During SHOT Show 2017 Industry Day at the Range, I dropped by the IWI USA booth to see what they had for attendees to shoot. Besides their highly competitive Galil ACE 308, they had also brought the 5.56mm variant of the ACE, which is just now making it into the country. I got a chance to fire these two rifles side by side to compare them. Sadly, IWI’s reps tactically operate their booths with touchscreen-baffling gloves on, and since I ride solo at shows like this that meant I got no photos of me actually shooting the rifles. Oh well, we’ll have to make do with some glamor shots.

Signaling the arrival of a surplus firearm from a time and world nearly forgotten, the sweet smell of the Cosmoline protective coating invokes a Pavlov-like reaction in even the most novice collector. Sure, the moment can be short lived as you decide on a removal method to get to the gun underneath. But as sticky and obnoxious as that amber colored mixture is, it’s hard not to appreciate its amazing corrosion resistance properties.

I recently received an email from Adam of PSA.

I challenge you to watch the above video, and tell me the majority of the tactics, gear, people, and location couldn’t have been easily mistaken for a large training center in the United States, such as Gunsite, Blackwater. The Erbil Training Center (ETC) claims to be the largest training facility within Iraq, and autonomous Kurdistan (northern Iraq). ETC boosts numerous short and long distance ranges, a CQB maneuver house, rappel tower, in addition to a wide variety of other establishments and shooting facilities. The Center appears to be much more specialized within the PSD and special operations capacity training than strict infantry material, or what the majority of the Peshmerga is engaged in when it comes to fighting Daesh. Indeed, with previous videos of Kurdish “SF” groups, I can recognize some of the background at this facility.

Before you all go crazy with questions about where to order, pricing, delivery and so forth I have to start this article by typing that all the pictures you are seeing are – unfortunately – edited and Photoshopped.

The Small Arms Survey is a global center with a mandate to “generate evidence-based, impartial, and policy-relevant knowledge on all aspects of small arms and armed violence“.

Limcat Custom (known for their race guns) has introduced a new competition shotgun called VERPCAT-12. It is based on Vepr-12 shotgun chambered in 12 gauge, hence the name – VEPRCAT-12. The shotgun is designed for 3-Gun and IPSC competition shooting. Limcat Custom accepts orders, although there is no MSRP specified yet.

Due to increasing poaching efforts over the years, an number of national and private parks in Africa have become increasingly vigilant in their efforts to combat poachers. As poacher tactics have become more sophisticated, so have many of the park Rangers guarding the animals that live in these parks. Unfortunately this has lead to some deaths on the Good Guy side of things.

Gunstruction, is a 3D weapon configuration tool that allows you to virtually build an AR-15 of your dreams. They work closely with manufacturers to get dimensions and the latest accessories available. They even have the program set up so that after you finish setting up the gun of your dreams, you can click and order the parts needed for the build in real life.

Back in September, TFB reader Brandon took us through the history and variations of Russian Kalashnikov magazine patterns in a two part article that’s well worth reading if you haven’t already. Having said that, if you don’t have the patience for articles or if you can’t get enough on AK magazine patterns, Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons has released a brief video overview on the subject:

Krebs Custom Interchangeable Muzzle System (IMS) for AK rifles is now available through their website at $90. It allows to have 16.25″ barrel length and still be able to attach different muzzle devices without significantly increasing the overall length (except when used with suppressors). The system consists of a base device which is a four prong flash hider, and a closed-end “birdcage” compensator. The base flash hider must be pinned on the barrel to extend 14.5″ barrel length to 16.25″. It also features external threads and a built-in AK-style plunger detent to host the compensator and other muzzle devices.

This is the first prototype of the Kalashnikov-AR, KAR-16, in 7,62×39 mm from Finland.

The East German Kleinkaliber-Maschinenpistole Modell 69 .22 Long Rifle Kalashnikov Trainer is one of the more peculiar relics of the Cold War. It is one of the few .22 LR trainers completely modeled after a full size, working issue rifle (not a conversion kit), and actually used by a military (not commercially produced). East Germany took a number of parts from the 7.62x39mm KKMPI 69, and produced a select fire .22 LR trainer, to be used within military marksmanship, and by youth groups within East Germany. Around 50,000 were produced, and at the end of the Cold War it appears all 50,000 were destined to be scrapped. Nevertheless, some made their way to Switzerland, and a very small portion were chopped up, and exported to the United States as parts kits, where there is very little demand or interest in them. Small Arms Review has an excellent and detailed write up of the rifle.

Malhama Tactical is a Youtube and Twitter tactical training entity that is the creation of a certain Abu Rofiq, an Uzbek who claims to have served in the Russian Airborne Forces. Rofiq speaks Russian, and all his media is also in Russian, but that doesn’t necessarily explicitly mean he was enlisted in the Russian Army. Russian is a second language to many of the Central Asian Republics, however there was a measure passed by the Russian Government that allowed foreigners to enlist. His “company” bills itself as a tactical consulting company for various groups within Syria. Specifically he allies with Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, formally Jabhat al-Nusra. Al-Nusra proclaimed alliances with al-Qaeda but that really appears to be a formality rather than a complete branch of the group in Syria, al-Nusra’s aims and motivations are much more Syrian focused, than al-Qaeda’s MENA and international intentions.

Pakistan Ordnance Factory (POF), the state owned small arms, light weapons, and ammunition manufacturer has entered into negotiations and a Letter of Understanding to locally produce the CZ 807 rifle, in 7.62x39mm for a Pakistani Army contract, understandably replacing POF’s currently produced under license G3s and Type 56s. This is resulting from a year long process the Pakistani Army has undergone to fielding a new infantry rifle. Original contenders were Zastava, FN Herstal, Beretta, and CZ, among others. From what we see so far, the CZ 807 has been apparently chosen, with the results from the recent International Defense Exhibition & Seminar Exposition 2016 (IDEAS Expo 2016) being held in Karachi.

We recently had a look at what modern sniper teams from the Western countries use.

Al-Hashd Al-Sha’abi translates to “Popular Mobilization Forces” and is an Iraqi Government sponsored umbrella group composed of people’s militia, to augment Iraqi Military forces in the fight against the so called Islamic State. Photographs of the remote firing device first came out in September of this year, and were spread on a number of Iranian and French news sources. The Iranian connection to many of the Shi’a militias in Al-Hashd Al-Sha’abi is very strong, and is possibly why the photographs are showing up overwhelmingly in Iranian sources.

Fresh off of the editing and framing masterpiece that is the “Inside the M4 Carbine” video, Larry Vickers does not seem to be resting on the upload button. His latest video features a unicorn AK-74 at least here in the United States.

The Chiappa AK-9 (or PAK-9) 9mm AK-based pistol is not a new announcement, but at an approximate $425 MSRP, it certainly deserves a strong look. In fact, TFB’s own Miles V. will soon be receiving a test and evaluation unit for an in depth review.

Legion USA imports and sells various accessories for AKs, Veprs, Saigas, etc. I was perusing what they have and found this ridiculous weapon light that looks more at home on an off road vehicle.

The Vintorez is a suppressed rifle currently in use by a number of Russian Special Operations units. It was used extensively in the Chechen conflict, in addition to popping up in Syria as well. It fires a special 9x39mm SP5 cartridge in addition to an armored piercing round. The rifle has eluded importation in the U.S for quite some time and will probably never be imported unless it comes in parts kits from Russia, possibly many years from now, although Molot is currently producing one for the Russian market. It is very similar to the Kalashnikov rifle platform but there are actually few parts that interchange between it. Taking from the AS Val, a suppressed select fire rifle, the Vintorez is a long stroke gas piston operated, select fire rifle with a 6 lug rotating bolt head. Essentially it is designed for accurate suppressed fire within 400 meters.

If you looked at this photograph and thought to yourself, “This looks like a 40x46mm Low Velocity grenade launcher, but it is unlike any launcher currently used by any Military/LE force”, then you’d be halfway to a solid conclusion. However if you are really into Airsoft, you’d probably instantly recognize it for what it is, a Mad Bull Airsoft grenade launcher made in Taiwan. But then what in the world is it doing on a “Real Steel” AR rifle? In Iraq?

You know it is a good sign for business when customers are banging at your door to buy your products. As a quick update to our August story on DDI’s U.S. made AK47 rifles, Atlantic Firearms is teasing the first batch due in any day. Although purists may balk at the non-traditional gas block and missing cleaning rod, all signs point to a top-notch DDI rifle with high quality manufacturing processes and parts.

In this episode of TFBTV, James responds to comments to his AK Inaccuracy Mythbuster video calling for a true-er AR versus AK faceoff. In this video, James compares a Russian Saiga SGL-21 to an FN M4 in .223/5.56mm, and the results may surprise you. Both guns are shot from 100 yards out of a Caldwell Lead Sled Dual Frame model, using 124gr 7.62×39 Wolf in the AK, and 55gr .223 Wolf in the M4. Five rounds of five shot groups were fired, and the best group was used for the video. Check out this episode of TFBTV for the results!

Red Oktober is an entirely Kalashnikov themed competition that took place at Southern Utah Practical Shooting Range in St. George, Utah. It was primarily by Rifle Dynamics, along with a number of other industry sponsors that all pitched in to really support the two day competition. Essentially Jim Fuller from Rifle Dynamics, along with range staff from Southern Utah Practical Shooting Range saw the opportunity to create a competition in celebration of the Kalashnikov platform in the United States and brought it to reality. The divisions included Kalash Heavy (7.62×39), Kalash Light (5.56×45 or 5.45×39), Open Kalash for optics or drum feeding devices, and finally a ComBloc division for any non Kalashnikov design Soviet or otherwise within the Warsaw Pact countries.

Dead Air Armament is a Utah based company that makes a number of suppressors for a variety of platforms to include rifles, handguns, and shotguns. We’re written some posts about the company but haven’t been able to get this in-depth with one of their suppressors. Along with SilencerCo (based in the same state), they are part of a growing industry of smaller companies going after a market once only populated by the big leagues of Gemtech, AAC, and Surefire to identify a few. Although Dead Air Armament has a huge variety of suppressors, at Red Oktober they were showcasing their Wolverine PBS-1 for the Kalashnikov platform. The claim to fame is that this is the first rack grade ready suppressor for the rifle platform. Your standard ComBloc Kalashnikov rifles although very reliable weren’t manufactured to standards necessary to suppressor operation. As an example many barrels are not concentric, in addition the muzzle threads on the actual barrel probably aren’t concentric either. This means that if you had a suppressor with 14.5mm threads, even if you screwed it on the rifle, you are running a very high risk of a baffle strike because the actual position of the muzzle within the barrel might not be centered, and even if it is, the threads on the muzzle might also not be centered. Thus, a baffle strike will occur.

Sabrewerks has been making a very indigenous optics mount that replaces the Kalashnikov factory rear sight blocks. The initial unit requires some gunsmithing or least knowledge of complete Kalashnikov disassembly (removing the OEM rear sight block). Once this is removed, you now have a system on which to insert a variety of optic platforms made by Sabrewerks onto the mount. These are held in place by a very snug dovetails on the base mount, in addition to a cross pin that doubles as a gas tube retaining pin (previous retaining pin is removed with the old rear sight block). The company makes a mount for just about any optic you want to throw on the rifle, and I’m sure if you have an older scope, they’ll be able to do a custom fit for it. Every mount they make has an integrated non adjustable rear sight within it, so if the scope goes down, there will always be a back up rear sight, without the need to affix an aftermarket rear sight. Of course, this does take away the ability to co-witness a rear sight (However, some of their reflex optic mounts do allow for a co-witness). In addition, an important point about their system is that it allows removal of the top cover for disassembly without needing to take off the optics mount first.

Mikhail Kalashnikov has designed a number of firearms other than AK family of rifles he is famous for. Some of them were experimental, others took part in various trials, but because they lost and were never adopted, they’ve become forgotten.

@Z.militia posted this picture of an SBR rifle. It is a Rev Arms upper and chambered in 7.62x39mm. The hand carved wood furniture really adds a nice touch to this fun looking SBR. He used a collapsing style stock and added a wood accent on it as well. Check out @Z.militia for some cool weapon builds.

Raise your hand if you’ve bought a gun based solely on the advertising and photography in a firearms magazine. Yeah, me too. Have you ever stopped to think about what goes in to a successful (and honest) advertising campaign? Recently I had the chance to speak with Josh Locatis, owner/operator of Tap Rack Bang Creative, one of the top media design firms in the U.S. that caters to gun and gear companies.