Palmetto State Armory Releases AR-V, An AR That Takes Scorpion Mags -The Firearm Blog

Image credit: Palmetto State Armory

Palmetto State Armory recently released a 9mm AR-15 pistol that accepts the popular CZ Scorpion EVO 3 magazines.  The new AR-V is similarly named after Palmetto State Armory’s AK-V Kalashnikov 9mm pistol, which also shares the same magazine pattern and 9mm caliber.  The AR-V is currently available as a complete pistol, with either an 8 inch or 10.5 inch barrel, or as a parts kit which includes the upper and lower receivers, bolt, and magazine.  PSA describes their new offering below:

Say hello to the PA-9 & AR-V, Palmetto State Armory’s pistol caliber carbine (PCC) platforms. The PA-9 is an AR-style rifle chambered in 9mm which uses either Glock-Style or Colt magazines and is a great option for home defense or training. The AR-V is an AR-style platform chambered in 9mm which uses either CZ Scorpion or PSA AK-V U9 Magazines and features a last-round bolt hold-open feature. Our PCC line of rifles and pistols are American made and have the reviews to back it up. They are completely customizable with our AR-9 assemblies & parts. We offer a great selection of Glock-style lower receivers, pistol lower receivers, railed uppers, rifle kits, complete rifles, parts, & more.

Barrel: 8″ chrome moly steel barrel. Chambered in 9mm, (9×19), with a 1/10 twist. The barrel is nitride treated for durability and finished off with a Palmetto State Armory 7″ Lightweight M-Lok free-float rail and a bird cage style A2 flash hider.

Upper: Forged 7075 T6 aluminum AR-V slick side upper is hard coat anodized black for durability.  These upper receivers are made for us right here in the USA.

Bolt Carrier Group: AR-V 9mm BCG.  Nitride treated 8620 steel bolt, with an enhanced firing pin and external 5.56 style extractor. The bolt carrier group is compatible with most aftermarket fire control groups.

Lower:. Forged 7075 T6 aluminum and then hard coat anodized, these lowers are purpose built to accept AR-V U9 and CZ Scorpion Magazines.  The lower is assembled with a Palmetto State Armory MOE EPT SBA3 lower build kit with a Magpul Grip and SB Tactical SBA3 Pistol Stabilizing Brace.  This product features last round bolt hold open. 

Image credit: Palmetto State Armory

Parts kit. Image credit: Palmetto State Armory

The AR-V’s magazine release, as seen in the AR-V kit above, follows suit with the Kalashnikov paddle style, and appears to be contoured around the front of the trigger guard.  The AR-V also seems to slightly veer from the AR-15 parts compatibility in that the bolt release/ hold-open is a button or lever compared to the traditional two-part, hinged paddle release and hold.  As previously mentioned, the AR-V accepts the CZ Scorpion EVO 3 pattern magazines, but Palmetto State Armory also makes their own version of this magazine, as does Magpul.  Just to clarify, it does not take Glock mags, but if you insist on asking (someone actually did in the Q&A section for the AR-V), here’s PSA’s model that does.

8″ barrel. Image credit: Palmetto State Armory

10″ barrel. Image credit: Palmetto State Armory

PSA lists the 8-inch version of the AR-V for $989.99, and the 10-inch version for $1039.99.  The AR-V parts kit is listed at $499.99.  You can check out Palmetto State Armory’s main website for their full product list, or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.