Russia's iconic AK-47 to be made in USA

[rckeystone]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/01/28...l?intcmp=hpbt2


It’s as Russian as borscht, but the AK-47 will soon be made in Florida.

The weapon of choice for guerrillas, terrorists and the soldiers of armies around the world, some 100 million AK-47s have been made in Russia since it rolled off the line in 1947. But now, the company’s U.S. arm is planning to manufacture the gun at a plant in Pompano Beach, Fla.

“An iconic firearms platform, revered the world over, with a history of intrigue and controversy, now reborn as the new American Kalashnikov,” the company said in a statement.

The rifle dreamed up by Russian Army tank commander Mikhail Kalashnikov as he lay on a hospital bed after being wounded fighting the Germans in the 1941 Battle of Bryansk, became the world’s most popular firearm. The signature AK-47 — which stands for "Avtomat Kalashnikov," or “Kalashnikov’s machine,” and the initial year of production, was long available for import from Moscow until the U.S. imposed sanctions in 2014 in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Crimea.

Last year, RWC, which was the official importer and distributor of Kalashnikov firearms, was forced to cut ties with the Russian company. But it retained the U.S. rights to the name and initially opened a small assembly facility in Tullytown, Pa. Now, the company is planning a full-fledged manufacturing plant in the Atlantic Coast community just north of Fort Lauderdale.

“Whether you are a sport shooter, hunter, protecting family, home and country, the new Kalashnikov USA firearms will exceed your expectations of how a firearm should perform,” the company statement read.

Pompano Beach spokeswoman Sandra King said the company plan had been approved by the city, but did not have details on how many jobs the factory would generate or what its annual output would be. Kalshnikov USA spokeswoman Laura Burgess could not be reached for comment.

The company launched new rifle and shotgun models last week at the SHOT Show in Las Vegas, the annual conference of the National Shooting Sports Foundation. The new firearms include the “Alpha” line of rifles, with 30-round magazines.

While the company will offer various guns, the AK-47 will likely be a top seller. In the U.S. market, its main competition is the AR-15, but both are reliable weapons, said firearms instructor Steve Norrris, who teaches at the Markham Park Target Range in nearby Sunrise.

“The AK-47 is just as good, if not better,” he said. “One problem has long been getting parts, which maybe now would not be an issue. A lot of people have always bought AK-47s just for the history.”

Mikhail Kalashnikov, who died in December 2013 at the age of 94, once said he felt personally untroubled by his contribution to bloodshed.

"I sleep well. It's the politicians who are to blame for failing to come to an agreement and resorting to violence," he said in 2007.


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[Heem]

I've built both the AK & AR. Up close & personal for urban use inside 150 yards, I've found the AK is hands down the better gun overall. The advantage with the AR is it has much better accuracy which you need at longer distances as the group opens up. But with the tight tolerances and fouling, I've seen way too many failures with the AR system vs zero reliability issues with the AK. Zero issues is going to save your life. A suppressed 300BL mirrors the AK in range and caliber but with much better accuracy. It is over double the price but with the real advantage of stealth (sounds like an air gun), but you also have very debilitating fouling taking place with the BCG. You do not want to get in a long firefight with this system. The BCG needs to be taken down completely and cleaned, also the locking lugs in the chamber, after as little as 200 shots or it can stop working. Spraying the bolt will get you another 50 shots. A couple of spare bolts would be an option with the Blackout. With AR's I'm talking direct impingement systems, I have no piston AR experience. I'm just comparing 2 rifles with the same cost, although it's a lot more for a suppressed 300 Blackout, but then you have a totally different weapon. Going supersonic with a 110gr or 125gr bullet in a Blackout will get you longer shots, but also a sonic crack. Subsonic 180gr - 220gr loads with a suppressor you do to need any hearing protection at all. The metal noise from the action cycling is the loudest, and you'll hear the bullet hitting the target.

JMO for what it's worth. But if you are just getting into these guns, this info will help in making a selection. To summarize, inside of 150 yards at urban distances the AK & AR will both do what needs to be done, but the AK will take a licking and keep on ticking. If you are in more of an open area where shots are going to be much longer then I'd definitely go with the more accurate AR, and look at piston systems and their issues.

[stainless]

Apparently the company is Pennsylvania based:

http://www.kalashnikov-usa.com/category/news

http://money.cnn.com/2015/06/30/news...lashnikov-usa/

[greenjohn88]

https://www.rt.com/usa/225011-kalash...us-production/

RWC is Pennsylvania based, yes. They're just outside Philadelphia.

The C39V2 is mediocre but is milled, and the stamped RAS-47 is garbage. The piss poor quality of IO products need not be said. RWCs "converted" Saigas were less than good, but I hope their domestically production turns out well. We really don't need another manufacturer of subpar rifles.

[fimore]

Interesting. Will they attempt to update or improve the basic Kalashnikov? Or it be window dressing and new furniture?


kalashnikov-usa.jpg

[IIIIIREPOIIIII]

It would be great if they made the plant here.

[Gunowner99]

... with an outlet store ha ha!

[nfafan]

It would be great if they made the plant here.

True that. Wonder if the Wolf election was a factor...

[Bluto Blutarsky]

I wonder if their sporting version with the hunting rifle stock takes standard AK magazines or proprietary mags like the Saiga? I'd like a Saiga sporter in 7.62x39mm, but I don't want to have to find Saiga mags or go to the trouble of having the rifle modified to accept AK mags.

[ForeverPA]

Somehow black AKs just don't look like an AK. The need to have wooden stock and grip to pass as an AK.