Category: AK-V

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AK-P AK-V CNC Warrior Palmetto State Armory Prodigy DS PSA Springfield Armory

I’ve Revisited the PSA AK-V and AK-P

Last week, I decided to take the PSA AK-P to the range, as I’ve plenty of 7.62 x 39 ammo.

I shot 30 rounds before I quit (LOL)…the gun is loud AF! Even with the 4-pc flash hider installed, it is still loud. Yeah, it’s a flash hider, but it’s also redirecting the bang down range.

As well, the flash hider was generating sparks that I thought would be an issue, and I was waiting for the RSOs to say something. When I got home I looked at the footage and didn’t see the sparks in the footage. I also checked the flash hider to see if there were strikes within it’s internals – I didn’t see any damage.

I researched and saw that this is sometimes common and also saw video footage where many hiders/brakes generated sparks. This is probably a normal thing.

Also, after taking a shower, I was applying deodorant and and was surprised to have a bit of pain near my armpit. I looked in the mirror and there was a large bruise where I’d placed the brace of the AK-P. I may need to change the brace to something less damaging, but it could be the flash hider that’s making the pistol shoot more harshly (the hider also generate more recoil and back pressure).

A few days later, I was going to take the AK-P to the range again, but kept shuddering when thinking about shooting that gun indoors, so I switched to the AK-V.

I loaded up 4 mags of 9mm (those mags hold 35 rounds, so that was 140 rounds of Blazer 124-gr FMJ) and headed to the range.

I had fun!

I ended up having to zero the optic that was mounted on the AK-V. I thought I’d zeroed it a long time ago, but the zero was WAY off – at 25 yards, I was at the top of the man-sized target and many rounds were off-paper. The optic is a Vortex Sparc II red dot.

I zeroed at 10 yards (as I do my handguns) using the range’s bench rest and then, once I had a good zero, tested it at 25 yards. I was still shooting high, but was on the man-sized silhouette and only 2-3″ higher than where I was aiming. I may revisit the zeroing and do it at 25 yards instead – this means I’ll have to remember to aim a bit high when shooting at around 10 yards. I tested at 12 yards and was satisfied with the zero.

The 140 rounds disappeared quickly, as I expected. The only thing I don’t like about the AK-V is that the ammo goes quickly. I was shooting semi-rapidly and practiced quick pairs of rounds.

I’m at 710 rounds through the gun now. I like this gun so much, it got me thinking of purchasing the PSA Jakl (MP5-like 9mm blow-back PCC), especially since it uses AK-V mags, and I’ve maybe 10 of those. But the Jakl is like $1000 and I already have a $1000 blow-back PCC (the AK-V). If I’m going to get another PCC, it’ll be the Springfield Armory Kuna in 9mm – and the mags for that gun are cheap, at approximately $25 each. Plus, the Kuna is the same price as the Jakl, and is roller-delayed (less recoil).

As with most range visits, I also shoot my carry gun, so I shot two mags through the Prodigy DS Compact, which isn’t a huge deal, but I spent time zeroing the gun again, as I had problems with the optic (Viridian RFX45 closed emitter green dot) the last visit. In fact, I’d forgotten that I’d removed the optic to work on the adapter plate (doing this messed up my zero, which is what caused all my issues the last range visit). As well, the optic was loose, too. I re-tightened it, and then quickly got it zero’d again…was super easy and quick, especially with the bench rest. I had it surpremely zeroed within 15 rounds and then validated the zero at 15 yards. It was good. I’ve 300+ rounds through the gun with that optic now. The optic hasn’t died and is playing nice with the Prodigy DS.

The adapter plate that I’m using with the optic and Prodigy is the Springfield Armory Aimpoint Acro plate. When installing the optic, the optic is loose enough that it rattles. I’m not sure if it’s the optic that’s the issue or the plate. I used two layers of electrical tape on the adapter plate and then mounted the optic – the optic is now snug on the gun. It’s definitely wierd that I have to do that and I can’t place full blame (yet) on either part.

The optic is blocky and big but carries (and conceals) well. This is more of an experiment than anything else, but since I’m having no issues, I’ll continue to use it on the Prodigy DS Compact.

The DS Compact now has 1226 rounds through it.

Life is good!

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AK-P AK-V AKM charging handle Michigam AKM Owners SAM7UF

I’ve Installed Charging Handles Onto the AKs

I bought two AKM charging handles from Michigan AKM Owners.

I’d planned on mounting them on my PSA AK pistols.  I mounted one on the AK-V and the other on the AK-P. 

I had to remove it from the AK-P, though, because I have an enhanced safety on it and I can’t use the charging handle and the enhanced safety at the same time (the charging handle interferes with the usage of the safety.

I put it on my SAM7UF instead.  They look great and the handles offer good traction.  They are easy to mount, too, although I need to go back and add thread locker so that they don’t come off.

Mounted on the AK-V
The safety on the AK-P won't work well with the charging handle.
Mounted on the Arsenal.
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AK-V brake Bulgarian Faux muzzle PSA

I Bought A Faux Bulgarian 3-Pc Muzzle Device For The AK-V

I bought another modification for my AK-V.

I noticed that there’s a lot of carbon and copper jacket on the then-installed brake that was originally on the AK-V.  The carbon is normal.  The copper jacket is somewhat of an anomaly, though.  The jacket comes off the bullet due to excessive velocity.  9mm was primarily designed to be shot from handguns.  When shot from a rifle, due to longer barrels, muzzle velocity is high enough to where the copper jacket sheds as it’s exiting the barrel.  That copper spatters against the brake.  I’ve 570 rounds through the AK-V, which is enough to where I’m starting to see some build-up.  Cleaning it will be a pain.

I researched for alternatives and was about to put an AR-15 bird cage on the AK-V (I’d have had to drilled a larger diameter bore through it, or found one for 9mm).  I did find some others and was about to make the purchase when I saw that the PSA website had the Faux Bulgarian 4-piece muzzle brake back in stock.  They always sell out of them.

Now, this pistol doesn’t really need such a muzzle brake since the 9mm round isn’t throwing flash everywhere when the pistol is fired.  It’s not a 4-piece brake.  It’s only one piece and it’s more of a megaphone in internal shape.  I wanted it mainly because I didn’t want to have to clean out copper splatter.  There’s nothing to clean with this muzzle device…there are no nooks/cranies.  It’s more of a show piece than anything, as it does look good.

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9mm AK-V AKM Manticore Arms PSA range report

Range Summary #2 with the PSA AK-V!

I will let the last video do all the talking.  Needless to say, I’m really enjoying this firearm…it’s by far my favorite!  Enjoy.

Some range footage:

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AK-V PSA range visit

PSA AK-V MOE – First Range Visit!

I had fun today!  I ended up shooting 199 rounds from the AK-V.  In an hour.  I had 100 rounds of Wolf 115-gr FMJ and 100 rounds of Winchester White Box 115-gr FMJ.

I started out at 10 yards, then went to 25, then to 20, then focused on 15 yards.  I had no issue staying on the paper while out to 25 and when I moved to 20 (to better see where I was shooting), I ate the bulls-eye up!  This pistol is easy to shoot.  It has very little recoil and you can shoot it fast with ease.

I did have 4 FTEs, though, with one mag.  It was the CZ Scorpion mag that I believe is the issue.  It’s spring is very stiff, to the point that my finger is sore from loading it.  I think it may break in.  We’ll see.  It wasn’t related to ammo because it did it with both brands of ammo.  As well, the bolt didn’t hold open several times.  There was also a time where one round didn’t want to feed and was jammed into the chamber.  When I tried to get the bolt to hold open so I could get the round out, it slammed shut, forcing the round into the chamber.  When I tried to eject the round, I couldn’t get the bolt open, but the trigger was live so I fired it out.  The casing came out but I didn’t see where it went (so I could look at it).  It did this a second time as well, but I was able to get the round out.

I have range footage but my camera wasn’t positioned well (I couldn’t preview the footage to ensure proper framing).

Hopefully, I can get better range footage next time.

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AK-V PSA

Something is on the way!

I had been spending a good bit of time researching my next rifle purchase. 

I was looking for a 9mm AK variant (but was also considering a Grand Power Stribog).  I wanted a pistol caliber rifle, preferably short-barreled.

I had the following list:

  • Century Arms NAK9X
  • Century Arms NAK9
  • Palmetto State Armory AK-V

The Stribog was on the list but dropped it after a process of elimination.

I’d also struck the AK-V off the list because it was, 1) never available, 2) when it was available, it was a high dollar variant, and 3) compared to the NAK9 and NAK9X, it was expensive.

Last night I was looking at NAK9s and I wanted one with a brace already on it.  That raised the price by ~$120.  For a few more dollars more, I could’ve gotten a fully-optioned 9X.  So I nixed the NAK9.

I found a NAK9X that had a great price (no tax and no CC fee).  I had it bookmarked (on Gunbroker.com).

Then I checked PSA’s page as a last minute check before committing to the NAK9X.  They had an AK-V for $799.  While that was a quite a high price for me, I decided to get it anyways.  Why?  I can make it match my AK-P by ordering the red wood furniture later, it has a lifetime warranty, and it doesn’t have that cheesy plastic magwell that the NAK9 and 9X have.  Full price for the firearm was $864.99.  That does not include transfer fees at my end (it will be another $32).  I balked at the $900 AK-V’s price but I’m close to that now.  Granted, the $900 AK-V would be close to $1K when all the fees were added.

This is the one I purchased:  PSA AK-V 9mm MOE SBA3 Pistol, Black – 5165450169

This WILL be my last firearm for a while (the next 12 months at least). My wife might flip, but I did let her know that with the anti-gunners on a rampage, I wanted some guns that might be banned from purchase in the near future.

UPDATE – 10/16/2019:  The AK-V will ship tomorrow (it has a UPS tracking slip and number but UPS hasn’t picked it up yet.  It’s two day shipping so it may not even get here until Monday.  The FFL will probably call me on Monday to arrange for me to get it on Tuesday.  I’ve no idea why PSA waited 8-9 days to ship.  They said they were very busy with orders but they still took my damned money.  I do NOT like spending that kind of money and waiting for them decide to ship…that’s hokey as hell and that’s one reason why I don’t buy from Bud’s Gunshop anymore.  This will be the last time I buy from PSA.  As well, I bought two 32-round CZ Scorpion mags for this pistol (they will fit).  I’ll discuss them more in an upcoming video.

UPDATE – 10/21/2019:  The AK-V was delivered around noon time at the FFL.  I’m awaiting their call.

UPDATE – 10/24/2019:  Video coming soon!

PSA AK-P
PSA AK-V
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AK AK-P AK-V CAI NAK9X pistol PSA

PSA AK-P is on the way!

Today I ordered a red PSA AK-P with an SBA4 brace.  This is an AK pistol chambered in 7.62×39.  This will be the first AK I bought that has actual wood.  I was going to get a Magpul version but was torn on what color of polymer to get.  Then I saw that they had red wood and the red is deep in color.

I wanted to get an AK pistol before they were banned/restricted. (Sorry, I’m not interested in AR pistols at this time, although that may change; at one point, I wasn’t interested in 1911s nor AKs.)

I’m not sure when this will be arriving, as I ordered it the Wednesday (night) before Labor Day.  It may arrive this coming Tuesday or Wednesday.

As well, I tried to order a PSA AK-V (9mm AK pistol), but I spent too long trying to decide between it and the Century Arms NAK9X…I tried to add the AK-V to the shopping cart and found that someone already bought it…it was the last one.  :/  So, either I wait for more to be available or I get the NAK9X.  I wanted the PSA due to it’s warranty, but they are very similar.  I believe the PSA is cleaner.  Neither have been heavily reviewed.  I can actually wait on this purchase.  Maybe I can find something cheaper than these two, like a decent Draco with a tube brace.

UPDATE – 9/2:  Well, it actually shipped today (9/2/19), although UPS says it’s not shipped yet — only the shipping label has been created.  It’ll actually ship tomorrow, probably (9/3/19).  This is so that people have an idea of how fast PSA ships firearms.  I ordered the night of 8/28.  That was a Wednesday night.  It is currently Monday (Labor Day).

UPDATE 2 – 9/3:  And, it really shipped today; so sayeth UPS.  It’ll be here on Thursday (9/5).

UPDATE 3 – 9/7:  It is here (I picked it up yesterday) —