5.45x39 NOT IN PISTOLS!!!

Saw some posts over at Youtube complaining that the new Arsenal pistol is in .223 and not 5.45x39. Just wanted to remind everybody that we in the U.S. don't want 5.45 pistols for as long as the 7N6 surplus can be imported. The steel core 7.62x39 was banned from importation due to the ATF ruling it as a handgun armor piercing ammo when the OA-93 7.62x39 pistols were made. It just happened to be the about the same time in 1994 when the Chinese imports were shut off, and that was who was importing most of the steel core anyway.

.223/5.56 has an exemption in the law for it to never be considered handgun ammo, that's why you can still buy M855 based ammo.

If 5.45x39 pistols made it into production the ATF would have to make the ruling again and while they could go either way, I think there is a stronger chance that they would make a similar ruling as they did with 7.62x39 steel core. Note that all it took was a medium sized firearm company, Olympic Arms, make around 6 prototype pistols, not even production, in 7.62x39 to move to the ban in 1994.

Eventually the 7N6 will dry up and I believe that the improved versions of 5.45 like 7N22 are already banned from import due to wider ban on more "armor piercing" ammo that is produced after 1996 IIRC. So while we can still get the 7N6 please refrain from the 5.45 pistols?

Military Arms Channel US Palm Breakdown AK video

Looks like for SHOT Show this place has became Military Arms Channel's second HQ. Glad to see Sturmgewehre give us some great AK coverage at SHOW just like he does the rest of the year. Maybe I'll get out there next year and I won't have to piggyback off of his videos!

Military Arms' Arsenal SLR-106UR 5.56 Pistol video

I noticed this on K-Var's website last weekend. Basically building off the Draco trend out there, they have produced a 5.56mm Krinkov/Suchka based pistol. Glad they brought it in as 5.56 and not 5.45 which could result in a 5.45x39 surplus ammo ban like steel core 7.62x39 was when the first AK pistols were made. It would be an easy SBR conversion with a Ace folder, like Dracos. Getting a traditional metal triangle folder or AK-100 polymer folder will be tough due to the receiver.

Military Arms Channel's Midwest Industries New Rail video

Must get to SHOT next year...



It will take the optic specific upper handguards. It will also allow for multiple attachment points for sling swivel studs. Have to buy one now...

Military Arm Channel's US Palm Quad Stack video

The 45 quad is definitely the length of a double 30 and the 30 quad is the length of a double 20:

Again, I'm still trying to decide the 50% increase in ammo worth the issues and costs.

AK with Zombie Chainsaw masterkey

Jay G. over at MArooned has this ridiculously awesome AK with chainsaw from SHOT.

US Palm Quad Stacks at SHOT

Gunwebsites has a close up of the US Palm Quad stacks:

EDIT to add:
Interesting that US Palm as two capacities coming out, a 30 and 45, the one pictured in my first post on them seems to be the 30 and will be around $80 and the 45 one wasn't pictured but from the video looks to be about the same length as a 30 rounder at about $100 (I wish he would have put the AK30 right up next to the prototypes so I could tell for sure). Also the US Palm rep mentioned "metal feed lips" which would be completely new for US Palm.

Honestly, the smaller one at 45 was more exciting. At about only 10 more compared to a similar size 20 round double stack metal mag, or only 15 more for one at a double stack 30, it is definitely an improvement but will the bulk be worth it if it is only 50% more ammo when there are plenty of 40 rounder double stacks out there for cheap and you will have to potentially change your pouch setups?

The short one I think will definitely have a niche for a those that run foregrips closer to the mag well (like AMD-65s) because they will give more rock in room.