http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzBoJQ7w-fo
I had a chance to inspect and shoot a working prototype of a new product offered by Parabellum Armament for the AK. This device gives the operator the ability to charge the AK rifle much like a HK 90 series rifle (91, 93, 94).
Thanks for the video, I have enjoyed some of the other videos you’ve posted in the past. Interesting piece of equipment, do you care to give your impressions on it since you were able to handle it? Is it worth it at around $160.00?
This looks like the most thought out design I have seen so far.
If you get a chance to test one of these out, I am sure I wouldn’t be the only one that would be interested to hear the results…
I fired it on the range and it works very well. It is super simple and doesn’t require any permanent modifications to your rifle or carrier.
This is a working prototype and they tell me the final product will be more refined.
I do like it, however I also have reservations.
First, I don’t find the charging handle on the AK to be particularly awkward or difficult to use. No one seemed to complain about the location of the charging handle on the M1 Garand, M14 or M1 Carbine, but the same people will claim the AK is inferior because of the location of the charging handle. While the AK isn’t as fast as an AR to reload, I don’t think reloading speed is critical to ones survival if you’re using cover and are well trained with your rifle. I’ve yet to met a combat vet who told me their life was saved by a lightening fast Magpul reload on their M16.
But as with anything there is room for improvement on any system including the AK. As long as this system doesn’t reduce the reliability of the rifle or introduce fragile new failure points, I’ll remain interested in it. But if it allows the ingress of debris into the rifle in such a way that you must be vigilant to prevent malfunctions in extreme conditions, I’ll lose interest in it.
From what I’ve seen though it seems to be well thought out and it certainly worked as I expected it to in the limited time I had to spend with it on the range. I will get one and run it through the ringer to see how it holds up. I’ll drop it, dunk it in mud and sand, fire the heck out of it to see how I like it.
I remember a guy came up with a mod like this a few years back. But if I remember correctly it was basically a standard gas tube with a track cut in the side, and a charging handle somehow affixed to the gas piston. Never struck me as a solid/sound design, but these guys obviously have a little more budget/planning behind this offering. I’m with you though, I dont see anything wrong with existing AK charging handles, at least not enough to invest in something like this. Its nice to see the AK getting aftermarket attention though.
Sound opinion and I agree I’ve never had a huge problem with the AK charging handles either. You are also right about being properly trained too, no piece of equipment is going to improve someone enough to replace good training.
Dublin AK systems
http://www.dublinaksystems.com/
Actually, his Gen2 appears to be nearly the same. Perhaps he sold the design (or works for the other company? It even shares the same name…)
Yep thats the one. Interesting.
Interesting modification.
Probably not something I’m interested in simply because I also have never had a problem with the right side charging handle, but it’s more well thought out than most of the AK stuff I see.
I’ve been watching the Dublin system for some time. I was on a wait list, but I’ve since switched platforms.
I don’t know why the AK needs a different charging handle location. If they want something to really improve on the design, it would be a last round bolt hold open device and bolt release. Moving the charging handle doesn’t really solve this problem (in fact I’d rather have the original position…I never liked the HK91 style). Funny, however, that people rarely complain about the AK reciprocating charging handle but get their panties in a huge wad when the it comes to the SCAR, just throwing it out there…
I hope they incorporate a rat tail feature into the charging handle ALA the FAL to prevent a debris opening .
An integral BHO to the AK design isn’t really practical. The Yugoslovians tried it and ditched it later on. They later added a BHO after the last round fires to just the magazine, and with the Yugo BHO mags, the bolt just slams forward once you remove it. So BHO AK mags are the best you’re going to do with the AK unless you modify the rifle and make it take non standard magazine. I suppose with the ratchet charging handle combined with Yugo BHO mags, the location of the charging handle is convenient enough that you could put your hand over the charging handle to prevent it from slamming forward, and use the other hand to eject the magazine, and insert a fresh magazine, then let go of the bolt and let it ride home. I hope I’m making sense.
Cool design. Nice to see a company actually put some real R&D into it. Depending on user reports, I may be interested in purchasing in the future to see how I like a left hand charge.
A lot of you raised the issue as to whether a left hand charge handle is necessary. Like many of you, I agree it may not be necessary. The only thing I can think of is that as people have begun to add optics above the top cover (either mounting to a side scope rail or some dogleg system) charging over the top has become occluded and difficult. That is just an assumption as mine still use the Ultimak rail.
It’s not tough - roll to your preferred side (top or bottom) and charge over/under.
I have been working on over as I find it a bit easier to do, but I know many to go under with zero issues.
IMHO this IS a better charging handle setup than the standard AK location, however, that would mean I have a bolt handle sticking out of BOTH sides of the gun.
Which would irritate me and would be pointless.
I’d probably have that shit milled off or something and re-finished.
Thankfully I’m not an AK guy. (Yet.)
For ME, this a solution looking for a problem… the AK charging handle is OK, better than this mod. Very strong, positive, easy and fast to use, no additional cuts or mods.
The problem is no bolt hold open/bolt release, and this is not going to change.
I think you hit the nail on the head there.
People want to turn their AKs into race guns. They forget the AKs primary virtues are low low cost, simplicity, and reliability.
Our legislators have taken the first benefit away, now we will destroy the rest?
Added cost, weight, and worst of all UNKNOWN RELIABILITY, to a now reliable platform. In return it offers tacti-cool appearance?
No thanks.
I believe you are talking about this guy:
http://www.dublinaksystems.com/
He has changed his system and it now looks like the one MAC suggests, or visa versa. (Or maybe parabellum is marketting it for Dublin?, who knows)
His original one was very crude, dare I say it appeared like it might have been engineered by Mikhail Kalashnikov himself. It was just a cut-out in the gas tube with a recess to hold the charging handle back.
I didn’t like it then either.
I’d rather have a Galil style charging handle.