The Kalashnikov Group puts out some entertaining shorts and informative videos highlighting various wild and weird AK things. Vladimir Onokoy and their media creative team do a very good job and have even made cross collaboration with 9-Hole Review.
The AK TR3 is the civilian AK-12 and it was released in Russia in 2019. The AK-12 is a nicely re-modernized take on the AK-74M for the ancillary accessories of the 21st Century.
It sounds like, if I am reading this correctly, Russian firearm laws are somewhere around Illinois/California levels of hassle but Russians can purchase firearm with the easiest to acquire seeming to be ‘smoothbore’ shotguns. If I am reading this correctly purchasers of rifles must have a documented history with smoothbore shotguns first with no violations on their records before they can purchase rifles, rifles seem to be treated as more dangerous based on range and munitions similar to several US domestic game and hunting laws. Semi-automatics seem to be limited to 10 rounds unless the individual possesses the license for ‘service’ grade weaponry based on their job.
I am assuming that getting a ‘service’ grade AK instead of a civilian limited one is a process similar to that of the NFA and/or getting an FFL where it sounds more prohibitive than it actually is and it for the most part is just paperwork and documentation so that if something goes “wrong” and injury or death occurs accidentally or as a deliberate act of assault that the government is exposed to minimal liability.
I am tickled to find that the Russians have an actual Federal awards procedure for firearms given by the government and it sounds like the local issuing authority will basically license whatever was awarded based on the fact it was awarded without much fuss unless it’s select-fire or the individual is a prohibited person.
They have a training requirement similar to a concealed carry class or a hunter safety course with a duration of six and a half hours followed by standardized testing for their five year license. Limits of ten, and five of a single type of firearm are imposed.
This is a neat little weekend deep dive. Russians are proud of their AKs. They have a right to be, it is a fine series of firearms made by a genius Russian Tanker and inspired by a legendary Canadian-American, John Garand.
This makes AKs something both Russians and Americans can enjoy with pride.
