AK200 Annouced

Izhmash has officially shown the AK200. It looks familiar and relatively evolutionary in design. The Firearm Blog and a few others have posted pictures of the prototype previously and the new design looks to have a few different features than the prototype. The main improvements seem the be rails, furniture, and the rear sight. It also shows that the AK107/8 looks to be a dead branch in the family. Those rifles were designed with a dual gas piston with one moving forward to counteract recoil which was added as a way for the AK series to compete with the AN94's recoil reduction system.

One thing that is common in the prototype and show rifle is the quad stack 60 round mags that look like they may be finally going into full scale production!

Big hattip to The Firearm Blog and SayUncle for reporting this!

US Palm updates website

US Palm now has an up to date website featuring almost all of their announced products, what looks to be a partnership with Sneaky bags, and a few new/have to be big US Palm fanboy to know about (like their shotgun that as far as I can tell has only been discussed on their tumblr page).

There is more a lot info on soon to be release products like the AK grip that does have a storage compartment (I was somewhat on the fence on buying one if it didn't).

V-Max 7.62x39 and 5,45x39 ballistics gel shots at Hornady TAP

I hadn't realized that Hornady has listed the V-Max 7.62x39 and 5.45x39 loads on their TAP Law Enforcement side website. Cool to see them marketing these loads to LE. But stumbling upon this I also discovered that they have gel shots of 7.62x39 and 5.45x39 (too bad it still won't be here until July). If you like to see jello shots of your favorite rounds like me, these are great because ComBloc rounds testing are always rare.

EDIT:

It looks like they cut the corner on the 5.45x39 testing, it is identical to the 60 Grain .223 load. Granted they should be all but identical in since the 5.45x39 is just slightly thinner bullet at the same weight but it isn't really an 5.45 shot at this point.

US Palm AK Attack Rack Review

Here from James G. at Death Valley Mag:

http://www.deathvalleymag.com/2010/05/12/tactical-gear-u-s-palm-ak-attack-rack-review/

Soldier Systems has picture of new US Palm grip

http://soldiersystems.net/2010/05/08/ak-battle-grip/

Looks interesting. I'd like to know if it has a storage trap for batteries/tools. I like the texturing and how the logo works into it. The possibility of a custom logo on the left side is kinda cool .

Ambi Safety producer

Through some creative googling I found the producers of the new ambi AK safety (and the whole Spec K Saiga), Black Horse Arsenal, a.k.a. Confederate Arms of Philomath, OR.

http://www.akfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?p=565739#post565739

K-Var carrying Ammo and non-AK firearms

K-Var sent out a email this more about starting to carry Glocks, Sigs, HK, LWRC, and ammo. This is the first I've heard of them branching out of the AK market.

My complete opinion and speculation is that is probably a good and necessary move for K-Var. They are getting more and more competition from good AK accessory companies. Plus, they are constantly having to wait and see what AK models they can sell since they depend on Bulgaria and now Russia to import parts guns. I really think we are starting to see the end of the good old days of number of AK variants available as more parts kits start to dry up for builders (both home and factories).

RAAC: Ambi Safety delayed, still coming

In February I talked about the "teeter-tooter" safety that was seen on Russian American Armory Company's Saiga-12 "Spec K" that was orginally reported to be a month or so away.

http://ak47talk.blogspot.com/2010/02/new-teeter-totter-ambi-safety-coming.html

Clyde over at RAAC says they are still working on hem but they should be coming eventually.

I'm looking to get one of these to replace my Blackjack Buffer's SWIFT lever.

5.45x39 Custom loads- Frangible, Soft Point, and Incendiary

As I discussed about the V-Max delay (which Hornady has confirmed that it won't be produced until July), 5.45x39 is pretty limited because FMJ is common in surplus and a lot of the commercial hollowpoint doesn't actually expand, although there is a report that by looking a bullet construction by "Jack-O' that the Barnaul Hollowpoint and Wolf Military Classic 70 grain loads may fragment/expand (no gel tests yet).

Clark Custom Cartridge http://clarkcustomcartridge.com/ is offering frangible 55 grain and soft point 70 grain ammo, along with a incendiary load (those aren't my cup of tea though). They also have some interesting expanding options for 7.62x54r. I'm trading emails with Chris Clark now to get more info.