Category Archives: Russia and also USSR

Brief Overview of Russian RPK-16

January 4, 2019 RoninsGrips

At a tradeshow, a representative gives a brief overview of the RPK-16 light machine gun in 5.45×39. He highlights design features including the adjustable buttstock, full length Picatinny rail, 4 kilogram light weight, 96 round drum, ability to use AK magazines, free floating handguard, different barrel lengths and that the barrels can be changed in the field.

The RPK-16 builds on the innovations developed for the AK-12.

The RPK-16 in 5.45×39 can use a 96-round drum or standard AK magazines.

Here’s The Video

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Please note that all images are extracts from the video and remain the property of their respective owner(s).

Russia and also USSR

Russian Spetsnaz Working Out With The PKM Machine Gun

January 3, 2019 RoninsGrips

Here you have a number of videos assembled to show a ton of shooting of the venerable 7.62x54R PKM machine gun by Spetsnaz operators.

You get to see the drills and they wrap up with some SVD and RPG action. Pretty cool.

Here’s the Video

Russia and also USSR

Russian FSB Conducting Exercises

December 31, 2018 RoninsGrips

This Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) is focused on security within Russia. This includes counter-intelligence, border security, surveillance, organized crime, counter-terrorism and federal law violations.

In support of the FSB’s activities, it retains an estimated 4,000 special operations forces. Of course, one of the hallmarks of any special forces group is extensive training. The Grey Shop assembled the following video of publicly released footage from a variety of training exercises both land and sea based. I find the tactics and weapons of interest and most of this I have not seen before.

I’m always watching for small arms in these videos and you’ll notice there are AK rifles as well as AKS-74U, AS VAL, a Brügger &Thomet MP9, and PP-19-01 Vityaz.

Here’s The Video

Please note that all images were extracted from the video and remain the property of their respective owner(s).

Military, Russia and also USSR

Understanding The Histories of Some of the Special Operations “Spetsnaz” groups in Russia Today

December 30, 2018 RoninsGrips

In the West, folks tend to think that Russian special operations groups, collectively termed “Spetsnaz” are one entity. In fact, there are many special operations groups in Russia both in the military as well as the police.

FTD Facts assembled a brief video focusing on a number of groups wherein he provides a historical narrative with photos as well as modern footage as well. It’s very informative if you ware wanting to understand a bit more about some of the Spetsnaz groups and how they were formed.

Here’s the Video

All photos come from the video and remain the property of their respective owner(s).

Military, Russia and also USSR

Video of Anti-Terror Exercise in Russia in 2018

December 27, 2018 RoninsGrips

This is a video of a training exercise at the Kalingrad stadium simulating a hostage situation. Units from the FSB, police, Regardie and MOE were involved.

Here’s the Video

All photos come from the video and remain the property of their respective owner(s).

Russia and also USSR

Ian McCollum Reviews and Disassembles a M1916 Federov Rifle!

December 24, 2018 RoninsGrips

The Federov Automat rifle has an interesting niche in history as being an early successful design that enabled an infantryman to have a select fire weapon that didn’t weigh a ton. Design work began around 1906, a model was submitted to the Army in 1911 and it saw service from 1915-1917, 1920-1928 and limited use after 1940. Only about 3,200 of the Federovs were built and far, far fewer survive to this day.

I recently published a blog post where Larry Vickers reviewed one during a trip to the Central Armed Forces Museum in Northern Moscow. Another firearms scholar I follow is Ian McCollum, who produces the incredible Forgotten Weapon videos. He recently visited the Royal Armouries in Leeds and had a chance to produce a video segment on the history and disassembly of a Federov rifle.

Here’s the barreled action removed from the stock.

Here is the Federov disassembled. Ian noted that while the manufacturing was very complicated the design was surprisingly straight forward.

As with all of Ian’s videos, he provides some very interesting history and design commentary as he is taking the Federov apart. Here’s the video:

Russia and also USSR

Larry Vickers Interview in Russia – Is the AK Outdated?

December 24, 2018 RoninsGrips

During his visit to Russia in 2018, Larry Vickers was interviewed by
Vladimir Onokoy, a technical consultant with the Kalashnikov Concern, about Larry’s views on the traditional AK platform.

The two discussed a number of topics and I’ll just hit some personal highlights that I found interesting:

Larry mentioned that people get hung up on the design of the safety and the short sight radius but the positives of the design far outweigh the negatives. This is especially true because the safety works just fine once you get used to it and the addition of a good red dot is a game changer. I agree with both points.
Vladimir asked Larry his caliber preference. Larry said if he had to only pick one, it would be 7.62×39. That’s definitely my go-to caliber for the rifle.
Larry made a really interesting point – the tapers of the 7.62×39 and 5.45×39 aid in reliable feeding in the AK platform. The 5.56×45 is at a disadvantage because it does not have the same degree of taper. That caught my attention – I never really stopped and thought about the impacts of case taper on reliability given how to AK operates. Interesting point.

So, is the AK obsolete? In my opinion, it is an extensible platform but watch this interesting video and here Larry’s thoughts first hand.

Russia and also USSR

AK-200, AK-308, AM-17 and AMB-17 At Army 2018 in Moscow

December 22, 2018 RoninsGrips

DefenseWeb attended the Army 2018 expo in Moscow and released this video where they interviewed Vladimir Onokoy, a technical consultant with the Kalashnikov and experienced AK armorer, about Kalashnikov Concern’s new AK-200, AK-308, AM-17 and AMD-17 rifles.

AK-201 rifle in 5.56×45. The AK-20x family of weapons is available in 5.45×39, 5.56×45 and 7.62×39 plus in long and short versions.

AK-308 for countries wishing to use 7.62×51/.308 ammo

AM-17 compact assault rifle that replaces the out of production AKS-74U.

AMB-17 compact assault rifle with integral suppressor.

To the left is the AM-17 and the AMB-17 is to the right.

The AM-17 and AMB-17 are of special interest to me as some groups are looking for compact weapons and this rifle will have to compete against the well established Tula’s AS Val, VSS Vintorez and SR-3 rifles.

Here’s the video

Please note that all photos above are extracted from the video.

PSA AK Webstore Links

Interested in an American made AK? Consider Palmetto State Armory (PSA) as a source. Click on the following links for the associated webstore categories for AK-related rifles, pistols and parts at PSA:

Ronin's Grips

Category Archives: Russia and also USSR

Brief Overview of Russian RPK-16

Here’s The Video

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Russian Spetsnaz Working Out With The PKM Machine Gun

Here’s the Video

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Russian FSB Conducting Exercises

Here’s The Video

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Understanding The Histories of Some of the Special Operations “Spetsnaz” groups in Russia Today

Here’s the Video

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Video of Anti-Terror Exercise in Russia in 2018

Here’s the Video

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Ian McCollum Reviews and Disassembles a M1916 Federov Rifle!

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Larry Vickers Interview in Russia – Is the AK Outdated?

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AK-200, AK-308, AM-17 and AMB-17 At Army 2018 in Moscow

Here’s the video

PSA AK Webstore Links

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When Strength and Quality Matter Most

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