Circle 10 AK showcased their line of muzzle brakes and flash suppressors at Red Oktober this year. In regards to their muzzle brakes, the company makes two thread sizes, 14mm for standard Kalashnikov muzzle threading, and 24mm for AK74 or a number of AKSU inspired offshoots and designs. Both thread pitches can be ordered with either right hand or left hand threading. Going for a reduction in weight, Circle 10 offers the same designs but in titanium instead of 4140 steel. In addition, there is a shorter two port version available compared to the standard three port version.

Joe Firearms is a Utah based company that specializes in outfitting Kalashnikov rifles in addition to offering their own line of AJAK-47 and AJAK-74 rifles. Most significant is their flared magazine well that is welded to the receiver, their extended magazine releases, and left hand charge. Apart from the flared magazine well, a number of these features are available all over the Kalashnikov world, however combined with a number of their other options, many other companies offer these at a much higher price point for the consumer. I thought their extended magazine release looked especially worthwhile because it is ambidextrous by way of a bar that extends on either side of the trigger guard. Many Kalashnikov aftermarket extended magazine releases are usually only operable from the right side of the firearm, instead of the left side. They also had a neat concept wherein they cut down the charging handle to a short enough length to engage with a notch on the safety, while retaining their added left hand side charging handle. A number of Kalashnikov safety’s feature a bolt hold open device but few of them allow the bolt to be activated into battery by just a flick of the safety. Their simple concept does just this.

We first wrote about Kalashnicohn in 2014, when the small company began introducing their pistol caliber AKs. Compared to a number of larger manufacturers bringing the platform to market, Kalashnicohn has encountered a successful selling point considering that the entire company operates out of a small warehouse with 4 employees in Phoenix, AZ. While at Red Oktober the company showcased a number of their SBRs, pistols, and parts kits, mostly focusing on pistol calibers, however they do have some rifle caliber offerings as well.

Previously, we talked about the word “controllability”, and what it means in relation to the recoil and ergonomic characteristics of a firearm. If you haven’t already read that article, I recommend you click the link here and do so first, as this post will assume that you have. We discussed how a rifle – due to its ergonomic design and the skill of its shooter – may seem to be “controllable”, even if it produces recoil to an extreme degree and rate. What we didn’t talk about is the effect that terrain, fatigue, and other secondary factors have on rifle controllability, and how those factors fit in to a broader calculus on controllability thresholds for military automatic individual weapons.

Phoenix Technology of Burgaw, NC has introduced a new product called “On Point Sight – AK47”. This accessory mounts on front sight block of AK-style rifles and adds two green dots from either side of the front sight post.

As is common here in the US for our military service rifle, the AR tends to get all the love when it comes to removable optics rails for the “old” style receivers. With easily replaced handguards, various carry handle mounts, and eventually the “A3” upper receiver which has come to the standard for uppers, the AR has a lot of options for mounting optics.

Whether you’re focused on honing your tactical skills or interested in spending as many hours as possible in the woods you undoubtedly own more than a few lights. Some are simple flashlights, and more than likely there are untold numbers long forgotten in various drawers and boxes. Others are specifically made for tactics or hunting, but are handheld. And then there are the lights designed to be mounted to your firearms. Even those particular lights can be hard to find in your hoped-for design, whatever it may be. Companies such as Sightmark understand the importance of seeing what you’re after which is why they offer a full line of sights, lights, and binos. Now they’re also offering a 3000 lumen spotlight capable of getting the job done in more ways than one.

The Berlin Wall fell some 27 years ago. Now the situation around the Baltic Sea seems to turn to the worse again.

As part of the ongoing Vz58 obsession I’ve suffered from for the last few years, I’ve been hunting for the right kind of optic for these rifles. That led me onto the Primary Arms 4x Prismatic. Primary Arms is a budget manufacturer producing a number of red dots, magnified scopes, and prismatic sights. While the optics are made in China, their design team seems to consistently put together good ideas. I’m talking about things like “lets give the 4-16 optic a dedicated .308 reticle” or “lets make sure the 1x on the variable optics is a true zero magnification.”

My friend Calvin asked to see a comparison of muzzle flash on an AK47. He was curious how much a factory Slant Brake could mitigate flash if at all compared to a bare muzzle. I took him up on it and said I could film it. I took my RAS47 out to my local range. The range does not have any real time limit since it is nestled in a cul de sac of mountains and no one lives near by. The results were surprising.

FAB-Defense from Israel just launched a bi-pod support. This time it’s a product for both AR15 and AK47 / AKM users.

A Ukrainian company has introduced a series of wrist mounted sighting systems to be attached to various small arms and viewed through an LCD screen on a shooters wrist for shooting around obstacles without exposing the shooter. Their smallest unit is designed for short ranges, while their largest units are capable of zooming in on a target up to 300 meters away. The smaller design uses a barrel mounted camera about the size of a flashlight that connects wirelessly to the LCD monitor on a shooters wrist. The LCD monitor has a cover over it that obscures visible light coming from the screen while the shooter is operating the device in low light conditions.

Yesterday, we took a close look at the AK’s operating group, to enumerate the details that make this pattern such a dependable design. Today, we’re going to be looking at some of the other elements of the AK that make it so reliable, but first I want to clear up some confusion that arose in the comments section of the previous article, regarding what the term “anti-preengagement” refers to. Hopefully the video below will help:

Today we know the Kalashnikov family of rifles as one of the most successful and reliable weapon families ever designed. Even as the rifle’s legend has begun to be peeled back, the weapon’s reputation for reliability is still largely unquestioned, and many consider it to be the most reliable individual automatic weapon ever made.

Photos from a backyard gunsmith in Iraq are showing a myriad of customization on Kalashnikovs, Lee Enfields (No.1 SMLEs and No.4s) and Mosin Nagant s in some very interesting ways. Attempts to add picatinny rails, scopes, thumbhole stocks, forward grips, and bullpup conversions are all displayed in their full glory here. As you look through the pictures you can see the results of trial and error as the gunsmith attempts different improvisation methods, then going back and perfecting them for the next round of home manufacture. Some of the Lee Enfields have had their barrels replaced with 7.62x54Rmm PKM barrels, while others retain their .303 ones. Many appear to have Harris imitation bipods mounted to forward sling swivels as well as different scopes, to include Barska optics. Also included are SKS paint jobs, and the welding of picatinny rails to receiver covers, a product that has long been available in the United States.

Chris Bartocci of Small Arms Solutions LLC just released a video, where he reviews a pre-production prototype of a new Otis Technology drop-in AK rail.

The frothing, boiling cauldron that is India’s collective rifle development and procurement entities has shifted again. Just two weeks ago, we reported to you that India had restarted its search for a 7.62x51mm foreign assault rifle to replace the INSAS. Now, we learn from IHS Jane’s that the Excalibur rifle – an improved INSAS – is slated to be adopted as an interim measure, while a new 7.62x39mm rifle (with 5.56mm conversion kit!) is to be sought from foreign manufacturers.

A final sunset to the saga of the Cz858 in Canada. For those of you who don’t know, these Czech Vz58 variants were banned then rescued in 2014-2015. Now the rifles are safely on the non-restricted list again, but the plant in Brno is committed to the Bren and Skorpion firearms that have seen such widespread popularity in the USA.

Last weekend, I took the major arguments of Kalashnikov conspiracy theorists head on, and one of those – which I hear rather frequently – is why he did not design any other weapons besides the AK-47.

A recent news article has highlighted the efforts of a company in Oklahoma in replicating the Iraqi Tabuk service rifle, a Saddam Hussein era Iraqi Kalashnikov. The Tabuk is readily identifiable from the myriad of other Kalashnikov copies from the Yugoslavian pistol grip, the extended three vent handguard, grenade launching flip up sights, and the reinforced trunnion of an RPK receiver. In fact, if any of these reminds you of the Zastava Arms M70, then you would be correct, as the two rifles are virtually identical in terms of design. The news article further states the companies rifles were used in American Sniper because of their authentic features.

Kalashnikov Concern in partnership with “Kontinental Shooting League” (part of IPSC) held a practical pistol shooting competition called “Kalashnikov Cup”.

Whether you’re a hunter or not you probably have more than a few camo patterns in your house. And while the most recognizable brands such as Mossy Oak and Real Tree certainly dominate many closets and gun safes there are a multitude of other patterns out there. In fact, some of the most eye-catching patterns were designed by less well-known companies. TWN is one such company although they are by no means new to this. They’ve been working in water transfer – think hydro dipping – for twenty years. Their latest offering comes as the result of a collaboration with a newer business, BullGator Outfitters. The pattern is named for the outfitter and is what it sounds like: an alligator print, with a twist.

After a series of unfortunate events, missteps and recalls, IWI US is finally ready to release the latest version of their Galil ACE rifle. Chambered in 7.62 NATO, the new AK-derivative is as feature rich as its lesser powered kin. As we’ve covered several times in the past, the ACE features a milled receiver, a full-length picatinny rail, left side charging handle and tritium night sights.

Continuing on from where we left off yesterday, in this article we’ll address the arguments that center around the Sturmgewehr’s designer – Hugo Schmeisser – and his career in Izhevsk. Let’s get on with it:

We are all familiar with the standard conspiracy theories: NASA faked the Moon landing on a Hollywood soundstage, President Kennedy was shot by another gunman who was working for the CIA/the mob, all world leaders are actually reptilian aliens from Alpha Centauri, and the others. If you’re a gun person, though, there’s one other conspiracy theory you probably know: The official history that Mikhail Kalashnikov designed the AK-47 assault rifle was a Soviet hoax, propagated by state agents as a propaganda narrative to promote the idea of Soviet exceptionalism.

The editor says: This article was contributed by our friend Vitaly who runs Rem870.com, a blog and forum dedicated to the Remington 870. 

With the upcoming deadlines looming for the new California “Assault Weapons” law (I use the quotes as sarcasm, as I vigorously disagree with the term and intent of the state’s legislature), the floodgates have opened with the first public discontinuance of a “California Compliant” rifle model.

Got a buddy that needs a jump but neither of you have jumper cables? Well get those trunk gun AKs out and you can jumpstart those cars in no time! Does anyone recognize the camo used by these two gentlemen? Possibly somewhere in Africa?

No matter how diverse and separated the firearms community is from muzzle loading to action 3 Gun, NFA to concealed carry, I think one thing that every single one of us can agree on is that happiness is a belt fed machine gun. This year at Knob Creek, it was hard to conceal the enthusiasm that filled the range and gun show, with crowds not becoming smaller and smaller every year, but instead just growing and growing. I went to the show on Saturday, and would personally advise anyone planning on attending, if you can only make one day, or even a couple of hours, make it Saturday evening. I’ve noticed that on Friday, the show is really just starting, warming up, similarly with Sunday being the opposite, everyone is starting to break down, and the crowds are moving towards going back to work on Monday. But Saturday is certainly the most packed day of events, especially with the crowning night shoot (there were two this year).

The Cold Hammer Forged marking ‘CHF’ is stamped into millions of rifle barrels around the world. And while it’s not the only way to make a barrel, for AR15 patterned rifles it is likely to be the most common*. But what exactly does that CHF mark mean? Let’s take a brief look at one part of a type of barrel-making process.