The PSA Olcan seems unfinished

Product

Palmetto State Armory (PSA) Olcan bullpup lower used with a PSA Jackal Gen 1.5 monolithic upper (a conversion that turns an AR-style upper into a bullpup).

Main idea

The Olcan is a drop-in chassis-style bullpup lower that accepts PSA Jackal monolithic uppers. It’s not a ground-up bullpup design. The reviewer describes the product as usable but “half‑baked” at launch — functional for a project, but full of compromises and rough edges.

“Half‑baked” — usable as a project if you already have compatible parts, but not a refined bullpup.

Key features

• Drop-in chassis lower designed to take AR-compatible Jackal monolithic uppers.
• Jackal monolithic upper allows optics to be mounted on the receiver (more stable than many bufferless uppers that force optic mounting on handguards).
• Requires a cheek riser (Picatinny-top cheek plate) to get a usable cheek weld.
• Forward/side charging (bufferless / charging track) typical of these conversion systems.
• Currently tested with PSA’s Jackal 14.5” barrel / ~13” handguard configuration.

Pros

• Monolithic Jackal upper provides a proper, stable platform for optics compared to many bufferless uppers.
• Lets you convert an existing upper into a bullpup — a fun project if you already own compatible parts.
• The Jackal upper still functions and can be returned to a regular lower when desired.

Cons

The reviewer grouped problems into three categories:

1) Issues inherent to bullpups (not unique to Olcan) - Ergonomic compromises intrinsic to the bullpup layout (cheek weld geometry, general awkwardness).

2) Issues common to chassis-style conversion bullpups - High comb height: a cheek riser raises the eye line above the Picatinny rail; common-height optics won’t work. Reviewer recommends a minimum optic center height of roughly 1.93” above the rail. - Trigger linkage complexity: conversion-style bullpups typically have poor triggers due to front+rear linkage; Olcan’s trigger is particularly bad — heavy, stagey/creepy, and rattly. - Accessory conflicts: forward/side charging and handguard placement limit where lights, lasers, and tape switches can go without interfering with the charging track. - Weight inefficiency: the lower roughly equals the weight of an AR lower + buffer + stock, but with less efficient mass distribution; much of the upper receiver mass becomes unusable “dead” weight at the back of the gun.

3) Issues specific to the Olcan + Jackal combination - Heavy overall: Jackal upper is roughly ~1 lb heavier than an equivalent AR upper (monolithic design + long-stroke piston). - Long-stroke piston: adds weight but gives little practical benefit; the gun remains “punchy” and rowdy in recoil impulse. - Suppressor/gas problems: with a high-backpressure suppressor used in testing, ejection/charging orientation dumps gas toward the shooter’s face and eyes — severe gassing and eye irritation reported even with gas tuned low. - Malfunctions / tuning: stovepipes and difficulty getting reliable, clean cycling while keeping blowback down. - Limited usable rail space: the Jackal 14.5” / ~13” handguard leaves less than ~13” of workable handguard once the chassis is fitted — very tight for light + tape switch + laser + sling. - Poor sling attachment options: available sling points (footman’s loop and low QD cups at the stock toe) put slings in awkward positions that can foul on the stock. - Sharp / ungainly edges: uncomfortable front trigger guard / grip area; reviewer used a vertical grip to avoid pokey corners. - Product feels unfinished: some design choices seem to be compromises to meet overall length limits, making the product feel rushed.

User experience

• Suppressed shooting was unpleasant; gas blew back toward face and eyes and breathing in gas occurred after a few rounds.
• Trigger feel is poor: heavy, stagey, and noisy.
• Shooting is “rowdy”: despite heavier mass, the long-stroke piston reciprocation produces a punchy recoil impulse.
• Mounting and positioning lights/lasers/tape switches is difficult; ergonomics and sling mounting are awkward.
• Overall impression: better as a tinker/project for someone who enjoys experimenting; not a polished, refined bullpup.

Comparisons

• Preferred ground-up bullpups: KelTec RDB (reviewer’s favorite), Desert Tech MDR / Wolverine, KelTec RFB — these purpose-designed bullpups have better triggers and ergonomics.
• Other chassis conversions (SkyReap, AT3 Triad, etc.) show similar fundamental compromises; differences are minor.
• Bufferless uppers like BRN-180 or CMMG Descent are alternatives but have their own optic-mounting trade-offs; Jackal’s monolithic upper is preferable for optic stability.

Suggestions / fixes the reviewer would like to see

• Longer handguard on the 14.5” Jackal (there appears to be physical room for ~1” more) to provide more rail space.
• Better: a Jackal upper designed specifically for bullpup use — e.g., a 16” Jackal with a 15” handguard to provide 2”+ more forward real estate (would increase weight but improve mounting options and ergonomics).
• Redesign the Olcan lower to add better, more practical sling attachment points and smooth/soften edges around the trigger/hand area.
• Improve the trigger linkage or redesign the lower as a dedicated bullpup instead of a drop-in chassis conversion.

Numerical / specific measurements

• Minimum optic center height estimated at approximately 1.93” above the rail (to get usable sight picture with the cheek riser).
• Jackal configuration used: 14.5” barrel with about ~13” handguard (current longest from PSA in that configuration).
• Overall weight: reviewer referenced a “naked” weight roughly in the neighborhood of 8+ pounds (exact subtitles ambiguous), noting the assembly is heavy.

Verdict / recommendation

• The Olcan + Jackal functions but feels rushed and compromise-heavy. It’s acceptable as a hobbyist project if you already own a compatible upper and like to tinker, but it is not a refined bullpup and is not recommended over purpose-built bullpups.
• For a good bullpup experience, the reviewer recommends a ground-up design (KelTec RDB remains his top pick). The Olcan needs hardware changes (longer handguard, better sling points, improved trigger/ergonomics) to be competitive.

All unique points mentioned (concise)

• Olcan is a drop-in lower that converts Jackal uppers to a bullpup.
• Three complaint categories: inherent bullpup issues; chassis‑conversion issues; Olcan/Jackal‑specific issues.
• Cheek riser required; raises eye line above Picatinny rail.
• Minimum optic height about 1.93” needed on the Olcan.
• Forward/side charging requires careful accessory placement to avoid blocking the charging track.
• Conversion-style triggers are often poor; Olcan’s trigger is heavy, creepy/stagey, and rattly.
• Olcan lower weight ≈ AR lower + buffer tube + stock weight (inefficient distribution).
• Jackal monolithic upper is ~1 lb heavier than comparable AR uppers.
• Long-stroke piston is heavy with limited practical benefit.
• Much of the Jackal handguard becomes unusable once the chassis is fitted.
• Jackal 14.5” / ~13” handguard leaves too little rail space for typical accessories.
• Suppressed use causes severe gas blowback to face/eyes for this configuration.
• Recoil is punchy despite heavier mass.
• Malfunctions reported (stovepipes); gas tuning is tricky.
• Sharp corners and uncomfortable trigger guard — reviewer used a vertical grip to mitigate.
• Sling attachment points are poorly placed and can foul on the stock.
• Suggested fixes: longer handguard, a dedicated longer Jackal for bullpup use, redesigned lower with better sling points and ergonomics.
• Reviewer likes to tinker; OK as a project but not ideal as a finished product.

Voices

• Main reviewer: Hop (primary source of evaluation and recommendations).
• Other audio clips: brief reactions, laughs, and unrelated banter (no substantive product details).