The Black Campbell

The Kalashnikov Concern has been busy these past few years, and just a few days ago, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that they would begin issuing the AK-12 as their new service rifle. So what better time than to have a look at the new Russian stuff that is certain to find its way into the hands of your bad guys in your James Bond: 007 RPG campaigns…

AK-12

The AK-12 is the culmination of modifications made to the AK platform. This rifle is a follow-on to the AK-74, and uses the same 5.45x39mm ammunition and will accept any of the magazines made for the earlier 5.45mm platforms. Improvements include a new, not-shitty safety lever — a sharp departure from the barely-workable lever of original rifles. Instead, the safety lever is a four-point lever that allows the weapon to be safe, single fire, burst fire, or fully automatic. Another improvement is a telescoping and foldable stock; folding iron sights and a  Piccatinny rails for optics, and another for the addition of a GP-34 grenade launcher. The bayonet lug remains and the muzzle brake is improved. 60-round quad magazines and a 95-round drum are in the works.

PM: 0   S/R: 2/10   AMMO: 30   DC: H/K   CLOS: 0-18   LONG: 50-90   CON: n/a    JAM: 98+   DR: -3   RL: 2   COST: $2000 (approx.)

Q EVALUATION: It’s a damned good rifle. The new safety switch is the best improvement of the lot, but the modifications to the gas block and tube have made this a much more reliable gun than the old AK-74. 007

AK-15

A larger version, the AK-15, is in development and is the heavy version of the rifle, a follow-up to the AK-47 in 7.62x39mm. It has many of the same features of the AK-12.

PM: +1   S/R: 2/10   AMMO: 30   DC: I/L   CLOS: 0-20   LONG 50-90   CON: n/a   JAM: 98+   DR: -3   RL: 2

Q EVALUATION: One of our foreign liaison officers got the chance to fire the prototype for the AK-15 and was inpressed, stating that the weapon fixed many of the issues the old AK series had — from takedown, to the safety catch, to reliability with different ammunition. Cpt. Michael Roberts

Lebedev PL-15 9mm

This pistol is produced by the Kalashnikov Concern and was designed by Dmitry Lebedev, and was created as a pistol for police and military use, as well as the ability to transition into “professional shooting.” As a result, it uses the 9x19mm “Luger” round, rather than the old Makarov 9mm, has a 15 shot magazine, a polymer frame with under PIccatinny style rail, and uses a striker fire action, and the reliable short recoil Browning-style locked breech. Unlike many manufacturers, all controls are ambidextrous, and a grip angle and low bore axis similar to the CZ-75.

PM: +1   S/R: 3   AMMO: 15   DC: F   CLOS: 0-6   LONG: 12-18   CON: +1   JAM: 99   DR: 0   RL: 2   COST: $900

Q Evaluation: Kalashnikov has really outdone themselves with this sidearm. It combines lessons learned by other pistol manufacturers into a solidly reliable, easy to use platform, that rivals its competitors. 003 compared it favorably to his beloved CZ-85 Combat. High praise, indeed! Q