#7.62x54

In my last article on the K.43 I said that if I was able to get my grubby paws on an SVT-40 I’d do a comparison of the gas systems. Well, after getting extremely lucky on a GunBroker listing, I’m able to do just that.

Sport Systeme Dittrich (SSD) is a German company specialized in making reproductions of historical German firearms. Besides that, they also make modernized versions of the legendary WW2 German paratrooper rifle, the FG-42. The SSD’s modernized FG-42s feature a number of upgrades such as railed handguards, modern pistol grips, muzzle devices, new finish, etc. They currently have two models ( SG11 and SG12) chambered in .308 Win and a prototype model ( SG13) that will most definitely break the hearts of purists as it is not only an FG-42 that has been fitted with modern parts but also is chambered in  7.62x54mmR and is fed from SVD magazines.

At SHOT Show 2020, along with the firearms announced last year, Zastava Arms USA also displayed two new guns that they have started importing just recently – the M91 DMR/sniper rifle chambered in 7.62x54mmR and the ZPAP85 pistol chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO.

In this article, we’ll take a look at an experimental Soviet cartridge (5.6x60mm) and an interesting technological failure of the manufacturing process. This article is based on one written by Nikolay Dvoryaninov, a renown Russian ammunition and firearms expert. Dvoryaninov’s article was published in Kalashnikov Gun Magazine.

The Russian PKM: Arguably the best general purpose machine gun in the world, it combines a robust reliability with best-in-class light weight. Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons recently released two video overviews of the weapon, giving us a good enough excuse as any to spend some time with the Soviet showstopper:

Kalashnikov Concern recently released a new English language video regarding their PL-15K compact pistol, MP-444 pistol, AM-17 and AMB-17 compact assault rifles, and SVCh semiautomatic sniper rifle. By way of a walkthrough from Kalashnikov Concern technical consultant Vladimir Onokoy, the video offers English speakers an important look at the technical features of the new weapons, which were until now something of a mystery to those on this side of the language barrier. The video is embedded below, followed by a written summary:

Modern? Sure, but let’s take a step back… Way back. It’s 1890 and smokeless powder has just been invented. There’s this guy named Rubin going around and spreading the gospel of the small caliber, high velocity .30″ bore round. You’re in Imperial Russia; what’s your country to do to keep up with this new tide of ammunition innovation?

The Russian Army will be upgrading its automatic infantry support weapons soon. The legacy 7.65x54mmR PKM belt-fed general purpose machine gun will be supplanted in the dismounted role by the PKP “Pecheneg” automatic rifle designed at the end of the 20th Century, reports ArmyRecognition.com: