Russia appears to be using its invasion of Ukraine as an opportunity to put the AK-12, the most promising model in the AK series, through real-battlefield testing. According to news reports, the Kalashnikov Concern is tweaking its AK-12 rifle according to the experience gained in Russia’s “special military operations” in Ukraine. CEO Vladimir Lepin states […]
AK-74
The Soviets and the 5.45×39: Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery
The lineage of the 5.45 x 39mm rifle round that is commonly found in the AK-74 rifles all around the world can in a weird way trace its lineage back to the 5.56 x 45mm that NATO and the United States Military uses. Way back in the 1950’s what was then known as the Soviet […]
The Best Way to Unload an AK74? Start with KCI USA’s 5.45X39mm 95-Round Dual Drum Magazine
Keep your 5.45 AK fed with KCI USA’s AK-74 95-round drum magazine! Constructed of black polymer, it has a clear polymer front plate so you can see all the action. When the other guy’s 30-rd mags run dry at the range, your 74 still be blazing away. Load it on Sunday and shoot all week […]
Photo of the day: My custom AK-74/AK-105 variant
This is my Custom AK. I had it made as a sort of hybrid between the AK-74 and AK-105 models. Chambered in 5.45 because I had it built back when 1,080 round spam cans of 7n6 were $130. But I like how similar 5.45 is to 5.56 so the loss of super cheap ammo hasn’t stopped […]
AK-47 Accuracy and Reliability
Before the price gouging of weapons, while I was stationed at Ft. Benning GA, I purchased an AK-47 (Romanian) at a local dealership for $174.00. I wanted an AK-47 after a few deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, everyone in those areas of operations had one and it seemed to serve its purpose for them just […]
Russia’s new service rifles: Soviet firepower with an American flare
Few rifles have achieved the legendary status of the Soviet rifle of choice: the Kalashnikov AK-47. Its price, reliability and .30 caliber stopping power have made it a favorite among gunslingers everywhere from Third World dictatorships to high-end gun collections. Its legacy even continues to thrive in the Russian military today, in the form of the […]
Origins of the AK: Why is the Charging Handle on the Right?
Many shooters of modern sporting rifles (MSRs) seem to get confused and throw a fit when handed an AK. Other complaints aside a predominant whine is that the charging handle is on the right side. The domestic AR’s charging handle is on the left and so some in the “tacticool” arena and others less-informed insist […]
Best Modern Sporting Rifle: AR vs AK
One of the fiercest, and longest running, debates within the firearms community is this: which is the better “battle rifle:” the AR or the AK. The topic has been done to death, so I thought I’d feature the two rifles in a different setting: working together. The video embedded above features an AR-15 and an AK-74. […]
JTT: A Treatise on AK-74 Mods
Courtesy of Breach Bang Clear JTT: A Treatise on AK-74 Mods Tom Marshall The life cycle of the AK-74 in American gun culture might be called a comedy of errors. It has never shared the widespread commercial success of its older brother, despite some very legitimate advantages in its caliber. The 5.45x39mm cartridge, vice its […]
The Over Exaggerated “C” Clamp Grip | Hype or Not?
Over the past 6 years or so, combative and realistic shooting techniques have adopted a new, exaggerated shooting stance/style. I first saw this way of shooting while serving overseas and a couple of guys were using it during shooting drills before an op. The shooters who use this style of shooting claim that it reduces […]