Category: Guns and Gear

PK-01 V Red Dot Optic for AK Pattern Rifles

Yesterday my new red dot optic for my AK-47 arrived. The optic I ordered was a PK-01 V Russian red dot optic that mounts on the AK’s side rail. Here it is mounted on my rifle:

The optic comes fully assembled and in that camouflage carrying case you see above the rifle. I chose this optic because it has several features I found desirable. First and foremost is mounted on the side rail of my AK. I wasn’t about to pay money to get hand guards with integrated rails just so I could mount my optic on top of that large moving gas piston. The second feature this thing has that I really like is the power source, two AAA batteries. I hate having to stock uncommon coin style batteries so I look for things that use regular old AA and AAA batteries. The third major reason I went with this optic is because it sits low enough that it co-witnesses with the iron sights as seen here:

I apologize for the crappy picture but trying to photograph a co-witnessing optic with your camera phone is a pain in the ass. I’m not one to trust electronic gear fully as batteries can die and other stupid shenanigans that make the optic worthless. That’s why I like an optic that co-witnesses with the iron sights, if the optic goes down it’s not a huge deal as I can just switch to the iron sights.

Some things I liked about this optic immediately were the adjustment knobs. Windage and elevation can be adjusted while you’re wearing gloves, no special tools required. Likewise the optic is built like a fine Russian tank, it strong like bull. Supposedly the entire optic is water proof but I’m not willing to submerge this thing in water just to test that claim. The battery compartment has a rub gasket on it which leads me to believe water shouldn’t be getting into the optic. Installation and removal is dead simple as are most side-mounting AK optics.

Sadly I haven’t had a chance to take it to the range yet so I can’t give a full report on how well it works. I can tell you that the red dot can be turned up to a very bright setting through. My eyes have a terrible red affinity meaning there are many red optics I can’t see. Giving my anything besides the brightest of red laser pointers if futile because I won’t be able to see the dot. The PK-01 V has eight brightness settings and I can see the dot anywhere from setting four on up.

I’ll have more to report when I get this suck to the range, sight it in, and either put rounds on paper or totally miss (in which case I’ll consider the optic shitty as I can’t possibly blame bad shooting on myself).

Saiga Shotgun Importation Potentially Stopped

Some disturbing news was brought to my attention by Linoge over at Walls of the City. Cold Creek Armory has stated the following in a Facebook update:

We are hearing that the importer of the Saiga 12 shotguns has ceased importation while waiting for the official ruling by the ATF. There are a limited number of these firearms already in the pipeline for distribution and we will be getting as many as available to us just as soon as they are available. Call now – 865-966-4545 – if you would like to be put on the list.

It seems the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms Explosives and Everything Fun (ATF) have managed to stop the importation of Saiga shotguns without even needing to perform an official ruling. I really hate all that government agency.

I will be sad if Saiga’s shotguns end up joining my SPAS-12 on the verboten for import list.

Glock 21 Gen4

My current competition gun is a Glock 21SF with the horrible ambidextrous safety. I’ve been meaning to dump it and get a different Glock 21 but have been waiting for the fourth generation version to be unveiled before making any such move. Well the guys over at Downrange TV had the good fortune of playing with the Glock 21 Gen4.

The Glock 21 Gen4 will have the interchangeable backstrap, reversible magazine release, and a telescoping recoil spring. None of that is new but it seems Glock is also coming out with a beaver tail backstrap which really does nothing for me but should make many other people happy.

Hopefully they come out before USPSA starts up again (yes I really do hate that ambidextrous magazine release, nothing like hitting it and not having the magazine actually drop out).

Raging Judge is Raging

Remember Taurus’s 28 gauge revolver? I’m sure you do it was only unveiled a week ago. Are you excited to get one? Too bad because the agency of fun killing, the Bureau of Alcohol Tabacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) have apparently ruled the hand cannon is a short barreled shotgun. I guess that basically ends the world’s most retarded revolver competition between Smith and Wesson and Taurus.

My Proposal for a New Three Gun Division

I spend quite a bit of my time thinking up really bad ideas. Yesterday while at the range another one of my bad ideas came to mind, a new three gun division which I will call death metal. There is already the heavy metal division which requires a .45 or larger handgun, .308 or larger rifle, and a pump action 12 gauge. My like death metal is to heavy metal in music this division will just be a more insane version of three gun.

The basic rules are these; your handgun and rifle must both be chambered in something .50 or larger and your shotgun my be a 10 gauge pump action. I think it also goes without saying that all guns must use iron sights only. Each target would be neutralized by a single shot meaning you don’t have to worry about double-taps (main because this idea would become even more insanely expensive).

Just imagine doing a three gun state with a Smith and Wesson .500, a Barret .50, and a 10 gauge shotgun, it will feel like you were in a mosh pit at a death metal concert by the time you’re done.

Glock’s SHOT Show Event

Remember when Glock announced that they would be having a big event at SHOT Show this year and I said to prepare to be underwhelmed? Well, I was right:

I posted a few weeks back that Glock was going to have a press conference on Tuesday. The conference was canceled, so I don’t have any exciting news there.

That’s just slightly more uninteresting than I was expecting anyways. Glock makes a damn fine gun but they really don’t do anything all that exciting.

Smith and Wesson Governor

Taurus has been known for making copies of many guns produced by Smith and Wesson but the opposite hasn’t been true… until now. Smith and Wesson has released a new revolver called the Governor which will take .410 shotgun, .45 Colt, and .45 Auto. I think Massad Ayoob’s quote sums this gun up:

But, hey, if you’re gonna play the names, be cool about it. You can always buy a Taurus Judge AND a Smith & Wesson Governor, and wield ‘em both, one in each hand. When you confront your next burglar and he runs away with no blood spilled (the way such things usually end), you can shout after him, “You’ve been put on probation by the Judge, and been granted a reprieve by the Governor!”

It’s all about looking cool anyways.