US Palm comments on plate carrier, has new video

LOL, really guys I'm not trying to make this into a US Palm blog, but it seems right now they are putting out some of the coolest stuff for AKs.

In this thread they are talking about their new plate carrier that will included a IIIA plate backer with some great pics:

http://warriortalk.com/showthread.php?t=66996

Also Tim linked to their new tongue in check video of the AK30 mag taser test:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ck4xHEu-JdI

So far their Youtube channel has been pretty bare, hopefully they'll post some more stuff.

Curious about US Palm stock mag pouch

Kinda dreaming about US Palm's new stuff coming out and I've been looking at their website that will relaunch April 2nd. Their stock mag pouch looks interesting. I can't tell if it is on an AK stock or not but I assuming like the rest of their stuff so far it is a AK accessory.

Looking at it, there is a built in comb riser, which could be a big plus to those that use Eastern optics on their AKs.

MD Arms Molot Grip

The same guys who make the Saiga 12 20 round drums have came out with a Molot style U.S. made grip:

http://www.mdarms.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=1732

Report of Kalinka's co-witness Aimpoint mount breaking

In January, Kalinka Optics http://www.kalinkaoptics.com/ released a special run of side rail mounts that would allow co-witness with a Aimpoint M3 style optic. I have one of these mounts and also a similar mount they offered that usually is for the PK23 which I and others modified to work better as a co-witness mount (see this thread: http://warriortalk.com/showthread.php?t=60011).

Apparently one of these broke already in it's thin point where the ring attaches. http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=4&f=56&t=124897&page=5 That's too bad if it is a problem with all of these mounts since they are my favorite right now. I'll fall back to the BP-02 if these continue to break.

US Palm Stuff

One Source tactical has some AK30s in Flat Dark Earth. http://www.onesourcetactical.com/uspalmak30-762x3930roundkalashnikovmagazine-1.aspx

http://warriortalk.com/showthread.php?p=909231#post909231

I'm holding out for some Foliage Green that Gabe Suarez has hinted at, although it isn't on the AK30 packaging as possible colors (which is Black, FDE, and Bakelite). Flat Dark Earth IMO isn't the best choice for my midwest location.

SGCUSA.com now has the black AK30s in stock and the look to have a foliage Ak30 on their AK30 banner http://sgcusa.com/ EDIT: According to Rob Anderson this was just a lighting/photoshop effect, both mags are actually black. It seems that if foliage is in the works it is very far on the back burner if at all. Bakelite is the next color up. I must admit their FDE is more dark earth than others sandy tan FDE so it might still be a good choice here. They also say that they might be producing some 5.45 mags torwards the end of the year but right now they are trying to service military contracts that are mostly 7.62x39.

Also US Palm's website is being redone and will relaunch April 2. If you look through the transparent announcement they seem to have a stock mag pouch, the Attack Rack AK chest rig, and what looks to be a plate carrier rig. http://www.us-palm.com/

Also Gabe Suarez has a preview picture of their grip:

http://warriortalk.com/showthread.php?t=66109

Even I with medium hands find the regular AK grips thin so this could be a great option. While I've come to really like the Tapco SAW grips in the past, I might need to give the US Palm and the Hogue's a try.

"Guns & Ammo Complete Book of the AK47" is hitting shelves

Last years was good and ground breaking, this years has better info in it IMO. Eric Poole, the editor, even admits they were surprised how well last years did.

David Fortier, as always, has a number great of articles. I can never get enough of his stuff! Gabe Suarez has a couple of articles and Marco Vorobiev has a two as well. I can never get enough of Vorobiev's experiences in Afghanistan in the Spetsnaz.

New AK74

Sorry for the slow posts lately! I got a new Bulgarian kit on NDS-2 AK74 in my arsenal. It was one of those blow out deals that Centerfire Systems was offering for $350 shipped! BTW, it is featured as the first article in the new Guns & Ammo Complete Book of the AK.

The Nodak NDS-2 seems to be good quality albeit no frills. The other 922r parts it has the Tapco G2 FCG, Century pistol grip, and Tapco stock.

I can't tell if Century's handguard that looks like a polymer version of Yugo handguards is U.S. or not. If it was I would change out the stock for a Polish wire folder today, but it looks like I'll have to wait on a U.S. handguard for that.

It did come with surplus Circle 21 and Circle Ten mags.

The gas piston is very clean but not U.S. marked. The brake seems to be original with zig zag cuts and side ports on it (IIRC most U.S. 74 brakes don't have those details). The crown is clean under the brake as well. It os a parts gun without matching serial numbers. Overall for a second string, first time 5.45x39 rifle it should be a great purchase pending a round at the range.

As long as it shoots ok I should be very happy with the purchase. It is much nicer than my WASR10/63, which I'm selling to offset the cost of this rifle. BTW, the WASR had version 2 of that horrid paint job in the banner of this site that looked only marginally better (it was my first Krylon job). My MAK90 now has a pretty good OD base with black furniture that looks much better. But since I'm looking to sell the WASR the paint job must go. One reason A lot of people recommend Krylon over Duracoat etc. since it can "easily" be removed. I would say that yes, a lot of the paint comes off easily but there are a lot of places I've had to go at with a toothbrush to remove and it's NOT easy or quick. I'll only be painting my "keeper" rifles from now on.