Marco Vorobiev was a member of the elite Soviet Spetsnaz in Afghanistan in the 1980s. He’s a U.S. citizen now and conducts training courses that draw on his special forces training. He’ll have a new installment every Wednesday.

So, I had my new AK-74 all “railed” up in effort to mimic the new Russian AK-12′s mounting options. As a result the I.O., Inc. AK-74 started to look some what similar to the new Russian rifle. But to look similar is one thing to function like one is something totally different. With this in mind my next objectives attack were the controls: the pistol grip, magazine latch, safety and charging handle.

The new AK-12 assault rifle came with ambidextrous and ergonomic controls that were departure from the traditional AK style operating controls. It features an ergonomic pistol grip, button-operated magazine release coupled with the traditional latch, reversible charging handle and thumb safety and a rate of fire lever that is located on both sides making the gun ambidextrous.

I would address all of these features one by one starting with simplest. First, I wasn’t going to be concerned with ambidextrous ability for my AK-74. It is already uniquely suited for a left-handed shooter utilizing the American (SWAT) style of shooting. The bigger problem was adapting the controls to suit a righty. I moved on to the simplest: the pistol grip.

After searching the Web, the closest thing I came up with was the Hogue AK Grip I found on amazon.com for $17. All the hardware came in the kit and it took me total of three minutes to swap the PG on the AK-74. The Hogue grip fit like a glove and felt great.

Next was the quick magazine release. Another Internet find provided the solution in the way of an EMA Tactical AKMR AK 47 Ambidextrous Magazine Release for $14 from AIM Surplus. Once again the AME release lever installed in minutes onto the original AK latch with three set screws holding it in place solid. I’ve checked the functionality of the new mag release and was pleased with such a simple and functioning device.

The last but not least feature was the safety lever that can be operated without taking your shooting hand off the pistol grip. Personally I have never had a problem with the original AK safety, as in my case my experiences had me take it off once and put it back on after the firefight was over.

However, I also understood that it did not fit well with the modern American style of carbine shooting. Therefore, I solicited the MK VI-S Enhanced AK Selector Lever from Krebs Custom. It dropped right in place of the original lever in seconds. I had to play around with the tension to make the new Krebs lever work smoothly. After a few moments, I had it where I wanted.

That was it. I was done with the controls. I was able to add desired ergonomics to the standard AK by replacing the pistol grip and added enhanced AK-12 controllability by installing a couple of simple parts. Now I could drop mags using my right index finger and operate the safety using the same digit without taking my right hand off the PG.

Granted, my improvements did not look like the ones on the AK-12, but they functioned the same and in spirit of practical functionality they matched those of the new gun pretty closely.

I did not forget about the charging handle. I just ignored it this time, as it is a subject of the next week’s post.

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New AK-12 Rifle

The designers of the new AK-12 rifle addressed the AK's ergonomics by introducing a new set of controls. Now, a shooter doesn't need to take his hand off the ergonomic pistol grip.

David Fortier asks: should you get an SBR or an AR pistol? Peter Kokalis delivers a magisterial look at the Knight M110C Combat rifle. Steven Matthews builds a semi-auto RPD, while Paul Scarlata delivers a two-part study of the Gasser revolvers. Marco Vorobiev’s series on guns of the Spetsnaz shows that what’s happening today in Afghanistan has all happened before.

The Shotgun News Treasury covers everything from antiques to machine guns in the style SGN readers enjoy, It’s 256 perfect-bound pages, with many features in full color!

Look for the SHOTGUN NEWS Treasury on sale now at fine retailers like Barnes & Noble and Walmart. Don’t wait—they’ll go fast!

Miss the earlier SGN Treasury issues? They are available on CD at www.shotgunnews.com. Click “Store.”

For further information contact: Lewis Machine & Tool Co., Dept. SGN, 1305 11th Street West, Milan, IL 61254 or www.lewismachine.net

As I moved forward with my pursuit of replicating function and features of Russia’s new AK-12 rifle and with the stock and hand guards already in place, I embarked on perhaps the most interesting and intriguing feature the top cover rail.

For years Russians were mounting their optics on the AK rifles using the unique side dove-tail mounting rail. In fact, the first accessory mounting rails appeared on AKs back in 1950s. Since the first introduction of a mounting system every model of AK-based weapons had it installed, for use mainly with night optics. Thus, designating those models as “N.”

More modern and current issue battle AK-74M rifles and RPK-74M light machine guns all had  a side rail installed as standard equipment. Though well-designed and solid, the side rail mounting system has limited shooters to use of ComBloc designed optics or separate side rail mounts with a 1913 rail. In both cases, it puts an optic or collimator sight rather high, preventing an ideal cheek weld as well as offering limited space for any of tandem configured options.

The solution came in the way of AK-12′s top cover rail. It is hinged at the rear sight block and offers an approximately 8 inches of rail space that, when matched with upper handguard rail, provides more than adequate space for any sighting implement configuration.

Luckily, I had not one but several options at my disposal. There are several hinged type rail systems available on the market. The one I chosen was the Parabellum Armament Group’s AKARS (AK Adaptive Rail System). It is simply the closest to the one on AK-12, has a built-in “U”-slot rear sight and I also have considerable experience with it.

The new AKARS came with all the hardware I needed to install it. The tools I needed I readily had or came with the kit. First, using a large flat heat screwdriver I popped the original rear sight out. Then, without removing the leaf spring, I placed the AKARS upper rail’s three-pronged hinge into the rear sight block and aligned the pin holes. I used a 4-inch screw clamp to hold the rail in place and tapped the hinge pin in with a rubber mallet.

Last, I tightened the set screw at the hinge joint and the rail was on. Next I had to attach the top cover to the rail itself. The AKARS system comes with an original AK non-ribbed top cover that is modified with a slot where the rear mounting block slides to account for different dimensions of various AK receivers.

I loosened the two bolts that attach the block to the top cover so that the block would freely move in the slot and inserted two pins into the hinged rail. I snapped the top cover onto the receiver, made sure there were no gaps and tightened the block’s bolts.

And just like that I was done. It must have taken me total of five minutes. I checked the hinge action and rigidity of the whole rail. It worked well and locked solid every time.

Next I checked whether my new rail was aligning with the upper handguard rail and found it was slightly lower. Not to worry. Using regular and low rings I was able to achieve perfect tandem alignment for optics. On the other positive side the AKARS rail was low enough to provide perfect co-witnessing and eliminate the need for the cheekpiece.

I was happy with the final result. My plain Jane AK-74 was starting to look like the modern rifle.

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Russia's new AK-12

Russia's new AK-12 features probably the most interesting upgrade the AK's seen in recent years: the hinged top cover with 1913 rail. Luckily it wouldn't be very difficult to replicate.

For further information contact: Sturm, Ruger & Company, Dept. SGN, 411 Sunapee St., Newport, NH 03773 or www.ruger.com

LaserLyte now offers the Zombie Killer laser side mount for the Ruger LCP and Kel-Tec .380 annd the Ruger LC9 and Kel-Tec PF9 pistols. These mount on the gun by simply pushing out and replacing the stock frame pins with new threaded pins (included) and mount the laser. The programmable laser features a pulse or constant-on mode and also has an auto-off function to prevent an unwanted battery drain.

For further information contact: LaserLyte, Dept. SGN, 30 N Alamos Drive, Cottonwood, AZ 86326 or www.laserlyte.com

For further information contact: Franklin Armory, Dept. SGN, 305 Vineyard Town Center #220, Morgan Hill, CA 95037 or www.franklinarmory.com

The shoot drew more than 2,000 spectators and participants, who examined and fired everything from .22 pistols to .50 cal. rifles, all suppressed. Even with dozens of people firing, there was no need for ear protection. You could hear birds chirping in the exhibitor area.

For more information on the shoot, see http://silencersarelegal.com/legalshoot/

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The Elm Fork Gun Club

The Elm Fork Gun Club is perhaps better known for the shotgun sports, but its rifle and pistol facilities are extensive and up to date, making it an excellent venue for the SAL Shoot.

Over the centuries the Central Asian nation of Afghanistan has earned the nickname “the graveyard of empires.” And the reason for this sobriquet is easy to understand. Read more about it in the 6/1 issue of SGN.

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2nd Anglo-afghan War

It never gets much better: British officers and their Afghan guides pose for a photo during the Second Anglo-Afghan War in 1879. The scenery remains the same.

Marco Vorobiev was a member of the elite Soviet Spetsnaz in Afghanistan in the 1980s. He’s a U.S. citizen now and conducts training courses that draw on his special forces training. He’ll have a new installment every Wednesday.

The Russian Ministry of Defense intends to utilize (read destroy and melt down) 4 million older model guns by the year 2015. These will be pulled from the stockpiles of estimated 16 million guns that are no longer in service with Russian Armed Forces. Roughly 6.45 million of these guns are no longer serviceable.

Though the types were not officially announced, a little birdie whispered to me that most of the guns slotted for destruction are Mosin rifles and carbines, SKS carbines, Nagant revolvers, TT33 Tula Tokarev pistols, a huge number of AKM automatic rifles, RPK and RPK-74 light machine guns and a small number of older PK medium machine guns.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade is planning to send these guns to the factories where they were produced for disposal. Apparently this would keep in business plants like Molot and create 240 jobs. Meanwhile, Russia’s biggest arsenal Izhmash, had to suspend its destruction program after misplacing approximately 80 AKM rifles.

I don’t know about you, but I can come up with a much better idea for disposal of these guns: Send them over here! We would even pay for them. But unfortunately this will never happen. So, millions of guns, including some of the truly historic firearms, will be sent to the crusher instead.

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Brand-new AKM rifles

Some the guns slotted for destruction are brand-new AKM rifles. They arrive at the plants in their original crates still covered in grease. The same factory that built them will destroy them.