#7.62x39

On the pre-range day of SHOT Show 2020, I had a chance to visit the Arsenal booth and take a look at their new AK-20 series of rifles. Retaining the good ol’ time-proven AK mechanism, these rifles offer a lot of improvements that are added to make them capable of providing features that we demand from modern firearms.

Czech Small Arms (CSA), a Czech company specialized in the manufacturing of new Vz. 58 and Vz. 61 rifles and pistols, made a special edition Classic Vz. 58 rifle that will be exclusively available through Brownells. The features that set apart this model from other CSA Vz. 58s are the semi-gloss gray finish of the metal parts and the beechwood stock, pistol grip and handguards. The finish and furniture are replicating the appearance of original early military Vz. 58 rifles.

Good morning everyone and welcome back to another edition of TFB’s Silencer Saturday brought to you by Yankee Hill Machine, home of the Turbo K2. Last week we dove into an academic exercise regarding the normalization of suppressors by the government, industry and consumers alike. The comment section was lively, with most of us agreeing that the perception of silencers, the NFA process and NFA laws need to change. In case anyone is wondering, my stance on any bans is absolute – we should focus our efforts on criminal actions, not inanimate objects. This week we are back out on the range with a IWI Galil ACE suppressed with a SilencerCo Saker and outfitted with a KNS Precision AK Adjustable Gas Piston. Thank you to both IWI and KNS for loaning me the equipment for today’s Silencer Saturday evaluation.

Welcome everyone to the 31st edition of ‘Hot Gat or Fudd Crap?’, one of our many series here on TFB. If you’re new to the series, this is where we look at the most obscure firearms that are actually for sale and ask the question – is this Gat a sweet deal or only have Fudd appeal?  Each week the TFB staff weighs in with their thoughts, but readers get the final say in the poll at the bottom of each article.

Welcome to the TFB Field Strip series. The AR-15 pattern of rifles hardly needs any introduction. While Eugene Stoner’s iconic design may sometimes be the focus of unwanted attention, this sometimes spurs a newly-acquired desire for people to learn more about it. Thus, I have put together this edition of field strip, looking at the AR-15. This is for the newbies, who will be starting from an experience level of zero – maybe having held one in a video game once, or not even having held one virtually.

Welcome everyone to the 22nd edition of ‘Hot Gat or Fudd Crap?’, one of our many series here on TFB. If you’re new to the series, this is where we look at the most obscure firearms that are actually for sale and ask the question – is this gat a sweet deal or only have fudd appeal?  Each week the TFB staff weighs in with their thoughts, but readers get the final say in the poll at the bottom of each article.

Last month, our man Hrachya discussed the debut of factory subsonic 7.62×39 loads that are designed to cycle semiautomatic firearms like AK47 patterned rifles. The move is a tear-inducing moment for me, to take an iconic gun and set it up as a suppressor host, seasoned with quieter ammo. Just in to retailers is the PPU Subsonic Line that includes 7.62×39 as well as 7.62×51 and 9mm offerings. Featuring brass cases, these rounds are loaded with FMJBT projectiles (FMJ for the 9mm) and heavier bullet weights for suppressor, lower-recoil use.

Earlier this week news began to filter onto English language defence news sites from Russian media sources that the Russian Military may be considering a move away from 5.45×39 back to 7.62×39. This is not the case.

Here is your daily Public Service Announcement. Don’t shoot .300blk out of an AK chambered in 7.62x39mm. This was my mistake. Fortunately, nothing bad happened.

“How can something so wrong, feel so right?” Every time I hear about an AR chambered in 7.62×39, these are the words that run through my head. Even though the combination should be blasphemy to combloc and freedom-loving shooters alike, the 7.62 AR15 combination is a fun and possibly inexpensive shooting setup. And here to save our thumbs from all that magloading is Maglula with a new loader/unloader.

The sanctions on Russian companies have hit the American AK enthusiast hard – no longer can we import inexpensive Izhevsk Kalashnikovs to feed the beast. Yet, there is a silver lining: Domestic AK production is on the rise to meet the demand, and one company in particular is staking its name – the biggest name in the business – on American-made AKs done right. That name being, of course, Kalashnikov USA.

In today’s episode, we follow Miles to Shot Show 2018 at the PWS booth.

Aero Precision had some interesting products for 2018. The company is working on a new line of compensators for 9mm, 5.56, and 7.62 rifles. These have a number of unique features such as the ability to slide a gas block over them while installed. They also have a titanium suppressor which wil MSRP for under $1000.
A very special thanks to BROWNELL’S – check out their new Retro line here:

Ukroboronprom, the state-owned Ukrainian defence concern, has confirmed the first deliveries of its M4-WAC-47 rifle to Ukrainian troops for evaluation. The rifle, based on the M4, is chambered in 7.62x39mm, earlier information had referred to the weapon as the M16-WAC-47.

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.