few design changes include moving the charging handle to the side, like a traditional AK, and directly attaching it to the bolt. The Vuk now features an AK-style rear trunnion, so it can accommodate a side-folding stock or other common AK stock attachments. 

The Vuk uses an AR-style safety, standard AR-pattern triggers, and standard AR-pattern pistol grips, while also accepting standard AK-pattern rock-and-lock magazines. 

The upper receiver features a monolithic top rail and a modular bottom rail. This allows the user to add a Picatinny, M-LOK, streamlined, or any other style of lower rail that fits the user’s preference. 
 

PSA Sabre Lancet .50 BMG Rifle

Another big release on the PSA concept side was the PSA Sabre Lancet rifle. This is a Sabre-line firearm chambered in .50 BMG. It has a short-stroke piston system, feeding from Barrett magazines. 

This is a concept gun, so it will not necessarily go into production immediately, but Palmetto State has made it clear that it wants to bring .50 BMG to the common man. The company’s goal is to make this the most affordable .50 BMG rifle on the market. 
 

Summary

It’s honestly a beast going to the Palmetto State Armory booth and trying to cover everything. It feels like you could be there for a whole day and still not get a good feel for everything the company has in the works. 

I love seeing American-based manufacturing. But more than that, the company has quality, affordability, and, most importantly, the courage to break new ground in every facet of the gun world.