Hera Arms released a Happy New Year salutation on their Facebook page. Something tells me they’re going to have a busy year as their new products are launched.

A recent promotional video released by the Chinese state television program CCTV highlights developments in the joint venture between  North China Industries and Chongqing Jianshe Industry Group to bring to market a Chinese copy of the SCAR. The 5.56x45mm and 7.62x51mm versions (NAR-556, and NAR-751) first started circulating in the public eye in November of 2016. There appears to have been a 7.62x39mm M43 version (NAR-739) that was also present at the same display booth of the other two calibers, but it doesn’t appear to have been photographed as much.

Circle 10 AK came up with a simple stock solution for those Vepr rifles and shotguns that have an angled rear portion of the receiver also known as “slant back”. Normally, AKs have a square back receivers. However, some versions of Vepr rifles, particularly those that originally came with hunting style stocks, have those slant back receivers. You can see both receiver types compared in the image below.

Through the Modern Calibers series of posts, we’ve covered 40 different rifle and pistol calibers, ranging from the diminutive .22 Winchester Magnum to full power calibers like the 7.62x51mm NATO. The series was intended to give readers a baseline picture of how different calibers compare to each other in performance, but its biggest limitation has been that it is entirely theoretical. The ballistics graphs in that series were created based on numbers spat out by a conventional calculator using nominal muzzle velocity and static ballistic coefficient figures – and while this is accurate enough to give us an idea of the performance of different rounds relative to one another, it is imperfect. Well then, it’s time to get empirical: Introducing the Big Freakin’ Cartridge Test.

Kalashnikov Media has started a video series called “Kalashnikov: Around the World”. The purpose of these videos is to tell about the Kalashnikov rifles made in different countries of the world. This video series consists of short videos briefly teasing separate rifles ( like AMP-69 that we posted about earlier) and more comprehensive ones in a format of an interview where Vladimir Onokoy, the technical consultant of Kalashnikov Concern, is the host and Pavel Pticin, the founder of ak-info.ru website, is the guest.

At long last, we have reached the last day in TFB’s 12 Days of Christmas – long guns. Originally, I had marked today as being dedicated to rifles. However, after compiling my list, I decided that I needed to open the category up to include firearms that are legally defined as pistols, but with a pistol stabilizing brace act more like rifles. ‘Tis the season for outdated laws and regulations!

Here is a video posted by Vaporwar on Facebook. It has some fantastic slow motion video clips of firearms being fired.

Even though today is officially the tenth day of TFB Christmas, I wanted to make sure to recognize the last night of Hanukkah for our Jewish readers and shooters around the world. If I had thought of it, I would have made today the “illumination” part of the series – bringing much needed light to the dark winter days of the northern hemisphere. Instead, today is arbitrarily all about Rifle Silencers.

About a week ago we took a look at a custom AK rifle ( SK-17) made by Fire Control Group Manufacturing. Among other features, this rifle had a simple but rather interesting part made by the same company. It is called Muzzle Device Detent Block (MDDB). Let’s see what makes it interesting.

Photographs of Egyptian Security Forces armed with 7.62x39mm CZ 807s have recently surfaced, thanks to the efforts of Egypt Defense Review and Mahmoud Gamal, both in-depth analysts of Egyptian defense programs. The 7.62x39mm rifles were recently seen in what appears to be a joint operation with Egyptian Paratroopers and Sa’ka special forces in Egypt. In 2013 we reported that a large contract with Česká zbrojovka Uherský Brod (CZ) had taken place wherein CZ P-07 handguns, Scorpions, and 5.56x45mm CZ 805s were purchased. From the images, at the time it would appear that this was a law enforcement program to Egyptian police forces separate from the defense forces. Now, from various sources online, it looks like Egypt is actually interested in manufacturing the 807 at home, purchasing a manufacturing license from CZ. This process appears to have picked up in May of this year, and there isn’t much information beyond that. We also have a post on Egypt Defense Portal that has this to say about the technology transfer (Google Translate)-

A Russian YouTube gun channel called “ practical shooting” has released a video showing an extremely unusual competition rifle. As you can see, it is not just a heavily modded rifle but has a totally weird layout.

Corruption also plays a prominent role.

In this episode of TFBTV, James gives you a comprehensive overview of the Arsenal SAM7SF and the SBR version, the SAM7SF-K. These may be the best AKs ever produced, and we’ll tell you why. In addition to James, Ryan Hicks from Arsenal is there to explain the finer details, and notorious AK scholar Mishaco gives us a rundown of the select-fire military variant of the SAM7, the ARM9, featuring Bulgarian made ARM9 style buttstock and handguards, and the RPK style pistol grip. Arsenal calls this the “game changer” of AKs. So what improvement did Arsenal formulate to “change the AK game?” Arsenal’s radical development is, primarily, the introduction of an AK receiver that is forged before it is milled. In explaining why this feature makes this AK variant a “game-changer,” Arsenal offers this explanation: “Some companies that make milled receivers in the USA bypass the forging process, which can contribute to weak receivers, more prone to stress. The forging process strengthens the material and shapes uniform grain patterns in the steel. These forging patterns are engineered and produced to follow certain directions along the contour of the receiver to withstand high stress from the force and the movement of the working components. The forging process also eliminates any possibility of internal air pockets and cooling deformations that can impact and weaken the integrity of the receiver. While firing, the forged and milled receiver does not have the same deformation issues that are typical to stamped receiver models. […] The solid platform of the forged and milled receiver ensures superior accuracy. […] It is not by accident that all the critical components on the SAM7SF rifle, including the receiver, the barrel, the bolt head, the bolt carrier and trigger are formed through forging process, to give them the crucial strength, reliability, and longevity to last for generations of use.” Anyways, we hope you enjoy this overview.

SK-17 (Semiautomatic Kalashnikov 2017) is a custom AKM-based rifle built by a company called Fire Control Group Manufacturing. Besides being a custom made rifle, it has several design changes which are supposed to increase the efficiency of the rifle.

Polish MILMAG gun magazine has published several images of homemade firearm modifications from the Ukrainian conflict. Reportedly, the photos are taken in one of the self-proclaimed republics.

The Cold War is famous as the squaring off of two superpowers: The United States, and the Soviet Union, and their duel-by-proxy in Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas. The standard rifles of each side, as well, became proxies: On the Soviet side, the famous AK-47 (more properly AK and AKM), and on the US side the M14, FAL, and later the M16. As early as the late 1950s, however, the AK’s success led to it being copied by NATO member nations, and perhaps the very first of these was the Madsen LAR.

In the ’40s, the Soviet Union has developed its intermediate cartridge ( 7.62x39mm) and adopted a number of firearms chambered in this caliber – the Simonov self-loading rifle (SKS), Kalashnikov’s “avtomat” (AK-47) and Degtyaryov light machine gun ( RPD). However, there was another firearm developed in this caliber which was not adopted and ultimately became forgotten.

Kalashnikov Media has released another short video of their video series called “Kalashnikov: Around the World”. This time they are showcasing a really interesting version of the Kalashnikov rifle – the Hungarian AMP-69. What sets this rifle apart from others is that it was redesigned to better suit the rifle grenade launching role.

This Russian sniper rifle resembles quite a bit to the AR15 Potato launchers, but that’s about where the similarities end as well.

A recent propaganda film put out by the al-Rahman Corps (a rebel group currently fighting in the Ghouta suburb of Damascus) showcases an entire industry of craft produced and almost semi-industrial small arms and light weapons production facility. Most of what is available for us to watch (there most certainly are parts the al-Rahman Corps doesn’t want the public to see) appears to be the sustained production of mortar rounds, specifically what appears to be 81mm shells. As evidenced by another video linked below, the group publicly and specifically mentions that 81mm, 100mm, 120mm, and 180mm mortars are used against Asad’s Syrian Arab Army.

Zlatust is a Russian town known for over 200-year heritage of hosting master engravers and decorators. In 1991 a company called Praktica was established in this town. A team of local master engravers has joined the newly founded company and since then they produce a number of precious metal plated and engraved items including firearms.

One of the popular Russian YouTube gun channels has published a video telling about a Russian guy who converted his Vepr Super 308 rifle from its original hunting configuration to a tactical one. What is interesting about this video is that this guy made most of the parts himself or adapted AR-15 parts to fit the Vepr rifle. Let’s see what they did to make this rifle which they call a “pseudo-AR”.

This is not the average AK we normally see, is it? DNO Firearms DX-7 is an interesting take on redesigning and modernizing the AK platform at the same time keeping the features and parts that don’t need to be changed.

In this episode of TFBTV, James gives you an overview of the Molot VEPR-12-04. This gun is unique in that it is a factory-configured short barrel shotgun, and it isn’t being imported into the United States anymore. James takes one out to the Nevada desert along with a representative from FIME Group, the Vegas-based importer of these shotguns.

Due to Smith & Wesson’s recent  acquisition of Crimson Trace it didn’t take a crystal ball to predict that we’d be seeing more Crimson Trace accessories bundled with Smith & Wesson products, and this example falls into that category.

Select-fire 5.56x45mm NATO Beretta ARX-160 rifles have been adopted en masse by the Turkmen armed forces, most recently seen in the media through the 26th anniversary of the country’s Independence Day parade held in the capital of Ashgabat. Replacing previous AKM and AK74 Kalashnikov patterned designs that Turkmen soldiers had been armed with since the days of the Soviet Union when it was a Soviet Socialist Republic until the early 1990s. From what we can gather at the military parade, it appears that the entire military has been equipped with the ARX160, and not just the land component or the infantry. The ARX160 acquisition program began sometime after 2011, with an initial sighting of the rifle among a Turkmen platoon in the 2014 Independence Day parade. Along with the ARX160 is what appears to be a smaller purchase of the IWI select-fire 5.56x45mm NATO Tavor TAR with Integral Meprolight reflex sight and what appears to be an image magnifier co-witnessed with the reflex sight. The IWI connection appears to roll over with handguns, with what appear to be Jericho pistols.

A recent media video following a platoon of the Syrian Arab Army take over of al-Bukamal, a city in the eastern portion of Syria, on the border with Iraq shows a soldier with what appears to be the receiver, trigger guard, and stock of a shotgun (Remington 870 from the open source photographs) combined with what appears to be a four foot long pipe attached to it. Unfortunately, our only perspective of the weapon is from behind the soldier carrying it, which obscures the receiver, what would most likely be the pump action charger and the ejection port.

The bloody battle for the Syrian city of Raqqa has been since been won by the Kurdish Peshmerga with U.S. support. But while it was raging, we wrote about the Polish volunteer fighting with the Peshmerga with a public name and Facebook book title of Archer. After getting in touch with the individual, he was able to submit to TFB a number of photographs of his small teams inventory along with some actual feedback on the small arms used.

A TFB reader sent us these photographs of a craft produced 7.62x25mm Tokarev submachine gun from Pakistan. The submachine gun is a select fire, blowback operated, Kalashnikov based derivative most likely originating from the gun making village of Darra Adam Khel from the Pakistani owned, Pashtun dominated province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It was confiscated from a local Pakistani resident that didn’t have the necessary permits or registration to possess it and was then photographed.

Meridian Defense Corporation offers a new AK build called VOLK. The choice of parts and the overall layout of the rifle is really well thought out. If the AK is the weapon platform of your choice, then something like the VOLK rifle will be an ultimate all-around gun.