by David Crane david@defensereview.com While we’re on the subject of Russian firearms, we should perhaps also mention a pistol that looks really intriguing. It’s manufactured by KBP (Equipment manufacturing Design Bureau) in Tula, Russia, and it’s called the GSh-18. The KBP GSh-18 pistol basically appears to be a polymer-framed hybrid pistol that incorporates design and material aspects of previous pistols …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com DefenseReview has been interested in the Nikonov AN-94 "Abakan" assault rifle for a pretty long time, now. I believe I first read about it in 1994 or 1995. Designed by Russian small arms designer Gennadiy Nikonov, the AN-94 is an interesting rifle, as it enjoys one of the same (major) advantages as the Ultimax 100 Mk3 …

DefRev has found some good info on the Russian Yarygin pistol and MP-446 Viking at GlobalArms.net. Both were developed for the Russian Army in order to satisfy specific Russian military requirements. Click here to visit the Yarygin pistol page. To go directly to the MP-446 Viking pistol page, click on this link.  

Modern Firearms web-site – a large online Firearms encyclopaedia out of Russia was recently updated with some new articles that cover numerous guns, including: – widely promoted Russian GSh-18 – a modern featherweight Glock-alike with great Armour-Piercing capabilities, or a poor-mans’ Five-seveN. – Browning BDM, the only… true Double Mode pistol – Namby type 14. The WW2 relic from Imperial …

The Russians have been doing some very interesting things for the last number of years with assault rifles while our own infantry soldiers are still saddled with a rifle that’s now over 40 years old(yes, the M16). The Russians’ focus seems to be in the area of higher hit probability, promulgated by some rather ingenious recoil-reduction mechanisms. DefRev has already …

Russia’s making some pretty neat stuff lately. DefRev found a page on Milparade’s site that highlights some of the new weaponry. Weapons featured are the GSh-18 pistol(which looks a lot like the Steyr M/S series pistols and holds 18 rounds of 9x19mm in the magazine), RMB-93 forward-cocking shotgun(with magazine tube ABOVE the barrel), AGS-30 automatic grenade launcher, RPO-A Shmel rocket …

Russia has just come out with a new assault rifle that’s at home both on land and under water–an amphibious assault rifle, if you will. Known as the ASM-DT Special Multipurpose(Universal Two-Medium) Assault Rifle, this new 5.45mm rifle can equal the performance of the AK-74 on land, and the APS Underwater Assault Rifle in the water. Very cool stuff, indeed. …

The new AK-103’s begin life as Saiga 7.62x39mm carbines, imported by Kalashnikov USA. They’re then sent out to DGS, Inc. of Fort Myers, Florida. DGS modifies the carbines, turning them into full-fledged shorty AK-100 series rifles. Kalashnikov USA used to work with another contractor for the conversions, but quality control was a problem. The new DGS conversions are supposed to …

Russia’s Gepard PDW looks to be a real comer in the PDW arena. The gun apparently allows the operator to fire different types of 9mm rounds with different lengths without changing the magazine or barrel. It also utilizes some kind of "anti-recoil system". One of the rounds it can fire is the 9x30mm Grom round, which has special armor piercing …

The new Fall issue of "Special Weapons for Military and Police" has an article on Russia’s Nikonov An-94 Abakan rifle, written by Charlie Cutshaw. The AN-94 may replace the AK-74 as Russia’s primary service rifle. Along with the AEK-971 and AK-107/108, it’s one of the leading contenders in that race. CLICK HERE to go to the AN-94 page on Valery …