HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

RA-Tech WE AK PMC (by Gruppa-L)

After waiting unbearable 2 weeks to receive my ordered RA-Tech WE AK PMC, I finally can hold it in my hands and call it mine. It does quite a great impression and feels rugged and sturdy.

To be honest, I find an AK 47 in the”PMC” look quite ugly – but that is my personal opinion. None the less, I think WE did a pretty good job to get the PMC look right and showed courage to bring a “western” AK to the GBBR Market. Variation is always good.

This particular WE AK PMC model is a customized one by RA-Tech and officially called “RA-Tech Custom Works WE AK-PMC Level 1″. In optical terms there is no difference from the regular WE AK PMC.

The Main differnce are in the upgraded internals and are as follows:

• RA WE AK steel CNC trigger
• RA WE AK steel CNC hammer
• RA WE AK steel CNC sear
• RA WE AK steel CNC firing pin
• RA WE AK steel CNC Valve Locker
• RA NPAS Kit
• RA WE AK steel CNC inner select lever
• RA Precision inner barrel 6.01mm
• RA Hop Up Rubber

The first thing I did after taking it out of the box and aiming a few time down the sight and charging (while grinning like a moron), was to dismount the “reload help” also known as “magwell”.

Unscrewing the 2 screws which were holding the magwell was quite a fight, since WE drizzled a drop of blue Locktite on each screw. After 2-3 minutes it was done and the AK  was free of that “dead weight”.

Another thing that I noticed while unscrewing the magwell was, that the Buffer Tube was loose. After screwing the flat-head socket head cap screw (ah…I love those long english technical terms) the tube was tight – for now. After shooting a few dry shots it got loose again. I have no Idea why WE didn’t drizzle another drop of Locktite here. Would’ve been definitley more useful then on the magwell screws…

However, the Buttstock over all is quite nice, since the cheek rest ist comfortable – until you mount a reddot and intend to use it. It is really low but for what it was intended –  for iron-sight aiming – it is perfect in its height. But this is just a small setback for me, since I already ordered a new buttstock – more  ALFA ANTITERROR style.

The Buttstock is M4/CAR15 like and has 6 positions – each 1 cm in difference to each other. Downside – if you want to mount another style Buttstock (realwood or underfolder, etc.), you will need to drill out the rivets holding the Buffer Tube.

WE did a good job in the little details, that I personally really like. The Buttstock has 2 seperate chambers for storing for e.g. battery’s, skittles or even the original AK47 cleaning kit. Also the buffer tube has a hidden and even with a O-ring sealed chamber (if waterproof, I can’t confirm for now, but I will soon check this matter an add it to the review). Both only reachable if the Buttstock is taken off from the Buffer Tube.

Another lovely detail is the intergrated Swing Swivel QD (quick detach) for your Sling of your choice. Just press the button in the middle and take it off or switch it to the other side.

Love it and saves me the bucks for getting one!

What I really like are the cyrillic leters on the Fire-selector - ДВ for Full-Auto and OД for Semi-Auto – just like the real deal. The Fire-selector itself is also “westernized” and has a “Bolt-Catch” or “Bolt-Lock” – you can charge the Bolt back and put the selector on safe and  lock it (see picture above) – so you can engange quicker in a possible “fire-fight scenario”. Switch it to to Full or Semi and you are ready to shoot – since the bolt automaticly feeds the first round. Quite cool, but quite useless.

The extra little handle on the fire selector is a great addition, because you can easily reach it with the tip of your index finger and even switch it from safe to semi and backwards.

My favorite part of this GBBR is the Full-Travel-Bolt. Full Travel in terms of that you can charge the bolt the full way back like you can on an real AK – total of 12cm!! Thanks to WE’s open-bolt system you have also the optical pleasure of shooting an real AK – not to mention the amazing blowback. The WE AK-series has an amazing kickback – it feels like shooting a real 9mm gas-operated Rifle.

On this picture you can see the easy accessible Hop-Up unit. Turning the serrated wheel to the right increases the Hop-up (bb’s shooting up) and turning it to the left does the contrary (bb’s shooting down). As mentioned before, this custom worked version from RA-Tech has already the RA-Tech Hop-Up Rubber implemented.

For me as a russian gear and weapon fetichist the debossed Star and the (same as on every other WE AK, even the shoter WE AK74UN) “ongoing” serial number is a straightforwarded slap to the face. But to stay impartial – it does not effect the GBBR’s function in any way – thankfully!

Since I live in germany and we need the “F” in a pentagon symbol on our “GBB’s and other compressed air guns” by law (to indicate to the public that this is a “Free weapon” – Free in terms of you can buy it at the age of 18 and it has max. muzzle energy of 7,5 Joule), I am quite happy that the importer did the “Law” markings decently.

The lower Receiver and the Top Cover are – again- just like the real deal made out of stamped steel. They look, feel and sound also like the same.

On the left picture you can see the Rear Sight and the Block Assembly. The Rear Sight can be modified from 100m-1000m – like you can on an real AK. The Block Assembly has strangely a rough surface – not to mention hat it is made out of an alloy casting o0 – well at least it is metal and not some polymer/plastic stuff.

The Gas-Tube lever works just like the real counterpart – push it up to be able to disassamble the Gas-Tube.

Lower and upper Handguard seem likely, but are made out of 2 different materials. Whereas the lower Handguard is made out of a (very durable) polymer (including the lower rails – excepting the side rails, those are steel), the upper Handguard is completely made out of an alloy casting (sadly the same goes for the bolt – maybe RA-Tech will deliver later a steel CNC one).

Front Sight and outer Barrel are also made out of an alloy casting – intrestingly the Muzzle, cleaning Rod, Front Sight Rivet and the Front Sight Bead are made out of Steel. Again – thankfully it is “metal” and not some chinese plastic.

The Muzzle can be unscrewn after pushing the safety pin in (on top) – If an real steel AK74 or other Muzzle can be attached without modification, I can’t say – for now – since I don’t have any lying around (I will check and add later to the review)

Cleaning Rod can also be detached and even used like a real one! Just fiddle some cloth on the lower opening and ready you are for some barrel cleaning – but caution! be gentle and try not to scratch the inner barrel! (could probably harm your precision). The Front Sight Bead can be unscrewn like on an real AK and painted or even exchange with colored or even glowing (tritium) aftermarket beads.

Another cool thing and beside the full-travel bolt and hard blowback the reason why I decided to buy this GBBR, is the way how to dissasemble this Rifle. I know, I know, I said it already a million times – but again – its just like the real deal!

1. Press the holding button.
2. Take Top Cover away.
3. Take the recoil Spring out.
4. Slide the Bolt with Piston to the back of the Rifle
5. Take Bolt and Piston out.
6. Done!

Of course you could disassemble the triggerunit and so on – but for cleaning purposes or maintenance this is perfect, since you can reach everything important from this initial position.

On the right picture you can see the difference of the Piston length from the WE AK PMC and the (the lower one) WE AK74UN.

Sadly the recoil/blowback does not really work like a gas-powered Rifle does in real life.

Here you can see really good the Trigger Unit and the “naked innards” of this beauty. As mentioned in the beginning – most parts (the importan ones) are made out of steel (not casted!)

The Magazine which is included is a AK47 7.62×39 stamped steel style magazin. There is no technical difference between the PMC Magazines and the AK74UN (5.45×39) – both fit in the WE AK PMC and vice versa. This gives the buye the advantage to “decide” whether you want an 7.62×39 or an 5.45×39 “Poison Bullet” style AK. My persion decision is the latter one.

But there is a major difference between both Magazine types, which you will notice after a long period of using and abusing this GBBR. The AK74UN (5.45×39) Magazine are completel made out of plastic – even the hook lips and the nose (sorry, I have no idea what the correct english terms are) of the mag. You will significantly see that it wears off after time and soon or later you will have problems in insert the Magazines without wobble or problems. The 7.62×39 style Magazines have those important parts made out of Steel, like the rest of the Magazine. I don’t know why WE decided to save again on the wrong things (like the drizzle of Locktite for the Buffer tube – Oh well…)

To prevent this, I decided to buy some real steel Magazines and exchange the hull witht the WE Magazines (after some modifications) – A Tutorial will follow shortly.

On the left you can see the Gas Valve and the 2 switches which are used to change the shooting state of the Magazine. If you want to dry fire (without any bb’s), put the top switch to the back (in direction to the Gas Valve) – if not, do the other way around and you will here a classical metal “click” when you are out of “bullets”.

On the right side you can see the Gas output and the feeding lips for the bb’s. Both Magazines types hold a maximum of 50 bb’s per Magazine. (For my Taste to much, since I am a MilSim type of player – but thats ok, since I can easily load only 30 bb’s)

To be Honest, I didn’t had the time to properly test the shooting ability, but using only Green Gas (Brand: UltraAir) and KingArms Platinum Series 0.25g bb’s, shooting at ~30m with a Temperature of 12-15 degree Celsius and high humidity (after Raining) and using only Iron Sights, the GBBR shoots without any Cooldown problems (around 100 shots rapidly) pretty good. I shot at a McDonalds Coffee cup with the Size of around 11cm x 6cm (upside down on a stick) and hit around 80% of the time while standing. But this is not enough to say whether its amazing, good or something. The time will tell how good it is and I will continously update the “longtime stresstest”

I tried one mag of Devils Blaster Diamond Grade Precision 0.40g bb’s in grey – and I can already tell that those are not compatible with the WE AK series. I got heavily feeding problems with the Magazine. They kept stucking in the mag and didn’t even reached the feeding lips.

Real Contractor somewehere in Afghanistan or Iraq with an EOTech Holographic Sight.

 

eSports against Airsoft

The plot of "Galileo" - "eSports against airsoft" on July 4, 2012. CTC
"The virtual world to the reality! Champions Counter Strike against real players in airsoft. Which is cooler?"

In Soviet Russia… mortar suppresses you! (by Gruppa-L)

This morning I stumbled about something interesting on youtube. As you might already have guessed by the title, it is a suppressed mortar. So, how is that possible? The answer lies within the used rounds mainly.

Have you heard of the NRS-2 (НРС-2) shooting knife or the PSS (ПСС) pistol? Both are suppressed without having a suppressor. They are even quieter then most guns with a suppressor. Developed in the 1980s, they work the same way as the mortar does.

The cartridges contain a cylinder, which complete contains the gases from the explosion inside. The cylinder expands and pushes the projectile forward.
You can’t hear anything, but the noise caused by the friction.
The mortar rounds work exactly the same way. A downside of this design is, that the muzzle velocity is quite low.

The 2Б25 mortar is chambered in 82mm and was developed by Burevestinik (Буревестник) in 2011. Due to the low muzzle velocity it has a range of 1200 meters only. However it was designed for special units/operations anyway, so targets have to be in visual range usually.
As for now there is only one HE round (3ВО35Е) available. I assume a thermobaric will follow in the future since Russians have a lot of experience in that field.
The mortar weights 15kg an can be carried by a single person. Usually a second one carries 4 rounds.

The advantages are obvious: No fire/flash or smoke which could give away the position. The noise is equivalent to suppressed AK and thus it can be fired without hearing protection.
There has always been a safety concern on the PSS pistole because the spend cartridges are still under pressure and could possibly explode. On a mortar this is clearly no problem anymore.

SR3M KardeN Style

... year so some two thousand, at one event, the so-called "big brothers," I saw them the next rogue tricks. This strange device like a machine known speakers, only had detachable silencer. The name of this miracle has put me into an abyss of painful reflection, as the abbreviation SR3M     supposed relationship with a gun CP3 on which the new Wunderwaffe no means looked like, and it was very similar to the automatic VAL

I dare say that I have made on   Hot on the heels of telephone - the photo was probably the first in the open spaces of the Internet ...

  Several years passed, and that thing got to mere mortals. That is up to our squad ...

On closer acquaintance I personally did not like the front handle. Though she had to blend in size forearm, but not everyone likes such arms, and front grip at all.
But the most pressing problem was the installation of attachments - light laser sights and reflex scope. Besides setting sights with the use of brackets for AK is fraught with significant displacement of the axis of sight set on the longitudinal axis of the weapon ...

Simplest   way to install lights seen in the use of clamps for mufflers made by "Zenith".
But there was another way. Since SR3M modified with straps do not see us as their ears, at least in the near future, the output is seen only in your own installation.
As always came to help savvy and firm Zenith.
Was manufactured set of short and long planks that were mounted on the fore-end staff ...

Now you can set the lights and even the collimator sight ...

In principle, the best option in terms of minimum interference in the design of weapons. You just drill a few small holes forearm ...

Due to the lack of play (at least on our machines) and the presence in the structure of the forend metal frame stability STP, as applied to this class of weapons, more than the ability to use weapons dostatochna.Poyavilas stock folded that the use of sight, mounted on the side of the bracket was, would be very difficult.
But what about the grip? Forearm need a new design, which closes the trunk and the gas chamber on all sides.
Naturally wanted to create a forearm is called the "from scratch"
Certainly the preferred material   - Aluminum alloy. But it is not a file to sharpen same?

But who will undertake this work? Luckily, I know people who know other people.
Who can help me to realize my plans.
Translate well to say the dream in the metal.

And such a person is found.
Intelligent guy.
His head and his hands grow from the right place.
Medulla can use.
Required   skills and tools - are available.

Here are some of his works ...

Was worked out and approved by the general voting sketch products ...

Was solved and the problem with fitting formed forearm on the gun ...
- Because ... I have friends who have friends ...
and thank you, and both, for what they are ...

So - the forearm is made of milled aluminum alloy D16T ...

Brought a lot of problems fitting forearm as machines used during the procedure, had different geometrical dimensions of the bearing surfaces.
In other words, on one machine dangled forearm, and the other was set with a force ...

Installed on top of forearm strap for red dot scope.
It does not prevent aiming with regular iron sight.
To speed up the process of making forearm were used original plates from the "Zenith" ...

On the sides of the forearm are two short strips install a lamp or lamps.
Or sling attachment ...

Well, to make the already exclusive tsevyu personality to the surface forearm suffered my favorite smiley ...

We leave it to the master:

  ".... even   fully   proven,   tested,   inscribed   in   history    feats   and   Win samples   weapons    have   one   lack the moral   outdated. Time      cruelly   makes   We refuse   the habits, and go   forward. System   fixing   RIS,   which can be used   significantly   increase efficiency   weapons   for   account   attachments   Appliances   already   was   norm   and binding   requirement   to   Firearms   Arms.   USSR   was   superpower   whose   military     power   and scientific potential   opposed   all   west. Country councils   was   destroyed, and   all achievements   were   pillaged and plundered,    what   that   we   lost   it is impossible   calculate   those accumulated knowledge,   those   samples   and   brilliant   ideas   received   sweat and blood we   will not return. Collapse, destruction, hunger, and   poverty, it is   synonyms   of   time   what awaited   ahead.   Some   "Fragments"   erstwhile   Empire   steel    no   just   problem   but rather   cancer   tumor that threatened   destroy   all   wipe off   fully   our   country.   And   only   narrow-minded   man   can   say    any   conflict   one can   solve   Peace   by,   not so. Only   by force   one can   pacify   breath   new   time, and    thousands   Peaceful    lives     already   were brought   a sacrifice   new gods.

Simple   Army   despite   on   all the power,   designed   for   fight   with   clear   opponent   was   powerless   against guerrilla   action. In the case   come   best   of the best,   Special Forces.

For   execution   set   before them   problems   does not fit    usual   Army   weapons   specially   creating new   samples.   Lighter,   accurate, comfortable, quiet.

SR3M,   one of these   samples   created   on the basis of   rifle   BCC   is   logical   development   AU   where   refused   for   reduction   size and   masses   abandoned   integrated silencer.   Because of    insufficient   funding   modification      under   modern   needs    delayed.   A   each   employee   always   will   seek   improve   his   working   tool.

SR3M not   RIS has   slats.   The simplest   output   was   put mount   the standard plastic    forearm,     practice   showed    that this   modification   does not fully meet     all the requirements. Pivot   no   enough   tough   despite   out    inside   reinforced plastic   steel   plate. On   loads are not calculated   and with   time will   backlash. It was   decided to make   new   forearm.   Choice   fell   a trusted   duralumin   D16, the    material   already   many   year   applied   in   aviation. Material   easy to   to   by contrast   of plastic it is not affected,   change their   strength   properties   at   very low   or    high   temperatures.   Analogs   this   Alloy   already   long   apply   Western arms makers.   But   of   material   easily   processed, and   for   manufacturing   from it   details    do not need expensive   equipment.

The design is   yourself   U-shaped Wholly   detail   almost   fully   apparently repeats   standard   plastic   forearm. Trims    attached with screws   for   top   and lateral planes.   There are   windows   for   Circulation   air   on the sides   made   sample   metal   for   relief   and   better   heat.    From below    performed    Removable   basis   for more   Fig bars.   All   rice   trims   exchangeable   possible   installation   additional brackets, different   length. Mount   New forearm   staffing,   for   his   installation is required   finish off   himself   machine.    Compatibility   and   interchangeability   Verified   installation   a few   different   samples.

As far as   successful   will   new   forearm - will show only    Practice. We look   waiting for feedback ... "

So - forearm packed, sent, received, unpacked, installed ...

On my rifle forearm established   with little interference - sufficient to eliminate rolling.
Its role in eliminating pitching is lower liner with bar ...

When pulling the two bottom screws 'ears' to sack, forearm "compress" the side of the front of the receiver.

The handle is fixed with two pins ...

Her seat cool prevents elongation bars ...

The handle of the STC.
Because of its shape prevents manipulation of the 30 round magazine ...

True, there are disadvantages.
When folded handle replacement stores possible.
Also impossible to remove the handle from the speakers 'ears'   foundation staff handles.

Handle RC-1 from the firm Zenith ...

When installing the light side of the transverse dimensions increase weapon ...

To avoid this   it would be appropriate to set the lantern bottom forearm.
But then there will be no room for the handle.
BEFORE    Available extension bracket B-16 firm Zenith was mounted on the bottom of the main strip.
And on it were fixed lantern and a small "zenitovskih"   handle   RK-0 ...

- Without a muffler ...

- With folded ...

It is true in this scenario was found one annoying feature.
The fact is that in this version is operated tridtsatizaryadnym store does not interfere.   A dvadtsatizaryadny rests on the handle. Because the bottom of the plastic shopping wider than metal.

Annoying.
- Oh well ...

Have to switch to the original version of the side mount lantern. And think about creating a muzzle device with integrated bottom rail for the lantern.

Well, "... something like ..." - says a friend of mine :-)