In my last article on the K.43 I said that if I was able to get my grubby paws on an SVT-40 I’d do a comparison of the gas systems. Well, after getting extremely lucky on a GunBroker listing, I’m able to do just that. Gas Systems of the Eastern Front – [Read More…]
In which I restore a 1952 Tula SKS to her original glory. Featuring adventures in international shipping, a brief history lesson, and more than you wanted to know about the different models of SKS bayonet adapters. Operation Rifle is Fine I like milsurp guns. Now that [Read More…]
In the early 2000s, after the assault weapon ban was lifted and Kalashnikov rifles started to gain popularity on the US market, a lot of shooters were looking to learn the original Russian way to run an AK. Naturally, very few Russian instructors were available and very [Read More…]
Kalashnikov Media has published an article telling about an experimental pistol called PS-15 Drel (Russian: Дрель, means “drill”). This handgun was chambered in 5.45x18mm. It was designed in the ’90s by the request of Russian Ministry of [Read More…]
Early prototype of AM-17, first public demonstration. August 2016 Recently, Larry Vickers visited Russia to get some pictures of rare and unique AKs for his upcoming Vickers Guidebook. He also visited the factory in Izhevsk and tried some of the newer weapons, including [Read More…]
Probably one of the most important developments in submachine gun design history was the invention of a telescoping bolt. The first production SMG utilizing such bolt layout is considered the Czech Sa 23 and probably the most recognizable SMG that uses this solution is [Read More…]
SKAT is a private Russian firearms manufacturing company founded by a gentleman named Gennadiy Kozhayev. The company makes a variety of firearms including Glock clones, AR-15 rifles and PCCs, bolt action precision rifles etc. Mr. Kozhayev is also the head of Russian [Read More…]
The number of private Russian companies manufacturing firearm accessories constantly increases. There are more an more AK accessories appearing on the market that are made in this country. Bulletec is one of those domestic Russian companies that makes a variety of AK [Read More…]
With the recent official news that the new AK-12 and AK-15 rifles have been adopted by the Russian Ministry of Defense it’s with interest we with Kalashnikov’s help can take a deeper look into how the rifles were developed and engineered. Nathaniel F [Read More…]
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 [Read More…]
The Russian Defense Ministry has made a decision regarding its next infantry rifle: It will adopt everything, it seems. Not only will Russian Army forces receive the improved 5.45x39mm AK-12 (the new AK-12, not the different previous version), and the 7.62x39mm AK-15, [Read More…]
In one of the Russian social media pages dedicated to firearms, I found a picture of two pistols being in development in Russia. These handguns are designed by an unknown arms designer whose nickname is “Kochevnik”. Both pistols are chambered in 9x19mm. The [Read More…]
While doing a research for another article I came across a set of photos taken during live firing exercises of Russian Ground Forces’ snipers in Alabino proving grounds. Reportedly, the images are taken in December 2017. Let’s take a look at them and [Read More…]
Next up for the Big Freakin’ Cartridge Test is Vympel’s budget 55gr FMJ load in .223 Remington, made in Amursk, Russia. This ammunition features a lacquered steel case, bimetal jacketed 55gr FMJ bullet and purple neck sealant. This is one of my favorite [Read More…]
Next up for the Big Freakin’ Cartridge Test is Vympel’s budget 55gr FMJ load in .223 Remington, made in Amursk, Russia. This ammunition features a lacquered steel case, bimetal jacketed 55gr FMJ bullet and purple neck sealant. This is one of my favorite [Read More…]
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. This competition rifle is based on a Molot [Read More…]
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 [Read More…]
Texas company True Velocity, LLC, has released the first images of their advanced lightweight polymer composite cased ammunition design via Instagram. Training company BAT Defense sent out an image of what appear to be 12.7×108, .50 BMG, and 5.56mm rounds made by [Read More…]
When the subject is the future of infantry, the conversation inevitably turns to one thing: Powered, armored exoskeletons. Since the publication of Heinlein’s Starship Troopers in 1959, the concept of an armored suit with enhanced mobility from an internal power [Read More…]
Many successful firearm designs are copied and cloned by companies all over the world. In the case of the Russian company called Techcrim, not only they make a 9x19mm clone of a SIG P226, but also versions chambered in 10x28mm less-lethal caliber. Techcrim’s [Read More…]
Although the Russian Kalashnikov assault rifle is the one that is most famous, it is arguably the Chinese Type 56 AK that made the bigger impression on the world in the 1960s and 70s. This rifle was initially developed with Russian technical assistance just before the [Read More…]
Marcolmar is a small but very dedicated company in northern Indiana that produces semi-automatic beltfed versions of historically significant small arms from the Soviet era. Tackling a very difficult task such as taking the Czech Uk.59 GPMG and turning it into a legal, semi-automatic, ATF approved [Read More…]
Earlier we reported about the first leaked images of the new Russian 9.6x53mm Lancaster cartridge. Recently, Molot published a video explaining the features and showing the details concerning this new cartridge. The 9.6x53mm Lancaster cartridge was developed by Russian [Read More…]
The Russian PKM: Arguably the best general purpose machine gun in the world, it combines a robust reliability with best-in-class light weight. Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons recently released two video overviews of the weapon, giving us a good enough excuse as any to [Read More…]
Kalashnikov Media , a dedicated media website of Kalashnikov Concern, has released a video where the designer of PL-15 and PL-15K pistols, Dmitri Lebedev, talks about the compact version of his pistol. Here is that video (with English subtitles). [Read More…]
Kalashnikov Concern has published some images and information about a very interesting pump action shotgun design. The shotgun is called MP-131K. It was designed in 1997 and sold in very limited quantities. What sets it apart from an ordinary pump-action shotgun is that [Read More…]
The idea of .366 TKM cartridge was accepted really well in the Russian shooting community. What makes it unique for them is that firearms chambered in this caliber have partially rifled barrels which qualify as a shotgun in Russia and don’t require 5 year wait [Read More…]
In a recent Modern Personal Defense Weapon Calibers post, we discussed the .223 Timbs, a pseudo-wildcat load of the 7.62x25mm Tokarev that uses a sabot to fire a 50gr .22 caliber projectile at 2,000 feet per second or more. At the time, very little information was [Read More…]
Several days ago we published an article telling about a new Vepr rifle. The source of that article was the information published by Mikhail Degtyaryov of Kalashnikov Gun Magazine. Recently, he has also released a couple of images of an experimental Russian pistol that [Read More…]
Coke’s slogan is “Taste the Feeling”, but maybe in the Ukraine it should be “the Army’s Rust Remover!” instead. “We use Coca-Cola when the gun is rusty. Coca-Cola takes rust away” says Ukrainian Ground Forces machine [Read More…]
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