Frag Out! Magazine

AK REFRESHER PART 4 The earliest versions with milled receiver were quite labor-intensive and therefore expensive to manufacture (although in Communist centrally-controlled economy that did not matter much), but as of 1959 the manufacturing technology was radically revised and nowadays, the stamped-receiver AKMs are amongst the cheapest rifle a handful of greenback can buy. Coupled with legendary robustness that cheapness made them the world's most popular firearm – with more than 100 mil- lion ever produced. The rifle's creator, recently deceased General Kalashnikov didn't make millions from his invention – all he gained was a rank, few medals and dubious, if enormous, fame. Today his AK rifle entertains a second lease of life, and many writers wonder about the reasons why people suddenly took to AKs – whether it is a low price tag, cheap ammo, people going generally fed-up with AR-15s or looking for more powerful caliber, or is it that with no Iron Curtain in place, the AKs started to be popular in the US, and everybody is aping what's going strong in America? No matter why, but the bandwagon keeps rolling and so more and more companies are jumping onto it, offering countless AK accessories: handguards, pistol grips, conversion kits, stocks, muzzle devices, magazines – you name it. Suddenly it seems like an old dog can learn new tricks after all. You can't cheat lacking ergonomics much, as well as an obsolete architecture, but man, are all these pimped-out AKs more user-friendly! Cool GUYS STUFF And it is not that only the rifle got optimized with gadgets. Take a look at the universal magazine pouches, a design created to enable one model of the load vest with a single magazine pouch design to be used with multiple types of magazines by just using the right adjustment. They're lightning-fast in use and very comfy – really universal, you can use them in various layouts and combinations thereof. Another quantum leap forward in gadgetry are kydex pouches, even faster and more facile, fastened to the belt with loops or MOLLE/PALS. But they are not real combat solution: they are too big, one Kydex pouch takes a space where two soft ones would attach. A sport shooter can afford to have just 2 or 3 spare magazines. For combat you'll need MUCH more. And one single Kydex pouch takes up space where two double softies would fit. The choice is yours to make... www.fragoutmag.com

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