Opinion: This glorious article first appeared on AmmoLand Information in December of 2019 and seems right here now with recent updates. This was a really cool variant to unhealthy it didn’t catch on.
Every so often one thing comes alongside that actually impresses you. Not the everyday, “oh that’s cool”, however actually impresses you, like “ that is going to alter issues”. That’s how I felt in regards to the Krebs Customized AK pistol chambered in 9×39. This Ak pistol is being put collectively by some of the legendary AK builders within the sport. It’s capturing a spherical that has been utilized in Russia for a while however is new to the states.
Krebs Customized 9×39 AK Pistol
Should you’ve by no means heard of 9×39, it’s just about like that actually massive man on the gymnasium who your girlfriend at all times says to not fear about. It’s a subsonic spherical developed in Russia to particularly be used of their Vintorez sniper rifle that’s utilized by Russian particular forces. It allowed them to ship a really heavy bullet; round 250 gr, very quietly and precisely, with devastating outcomes. It’s principally a 7.62×39 necked out to carry a really giant 9mm projectile. For our testing, we primarily used the Tula Ammo 245 Grain.
Krebs Customs
Should you’ve by no means heard of Krebs Customs, he’s been constructing completely the best AKs obtainable for longer than lots of you could have been alive. He was one of many first to include options like AR shares and AR like handguards on the AK, modernizing the platform and giving extra adaptability to trendy equipment. He’s just about just like the Wilson Fight or Nighthawk customized of the AK world. Once you convey the 2 collectively, it’s a factor of magnificence; principally, most of the advantages you get from 300 Blackout apply, in order that permits you to have an superior AK constructed by Krebs Customs in a really compact bundle. Being subsonic, you should use a shorter barrel, and nonetheless get full powder burn. So, you don’t lose something ballistically with the quick barrel, providing you with a fun-sized AK with none drawbacks.
Taking a more in-depth take a look at the gun, you could have what’s the most interesting AK platform gun that I’ve ever had in my fingers. I’ve been accustomed to Krebs customs for a very long time and at all times wished to check out one among his AKs. Now that I’ve had the chance, they completely dwell as much as the hype and even exceed it. That is the nicest AK I’ve ever had the chance to fondle and drool on. Every thing is extraordinarily tight, nicely match, and has no slop. When trying to construct his 9×39 incarnation of the AK, Krebs turned to Sharps brothers to get one among their customized milled receivers. That is their MB47 receiver that Marc Krebs labored on with them to optimize it for the 9X39 spherical. Other than offering a rock-solid base for the gun, it has another cool options together with built-in buffer tube threads so you could have all kinds of choices; whether or not you retain yours a pistol, or convert to an SBR. There are additionally some actually good QD mounting factors, an choice you don’t see on many AKs.
On the receiver, you could have one of many Krebs safeties, and in case you’ve by no means seen this it’s fairly cool. It has a big shelf on your finger, permitting you to activate and deactivate the security with out dropping a strong grip on the gun. Past that, it has a notch permitting you to carry the bolt again, and insert a magazine, then drop the bolt; basically providing you with the perform of a bolt launch within the AK platform. Optics may be mounted from the optics rail on the aspect of the receiver. You may get mounts just like the aspect mount from Midwest Industries that can help you use absolutely anything you possibly can dream up. It additionally has the very best set off I’ve ever seen in an AK. It’s made by ALG and is tuned by Krebs; pulling at a crisp 2 kilos. It additionally has a very nice quick reset, so once more, I simply can’t say sufficient good about this set off. Each a part of it has been polished and reworked by Krebs. The bundle is rounded out with a grip from Tango Down, which feels actually good, and the Gear head works tail hook mod2, which is a superb brace and is adjustable for size of pull.
How efficient of a spherical is 9×39? Nicely, it’s attention-grabbing to speak about. Initially, it’s important to perceive that there are some fundamental limitations as a result of by nature it’s a subsonic spherical. However simply listening to metal get hammered at 200 yards, you already know its gotta be good a minimum of that far out. We did do some testing; so principally with out upsetting the bleeding hearts on the market, let’s simply say that if a bullet has sufficient pressure to undergo a 3/4 inch piece of plywood, it has sufficient pressure to be deadly. Its fairly nicely established that 300 Blackout subsonic is useable for searching 100 yards and in, and naturally, shot placement is unquestionably essential. However one of many massive promoting factors of 9×39 is its supposed to have the ability to attain farther than 300 Blackout, so we positioned a sheet of three/4 inch plywood at 300 yards to see if we might pierce it.
Not solely did the 9×39 go straight by means of the three/4 inch plywood at 300, it additionally went by means of the two×4 holding the plywood up. Whereas not fully scientific, you need to be good to hunt out to 300 Yards. We additionally did some actually spectacular gel testing with some prototype expanders from Lehigh protection, and the outcomes had been extraordinarily spectacular. Principally, we bought 14 inches of penetration with the bullet opening as much as virtually one inch. Try the video to see extra on the devastating outcomes from this ammo.
Since 9×39 is a subsonic spherical, let’s discuss suppressors for a second as a result of 9×39, is barely bigger than regular 9mm.
So, what suppressors can you utilize? I’m so glad you requested, quite a bit truly. First off, in case you measure 9X39 its about .368 which is bigger than 9mm parabellum at .357. 9mm suppressors for essentially the most half must be okay, nonetheless, you’ll need to watch out. In case your 9mm can has a extremely tight bore, and turns into barely unfastened, you would get a baffle strike. You’ll positively need to steer clear of adapters like 3 lug, and just about persist with a direct thread adapter, providing you with the optimum finest alignment. We used the CGS Group MOD9, and the Silencer Omega 9k somewhat, and didn’t have any points with both. 45 caliber cans will even work and have loads of clearance. We tried the Silencerco Omega 45K, the Useless Air Ghost, and likewise the Silencerco Hybrid, and naturally all labored rather well.
What you will have not identified, is there are some firms making suppressors for the 9×39, and another new calibers which have comparable diameters. These cans, I’m simply going to discuss with as 375 cans work nice and provide the optimum bore dimension for the 9×39. On this bore dimension we used the Liberty Suppressors Vintorez, The Bowers Group Vers 375. Additionally lots of you could not understand that the Useless Air Wolfman is optimized for 9×39. Essential to say that at present solely subsonic ammo is out there commercially. Sooner or later, there could also be supersonic loadings, and reloaders will be capable of make supersonic loadings. Most of the pistol cans I spotlight as working is not going to be suitable with the supersonic loadings, so, person beware in case you’re working supersonic 9×39; however if you’re, let me know what you suppose. All of the suppressors sounded actually good truly. It’s sort of like 300 Blackout, the place nearly any can sounds good, as a result of the spherical is particularly designed to be suppressed. You do get that klickity clack from the AK motion, which is as loud or louder than the bullet truly going off.
The mags had been particularly developed for this venture by Csspecs and are superior. They’ve been rugged and dependable, and can be found in 10, 20, and 30 spherical configurations. Personally, on such a small compact bundle I just like the 20 rounders, however the 30 rounders look cool as nicely. On the time that is being written one among every will include the Krebs 9×39. So, you’ll get 3 mags with the gun. which is so good if you end up going with a proprietary journal.
That is a fully superb gun from Krebs Customs, and I’m so glad he was proper on the innovative in bringing this spherical stateside with a strong, high quality providing. I can’t say sufficient good in regards to the total construct high quality, reliability, and efficiency, and naturally his companions in pulling this distinctive venture off. When you could have a brand new spherical like this, particularly one you’re sort of enthusiastic about you are worried somewhat in regards to the first couple weapons to come back to market. Nicely, I can confidently say, that the Krebs Customs AK is not going to disappoint, and has truly fully blown away all of my lofty hopes and expectations.
I’m additionally am in love with the 9X39 spherical as a suppressor shooter; it’s so good to have one other suppressor particular providing obtainable. I actually hope this spherical continues to develop in recognition and I’d like to see some extra choices, an AR from CMMG could be good, and a Ruger American bolt motion I believe could be one other nice providing. It’ll be very attention-grabbing to see the way it all unfolds.
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