I’ve been busy at the range.

I had the urge to lighten my ammo boxes.  The best way to do it is to shoot some targets!  Over the past few weeks I did just that.  Here are some of the results.

I have been having a lot of fun with my new Ruger 10/22.  I converted it to a “Ruger Taptical 22” using the Tapco 10/22 Intrafuse stock and a few other goodies.  This has transformed it into a great little shooter.  I will do a review on it in the near future.  Until then, here are a few targets.

Ruger Taptical 22 – 25-Yards – 4x Scope

(Click for full size target)

I was using a 2x-6x variable scope.  I bought it many years ago for my SKS, but, never used it.  It is a compact scope and looks good on the Ruger.  The black circle is 1-inch in diameter.  This is just about a 1/2-inch group.  This is the final group after adjusting the scope.  Wow, I am very happy with that.

Ruger Taptical 22 – 10-Yards – 2x Scope

(Click for full size target)

Next, I set the target at 10-yards and used the steel lip version of the Butler Creek 25-round magazines.  I was shooting semi-rapid fire.  I fired just under a second per round.  A good substitute for a red-dot scope is a low power scope.  I set the variable scope to 2x.  You don’t have the low light capabilities of a red-dot, but, it is just about as quick to acquire the target.  With a few exceptions, the 25-rounds made a one hole group.  I love this rifle!

I had some 9mm ammo screaming to fly so I brought out the Taurus 92SS pistol.  This is a sweet shooting handgun.  I had a Beretta 92F several years ago, but, I like the Taurus better.  One reason is the Taurus has the safety on the frame, not the slide.  It just feels more natural there.

 Taurus 92SS – 7-Yards – 5-Shot group

(Click for full size target)

The Taurus 92SS is a double-action pistol.  The first pull of the trigger is heavy and subsequent trigger pulls are single action.  The first shot on this target landed low-left.  This is typical for me with a double action trigger.  The rest are in the 9 and 10 ring.  By the way…If you need a magazine for your Taurus 92, buy the Mec-Gar magazines.  They are the best!

Finally, I had to shoot my IO AK47-C rifle.  I decided to use the iron sights and went to Shooters Express to adjust the front sight.

IO AK47-C – 25-Yards – Iron sights

(Click for full size target)

I recently shot the AK with iron sights at 100-yards with fantastic results.  More on that later.  The IO AK keeps impressing me.

I hope you enjoyed sharing my target shooting activities.  I have several projects in the works and will document them later.  Until then…Lock and load!

AR-15 or AK-47? That is the question!

As you may have read in my article about the IO AK47-C, I had to face this decision.  One thing that helped me is the YouTube series of videos by Nutnfancy.  Here is the playlist of the five videos.  It is rather long, but well worth the watch.

IO Inc. AK47-C Review

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I have been getting a lot of visitors looking for a review on the IO AK47-C rifle.  I needed to use the rifle a lot before giving my 2-cents worth.  Three months ago I decided to buy a tactical rifle.  The obvious choices were the AR-15 (figure 1) or the AK-47 (figure 2).  Technically speaking, the AK-47, in most cases are actually an AKM rifle.  There are very minor changes between the two and to most people, they are the same.  The AR-15 was a little out of my price range and I had concerns about a “direct 

(figure 1) AR-15

impingement” firearm.  Also, an actual AK-47 type rifle has some import considerations that you must be aware of, otherwise, you could be breaking the law!  So what to do?

(figure 2) AK-47

I thought I had the perfect solution to my dilemma.  Kel-Tec makes the SU-16C rifle.  The SU-16 series of Kel-Tec rifles use the same ammunition and magazines as the M-16/AR-15 rifle.  They are similar in many ways except one very big difference.  The SU-16 rifle uses a gas piston system similar to the AK-47!  This, in my opinion, makes for a more reliable firearm.  The receiver will be much cooler and cleaner than the AR-15’s direct impingement system.  The SU-16C version (figure 3) has a folding stock and is very light weight.  They usually run about $200 less than the low-end AR-15’s currently on the market.  There was just one

(figure 3) Kel-Tec SU-16C

problem…It is nearly impossible to find one!  The firearm shortage and high prices have caused an extreme shortage of the SU-16C.  Again, what to do?

I have owned a Chinese SKS rifle (figure 4) for about 15-years.  The SKS uses the same ammunition as the AK-47…The 7.62x39mm rifle cartridge.  Over the years, I have accumulated a small, but, respectable supply of these cartridges.  The SKS is a great rifle, but not suitable for a tactical carbine.  It is too heavy

(figure 4) SKS Rifle

and has a fixed (non-removable) box magazine that holds 10-rounds.  I was gravitating towards the AK-47 type rifle since I was familiar with it’s ammunition and I had a supply of it.  If I purchased a rifle using the 5.56 NATO round like the AR-15 and SU-16, I would have to invest in a supply of ammo, and at today’s prices, that could break the bank!  The only issue I had with an AK-47 rifle was dealing with the legal restrictions mentioned above.  Once again…What to do?

After doing a little research, I found out that there was an AK-47 that was completely manufactured in the United States!  This allowed me to make minor modifications without worrying about the 922R compliance laws.  I could change things like the hand guards and magazine without wondering if I just made the rifle illegal.  IO Inc. in Monroe, North Carolina is making a U.S. AK-47!

The IO AK47-C (figure 5) is made in several variants.  Usually the stock and hand guards are changed.  I found a dealer in Charlotte that had the IO AK47-C in stock.  I drove to Hyatt Guns to look at the rifle before I plopped down $600 or more!  The salesman behind the counter was very nice and knowledgeable.  He let me

(figure 5) IO Inc. AK47-C

see the rifle.  I was pleasantly surprised!  The rifle had a very good look and finish.  It appeared well made.  I decided that I would buy this rifle.  There was only one problem.  I priced this rifle on Davidson’s Gallery of Guns at around $600.  Hyatt’s wanted $799 before taxes!  I told the counter help about the price I was looking at and asked if they could do anything about their price.  After taking it to the boss, he came back with a price of $700 not including tax.  The price at Davidson’s was $629 including shipping and tax shipped to my local gun dealer.  This also included all transfer fees!  I just couldn’t pay that much difference to save a week’s wait. 

The IO AK47-C I finally purchased had a Galil-type forearm and an RPK-style butt stock (see figure 5 above).  I was not fond of the Galil forearm because it was a bit big and blocky looking.  It turned out to not be a problem because I was planning to replace the forearm anyway.  A little about that later.  The RPK style stock turned out to be a very good asset after testing the rifle.  If you ever fired the AK-47 type rifle, you know that it has a tendency to have a good bit of muzzle rise up and to the right.  This is due to two things.  When the bullet leaves the barrel, the muzzle will rise and press back to your shoulder.  Due to the design of the original AK-47 butt stock, a pivot point (figure 6) is created that makes the whole rifle pivot and rise at that point.  The IO AK47-C has

(figure 6) Pivot point

two devices to reduce this effect drastically!  First, there is a “slant” muzzle break/flash hider.  This redirects the gasses at the muzzle up and to the right, thus countering the natural muzzle rise.  Also, the RPK style butt stock greatly reduces the pivot point of the original AK-47 butt stock and directs the recoil

(figure 7) Reduced muzzle rise

straight back into the shoulder (figure 7) much like the AR-15’s butt stock.  This keeps you on target for subsequent shots.

When I received the IO AK47-C rifle, I was very pleased with the fit and finish.  It came with a cleaning kit, sling, and users manual.  It did not come with the cleaning rod that resides under the barrel.  I noticed that it came with a 30-round Thermold polymer magazine.  It felt cheap and I didn’t feel confident with it.  But, I loaded it up with 30-rounds of ammo and went out to test my new rifle.  As I posted in a previous entry, the magazine would not stay in the magazine well!  Every time I fired the rifle, the magazine would drop to the ground.  I didn’t think it was the rifle, but a crappy magazine.  I resorted to firing single fire just to see if the rifle functioned well.  It did, but I needed to get a new magazine to fully test the IO AK47-C.

I called IO Inc. and told them about the magazine.  They quickly shipped me a new, metal magazine.  It fit well and fixed the magazine problem.  Now that I have a decent magazine, I went back out to test the rifle.  This made all the difference in the world.  I fired round after round without any failures of any kind.  The rifle was accurate…More accurate that I was!

After firing a couple magazines without any hiccups, I brought the rifle home to clean it.  The field strip procedure is the same as any other AK-47.  It is very simple and fast.  I was extremely surprised at how clean the receiver area was.  The gas piston system keeps most of the crap out of the receiver.  I cleaned the bore, gas tube, and gas piston.  The other parts, didn’t require extensive cleaning.  I just wiped them off with a patch.  I was very happy with the function of the rifle and the ease of maintenance.

The IO AK47-C uses the Tapco G2 AK trigger group.  I was very surprised at how clean and crisp it is.  This is a good choice of trigger groups and it counts towards 922R compliance if you are using an imported AK-47.

One problem with some imported AK-47’s is sight canting.  This is when either the front sight or rear sight block is set off center.  This can make sighting the rifle very difficult.  I saw no such canting with my IO AK47-C.  Sight alignment between the rear and front sight looks perfect.

The IO AK47-C uses a Tapco slanted muzzle break (figure 8).  I think this is a fantastic choice!  It keeps the original look of an AK-47 and helps counter the muzzle rise present in the AK-47.  The

(figure 8) Tapco Slant Muzzle Break

muzzle break is removable and has a standard AK-47 threaded barrel.  You can change the muzzle break if you wish.  Again, since it is made in the U.S.A., you don’t have to worry about 922R compliance when changing the muzzle device.

The butt stock was new to me.  I found out later that it is an RPK style butt stock.  If you are an AK-47 purist, you will not like this butt stock.  I do.  I like the looks of it and it does away with the traditional butt stock pivot point causing the rifle to rise with each shot.  The RPK style butt stock directs the recoil straight back into your shoulder, thus reducing muzzle rise.  Good job, IO!

The pistol grip looks a little funny, but it works great!  It is a little larger than the original pistol grip.  This is good since the original is small for most of us in America.  I see no need to replace it.  Another good job, IO.

The Galil forearm, pistol grip, and RPK style butt stock are polymer.  Again, if you are purist, you will not like this, but I do like polymer furniture.  It also gives the whole rifle the “black rifle” look.

One drawback of the AK-47 design is that it isn’t “optic” friendly.  This means it isn’t easy to put a red-dot or telescopic scope on it.  Some do come with a side-rail for scope mounts, but mine didn’t.  I could kill two birds with one stone!  Add a rail system for optics and other accessories and replace the bulky Galil forearm.  I chose the UTG Quad Rail System.  This system costs around $60 and is very easy to install.  It allows attachment of scopes, vertical hand grips, flashlight, lasers, and etc.

I took the IO AK47-C to an indoor 25-yard range to document the accuracy (figure 9).  I am not expecting a tack-driver, but, accurate enough to achieve its intended use…Sport shooting and home defense.  As I expected, my ageing eyes don’t like the iron sights.  But the results are good.  Take a look:

(figure 9) 10-shots at 25-yards using iron sights.

I was very happy with the grouping.  I will utilize the rail system and put on a red/green dot sight.  The sight I was looking for is 1X magnification (no magnification).  This works great out to 100-yards and will allow for quick target acquisition.  I don’t have $600 to spend on an AimPoint.  I was wanting to spend less than $100.  I found the CenterPoint 1x34mm Quick Aim Sight at the “Mart” store for under $50.  At 13-ounces, it is a bit heavy, but I can live with it. 

I took the rifle out to “bore” sight the new sight.  I did this by placing the rifle in a clamp and aligned the iron sights with an object about 100-yards away.  I think gently mounted the CenterPoint sight and adjusted it to aim at the same object.  I removed the scope and confirmed alignment with the iron sights.  I then went to a 100-yard outdoor range to make final adjustments to the sight.  My crude bore sighting worked pretty good!  I was only a few inches off at 100-yards.  The target below (figure 10) shows all 15-rounds highlighted.  The yellow ones are the rounds fired to make the adjustments to the scope.  The blue ones are the 5-rounds fired after scope was zeroed.

(figure 10) 15-rounds at 100-yards.

The target was a 12-inch grid printed on a 16-inch square sheet of paper.  At 100-yards, i am very happy with the 5-MOA red-green scope.  The IO AK47-C continues to pleasantly surprise me.

IO Inc. has changed the AK47-C a little (figure 11).  They have done away with the Galil forearm and put a more functional tactical forearm on it.  This will allow for a vertical grip or tripod

(figure 11) IO AK47-C Liberty

attachment.  I like the change.  They kept the same butt stock.  Good move!  I would still replace the forearm, but keep the RPK style butt stock.

So, how do I like the IO AK47-C?  I think I got a lot of rifle for my money!  It has functioned flawlessly through several hundred rounds.  I have shot Winchester white box, Wolf surplus, and Tiger Russian made ammo.  All have worked flawlessly.  The fit and finish of the AK47-C is better than most AK-47’s I have seen.  I wish they would have included a cleaning rod and side scope mount, though.  If it had the side scope mount, I wouldn’t have a heavy scope out over the front of the rifle.  It would make the rifle more balanced with the scope over the receiver cover.  I would not have to replace the forearm if there was a side scope mount.  That is the only thing I would ask IO Inc. to add.

All-in-all, IO Inc. did a very good job with their new AK47-C.  The ultimate question is:  Would I recommend it to a friend?  Without a doubt, yes.  I look forward to new additions to the IO Inc. stables.  Good job, guys.  Keep up the good work!

100-Yard Shooting With Rifle And Shotgun.

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I had a great day of target shooting today! I went to the "Gastonia Shotgun, Rifle, and Pistol Range" to sight in a new red/green dot scope and to try long range shooting with the shotgun. I was pleasantly surprised.

I got a new scope for the AK47. I was looking for an inexpensive red dot scope. I simply can't afford $600 or so for an Aimpoint. I settled on the CenterPoint 1x34mm Quick Aim Sight. This scope is a 1X scope which means it does not magnify. My old eyes just don't like iron sights anymore but the red dot scopes work fine for me. The CenterPoint is a little on the heavy side at just over 13-ounces. This doesn't sound like much, but with my AK47, I have to mount it on the rail system just in front of the rear sight. This makes the rifle a little nose heavy, but at under $50 I can learn to live with it.

The first thing I needed to do was to adjust the scope to at least get the rounds hitting the paper. I didn't have a fancy laser bore sighter. Instead, I used a "primitive" method of rough sighting the scope. I set up the rifle on sandbags and aimed the iron sights at a spot 100-yards away. I then lightly mounted the scope and aligned the dot with the point down range. I removed the scope and confirmed the alignment. This worked well because I was just a few inches off when I fired the first shot!

I used 10-rounds to adjust the scope and then fired 5-rounds for effect. The target I was shooting at had a 12" grid printed on a 16" square paper target. I was firing at 100-yards and got all rounds on the paper. The final 5-rounds was pretty much dead on target! Check out the results:

I highlighted all 15-rounds. The yellow ones are the ones used for sighting in the scope. The blue ones are the final 5-rounds. I am very pleased with the rifle/scope setup. I fired from a bench at 100-yards using Winchester 7.62x39mm, 123-grain, FMJ bullets. This is the "white box" ammo.

I then moved on to the shotgun. I have an IAC Hawk 982 pump 12-gauge shotgun. The 982 has a 18-1/2" barrel that has an improved cylinder bore. As you have read before in my blog, I like shooting the Remington Slugger® Rifled Slugs. This a huge lead bullet with the rifling built in. This is great for smooth bore shotguns. It is like shooting a ~.72-caliber bullet at around 1500 feet per second. I shot them at 25-yards with great accuracy, but was unsure how they would perform at 100-yards. I was impressed at the performance of the heavy hitter. I fired 15-rounds at the same 16" square target using the excellent ghost ring sights of the Hawk 982. All but three hit the paper...AT 100 YARDS! This shotgun is just so versatile. The types of ammunition that is available to the 12-gauge shotgun can't be matched by any other firearm. Take a look at the target:

I highlighted the strikes in blue. As you can see it is not as accurate as a dedicated rifle, but for a tactical shotgun at 100-yards, it ain't bad!

I had a fantastic day at the range. It was miserable hot, but well worth it. I want to work on my .22 rifles at the range, but due to the heat, I probably will not return until October. I will have some articles on other topics until then. Thanks for reading!

Polymer Or Steel Revisited

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If you read my earlier posting about the choice of magazines, you know I am very apprehensive about polymer magazines. I need to revise my opinion as I have tested, on multiple occasions, the Tapco polymer 30-round AK47 magazine.

I recently purchased an IO Inc. AK47-C rifle. It came with a Thermold 30-round polymer magazine. The magazine looked and felt cheap. After inserting and removing it several times, I noticed that there was a lot of plastic being knocked off. Well, maybe this is like the marks on steel magazines after much use.

The first time I took the AK47-C out for a shooting session, I only had one magazine for the rifle, but, I had a Tapco polymer magazine on order and it would arrive in a few days. I quickly found that my initial impressions of the Thermold magazine were right. The Thermold magazine would not even stay in the rifle. After the second shot, the magazine dropped from the magazine well. Thinking it a fluke, I dusted it off and reinserted it into the rifle. Again, it hit the ground. I was reduced to using my new AK47-C like a single shot rifle. I was happy with the rifle, but not the magazine.

IO Inc. was very good about resolving the problem. They instantly shipped a metal magazine to me. After all...You only know how good customer service is by how they resolve problems. Good job, IO Inc. But, I had another polymer magazine coming. Would it be as bad as the Thermold?

The Tapco magazine arrived. I quickly noticed two things. It looked better built and the plastic was denser and stiffer. Maybe this one would do the job. The Tapco magazine was a perfect fit for the rifle. It fit as good or better than the Romanian steel magazines. Also, the Tapco magazine had an anti-tilt follower just like the surplus metal magazines. The Thermold's follower would tilt if you press it with your finger. This was a cheap design. The Tapco magazine had several horizontal ridges on the body. This serves two functions. It gives strength to the polymer magazine and it gives a good grip surface for those who use the magazine as a pseudo-vertical grip. The truth will be found under fire...So to speak!

I took the Tapco and the metal magazines out to my shooting range. All performed flawlessly. The Tapco held its own against Romanian steel. I was impressed. I used the Tapco magazine on another indoor shooting session at Shooters Express. Again, the Tapco was flawless. I think Tapco got it right!

As with anything, there are good points and bad ones. The Tapco polymer magazine for the AK47 is no different. The Tapco polymer is ~4-oz. lighter than its metal counterparts. It may not sound like much, but if you are carrying 4 magazines, that is a full pound! The Tapco magazines also are date stamped. This may come in handy if there is ban of certain magazines. Usually bans have "grandfather" clauses that let you have them if purchased before the ban. The Tapco magazines also come with a lifetime warranty. Hopefully, it isn't needed, but it is there if you do. This magazine also has the horizontal ridges that help you grip it if you use it as a vertical grip. I have found that those ridges are also a bad thing! If you load your magazines in a pouch, they are harder to remove that the metal magazines with vertical ridges. This slows you down if you need to remove them quickly. This is the only negative thing I can see about the Tapco magazine.

I liked the Tapco magazine so well that I ordered another one. If you want to get one, try AIM. They have the Tapco magazines for $17 including shipping! AIM also has the Romanian surplus metal 30-round magazines. They also had a 75-round drum for the AK47, but, it appears to be sold out now. I have purchased several things from AIM and they seem to be a very good dealer for gun parts.

First Target Shooting With The IO AK47-C

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After just "fun" shooting in the woods with the IO AK47-C, it was time to do some target shooting to see how well I can shoot with the rifle. As indicated before, I am not the best target shooter. Many can do better. My target gives me a real world example of what the rifle can do in MY hands.

I installed the UTG rail system and added a vertical grip. I like the handling of a tactical rifle with a vertical grip. I also wanted to give the Tapco polymer magazine a good workout. I am still not convinced about the use of plastic in a rifle magazine.

I went to an Shooters Express. They have an indoor range that allows rifles. You can't use the surplus or "Wolf" ammo. They use steel jackets. You must use the more expensive ammo that you buy at places like Wally World. Basically, if a magnet sticks to it, you can't use it! I had some Winchester "White Box" ammo that was fine for this indoor range.

I modified my pistol target for an AK47 or SKS rifle. Basically, I got the ballistics data from Remington's "Shoot" program and used it to modify a target to let you sight it in at 25-yards and have the bullet be dead on at 50 and 100-yards. I mounted my target and sent it down range to the 25-yard mark. I then loaded 10-rounds in the magazine. Here are the results:

I am happy with the grouping. The gray dot just below the bull's eye is where the bullets should be striking to be dead on at 50 and 100-yards. On an AK47 and SKS rifle, all adjustments for windage and elevation are done on the front sight. The rear sight is adjustable for distance only. It takes a special tool to adjust the front sight. I didn't have one on this day, but I have one on order. I will return to adjust the sights on another day. Until then, this is sufficient. When I do a final adjustment, I will post the results.

Dressing Up The AK47-C

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When I first received my IO AK47-C rifle, I was a little disappointed. The Thermold polymer magazine that came with the rifle was crap. It wouldn't even stay in the magazine well. That being said, it turned out to be a good thing!

You never know what kind of customer service a firearms manufacturer is until you have a problem. IO Inc. came through with flying colors. I called them and explained about the crappy magazine and they rushed me out a brand new METAL magazine. It fit like a glove and really looks great. I guess I am a metal-head when it comes to magazines.

Now that I have decent magazines it's time to turn to the rifle itself. The handguard that came on the AK47-C was functional and nice looking, but it was a bit bulky. I also wanted options for accessories like optics, flashlights, lasers, and vertical handgrips. This means I need rails.

I found a fantastic handguard/rail system for the AK-47. The UTG 478 AK Quad Rail System by Leapers is a very reasonable priced and functional addition to my AK. The installation is simple and can be performed with minimal tools. After installing the UTG 478, I added a vertical handgrip. The UTG vertical handgrip was a good choice. I have some pictures of the rifle after the installation. Here is Warren displaying the rifle:

We took the rifle for a test drive. We loaded up four 30-round magazines and headed to our favorite shooting spot. We used the metal and the Tapco polymer magazine. The Tapco functioned perfectly, but I am still gravitating towards metal magazines. I love the vertical handgrip. It helps me put the sights on target quicker and helps stabilize the muzzle end for more accurate shots. I don't have optics yet, but when I do, I will just mount it on the rail above the gas tube. The new UTG handguard seems very stable.

Paper Or Plastic?

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I'm sure you heard the question when you were buying groceries. "Paper or plastic?" I have had to make a similar decision after getting my new rifle. Instead of "paper or plastic", it was "plastic or steel". My new IO AK-47C came with a Thermold polymer magazine. Yes, it held 30-rounds, but plastic?

I made a similar decision with a recent handgun purchase. I needed a small pistol that fired a 9mm round. All that I was considering had a polymer frame. Glock long ago dismissed the taboo about "plastic" guns when they introduced the Glock 17. I settled on the Kel-Tec PF-9 and have not regretted the decision. The PF-9 has a polymer frame. Like most polymer frame pistols, the PF-9's slide rides on metal rails.

After receiving the IO AK-47C, I experienced problems with the Thermold magazine. It wouldn't stay in the rifle! That is a problem that just can't be ignored. I liked the idea of a lighter weight magazine. I started doing an internet search for a replacement. I found a good deal on a Tapco 30-round AK-47 magazine so I gave it a try.

The Tapco magazine was leaps-and-bounds better than the Thermold. The plastic seemed denser and stronger. The fit was very good. But, still, I noticed some plastic shavings off of the areas where the magazine enters the magazine well. This just made me feel skiddish about "plastic". What to do now?

I thought I would "kick it old school" and try the reliable Eastern block manufacture steel AK-47 magazine. I found a great deal on surplus Romanian magazines. I ordered a couple from AIM for about $11 each. These magazines were stored in heavy grease. The first task was to disassemble them and give them a good cleaning. I degreased them and gave them a good coating of Break Free CLP.

(From left to right: Thermold, Tapco, and Romanian)

I guess you just can't mess with near perfection. The Romanian steel magazines just fit and function perfectly. Now why would anyone want polymer? One word...Weight. The polymer magazines are lighter than steel. Here are the weights of the three magazines I have:

• Thermold 4.7-oz.
• Tapco 7.3-oz.
• Romanian 11.5-oz.

All weights are of the unloaded magazine. The weight of the Tapco over the Thermold confirms my first impressions. The polymer is denser and firmer. I guess if I had to hump 10 magazines around all the time, the weight might be important, but for my sport shooting, it just doesn't matter.

So the question of "polymer or steel?" For magazines, I will choose steel. Sometimes going the old way is the best way!

IO AK-47C: Mixed Results

UPDATE: A complete UPDATED review of the IO AK47-C can be found here. (Click on any image to enlarge)

I went out today to fire my new IO AK-47C. Before going, I cleaned the rifle thoroughly. I don't like firing a weapon with the factory lubricant on it. I pulled out my cleaning kit and Break-Free CLP. Now I can give the rifle a good test.

I loaded-up the 30-round polymer magazine. I have never used polymer magazines before and wondered how well it would perform. I soon found out. After two rounds the magazine dropped from the magazine well. If you are familiar with an AK-47 you know that accidentally actuating the magazine release is almost impossible! I brushed the dirt off and rocked it back into place. The next shot it fell out again! I hope this is not indicative of all polymer magazines. The Thermold AK-47 magazine just doesn't cut it!


Since I only had the magazine that came with the rifle, I had to resort to using an AK-47 in single shot mode. I would hold the bolt open and shove a round into the chamber. The rifle functioned very well. The accuracy was decent and just fun to fire. The rifle worked great. I wish I could say the same for the magazine.

I did two things when I got home. I sent an email to IO Inc. and ordered two 30-round metal magazines. One good thing about AK magazines. They are plentiful and cheap!

After venting to IO inc. about the magazine, I cleaned the rifle. The first thing I noticed was how clean the receiver was. I have fired many semi-automatic rifles including the SKS and have never seen a receiver this clean after a shooting session. This must be because of the locking bolt and gas piston system. Both keeps a great deal of the gases out of the receiver. Take down and cleaning an AK-47 is very simple. To my surprise it was nothing like the SKS that I own. At first glance, you would think that the AK-47 and the SKS are of similar design. No, they are not. The SKS is not a locking bolt system and gets much more dirty in the receiver than the AK-47. I can see why the AK-47 has its reputation for reliability...If they are using metal magazines!

When I get my metal magazines I will go out and try again. I just found a source of inexpensive 7.62 x 39mm ammo. That's great because I was getting real tired of paying $0.75 a round!

I Have A New Rifle Coming.

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I have been waiting to purchase a tactical rifle for a while. The availability has been very low. My first preference was the Kel-Tec SU-16C rifle. It is a good alternative to the $1200 AR-15 rifles on the market, but at a price of around $650 or so. The problem is trying to find one! I did see one at a gun store, but they were asking way too much for it.

I usually buy my guns from Davidson's Inc. They have an online store. When you purchase a firearm, you put a down payment and they ship it to your local gun dealer. There, you pay the rest and fill out the paperwork for the transfer. I put myself on an email notification list to let me know when the SU-16C comes in. I received an email, but when I got to the site, they were all gone.

The AK-47 rifles weren't much cheaper! They usually go for around $1000. Both the AR and AK seemed to be out of my price range...Well that's what I thought! While searching Davidson's one day I noticed something. An AK-47 in the low $600 range including tax and shipping!

The AK-47 was from a company I've never heard of before. IO Inc. is making AK-47's in Monroe, North Carolina. Yes, an AK-47 that is 100% made in America. I had to do a little research before plopping down over $600! I searched the web and found out that they have been making them for under a year. At first they had a few minor fit problems, but according to what I read, these problem were quickly resolved. I found out that IO Inc. has been making firearms for a while now and I actually spoke to someone who used to work there. He said they do good work and produce a fine product.

I really wanted to see one before ordering it blind. I called IO Inc. and they told me that there was a dealer about 45-miles away. ROAD TRIP! Hyatt Guns in Charlotte has a very good selection of firearms, but their prices are way too high. For example, the IO Inc. AK-47-C I was looking at on Davidson's for $626 was selling for $799. I talked to a very nice person on the staff and explained my problem. I showed the printout of the price from Davidson's and asked if he could get close to the price. He talked to the owner and said with tax, they could do $701. This was a difficult decision, but $75 was too much of a difference. If it had been $50, I may have taken it.

One good thing that did come out of the visit to Hyatt's. I got to see the IO Inc. AK-47-C up close and personal. I was very surprised at the quality of the rifle. I have seen many AK's and they are usualy a mixed bag of quality. Granted, all I saw before were the eastern block made rifles and although very functional, they are cosmetically lacking. The IO Inc. model really looked good!

I wasn't really in the market for an AK, but two factors made me make the leap. First, the likelyhood that I would get a Kel-Tec SU-16C for a good price in a timely manner was very slim. Second, since I have an SKS rifle, I have a lot of ammo sitting around that just screams to be fired! If I had purchased the Kel-Tec, I would have to buy a lot of new ammo.

I should have my new rifle in a week. I will post some pictures and a first impression of it after breaking it in.