JSGlock34
05-29-2016, 08:09 PM
I've really enjoyed Larry Vicker's videos on Russian small arms. The AN-94 has always had some mystery about it, and his first time (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATpeX3XBuuw) behind the trigger of one was less than impressive, but the most recent high speed video demonstrating the 1800rpm two-round burst setting was pretty cool.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJxpncKswEg
But more interesting to me is the fact that while the AN-94 seems destined for obscurity, back in 1994 it triumphed over the AEK-971 in the 'Project Abakan' trials to select a successor to the AK-74. Yet the AN-94 is out of production, but it appears the AEK-971 is lingering on with the improved A-545 (which was recently selected along with the AK-12 as a candidate to replace the AK-74...though that decision has seemingly been superseded by an AK74 modernization effort). The A-545 and AEK-971 are descendants of an even earlier effort to supplant the Kalashnikov known as the AL-7, which introduced a novel balanced recoil system. Deemed too expensive at the time, this innovation appears in the A-545, AEK-971 and the recently introduced AK-107/108. What's old is new again I guess...and Larry got to play with some of these too...
AEK-971
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNx9kxgUQzg
AN-94 and AEK-971
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9gy3mvkGAU
AK-107
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJs9sBBjLls
He also has videos on the AK-12, (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAjkxLSkv7Q) and AK-400 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dym1b4RB8M). Great use of the high speed video...interesting stuff!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJxpncKswEg
But more interesting to me is the fact that while the AN-94 seems destined for obscurity, back in 1994 it triumphed over the AEK-971 in the 'Project Abakan' trials to select a successor to the AK-74. Yet the AN-94 is out of production, but it appears the AEK-971 is lingering on with the improved A-545 (which was recently selected along with the AK-12 as a candidate to replace the AK-74...though that decision has seemingly been superseded by an AK74 modernization effort). The A-545 and AEK-971 are descendants of an even earlier effort to supplant the Kalashnikov known as the AL-7, which introduced a novel balanced recoil system. Deemed too expensive at the time, this innovation appears in the A-545, AEK-971 and the recently introduced AK-107/108. What's old is new again I guess...and Larry got to play with some of these too...
AEK-971
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNx9kxgUQzg
AN-94 and AEK-971
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9gy3mvkGAU
AK-107
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJs9sBBjLls
He also has videos on the AK-12, (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAjkxLSkv7Q) and AK-400 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dym1b4RB8M). Great use of the high speed video...interesting stuff!