Color me insanely jealous. Russia is one of the few countries I did not have the pleasure to travel extensively during my tenure in defense sales. While I got to play with rifles in India, the Middle-East and SE Asia, I was never fortunate enough to play direct with the Russians.

Larry is able to showcase a few of the rifles new features compared to a standard AK-47 and AK-74. Unfortunately, it does not include the slow-motion footage seen in other videos by him (or another from Jerry Miculek):

• The safety / selector is now ambidextrous and has four positions:
  • Safe
  • Two shot burst
  • Full auto
  • Semi-automatic (which the user has to run through all the others to get to, like the standard AK
• Ambidextrous, reversible charging handle placed slightly forward on the left-hand side of the rifle.
• Sprung magazine catch to kick-out magazines for faster reloads.
• Fully adjustable and foldable stock.
• New muzzle brake

The rifle on full-auto looks to be one sweet-shooter. The aggressive brake tames the rifle (and per Larry, is so aggressive it sends some blast back at the shooter).

I, for one, cannot wait for the new rifle to be released here in the United States, even if it cannot be manufactured in Mother Russia. I hope that it will create enough demand to keep 5.45 ammunition in plentiful supply (even though it is still inexpensive).