Over the past thirty years, the AKM platform went from the default budget option for people who couldn’t afford an AR15 but didn’t want a clip-fed SKS to a deliberate choice for shooters appreciative of its simplicity and ruggedness. In the time of cheap military surplus ammunition and AWB-compliant AKM clones, users could overlook imperfect finish and a limited line of accessories. But not today, when AKM clones cost as much as AR15s, and ammunition is in short supply. These days, people buying such rifles can reasonably expect better fit and finish, and accessories to improve shooting comfort and practical accuracy.

For the past 21 years, Pioneer Arms, of Radom, Poland, has been making AKM pattern rifles and other guns. Since, 2001, Pioneer Arms U.S., a company founded, owned and run by U.S. Army veterans, has been importing their rifles in the permitted “sporting” single-stack, thumbhole stocked configuration, and further machining the guns to proper AKM specs, other than semi-auto only trigger group. Over time, the quality and the features of these rifles evolved to the present state of high quality at a moderate price.

The Classic model is a conventional, stamped receiver AKM without a side rail. A side rail can be added, or the rear sight leaf may be replaced with a Pioneer Arms-exclusive railed base which included a backup U-notch rear sight. For my accuracy tests, I went with a Texas Weapons Systems Dog Leg Gen-3 rail cover: it accommodated a 1-4x Vortex scope for more exact aiming than possible with a red dot sight. Polymer furniture includes standoff ribs on the forend to permit firing even after the barrel warms up, a recoil-absorbing rubber buttpad, and a contoured finger groove pistol grip for better one-handed control. As a concession to utility, the fire control selector is notched for locking the bolt back. My rifle came with an otherwise standard selector lever, while the current guns are shipped with an extended model with a second horizontal pad for activation with an index finger.

The rifle is conventionally configured but has improvements over the original in the finish. The nitrided barrel has corrosion resistance similar to chrome lining but its smoother surface improves accuracy. Using the Vortex scope set to 4x, even with base-level steel-cased Wolf ball ammunition, this rifle lets me hit a 3-inch spinner at 110 yards every time. Considering the mil-spec trigger, that’s a very reasonable performance. Groups tighten up a little to 2.5-MOA with brass-cased Geco and Fiocchi ball and get closer to 2.2-MOA with Federal Fusion soft point. Feeding has been predictably perfect with all types of magazines, from Magpul, Xtech, Promag, steel military surplus 30-rounders and drums. Pioneer Arms U.S. offers a particularly lightweight fiber-reinforced polymer 30-rounder that works equally well while weighing only 6 ounces compared to 13-ounce original steel military magazines and 8 ounces for a milsurp polymer mag.

Sound-suppressed use with a clever muzzle thread adapter to U.S.-standard 5/8-24 produced no gas blowback at the shooter end of the rifle. The rifle ships with both an effective flash hider and a Russian-style slant muzzle compensator, easily switchable without the use of tools. A very effective, but not concussive, two-port muzzle brake is also available.

High-tech manufacturing coupled with a multi-step quality control process by staff who are all enthusiastic shooters results in a reliable product with not much to complain about. These rifles are definitely finer than Russian mil-spec, other than lacking the fun mode selector position. With ammunition currently being less plentiful, that’s a less lamentable omission than it used to be. Like the famous meme says: “NYET! Rifle is fine.”

Specifications

Make: Pioneer Arms, Radom
Model: Classic
Caliber: 7.62x39mm
Weight: 7.3lb
Magazine Capacity: 30
Overall Length: 34.6in
Barrel: 16in, 1:9.5in twist
MSRP: $900
URL: pioneerarmsus.com

Scroll down for more photos of the the Pioneer Arms Classic.

I Landed in Warsaw, Poland, then drove the seventy or so klicks to Kielce for the annual MSPO Show that is held there. Driving through so much history gave pause for thought, as did the seductive name “Radom” on one of the towns I passed through on the way. Radom as in the Radom pistol, which gave wings to daydreams of walking into small gun shops with piles of Radoms on the back shelf, collecting dust. This did not happen, of course. Poland is a very nice place to visit, and it seems to be in layers today- a modern country on top of a post war failed communist economy, but under all of that the strength and deep military history of a thousand years of commitment and industry. The next MSPO will be the 16th annual event and it is scheduled for 8-11 September, 2008, and I strongly urge those with the means and interest to attend this yearly show. Vendors who have not yet signed up may be out of luck at this point but should definitely plan for 2009. -Dan

Each year, when MSPO is announced, there is a “Lead Nation” chosen. This “Lead Nation” is responsible for setting a tone, putting their best foot forward and showcasing their products and support for the Polish defense industry and MSPO. At the meeting in 2007, it was the United States as lead Nation and in 2008 it will be Sweden.

In 2007, there were 364 companies from 24 countries present and the US contingent represented 31companies.

MSPO has grown into the largest military show in Eastern Europe, and its prominence in the defense industry is growing every year. Along with the trade show and live demonstrations, there are several days of seminars on arms and military subjects.

MSPO is fast becoming a “Must attend” show for those in the international arms trade, and SAR heartily recommends attending.

Bumar Group represents most of the Polish arms manufacturers as the export group and the sponsor of many of the booths at MSPO Bumar Sp. z o. o. www.bumar.com

For information on the MSPO 2008 show:
www.mspo.pl
For information on TargiKielce- the events and convention center:
www.targikielce.pl

Beryl Wz96

Poland’s new Kalashnikov variant is the Beryl wz96. SAR has a feature on this rifle coming soon from Leszek Ehrenfecht. Presented here are three variants- the Beryl, the Mini-Beryl, and the Beryl Commando. Manufacturer is Fabryka Broni “Lucznik” Radom Sp. z. o. o. and their website is www.fabrykabroni.pl

PM-98/98S Submachine Gun 

The PM98 is a modernized version of the 1984 made PM84 closed bolt submachine gun. The PM-06 is the 2006 modernized offering, incorporating a picatinny rail like the PM98s.

ZUR-23-2T

Poland has excellent production facilities for the famous ZSU-23-2, the workhorse Anti-aircraft system from the old ComBloc. It’s been modernized with electric controls and in the KG configuration adds two GROM missiles. The old ZSU (Type) 23 (Caliber 23mm) and -2 (2 guns) carries the ZUR configuration in Poland. The T configuration has no missiles, but an onboard fire control system that allows for air targets and ground targets with automatic integration of ballistics for various ammunitions used.

WKM-B NSV type

The side-shuttle styled “NSV” 12.7mm machine gun is here adapted to the ground mount “Infantry” configuration. There are knee supports for the shooter to add to tripod platform, and a shoulder support similar to the Vinghog M2HB softmounts seen in SAR recently. Zaklady Mechaniczne Tarnow S.A. www.zmt.tarnow.pl

UKM 2000 D

By far one of the most interesting finds at the show was the UKM 2000D variant of the PKM. With its side folding buttstock making it more paratrooper friendly, and the fact that it is in 7.62x51mm NATO caliber were outstanding. This author tried to get a better look into the mechanism, but the staff there would not permit it. They insisted that this model utilizes not only the NATO 30 cal, it uses the standard M13 disintegrating metallic link, the same as the M60 and the M240 series use. This is a radical change from the offerings that most companies are trying in this caliber, usually requiring the end user to switch to PKM pull out non-disintegrating metallic belts. Expect a deeper report on this item. UKM2000P is the standard infantry version, UKM 2000D is the folding stock version, and UKM 2000C is the tank version. P and D versions have Picatinny style rails.

Zaklady Mechaniczne Tarnow S.A.
www.zmt.tarnow.pl