US PALM Takedown/Breakdown AK (Kalashnikov AK-47/AKM Rifle/Carbine) with US PALM/Midwest Industries MI Rail Kit at SHOT Show 2012: Tactical, Practical and Backpackable AK for Military Special Operations and Civilian Tactical Shooters! (Video!)

By David Crane
defrev (at) gmail (dot) com

All photos and video clips contained in this article were shot by DefenseReview.com (DR), and are copyrighted. DefenseReview.com owns the copyright on these materials. The photos and video clips were shot with a Canon PowerShot S90 10-megapixel digital camera (still camera with video capability).

January 29, 2012

Here at DefenseReview (DR), our current favorite tactical rifle/carbine/SBR (Short Barreled Rifle) weapons platform, by a pretty wide margin, is the AR (AR-15) platform, which is currently at its developmental and accessory zenith, since we’ve been firmly ensconced in the tactical AR renaissance for the last several years. However, that being said (or in this case, written), we here at DR also like AKs (Kalashnikov AK-47/AKM rifle/carbine/SBRs). And, what’s better than an AK (besides an AR, of course)? Well, at a take-down/break-down AK that you can stick in your backpack or briefcase, of course, and that’s just what the good folks at U.S. PALM (U.S. Primary Armament Logistical Manufacturing)—try saying that 50 times in a row, real fast!) have come up with and recently introduced at SHOT Show 2012.

The new US PALM breakdown/takedown AK rifle/carbine features the just-as-new US PALM/MI Rail Kit Mil-Std-1913 “Picatinny” rail system/tactical handguard/forend made for them by Midwest Industries. The MI Rail Kit looks good, and, in DR’s opinion, should be accompanied by a Radom Beryl 96-style Mil-Std-1913 hinged railed top cover (see second embedded video clip below). We’d like to see Midwest Industries (MI) make one of these for US PALM.

At the show, U.S. PALM shared a booth with TangoDown, who’s currently making US PALM’s AK mags (rifle magazines) for them, including the new US PALM 45-round and 30-round quad-stack (4×2) 7.62x39mm Russian (7.62mm Russian) polymer AK mags and US PALM AK30 Mag, which is a standard double-stack 30-round (polymer) AK mag for them. You can see these mags in the accompanying photos and video clip, and DR will be publishing a follow-up article specifically on these, next.

Jeff Cahill, TangoDown’s owner, was kind enough to demonstrate the U.S. PALM takedown/breakdown tactical AK (Kalashnikov AKM rifle/carbine) for Defense Review at the booth, and he informed us that it can either be purchased as a complete rifle, or US PALM can perform the conversion on any conventional/legacy AKM (something about a trunnion). The demo video clip below delves into this. It would seem logical that an US PALM takedown/breakdown SBR/sub-carbine could also be developed for ultra packability and clandestine operations.

Perhaps we can get PCP Ammunition to make some polymer-cased (plastic-cased) 7.62x39mm Russian caliber ammo?

Additional Photos:

Company Contact Info:

U.S. PALM (U.S. Primary Armament Logistical Manufacturing)
16641 N 91st St.
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
Phone: 480.398.3395
Fax: 480.398.3401
Email: info@uspalm.com
Website: http://www.uspalm.com

TangoDown, LLC
1588 Arrow Highway, Unit F
La Verne, CA 91750-5334
Phone: 909-392-4757
Fax: 909-392-4802
Email: sales@tangodown.com
Website: http://www.tangodown.com
Cage code: 3BLZ8

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