P.O.F. p415 (HK 416 clone) with Barska red dot

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I took out my P.O.F. p415 (HK 416 clone) with Barska Electro Sight red dot optic. The red dot sight works pretty well, and is sighted in at about 25 yards. I used PMC 55 grain ammo and got pretty good results. I really like my P.O.F. p415. It's accurate, easily modified, a bit on the heavy side, but really a great rifle. It has an "18 heavy barrel and a great HK style front sight. I use a Stag Arms lower with the POF upper and I've had good luck with just about all the mags I've used. I bought some Tapco mags for $10 a piece and they work great so far. I really like the Korean HK 416 knock-off magazines as well. The POF p415 upper is a bit pricey, but if you want quality and accuracy, POF is the way to go. If I had the money, I'd like to get one of their 7.62x51 (.308) models.

Lone Wolf 40-9 (9mm) Conversion Barrel for Glock 23 (.40 cal)

I bought a Lone Wolf 40-9mm conversion barrel for my Glock 23, along with some KCI after market Glock 19 mags. I bought four magazines that came with mag pouches. All four of them worked without a hitch. Not bad for $40 total. I wasn't sure how the 40-9 conversion barrel would perform, but it was FANTASTIC! I just dropped it in and used the Glock 19 mags. I didn't have to change out the ejector or anything else. The barrel was really accurate, and was basically point and shoot. It only cost $99 and I can now shoot lead (sans jacket) bullets without worrying about a KB.

I had a lot of fun shooting with my LW 40-9 barrel and went through about 300 rounds in two different sessions. The shots were fired mostly from about 20 feet, but some were at the 5-7 range. My wife LOVED it! I recommend this barrel to those who want to save money while practicing, but want to have a .40 cal pistol at the same time.

Fakelite "faux bakelite" 7.62x39 Magazine for AK-47

My brother Nate and I testing my Fakelite "faux bakelite" 7.62x39 Magazine for the AK-47 type rifle. After making (painting) these mags with Krylon Fusion "burgundy" spray paint, Nate and I took them out for some field testing. The paint job held up quite well. It was pretty cold out that day. Well, cold for the South anyhow. These fakelite mags are easily made, look cool and will save you from shelling out $40-$80 for the real 7.62x39 bakelites. I hope this inspires you to try it yourself and post a video and pics of your creations!

Yugo M70ab2 AK-47 HK G3/ Galil mod

My brother Nate and I finally got to test out my C.I.A., Inc. Yugo M70ab2 AK that I had the H&K G3 sight system installed on. The sights are more accurate than the standard AK sights, and the rear diopter sight drum allows for different sights, for different distances. The gunsmith who added the sights sighted the rifle in at about 25 yards, so we didn't have to do much of anything. We just lined up a bunch of targets and had at it. I'm really pleased with my H&K G3 mod. The rifle now looks more like a Galil in 7.62x39. If you know a gunsmith or have some free time yourself, I suggest having it done. I hope you enjoy the video.



For anyone who may be interested, I've compiled a list of the parts I used for this conversion and where they can be obtained.


Yugo M70ab2 ($469.95) http://www.classicarms.us/


Leapers UTG M70 Yugo Tactical Quad Rail ($69.97) http://www.opticsplanet.net/leapers-utg-tactical-quad-rails.html


Unbranded 3/4" x 5' EMT Conduit ($2.67) http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=119299-1792-807257&lpage=none


Metal Tube End Cap ($1) I bought it at Lowes also, but could not find the link, so here’s another one http://szrainbow1.en.alibaba.com/product/248421115-209384702/Metal_Tube_End_Cap.html


Loctite Metal/Concrete Epoxy

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=40301-133-01-81508&lpage=none


Black Rust-oleum High heat BBQ Spray ($5) http://www.rustoleum.com/CBGProduct.asp?pid=112


You can get this in a semi-gloss as well http://www.rustoleum.com/CBGProduct.asp?pid=108


HK91 G3 Rear Sight Parts ($40) http://www.robertrtg.com/g3rearsight.html


HK91 - G3 Front Sight Assemblies ($15) http://www.robertrtg.com/g3frontsight.html


Recoil Pad for AK type rifles http://www.urbanertslings.com/repadforakty.html


Gusmith Services ($60) The gunsmith Dan (Guardian Arms) who did the work has since retired.

Yugo M70AB2 modification project (part II)

Ok folks, here are some pics of my finished Yugo M70AB2 modified rifle. This rifle is no beauty queen, but the paint doesn't look too shabby either. The real test will be when I put a couple hundred rounds through it. We'll see how well the paint stands up to the heat, and if the weld holds. I hope to try it out this Saturday. I'll post some video of the test session. I hope that it doesn't rain.

Yugo M70AB2 modification project (part I)

Let's talk AK mods. There are those out there who are completely against it, and view it as a sin and then there are those of us who appreciate the classic AK look, but don't see anything wrong with updating our rifles with all the bells and whistles that modern society has to offer. I happen to be one of the later. Now, I didn't get crazy here, but decided to change the sights, grips, and add a cushioned recoil pad.

My rifle started out as a standard, no frills factory model Yugo m70ab2 undefolder AK type rifle. I think that factory handguards on the m70ab2 are somewhat boring looking, so I swapped them out with an AK-47 Leapers UTG M70 Yugo Tactical Quad Rail. This allows me to add optics and grips, etc. I put a Bushnell Trophy red dot on it, and zeroed it in at about 25 yards. It works great.




I also added a recoil pad, as the metal underfolding stock against my shoulder wasn't horrible, but didn't feel that great either. I have yet to try this out while firing the file, but it feels really nice when I shoulder it.




Here's what the rifle looked liked after adding these mods.




I was pretty happy until I saw a site online where they were adding H&K front and rear sights to AK's. Now that looks cool. So, I bought some HK G3 front and rear sights and had my local gunsmith put them on. He did a great job, but I should have told him to put the front sight post on as close to the gas block as possible. Well, my father and a friend cut a piece of conduit and welded it to the gas block. I think that it looks pretty darn cool. The weld is a bit rough, but looks cool. I applied a coat of aerosol Hi-Heat Spray Paint (made for use on grills, etc.) to give it a flat look and paint the metal conduit pipe. I have to wait another 48 hours to added another coat.

Here are some pics of the unfinished AK mod. I have the rifle tapped in order to paint it. I can't wait to add the final coats of paint and take this baby out for a test drive. I will post the final pics, along with a video and range report once it's ready. In the meantime, here are some pics of the mod in its current stage.

German Mauser K98 Rifle (Kar98k)

Ladies and gents, it's time to sell one of my rifles to fund another purchase for my firearms addiction. This one just so happens to be the very first firearm that I every purchased. It's the first one I've ever owned for that matter. This is the gun that started it all for me, the truly awesome German Mauser K98 rifle (Kar98k).

I've loved the Mauser K98 rifle ever since I was a kid. My grandfather was a captain in the U.S. Army, in Europe during WWII. Among other actions, he was served as the lookout for an m18 Hellcat tank destroyer. The Hellcat took a direct hit from a German panzer, which sent him flying out of the open turret and over a wall. He ended up with a broken leg, but that was about it. He stayed in Europe until 1946 and then came back home with a bag full of goodies.



As a kid, my family would go to Ohio to visit my grandparents. At some point in our visit we'd ask my dad if we could go up to the attic and see our grandpa's war souvenirs. Some of the items were there because my dad got them by trading some of the stuff his dad brought back from WWII for the stuff that the neighborhood kid's fathers brought back. So, he ended up with the following items: a Japanese fighter pilot's cap and goggles. A Japanese officer's steel helmet, a Luger pistol, a fallschirmjager helmet, a NSDAP part flag, and a J.G. Anschutz 4mm training rifle that was built to instruct the German youth in the art of war. I loved that rifle. It was a faithful, smaller facsimile of the Mauser K98 rifle. It had the look and feel of the K98. I loved the bolt action. There was something so cool about it, with all the history behind it. I'd always look forward to our time in the attic with that rifle.

Well, about 15-20 years later, still enamored with the K98 (and pretty much all German weapons from WWII) I purchased my first firearm, the Mauser K98. I looked for a good quality Mauser K98 for quite some time before I decided to purchase this one. The rifle is in very good condition and has been well taken care of over the years. The laminate wood stock is also in very good condition, with some scratches and wear (this rifle did see combat). The gun bluing is very good. The top of the receiver is marked with a maker's code, date, and proof marking. However, I unfortunately forgot to make note of this information before I had the scope mounted and it now covers these markings. I was told that this particular rifle came from one of the factories known for its excellent workmanship and was favored for use as a sniper's rifle. That being the reason I bought it.




I wanted more than a conversation piece though. I wanted a rifle that could actually be fired, and one that was accurate. It turned out to be a great shooter, with a very good bore and I sighted in at 100 yards with a BSA scope. Before the scope was added I just shot it using the iron sights, which I actually prefer. It has a good bit of recoil, but that just took some getting used to. The rifle is just so much fun, and one of my all time favorites. But alas, as I don't have the chance to do much distance shooting, which the rifle was designed for, I've decided to sell it to purchase another firearm. Maybe I'll get another one in the future, and I'll stick with the iron sights. I've really enjoyed owning and firing this weapon over the years and I recommend it to anyone looking to own a piece of history that's also lots of fun to use.

The great outdoors

I went to my friend Scott's place to try out some new mags, rifles, and for a bonfire. We tested his Colt M4 .22lr tactical rifle, which was really nice. I got to fire an M&P 40c that one of his police buddies brought. I thought that it would be somewhat awkward to hold, due to its small size, but it was really ergonomical and I had no trouble with it at all. Even with the shortened grip it handled nicely. It was pretty accurate too. I took one of the new Tapco AR 30 round polymer magazines that I picked up at the last gun show for $10. It feed well and seems to be a good buy. At $10, I'd buy some more. I used the mag on his Bushmaster AR type rifle (I don't recall the model). That rifle shoots really well and ate up the Wolf 62 gr. and PMC .223 ammo. We fired a Mossberg 500 and an intersting Colt 22. As it got dark we made our way to the bonfire that was built like a tepee, and grilled some dogs. It was another fun day at the range.

Colt / Umarex M4 Carbine .22 Tactical Rimfire AR-15

With the price of ammo still pretty high, and the realization that people still want to fire their AR type rifles, Colt and Umarex have teamed up and tapped into that market. In an effort to provide affordability without giving up the cool factor, they have produced the Colt M4 .22 Tactical Rimfire. I was skeptical when I first saw it. I sold my Ruger 10/22 not long ago. Not because it wasn't a great rifle, but because it just wasn't as fun as my AR or AK types. I even bought an MG-42 kit to dress it up, but that didn't help. The Colt / Umarex M4 Carbine in 22 long, is a different story. It has the look and feel of a Colt AR, but it's lighter and provides an inexpensive way to do a ton of plinking. We used mostly Federal, which fires really well. We also put a couple of rounds of Remington through it, but it didn't load well at first. If you like AR rifles, but don't have the cash for a bunch of .223 or 5.56, I suggest that you try one of these.

Colbert on the anniversary of the AK-47

Stephen Colbert interviews John Pike about the popularity of the AK-47 as the Russian designer celebrates his 90th birthday. I'm not a big Colbert fan, but this is worth a watch.

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
AK-47 Designer Celebrates His Birthday - John Pike
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor U.S. Speedskating

Pumpkin Shootout

Alright, so if you've never lined up a bunch a pumpkins and unloaded the arsenal on them, you're really missing out. Don't get me wrong, paper targets have their place, but there's nothing quite like watching these reactive targets spew seeds out the back when a 5.56 NATO or 45 ACP round tears through these guys. These pumpkins were free from a local pumpkin patch. The guy there just asked that I tell people that he's now selling Christmas trees on his lot. In case you aren't able to head out to the country and do it, here's some footage of our session. Enjoy!

US PALM AK30 Magazine...new polymer AK 7.62x39 mag

I don't know the quality of this magazine, as I just saw this tonight on the ak47.net forums, but it looks pretty cool! Now, once the price drops to about $15 per mag, I'll be willing to try it. Or maybe the guys from US PALM will send me a couple to test and report on! I would love to have some in Bakelite. In the meantime, here's a summary from the link on ak47.net.

http://www.ak47.net/forums/topic.html?b=4&f=96&t=122484

October 5, 2009 (Scottsdale, AZ) – US Primary Armament & Logistical Manufacturing (US PALM) is proud to announce the introduction of our first product, the AK30 Magazine. The AK30 is 100% made in the USA. This new 30 round magazine fits all AK-47 rifles that use a detachable double-stack magazine. The AK30 is constructed of proprietary aerospace polymers from TangoDown, and its unique features and purpose-built design set itself apart from other polymer magazines.

We eliminated the removable floor plate so the magazine became a five-sided box. This unique design helped increase the strength and durability of the AK30, and utilizing the latest polymers makes this one of the most durable magazines on the planet. After molding, we permanently bond the body and end-cap together with molecular level adhesives, so no disassembly is possible or required. The AK30 has a unique low-friction semi-floating follower that is slotted to allow for easy cleaning and hassle-free maintenance. To clean it, dunk the magazine in hot soapy water, rinse, and invert to drain. The AK30 features a premium chromium-silicon spring that is heat treated, stress relieved and moly-coated and is rated for 100,000+ cycles.

The AK30 is more than just a pretty face. This magazine was designed with a purpose. A stainless steel cage is molded into the top of the magazine to reinforce the feed lips and locking surfaces. The aggressive ridges on the front and rear allow a positive purchase when seating the AK30 into a rifle. The deep waffle pattern on the magazine's sides assist in rapid extraction from mag pouches. Every surface of the AK30 was given careful consideration to benefit the operator working in the world's harshest conditions.

We took input from numerous industry professionals: real world operators, military and police active duty personnel, firearms instructors, manufacturing experts, and polymer industry chemists. We asked questions and when they spoke – we listened. We did our research to ensure the AK30 would be successful from day one.

The AK30 will be available by the end of this month in Black, FDE, and Bakelite colors for $29.95.

For developments on this and other products visit http://www.us-palm.com/

Century Arms M72 Yugoslavian variant of the RPK

I just sold my Century Arms M72 Yugoslavian variant of the RPK, chambered in 7.62x39 mm. The rifle is made from a combination of original Zastava-produced Yugoslavian RPK rifle parts and U.S.-manufactured compliance parts. The rifle has the following features:
• U.S. "D.C. Industries, Inc." reinforced stamped receiver
• Folding bipod
• Threaded muzzle with either a Krink flash hider
• Heavy barrel with cooling fins
• Hand refinished and stained wood furniture to give it an enhanced, darker hue.
• Tapco G2 trigger

This is by far the most accurate and well built AK type rifle that I've fired and owned. The rifle is top notch in quality and build. It's a real treat see what this weapon can do. My brother and took it to a police range and tested it at 100 yards. The rifle is really accurate. The bi-pod on this rifle makes it a great bench shooter. You could even put a scope on this baby. In fact, I've seen it done. I was able to shoot milk jugs and then hit them again on their way back down, while they were still airborne! The rifle is a bit on the heavy side, but that's due to it's solid frame and heavy barrel. I refinished and stained the wood myself, as I love to re-do wood rifle furniture. I sold it to fund my next purchase (Arsenal SLR-106 "FR"). I'll do a write-up on that and post the range report once I get to take it out. I highly recommend the Yugo M72 if you have the desire to own a great RPK and have a ton of fun. I appologise for the quality here, but it's the only video I have of the rifle. Enjoy!

AK-74...finally comes around stateside

I've been interested in the AK-74 rifle for quite a while. Over the past year or so, corrosive, cold war era 5.45X39 ammo has been made available in bulk and become quite popular. Wolf imports some non corrosive 5.45X39 ammo as well. The corrosive stuff cost about $89 for 1,080 rounds when it first came out. Now that's a steal, as long as you don't mind doing a hardcore cleaning of your weapon to combat those corrosive salts. During the Obama ammo and weapon madness (which still isn't quite over)the price on 5.45X39 ammo just couldn't be beat. This ammo became so popular that S&W even started making upper receivers chambered for this round. An "AR" type rifle firing a commie round? You better believe it! Well, aside from the Polish Tantal rifles, and the odd AR upper, there weren't many choices for AK-74 type rifles...until now. There are several importers and companies building AK-74 rifles now. The prices are really good to. I saw some AK-74 kits at the gun show today for $299, so the option to build your own is there, but there are some nice all ready built rifles too. AIM Surplus has several models for sale. I've seen a Century Arms model for around $470.



Another company called TGI is selling their builds. One web site has them for $499. I have yet to see the TGI built AK-74's in person, but have heard varying reports on the quality of these builds (poor rivotting jobs, and spotty tack welds).



In Range models go for about $100 more, but the report on these builds seems to justify the price difference.



I just love the way the AK-74 rifle looks. The flash hiders are my favorite feature. Even the non-corrosive 5.45X39 ammo is less expensive than most 7.62X39 ammo. However, in trying to consolidate ammo calibers (I have 2 rifles in 7.62X39 and two in 5.45X45), I may have to hold off on an AK-74 purchase for the moment. They sure look like fun though.

Here are some videos comparing the standard M-16 to the Ak-74.





Here's one of some soldiers using an AK-74 during training.