software

the title says it all. i find that i cant ever achieve a nice palm muted sound out a single coil...before i finally go out and buy a humbucker to put in my strat i wouldnt mind hearing about a single coil that can do PMs and still sound like a genuine single the rest of the time.

I have hotrail in my MIM strat bridge and It does some pretty nice palm mutes all though I have to get 11s because 10s bend in to much when I trying doing triplit palm mutes and it hits the bridge pup. Im so used to my hamer now because it has a TOM bridge.

but a hotrail is a humbucker. just smaller, and sounds nothing even slightly close to a single coil.

A thick, hot Tele brdige pickup -- something with P90 leanings -- can do it fairly well, but it's still no HB...

If you still want it pretty traditional sounding, go for a Twangbanger in the bridge with your vintage singles in the neck and middle.
If you want something a bit hotter, try the JB Jr. bridge or Quarter Pounder bridge.
If you want it heavy, go for a Hotrails bridge.