Tweet
I finally decided to try to flip to the other side of the record for a while and try 5.45 again. Previously purchased a Russian AK74 a few years back. I've put very little rounds through that, then the Russian weapons issue and the prices going up on them- that gun is worth $300. more than when it was purchased. Also it's one of my few AK's that don't look like it's been through the wringer.
Getting in before all the changes to the NFA regulations last year, I purchased a short barrelled Krink from Arsenal. Purchased and paid for January of 2016, I only got my hands on it about a month ago now :confused: Long story but got in under the wire of the regulation changes requiring DNA, fecal samples and gonad charting....
Only have about 800 or 900 rounds through it so far but damn I'm liking it.
I have NOT zeroed it yet, hence the low shots on the target in the pic. It's on target at 100 but low as you can tell from the grouping.
Pros- extremely light recoil, very lightweight and compact. An SBR like this will definitely be what I end up using when I get a good bit older. The small size and weight are a plus for women folk too. My wife enjoyed shooting this and was able to keep it shouldered a lot longer than she can her full size AK (arm strength issues that a lot of women have).
Cons- took forever to get, price wasn't exactly cheap.
Logistically now I have to get deeper in my commitment to 5.45 Luckily last year when waiting for this I picked up quite a few polymer mags that CDNN had on sale for $9. They have all worked flawlessly as has the non corrosive wolf ammo.
Another disadvantage is the one screw among a bunch of nails in your tool belt deal. So you hanging off a roof and reach into your nail pouch to get a nail and retrieve a screw. What the hell are you saying Rob? Trying to make an analogy between having a bunch of X39 AKs that all take the same magazine and ammo, and then throwing in one or two rifles that look almost exactly the same but take different mags and different ammo. Not all your family members or the people that may use these are gear hooas that play with their equipment every day. The chances for a X39 mag to be attempted to be stuffed in an AK74 is a real thing. Matter of fact..... So we had this very talk with the family, including a look at how the mags are different, how they feel different in the hand, etc. Not an hour later we are at the range and my son walks over towards the shooting spot with the 5.45 Krink and a X39 mag. I noticed it and said "let me know how that works out."
What? He asked. "You know, what we talked about at the house." He gave me a blank look then proceeded to try to insert the mag....
I remember when I first mentioned this being a possibility people thought I was nutz. Well this wasn't under stress, this wasn't under pressure. And this was a person that has had 4 years of regular informal training and several classes worth of formal training. I'd love to say that probably won't happen again but I've said that before training people when they flagged their right thumb on an AK shooting left handed- "well, you won't do that again." And then they did about 10 minutes later....
So I feel justified in my assumption that probably it's not a good idea to keep similar firearms that take different magazines and ammo for use with family or lesser trained people. My son realized immediately upon trying to place the mag that it was not correct, however if someone was not familiar with (i.e, thousands of reps) the system and mags, this might have continued under stress (attempts to insert wrong mag). This could happen with FN mags in an M1A, Mini 14 mags in an AR15, etc.
My reasons for keeping the number of different weapon SYSTEMS to a minimum feel more justified to myself now. Honestly if their wasn't the time crunch of 41F and the x39 SBRs had been in stock, I probably would not have opted for the 5.45
I'm more from the camp that if it can go wrong, you better put measures in place so it won't go wrong. So needless to say this will stay separate as much as possible from the regular AKs.
UW Chest Rig-
Hawkeye sent me an AK chest rig a few years ago as repayment for several favors I did him years before, which was a very nice gesture. Unfortunately since I don't shoot 5.45 much I've had little chance to use it. So with this Krink I've been using it more and will continue to.
It's a four cell AK74 chest rig. x39 mags will not fit in it, but the 5.45 mags fit correctly. There is the curvature of the AK mags to deal with, which I'm sure is a PITA for gear makers. Hawkeye did a great job on this rig taking care of that.
Rig is very comfortable and easy to use. The tuck tunnel closures require a bit of re training if your used to bungees or tension holders as I am. BUT their is no loud velcro noise to give away your position. Stitching looks as professionally done as any "big name" gear I have and materials are top notch- no chinese crap here!!
Check them out at
Getting in before all the changes to the NFA regulations last year, I purchased a short barrelled Krink from Arsenal. Purchased and paid for January of 2016, I only got my hands on it about a month ago now :confused: Long story but got in under the wire of the regulation changes requiring DNA, fecal samples and gonad charting....
Only have about 800 or 900 rounds through it so far but damn I'm liking it.
I have NOT zeroed it yet, hence the low shots on the target in the pic. It's on target at 100 but low as you can tell from the grouping.
Pros- extremely light recoil, very lightweight and compact. An SBR like this will definitely be what I end up using when I get a good bit older. The small size and weight are a plus for women folk too. My wife enjoyed shooting this and was able to keep it shouldered a lot longer than she can her full size AK (arm strength issues that a lot of women have).
Cons- took forever to get, price wasn't exactly cheap.
Logistically now I have to get deeper in my commitment to 5.45 Luckily last year when waiting for this I picked up quite a few polymer mags that CDNN had on sale for $9. They have all worked flawlessly as has the non corrosive wolf ammo.
Another disadvantage is the one screw among a bunch of nails in your tool belt deal. So you hanging off a roof and reach into your nail pouch to get a nail and retrieve a screw. What the hell are you saying Rob? Trying to make an analogy between having a bunch of X39 AKs that all take the same magazine and ammo, and then throwing in one or two rifles that look almost exactly the same but take different mags and different ammo. Not all your family members or the people that may use these are gear hooas that play with their equipment every day. The chances for a X39 mag to be attempted to be stuffed in an AK74 is a real thing. Matter of fact..... So we had this very talk with the family, including a look at how the mags are different, how they feel different in the hand, etc. Not an hour later we are at the range and my son walks over towards the shooting spot with the 5.45 Krink and a X39 mag. I noticed it and said "let me know how that works out."
What? He asked. "You know, what we talked about at the house." He gave me a blank look then proceeded to try to insert the mag....
I remember when I first mentioned this being a possibility people thought I was nutz. Well this wasn't under stress, this wasn't under pressure. And this was a person that has had 4 years of regular informal training and several classes worth of formal training. I'd love to say that probably won't happen again but I've said that before training people when they flagged their right thumb on an AK shooting left handed- "well, you won't do that again." And then they did about 10 minutes later....
So I feel justified in my assumption that probably it's not a good idea to keep similar firearms that take different magazines and ammo for use with family or lesser trained people. My son realized immediately upon trying to place the mag that it was not correct, however if someone was not familiar with (i.e, thousands of reps) the system and mags, this might have continued under stress (attempts to insert wrong mag). This could happen with FN mags in an M1A, Mini 14 mags in an AR15, etc.
My reasons for keeping the number of different weapon SYSTEMS to a minimum feel more justified to myself now. Honestly if their wasn't the time crunch of 41F and the x39 SBRs had been in stock, I probably would not have opted for the 5.45
I'm more from the camp that if it can go wrong, you better put measures in place so it won't go wrong. So needless to say this will stay separate as much as possible from the regular AKs.
UW Chest Rig-
Hawkeye sent me an AK chest rig a few years ago as repayment for several favors I did him years before, which was a very nice gesture. Unfortunately since I don't shoot 5.45 much I've had little chance to use it. So with this Krink I've been using it more and will continue to.
It's a four cell AK74 chest rig. x39 mags will not fit in it, but the 5.45 mags fit correctly. There is the curvature of the AK mags to deal with, which I'm sure is a PITA for gear makers. Hawkeye did a great job on this rig taking care of that.
Rig is very comfortable and easy to use. The tuck tunnel closures require a bit of re training if your used to bungees or tension holders as I am. BUT their is no loud velcro noise to give away your position. Stitching looks as professionally done as any "big name" gear I have and materials are top notch- no chinese crap here!!
Check them out at
Comment