AK-12

AK12 Acquired!

~ BigSal

After picking up an AK12 kit last year and waiting for the good folks at InRange C2 to have time to put it together for me, I was extremely happy when this thing showed up on my porch! I will be shooting it next Friday if time allows. Vickers sling attached as well.

UPDATE: I finally had a chance to shoot this machine and it is a surprisingly light rifle to wield, with less felt recoil than my 74m-pattern rifles.

US Standard QD vs Kalashnikov Standard QD Sling Mounts

~ BigSal
I wanted to take a moment to look at the slight differences between the Kalashnikov Concern’s QD Standard and the US QD Standard. As you can see, Kalashnikov Concern’s lock extension is slightly longer, and the loop is significantly wider to accommodate legacy canvas slings. The lock points are slightly lower on the KC unit as well. It will be interesting to see if a US manufacturer is able to copy this design for those of us running KC buttstocks. Time will tell…

AK12 Muzzle Device

~ BigSal

I wanted to take a moment to discuss one of the product improvements in the AK12 system. Of particular interest this week, is the new attachment method used by the AK12’s muzzle device pictured above. As you can see, the Kalashnikov Concern moved away from the traditional threading method of attachment to a single wide bracket coupled with a plunger, detent, and spring retention system. This should make assembly and disassembly quicker for the end user.

AK-12 Pistol Grip Assembly

~ BigSal
I had a chance to pick up a Kalashnikov Concern AK12 Grip Assembly this week, and I really am impressed with the build quality and features. The grip itself appears to use a similar mounting interface with previous generation AK grips, except this unit has a shorter screw allowing for storage space inside the grip. The storage space is filled with a rather well engineered pop-out oil container, that is removable as the user pushes on two buttons. I am unsure what the factory proof marks indicate, and will try to update this post when I do.

AK12 Magazine

~ BigSal
I had a chance to pick up a Kalashnikov Concern AK12 magazine this week, and I really am impressed with the build quality and features. I will probably pick up several more as soon as my wallet allows for it! This new generation of magazine has a loaded magazine window allowing the end user to see how many rounds remain for use. The follower system has a glow-in-the-dark indicator which allows the user to observe how many rounds remain even in low light situations. The base plate is no longer flat, with a slight taper to aid in durability. The color of the OTK stamp (a military quality control stamp) is no longer off-white, and appears to be a yellowish gold color. There is a strange “CX” marked on the opposite side. I believe this means the magazine was set aside and originally placed in a deactivated gun.

How to remove the AK12 Buttstock Cleaning Kit

~ BigSal
I’ve decided to put to pen a detailed instruction-set for removing the cleaning kit from the AK12 Buttstock.

Step One: Turn your rifle upside down so that you can observe the AK12 buttpad release button and manual user-interface (pictured above).

Step Two: Push the buttpad release button towards the rear trunnion (the direction of the arrow above). Hold the button in this position until you have completed step three.

Step Three: Carefully, yet with great purpose, slide the buttpad down and off the dovetail.

Step Four: Remove the cleaning kit from the buffer tube.

Stay tuned for next week when we walk you through how to boil an egg….

AK-12 Stock System

~ BigSal
A few days back, I had a chance to pick up a AK-12 stock set. The stock feels incredibly solid. The four position buffer tube is not based on any western standard and will not fit AR-15 stock systems. The rear buttpad sits on a dovetail, and is held in place by a spring loaded detent which is released from the bottom of the assembly. Inside the Buffer tube (and held in place by the buttpad) sits a cleverly designed, compact cleaning kit. These were built to actuate with the AK-12 rear trunnion, but could (I believe) be made to work with a AK-100 series 5.5mm rear trunnion to some degree.