The Colt XM148 40mm Grenade Launcher: Still Serving

Source: Air Defense Regiment, Air Force Command

     Soldiers of the Air Defense Regiment, Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) Command training in 2018 with two vintage pieces of equipment. The first is the well worn Colt M16A1 rifle which entered U.S. Army service in February 1967 and remained in production until 1982. The second is the Colt XM148 under-barrel 40mm grenade launcher. The XM148 was accepted for U.S. Army service in July 1966 and by mid-1967, the entire order of 20,000 examples was delivered. The XM148 was not a success and was replaced in 1969 by the M203 under-barrel 40mm grenade launcher though some lingered on in U.S. Air Force service as training weapons until the early 1990s. Thus, it is a interesting parallel that RTAF personnel are using the XM148 for training while RTAF security units utilize the M203. The XM148 was still listed as being in active RTAF service in 2019.

     The photograph shows to good effect the special handguard required by the XM148. The soldier's left hand is on the small pistol grip which is used to slide the breech cover open and closed. The instructor's fingers are on the sear cover which, when in place, prevents accidental firing. Above the instructor's hand is the firing pin button (according to the patent US3279114). The soldier's right hand finger is resting on the actual trigger to fire the XM148.

     As a note, visible near the left sleeve of the soldier is a M203 mounted on a M16A1.

For further information on the XM148, visit:

https://photosofmilitaryhistory.blogspot.com/2021/11/the-colt-40mm-xm148-first-service-under.html

Waifus with Raifus: The SIG Sauer MCX-Rattler

Source: @rukalee on X™.

     It is probably a bad idea to leave a poor tip at the local maid café when the wait staff have access to firearms. This “meido” (メイド) is sighting in on a cheap customer with a 6mm airsoft version of the SIG Sauer MCX-Rattler chambered for the .300 AAC Blackout (300 BLK) cartridge. There are several airsoft manufacturers of the MCX-Rattler to include Cybergun, PROW, and Salvo Precision. This particular airsoft is a custom build as it is using a SIG Air low-profile retractable stock along with a dummy suppressor styled after SIG Sauer's SRD762 series suppressor. The frame hardware is also custom as it features a foregrip which the real MCX-Rattler doesn't come with as standard. Her weapon is using a Unity high-profile, fast micro-mount upon which is an Aimpoint T2 micro red dot sight.

     As for the actual MCX-Rattler, the model shown is the pistol version that uses a 5.5” barrel. The barrel is made of cold hammer forged steel while the forend uses metal alloy to keep weight down. Empty, the weapon has a weight of 5.1 pounds and a overall length of 1.9 feet (without the suppressor). The civilian version is semi-automatic and uses a gas-operated, short-stroke piston action. The gas system is adjustable. The trigger is a flat, SIG blade match style while a top Picatinny rail is standard. The weapon is fed using a 30-round box magazine.

     The .300 AAC Blackout round, produced by the Advanced Armament Corporation (AAC), has a caliber of 7.62x35mm and can be used in any 5.56mm NATO compatible box magazine. The cartridge is designed as a intermediate round that falls between the standard 5.56x45mm round and the 9x19mm Parabellum pistol round. Its primary use is in shorter barreled weapons (such as the M4 Carbine) where it delivers improved muzzle velocity similar to the Russian 7.62x39mm round and while the 300 BLK round's accuracy drops off faster than the 5.56mm cartridge, the 300 BLK has the same energy at 700 meters as the 5.56mm round does at 500 meters. The 300 BLK subsonic round variant permits usage of silencers and suppressors. Out of a 9 inch barrel, the effective range of the 300 BLK cartridge is 440 meters with a muzzle velocity of 2,050 feet per second.

     Since 2022, the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has utilized the SIG Sauer MCX Rattler chambered for both 5.56mm and 300 BLK as PDWs (Personal Defense Weapons). Other countries that utilize the 300 BLK cartridge include the Netherlands (used by the Dutch Maritime Special Operations Force), Germany (by the Schleswig-Holstein state police and the Kommando Spezialkräfte [Special Forces Command]), and the United Kingdom.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The M14 Battle Rifle

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

     A soldier from the 169th. Territorial Defense Battalion, 120th. Territorial Defense Brigade (TDB) trains with a M14 battle rifle sometime in 2025. M14 rifles first appeared in the hands of Ukraine's TDB units in 2022 and they came from Estonian and Latvian stocks of which Estonia provided up to 35,000 rifles. The M14 was accepted for U.S. Army service in 1957 with production commencing in 1959. The M14 was phased out of U.S. Army service starting in 1964 and by 1967, it was wholly replaced by the M16 assault rifle as the Army's main infantry weapon. Today, variants of the M14 are in limited use by some U.S. forces and the rifle remains in active service within the military forces over over twenty countries.

     The M14 is chambered for the 7.62x51mm cartridge and uses a gas-operated, rotating bolt action. The total length of the M14 is 3.7 feet with an empty weight of 9.2 pounds. The M14 is fed from a 20-round box magazine and with a full magazine, the M14 has a weight of 10.7 pounds. If need be, the M14 has guides for stripper clips, allowing the magazine to be reloaded without detaching it. 

     Stock, the M14 uses a rear mounted aperture sight and a barleycorn front sight. Also known as a pyramid sight, it consists of a triangular shaped sight rather than the more common post sight. Using the standard sights, the effective range is a little over 450 meters when firing the M80 ball cartridge. The maximum range of the M14 is 2.1 miles. Here, the M14 is fitted with a M1A SOCOM 16-style scope mount and the scope itself appears to be made by Athlon Optics but this isn't able to be confirmed with any certainty. The M14 has a rate of fire between 700 to 750 rounds per minute.

     Attached to the front of the weapon is a M1A Harris bipod while on the end of the scope is a micro-prism anti-reflection device (ARD). The purpose of the ARD is to cut down on sun glare as well as hide light reflection off the scope glass. The sling is not M14 issue as the operator has it looped around the stock's neck rather than connected to a metal loop on the underside of the buttstock (which could also be missing, hence how he has it secured). The soldier has also made a cheek pad by putting strips of material along the top of the buttstock and wrapping it with silver duct tape. Finally, the camouflage paint applied to the M14 is not standard and is one that has appeared on Ukrainian weapons on occasion. It is variation of “snake” style custom weapon camouflage patterns.

     As a note, the 169th. Territorial Defense Battalion has been renamed the 2nd. Territorial Defense Battalion and has a new unit patch. It is still part of the 120th. TDB.

Waifus with Raifus: The Walther WA 2000 Sniper Rifle

Source: Facebook

     When the Walther WA 2000 sniper rifle appeared on the market in 1981, it was a radical departure from the more conventional sniper rifles then in use. Development of the WA 2000 was started by the Carl Walther GmbH Sportwaffen, a response to the aftermath of the Munich Massacre that took place during the 1972 Summer Olympics. At that time, the standard West German police sniper rifle was the Heckler & Koch G3SG/1. This was simply a regular G3 assault rifle picked off the factory floor when it showed high accuracy on the testing range. A heavy bipod and Zeiss 1.5-6x36 telescopic sight was added to the rifle, creating the G3SG/1. Following the incident, after action reports pointed out the need for a dedicated sniper rifle that could be deployed in urban environments where engagement ranges were shorter. The WA 2000 was one of three designs developed, the other two being the Mauser SP66 (appearing in 1976) and the Heckler & Koch PSG1 (Präzisionsschützengewehr 1; Precision Rifle 1) which was introduced in late 1972.

     The WA 2000, visually, differed from both the SP66 and PSG1 greatly. The WA 2000 is a bullpup design in which the magazine and action are situated behind the trigger group. This permitted the rifle to maintain a standard 26 inch barrel but have a shorter overall length in comparison to a traditional rifle. As an example, the total length of the SP66 is 3.6 feet long while the WA 2000 is 2.9 feet long. This makes using the WA 2000 in the closer confines typical of urban terrain easier. The next visually striking difference is the floating barrel situated between the bottom stock and upper rail. A floating barrel means that the only point of contact the barrel has with the weapon is the connection to the receiver. The benefit is that there are no external factors acting on a floating barrel that could influence accuracy. With traditional barrels, the pressure caused by a bipod, rested stock, or even a sling can act against the barrel, affecting trajectory. In addition, temperature and humidity can warp plastic or wood stock furniture and cause accuracy reduction. Something as basic as draping a camouflage net over the rifle can even have a negative effect on bullet trajectory, especially at range.

     The WA 2000 uses a gas-operated, rotating bolt action and is a semi-automatic weapon. The primary round used in the WA 2000 is the .300 Winchester Magnum and the box magazine holds five rounds. There were three other calibers the WA 2000 could be chambered for, these being .308 Winchester, 7.5x55mm Swiss, and 7.62x51mm NATO. As the latter three rounds are smaller, the box magazine for these calibers holds six rounds. The rifle can use either a one-stage trigger or a two-stage trigger.

     Although not visible in this photograph, the WA 2000 has a adjustable spike bipod mounted on the top of the weapon near the muzzle which is fitted with a flash suppressor. Early makes used a “can” style flash suppressor while the final production make used a different design. The stock furniture is fully adjustable to suit the firer. The WA 2000 does not have iron sights and so it requires optics with the standard one being a Schmidt & Bender 2.5-10x telescopic sight. The sight used in the photograph is not a Schmidt & Bender but a more modern one, as is the scope mount which features a integral upper rail.

     The WA 2000, despite its impressive capability, did not enjoy success. Two factors doomed the rifle. The first was the cost and all in, the WA 2000 topped out at $12,500 when production ended in 1988. In 2025 value, the rifle would have cost $35,010. This was far more than either the West German military or police were willing to pay. By comparison, the H&K PSG1 could be had for under $5,000. The second factor was the WA 2000 was too frail to withstand the rigors of military use. With the military not interested and the West German police opting for the PSG1 and SP66, only 176 examples were made. A small number of German police units adopted the WA 2000 but it wasn't enough to justify continued production.

     Given Japan's strict weapon laws, the WA 2000 shown in the photograph is most likely an airsoft replica. The most common is the Walther licensed Ares WA 2000 which is a spring gun firing 6mm pellets from a 50-round magazine. The Ares WA 2000 does feature Hop-Up and is compatible with using CO2 bottles to work the action rather than the firer using their hand to rack the bolt. Retail cost for a Ares WA 2000 is around $650 to $800. Another replica is the Geneth WA 2000 though this isn't a licensed version and is not well received in regards to quality. In Japan, the Asahi WA 2000 is the de facto airsoft version of the rifle but is quite rare and examples come with a significant cost. Given the markings on the weapon in the photograph, it is not an Asahi as they do not use the Walther logo.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The InterProInvest "Malyuk" Assault Rifle

Source: inukraine.official on Instagram

     A screen capture from a smartphone video showing a Ukrainian soldier armed with a InterProInvest (IPI) “Malyuk” bullpup rifle. The “Malyuk” (“Baby”) is a development of the Kalashnikov AK-74 assault rifle but is also derived from a previous Ukrainian bullpup rifle, the “Vepr” (“Boar”). The “Vepr”, designed between 2001 and 2003, ended up being a victim of circumstances and did not enter service. Interestingly, the “Malyuk” rifle's development commenced in 2005 with the first prototypes appearing in 2008. It would no be until 2015 that IPI received any sort of feedback from the Ukrainian government following tests. Unlike the “Vepr”, the “Malyuk” actually achieved official adoption by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense in 2019 and production continues through the Krasyliv Assembly Manufacturing Plant. As a note, the “Malyuk” is sometimes referred to as the “Vulkan” or “Vulkan-M”.

     As mentioned above, the “Malyuk” is a derivative of the AK-74 and it uses the AK-74's standard barrel (to include the mount and muzzle brake), bolt and bolt carrier, and uses much the same action which is a gas-operated, long-stroke piston, closed rotating bolt design. While the action is the same, the “Malyuk” uses its own gas tube (so it is not interchangeable with a AK-74) and removes the integral cocking handle from the bolt carrier (but otherwise, it remains as the AK-74). Instead, the “Malyuk” has a forward, sleeve mounted polymer charging handle. The handle can be mounted to accommodate left or right handed operators but the change requires disassembly of the rifle. To save weight, the “Malyuk” uses as much polymer components as possible and to enhance strength, some of the polymer parts have metal reinforcements embedded in them. The pistol grip is hollow while the top cover has multiple venting holes within it as further weight reduction measures. The buttpad can swivel and inside, there is a compartment for the standard AK-74 cleaning kit.

     The “Malyuk” can be chambered for one of three cartridges: 5.45x39mm, 5.56x45mm NATO, and 7.62x39mm. In the photograph, and based on the magazine design, the soldier is using a 5.56x45mm NATO configured “Malyuk”. The rifle can use 10-, 30-, or 45-round box magazines and if chambered for the Russian rounds, the “Malyuk” can use the same magazines as the AK-74. The maximum rate of fire is between 660 to 700 rounds per minute with an effective range in the region of 500 meters. Out of the box, the “Malyuk” is fitted with iron sights but does feature a Picatinny rail to allow for the mounting of optics. The soldier in the image appears to have a Aimpoint Comp™ M4s red dot reflex sight fitted with flip-up lens covers and he is also using a IPI produced suppressor. Also, attached to the rifle's right front side is a flashlight. The rifle's empty weight is 8.4 pounds.

Waifus with Raifus: The Colt M1873 Single Action Army Revolver

Credit: Mikael Jansson

     In 2000, fashion model (and later actress) Devon Aoki posed for a series of photographs shot by the renowned Swedish fashion and portrait photographer Mikael Jansson in Stockholm, Sweden. The results of the shoot later appeared in the November 2000 Dutch fashion magazine “Dutch”. In this particular shot from the series, Devon wields a Colt M1873 Peacemaker revolver. Given Sweden's strict laws and regulations on gun ownership, what she is holding is very likely a non-firing replica.

     More accurately called the Colt Single Action Army (Colt SAA), the Peacemaker entered U.S. Army service in 1873 until 1892 as the branch's standard issue revolver. Production ended in 1941 and many Colt SAA weapons served through the entirety of World War Two. The popularity of the Colt SAA saw production resumed between 1956 and 1974, again from 1976 to 1982, and for a third time in 1994 and ever since, the Colt SAA has continued to roll off the lines at Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company.

     The Colt SAA has been offered in nearly 30 different calibers (and numerous variants) during its life and even today, it can be had in at least 11 calibers. However, the most common ammunition for the Colt SAA for its initial service career was the .45 Colt round. The 11.43x33mmR (.45 Colt) is a rimmed, straight-walled, centerfire cartridge and was adopted by the U.S. Army in 1873 for use in the Colt SAA. Originally using 40 grains of black powder (later reduced to 34 grains), the round produced a muzzle velocity between 850 to 900 feet per second. Against a man-sized target, the effective range of the original round in the hands of a trained person was 69 to 91 meters. A skilled marksman could manage 114 to 137 meters of effective range. Of course, today, the .45 Colt ammunition sold in shops for current production Colt SAA models has a far higher grain count which produces a longer range.

     The Colt SAA is a single-action revolver (hence the SA in the name) which means to ready the revolver to fire, the operator needs to cock the hammer/striker first. Pulling the trigger initiates the “single action” of releasing the hammer/striker which then fires the bullet. Total ammunition capacity is 6 rounds in a metal cylinder. The usual barrel length of the Colt SAA is 7.5 inches but the replica looks to be the shorter, 5.5 inch barrel. Empty, the Colt SAA has a weight of about 2.3 pounds.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The Baikal MP-155 Shotgun

Source: Anatolii Stepanov (Reuters)

     A soldier of the 49th. Assault Battalion Carpathian Sich “Oleg Kutsyn” on patrol somewhere in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk Oblast on December 7, 2025. The vehicle in the background appears to be a Ukrainian Nissan Titan Warrior that was knocked out and subsequently stripped of usable parts.

     The soldier is outfitted for anti-drone duty as evidenced by his shotgun armament. From appearances, the shotgun is a Baikal MP-155 semi-automatic 12-gauge shotgun. The MP-155, developed and built by the Russian Izhevsk Mechanical Plant, has been in production since at least 2014 and remains so to this day. A gas-operated weapon, the MP-155 holds four rounds in a tube magazine and has a weight of 7.7 pounds. An interesting feature of the MP-155 is that there is an interrupter which allows the operator to disengage the magazine feed to permit the hand loading of a round. This is useful when the need to fire a different type of shell from what is already loaded is required. It also means there is no need to fully empty the magazine in order to change ammunition. Other features include a field changeable barrel (meaning, a gunsmith is not required to effect the change) and the ability to mount optics or post sights. Out of the box, aiming is done using the perforated sighting bar that runs along the top of the MP-155.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The FN MAG General-Purpose Machine Gun

Source: @inukraine.official on Instagram

     Somewhere above Ukrainian held territory, a Mil Mi-8 (NATO reporting name Hip) helicopter of the Ukrainian Army Aviation branch prepares to engage a Russian Geran-2 loitering munition. The Mi-8 has two door gun positions. The first is seen here, situated on the left side of the fuselage, behind the cockpit. A second position is in the rear of the fuselage, firing out from a opening in the right hand clamshell cargo door. Normally, the 7.62mm PK machine-gun would have been the standard defensive weapon but here, the gunner has elected to use a 7.62x51mm FN MAG machine-gun. Countries that have sent FN MAG machine-guns to Ukraine include Belgium, Canada, France, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. The gunner's FN MAG looks to have been one provided to Ukraine by France. The FN MAG, the original developed and built by the Belgian arms manufacturer FN Herstal, entered service in 1958 and today, it is deployed by dozens of countries. Several countries license build the FN MAG and they are the United Kingdom (as the L7A1), Canada (as the C6), Indonesia (as the SM2), Sweden (as the Kulspruta 58), and the United States (as the M240).

     The FN MAG is, as mentioned, chambered for the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge, and it uses a gas operated, long-stroke bolt action which fires from an open bolt. The rate of fire varies from 650 rounds per minute up to 1,000 rounds per minute. This variance is created by the gunner adjusting the gas valve which permits him to accommodate various cartridge loadings, to overcome barrel fouling, and modify the rate of fire to suit the target being engaged. The empty weight of the FN MAG is 26 pounds though this particular FN MAG uses a polymer plastic buttstock that lightens the mass to a small degree. The FN MAG feeds from the left, ammunition being held in either the M13 disintegrating link belt or the non-disintegrating DM1 belt. Each belt holds 50 rounds and belts can be connected to create longer ones. A quick-change barrel allows for rapid switching in case of barrel failure or to allow a barrel to cool after prolonged sustained fire. When firing from a bipod, the effective range of the FN MAG is .5 of a mile (800 meters) but if using a tripod, the effective range increases to 1.1 miles. The maximum range of the round is 2.1 miles.

     The regular sights of the FN MAG consists of a front blade sight and a rear mounted folding leaf sight with both an aperture and a notch. As this example of the FN MAG is fitted with a Picatinny rail, the gunner has added what looks to be a Thermion 2 thermal imager rifle scope made by the Lithuanian based company Pulsar. The Thermion 2 series is offered in two objective lens sizes: F35 and F50. The Thermion 2 uses a AMOLED (Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode) display with a magnification ranging between 2.5X up to 12X depending on the model. Other features of the Thermion 2 scope series include Wi-Fi for connecting to smartphones (the thermal imager can be operated from a compatible smartphone), reticle style customization, color options for the reticle and display, photograph and video recording (16 GB of internal memory storage), and IPX7 (Level 7) waterproofing. This means the scope can be fully submerged in water up to a depth of 3.2 feet for no longer than 30 minutes without permanent damage. Detection range is between .8 of a mile up to 1.1 miles for the larger model. The FN MAG has a brass catcher bag fitted to collect ejected empty cartridges so that they do not roll around the floor of the compartment, causing a slip hazard for the crew. 

     As it turned out, the gunner was able to successfully engage the Geran-2, shooting it down where the drone crashed into a copse of trees before exploding when its warhead detonated.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The GP-25 "Kostyor" 40mm Grenade Launcher

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

     A soldier of the 128th. Mountain Assault Brigade “Zakarpattia” trains with a interesting modification of the 40mm GP-25 Kostyor (“Bonfire”) under-barrel grenade launcher. The GP-25, first issued to Soviet Army units in 1978, is designed to be mounted underneath the barrel of AK-47 and AK-74 assault rifles along with other compatible AK series weapons. However, as can be seen here, the GP-25 has been fitted with a conversion kit that allows it to be used as a stand-alone grenade launcher.

     Emblazoned on the telescoping stock is the company name Gun Power Nation, the company's logo seen on the front pistol grip mounting bracket. Gun Power Nation, based in Kyiv, Ukraine, sells the conversion kit under SKU number 7297 with a retail cost of $108 U.S. dollars. The kit consists of the stock, forward grip, and the mounting hardware...all of which are made of 7075 aluminium alloy (primary alloying element being zinc) and steel. The weight of the kit is 2 pounds, added to the 3.3 pound weight of the GP-25.

     The GP-25 uses 40x53mm grenades which makes the GP-25 incompatible with U.S. 40x46mm cased grenades. As the 40x53mm grenades do not have a case, when fired, it leaves the GP-25's barrel empty and thus immediately ready for a new grenade. The GP-25 is muzzle loaded and sighting is normally done using a left side-mounted, notched quadrant sight. With a low muzzle velocity of 251 feet per second, the maximum range is no more than 400 meters with an effective range usually being around 150 meters. A trained operator can fire up to 4 grenades every minute.

     The typical grenade is the VOG-25 HE-FRAG (High-Explosive Fragmentation) which has 1.7 ounces of A-IX-1 explosive in the nose. Upon firing, the VOG-25 arms itself by the time it reaches 40 meters downrange and upon detonation, a lethal blast radius of 20 feet is created. The VOG-25 (as well as all the grenades used by the GP-25) is fitted with a fuse that when it reaches between 14 to 19 seconds, it will detonate the grenade. A variant of the VOG-25 is the VOG-25P “bouncing” HE-FRAG grenade. Containing 1.3 ounces of TNT, when the VOG-25P impacts the ground, a small charge in the nose goes off and “bounces” the grenade up into the air to a maximum height of 5 feet. At that point, the VOG-25P explodes, having much the same lethality radius as the standard VOG-25. Another common grenade is the GRD series of smoke grenades. Besides the original GRD-40 smoke grenade, the newer GRD-50, GRD-100, and GRD-200 smoke grenades are used to lay down a smoke screen covering 706 cubic feet per grenade. In low wind speeds (below 3.3 miles per hour), the smoke persists for 1 minute. The numbers of the newer grenades refer to the range from the operator, in meters, at which the grenade will commence to release smoke.

     The GP-25 can fire most any 40x53mm grenade designed for single-shot and/or under-barrel grenade launchers. The Bulgarian arms manufacturer Arsenal JSCo illustrates the numerous additional grenade offerings for the GP-25. The HEDP (High-Explosive Dual-Purpose) grenade has the same lethal radius as the VOG-25 but adds the ability to penetrate 50mm of rolled homogeneous plate (RHA) which makes lightly armored vehicles vulnerable to the grenade. The company offers a more potent HE-FRAG grenade that increases the lethal radius to 30 feet. The AD (Anti-Diver) grenade is designed for  use by naval troops, permitting them to engage enemy frogmen to a maximum depth of 15 meters. The TBC-3 thermobaric explosive warhead creates a lethal radius of 98 feet and a disorientating effect to divers out to 328 feet. The TB (Thermobaric) grenade has a warhead packed with 3 ounces of TBC-2 explosive which, when the AF41 fuze is activated, dispenses the TBC-2 into the air which immediately detonates upon reaction with oxygen. This generates intense heat and overpressure within the burst radius. The CS grenade creates a cloud of irritant CS gas 7,062 cubic feet in size while the S&F (Sound & Flash) grenade is another non-lethal munition which is essentially a “flash bang” round, creating a near deafening noise upon detonation coupled with a flash that temporarily blinds anyone looking at it. Finally, TP or P (Target Practice or Practice) are used for training while ILL (Illumination) grenades (“star shells”) are fired into the air and upon detonation, release a parachute to slow descent while white, red, green, or yellow flares burn. Color depending, the candlepower ranges from 8,000 (green) up to 90,000 (white). The burn time for the ILL grenade is 25 seconds.

     The weapon in the background is a 7.62x54mmR PKM general purpose machine-gun while of interest, the GP-25 operator has a patch on his helmet of the flag reportedly flown by the pirate Edward “Blackbeard” Teach though no evidence exists to prove it.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The Avtomat Kalashnikova 47

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

     Somewhere within Ukraine, a soldier of the 93rd. Mechanized Brigade “Kholodnyi Yar” trains with his Avtomat Kalashnikova 47 (AK-47) assault rifle. Development of the AK-47 commenced in 1945 with the first prototypes trialed starting in 1947 and in 1949, the AK-47 was officially accepted for service in the Soviet Army. Production of the AK-47 began in 1948 and it remains in production to this day. Over 100 million AK-47 rifles, of all variants, have been built and the AK-47 has seen combat around the world in just about every conflict...large or small.

     The AK-47 shown here appears to be a Maschinenpistole MPi-K, the designation of the AK-47 in the military of the former Deutsche Demokratische Republik (DDR; better known as East Germany). This observation is based solely on the shape of the safety lever and the dust cover as the rest of the rifle has been modified. That such a weapon would be in the hands of a Ukrainian soldier is because Germany provided the Ukrainian Army with a small number of AK-47 rifles (73 in all) and it is a possibility these were former DDR weapons that had been kept around in storage.

     Now, the MPi-K utilized plastic handguards, pistol grips, and stocks which were prone to cracking and given the relative age of these weapons, there is a good chance that the reason this soldier's AK-47 has a replacement stock and handguards is because the rifles had been received from Germany with broken hardware which needed replacement.

     The stock looks to be a Czech manufactured FAB Defense GLR-16 CP fixed telescopic stock with adjustable cheek piece. By fixed, it means the stock cannot fold to shorten the length of the weapon. Made of black polymer plastic, the stock's cheek piece can be fully removed if not needed. The original handguards have been replaced with what appears to be a TDI Arms LHV47S handguard set which includes upper and lower handguards equipped with Picatinny (and Weaver compatible) rails. Like the stock, the handguards are high-density polymer materials for strength as well as heat resistance. On the bottom rail of the lower handguard is a folding front pistol grip.

     The typical AK-47 is chambered for the 7.62x39mm cartridge and the rounds are fed into the AK-47 via a 20-, 30-, or 50-round box magazine. A 30-round magazine is in use here. In addition, a 40- or 75-round drum magazine can be used. The action consists of a gas-operated, long-stroke piston, closed rotating bolt. Cyclic rate of fire is a maximum of 600 rounds per minute with a practical rate of fire being 40 rounds per minute if using semi-automatic fire. Burst fire is around 100 rounds per minute. Sighting is done using iron sights that are adjustable between 100 to 800 meters. Effective range is 350 meters. Without a magazine, the AK-47 weights 7.7 pounds though this soldier's modified weapon is probably lighter. Length, with the regular stock, is 2.9 feet and without a stock, the length is 2.1 feet long.

Waifus with Raifus: The KRISS Vector Origin CRB Gen 2

Source: @nataliafadeev on Instagram

     This installment of “Waifus with Raifus” features Natalia Fadeev. A former Israeli Defense Force military policeman, Fadeev now makes content featuring herself dressed in alluring outfits along with military weapons. Going by the online handle “Gun Waifu”, Fadeev participates in (and promotes) the sport of airsoft in addition to being a positive influence on women looking to make a career of the military. She is seen here posing with one of her many airsoft weapons, a licensed 6mm replica of the Vector Origin CRB Gen 2 carbine designed and built by KRISS USA, Inc.

     The Vector's distinctive profile is due to KRISS' Super V Recoil Mitigation System (RMS). The weapon uses a delayed blowback, closed bolt action and the Vector's small bolt assembly is linked to a low-mass slider. This slider is slotted into channels within the frame that run perpendicular to the barrel. The system is housed in the area just behind the magazine well. Upon firing, the Super V RMS shunts the blowback energy downward and this acts as a counter to the barrel's rise. Another interesting feature of the Vector (again contributing to its appearance) is that the barrel of the weapon is actually below the trigger group. This positioning, in combination with the Super V RMS, makes the Vector easy to control and permits quick follow-up shots with very little adjustment.

     The Vector Origin CRB Gen 2 is available on the civilian market, retailing for $2,300. Unlike the airsoft version, the genuine Vector is fitted with a 16” barrel (hence the carbine label) and is semi-automatic. It comes chambered in the .45ACP round and it uses a standard Glock 21 magazine. This normally holds 13 rounds but it is fitted with a KRISS MagEx 17+ kit which makes a total capacity of 30 rounds. This extended magazine is shown in the photograph. The barrel is made from 4140 chrome-molybdenum alloy steel and finished with black nitride. The trigger is 2-stage and has a quick reset.

     The Vector Origin has a empty weight of 8 pounds with an overall length, with extended stock, of 3.2 feet. Speaking of the stock, it folds to the right, laying flush along the weapon's side and has a total of 6 positions of adjustment. The Vector Origin comes standard with flip-up front and rear sights, a top Picatinny rail for optics, and three other Picatinny rails on either side of the front frame and bottom. The weapon comes with a front grip on the underside rail (not see in the photograph).

     As for Fadeev's airsoft version, it is very likely a Krytac Vector SMG V2 AEG (Automatic Electric Gun). Krytac is the only airsoft company that holds the license from KRISS to produce the Vector in either GBB (Gas Blowback) or AEG (Automatic Electric Gun) models. Firing 6mm pellets, the Krytac Vector AEG has a muzzle velocity between 345 feet per second up to a maximum of 370. Maximum rate of fire is 21 rounds per minute with a magazine capacity of 50 rounds or 95 rounds if using the extended magazine (shown in the photograph). Power comes from a 11.1 volt LiPo (Lithium-Polymer) battery which drives a bonded neodymium (NdFeB) magnet, high-torque motor. Empty weight is 5.7 pounds with a length (stock extended) of 2.2 feet. Fadeev looks to have added a Nitro.Vo SRS (Strike Rail System) which fits over the front of the weapon, extending the length of the Picatinny rails to permit the fitting of a wider range of accessories and offer a longer handguard. The SRS is made of lightweight aluminum. Fadeev had also added a holographic sight that includes a rail for a magnifier. What brand it is cannot be made out.

Big Screen Weapons: The Smith & Wesson Performance Center® Model 945

© New Regency Productions, Strike Entertainment, 20th. Century Fox

     In the late 1990s, Smith & Wesson's Dick Mochak decided to combine the Smith & Wesson SW1911 and the Model 4006. The result, when it debuted in 1996, was the Performance Center® Model 945. The following year, it was made available for purchase and today, examples of the Model 945 command a fairly high price tag. Condition depending, the Model 945 can sell for as little as $1,250 to a bit over $2,000.

     The Model 945 is a single action, semi-automatic pistol which is chambered for the .45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) cartridge. The round, appearing in 1905, is typically a 230 grain with a round-nose bullet. Average muzzle velocity is 830 feet per second. The frame mounted, thumb activated safety is ambidextrous and thus can be operated by a left handed shooter as well as a right handed shooter. This is backed up by a beavertail grip safety. To fire the pistol when the frame mounted safety is set to “fire”, the grip must be held tightly to fully depress the safety. The “beavertail” is a curved portion of the safety which protects the hand from the rearward motion of the slide and hammer.

     Two versions were offered, one in a bead blasted stainless steel finish while the other featured a polished blackened finish. It also features a hand polished barrel ramp and a hand-fitted titanium-coated barrel bushing. While the Model 945 looks like the SW1911, the Model 945 cannot utilize magazines from the SW1911 (or any Colt built M1911). As such, the Model 945 is only compatible with its own 8-round magazines. Trigger weight is between 2.75 to 3 pounds. 

     With the 5” barrel, the overall length of the Model 945 is 8.75 inches with a weight of 2.7 pounds. Out of the box, the pistol uses post front sight and a BoMar rear sight that permits micro adjustments for elevation and windage.

     The stainless steel, 5” barrel Model 945 is shown here in the hands of Sylvia Weis (played by actress Amanda Seyfried) in the 2011 science-fiction movie “In Time” which also starred Justin Timberlake as Will Salas.

     Given the Model 945s relative rarity, it has not seen much use as a weapon in movies. In fact, “In Time” is the only U.S. produced film that used it. The two other appearances of the Model 945 is in the German movie “Jerry Cotton” (2010) and the Taiwanese action flick “Black & White Episode 1: The Dawn of Assault” (2012).

Russo-Ukrainian War: The Latek Safari HG-105M Shotgun

Source: Ministry of Defense of Ukraine

     The prevalence of FPV (First Person View) drones on the battlefields of the Russo-Ukrainian War has been seeing the continued expansion of the shotgun as a means to combat them. At first, civilian shotguns were appearing in the hands of both Ukrainian and Russian troops, such as vintage TOZ-34 and TOZ-66 shotguns (neither of which are pump-action). The Ukrainian military has been purchasing more modern shotguns, notably those produced by Turkish arms manufacturers. One such example is shown here in the hands of a soldier of the 36th. Marine Brigade “Mykhailo Bilynsky”. The weapon is the Safari HG-105M semi-automatic 12-gauge shotgun, built by the Ukrainian non-state arms manufacturer Latek LLC. This is a license-built variant of the HG-105 which is designed and produced by the Turkish company Hima Arms.

     Why are shotguns the preferred means to combat FPV drones? The reason is pretty basic. Shotguns throw a lot of metal pellets into the air which greatly increases the chances of striking a flying drone and potentially damaging it. The very common #00 (sometimes called “double ought”) buckshot shell contains 8 or 9 pellets, each .330 inches in diameter. #1 buckshot holds 12 to 16 pellets while #4 buckshot has 21 to 28 pellets though this comes at the expense of diameter size. Another advantage of buckshot is the spread of the pellets as they travel through the air. Thus, rather than relying on sheer luck to down a moving FPV drone with a pistol or rifle bullet, a single shotgun shell can hurl several projectiles into the air at one time with a single pull of the trigger. As such, the odds of a strike are increased. A skilled user will have conducted patterning with his weapon. This involves firing the shotgun at a target from different ranges to see how many pellets hit. Often, the further away the target is, the fewer pellets will hit. As such, by patterning, the firer will be able to tell the optimum engagement range in which the majority of pellets will hit.

     Specifics of the Safari HG-105M are not given (even on Latek's website) and so what follows are the specifications for the Hima Arms HG-105D to which the Safari HG-105M is most likely similar to. The receiver and a portion of the weapon's internals uses 6082 aluminum alloy while the furniture is polymer. The barrel, bolt, bolt carrier, and the lock is made of 4140 steel. Overall length of the HG-105D is 28.5 inches with a empty weight of 8.6 pounds. The HG-105D has interchangeable chokes (full, modified, and cylinder), allowing the user to optimize accuracy and range by constricting the barrel to maintain a tighter pellet pattern at longer ranges (full choke) or, if desired, the opposite...a wider spread at closer ranges (cylinder choke). A modified choke falls in between full and cylinder. The HG-105D can use either a 5-round or 10-round polymer magazine. There is a photograph of a Safari HG-105M in Ukrainian service with an extended “banana” magazine that looks to hold at least 15 rounds. There is a picatinny rail on top of the weapon for optics and it comes standard with flip-up sights. Being semi-automatic, it fires as fast as the operator can pull the trigger. Other features include a reversible charging handle and a height-adjustable cheek rest.

     At a full choke, the typical effective range for a shotgun is 150 feet or 45 meters. This is often good enough to engage a FPV drone that requires contact with the target in order to detonate. Likewise, it can be effective to tackle smaller drones which are used for bomb drops or reconnaissance. Of course, regardless, it requires the shotgun wielder to actually spot the drone in order to engage it as some drones are quite quiet until they are almost on top of the target.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The Tokarev TT-33 Pistol

Source: The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine

     Some small arms simply refuse to disappear into history and the Russo-Ukrainian War has seen a multitude of old infantry weapons being used by both sides. From pre-WW2 PM1910 Maxim machine-guns to WW2 Soviet PTRD-41 anti-tank rifles, both the Ukrainian forces as well as Russian Federation forces are using vintage weapons that have seen conflict for decades. In part, this is simply due to the vast quantities these weapons were made in which has seen them remain in use. For example, the Mosin-Nagant M1891 bolt-action rifle seen in use by pro-Russian separatists had been produced from 1891 to 1973 with over 37 million rifles having left Soviet factories. Another venerable small arm which was built in very large numbers and remains in service around the world is shown here in the hands of soldiers belonging to the 118th. Mechanized Brigade: the Tokarev TT-33.

     The TT-33 was accepted for service by the Soviet Army in 1933 and it was a modernization of the earlier TT-30 pistol. The primary changes were to simplify manufacture (for example, using a one-piece frame) and reduce the production cost. However, the hammer/sear firing mechanism was updated to be easier to both construct and maintain. All told, some 1.6 million pistols (TT-30 and TT-33 combined) were built by Soviet manufacturers from 1930 to 1955.

     Empty, the TT-33 weighs 1.9 pounds and it is chambered for the 7.62x25mm Tokarev round. However, there is a Russian civilian variant of the TT-33 chambered for the non-lethal 10x33mm self-defense cartridge. The TT-33 is a single-action pistol and uses a short recoil operated, locked breech action. There is no external safety on the TT-33 which makes keeping a round in the chamber a risky proposition. Thus, the TT-33 requires the firer to pull the slide back to chamber a round though this is not easy thanks to a stiff recoil spring. The muzzle velocity is 1,378 feet per second and the effective range is 50 yards. The TT-33 is fed from a 8-round detachable box magazine. Standard sights is a front blade and a rear notch.

     The TT-33 was replaced by the 9x18mm Makarov pistol (PM) in 1951 as the Soviet military's standard pistol.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The Yazicilar Duello PXD Shotgun

Source: inukraine.official on Instagram

     A screen capture from a smartphone video showing a Ukrainian soldier armed with what looks to be a Duello PXD 12-guage pump-action shotgun. Made by Sibergun, a subsidiary of the Turkish company Yazicilar Av, the PXD series (and CSSP series) can be identified by the polymer buttstock which has a integral holder for four shotgun shells. This soldier has an extended shell tube and the shotgun is not fitted with optics or rails outside of the basic iron front post sight that normally comes with the weapon.

     It should be mentioned that another Turkish shotgun manufacturer, Pardus, also offers their Pardus PXD pump-action tactical shotgun which has almost the same exact buttstock but the Pardus PXD uses a magazine feed rather than the usual underbarrel tube magazine. The Pardus PXD can use 2-, 5-, and 10-round magazines.

     The Duello PXD is a civilian shotgun, one of many types of shotguns being used by Ukrainian forces to combat drones.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The DShK M1938 "Dushka"

Source: Regional Directorate of the Territorial Defense Forces South

     A soldier of a territorial defense brigade posing for the camera with his “Dushka”, the venerable DShK M1938 12.7mm heavy machine-gun. First introduced in 1938, the DShK (standing for Degtyarov-Shpagin Krupnokaliberny; Degtyarov-Shpagin Large-Caliber) remains in service with dozens of military forces around the world and it has seen combat starting in World War Two and in just about every military conflict since then, to include the Russo-Ukrainian War. This particular make is the DShKM, evidenced by the muzzle brake, which appeared in 1946. When production ended in 1980, over 1 million DShK machine-guns had been built and to date, it has yet to be fully replaced in Russian Federation service despite newer weapons such as the NSV and Kord machine-guns. In addition to ground mounts, the DShK is also used on armored vehicles and tanks as a anti-aircraft machine-gun.

     The DShKM seen here is utilized by a rapid reaction anti-drone unit, hence being mounted in the bed of a pick-up truck. The locally fabricated pedestal mount permits traverse and elevation and it even has minimal gun shield. Usually, the DShK uses a 60-round metal ammunition can and this constitutes a single belt (which is usually 50 rounds). However, when engaging drones such as the Shahed-136, volume of fire is a factor in scoring a successful hit. As such, a single belt can be expended very quickly and in some cases, the drone(s) can leave the kill zone quickly, meaning the DShK is out of action while a new belt is fed into the weapon. Here, the fabricator of the gun mount adapted a 20 liter (5 gallon) metal fuel canister to act as an extended ammunition can. From appearances, it can hold up to five ammunition belts for a ready ammunition count of 250 rounds.

     Empty, the “Dushka” weighs 74 pounds and it uses a gas-operated flap-locking action. The 5.4 foot long DShK has a cyclic rate of fire of 600 rounds per minute but a practical rate of fire is between 100 to 200 rounds per minute. The most often used round is the B-32 steel-cored API (Armor-Piercing Incendiary) bullet which, despite being introduced in 1936, remains in production. The B-32 can penetrate 20mm of rolled homogeneous armor at 500 meters. As such, the DShK is a threat to lightly armored vehicles. A similar round is the BZT-44 APIT (Armor-Piercing Incendiary Tracer) and this is often mixed into ammunition belts of B-32 rounds. Another round used is the MDZ incendiary bullet and this might also be mixed with API ammunition. The maximum effective range is 1.2 miles with a maximum range of 1.6 miles.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The M2A2 .50 Caliber HMG

Source: Oksana Chorna, 23rd. Mechanized Brigade

     A gunner of the 23rd. Mechanized Brigade on the practice range, operating a Browning M2A2 .50 caliber (12.7mm) heavy machine-gun. The M2A2 is secured onto a locally fabricated anti-aircraft pedestal mount which permits a good bit of elevation to allow the gunner to track and aim at Russian drones. The pedestal mount itself is bolted down onto the bed of a pick-up truck and from appearances, it is capable of being lowered down into the bed when not in use, permitting the tarp (seen rolled up) to cover the bed and protect the mount, M2A2, and ammunition from the elements. The M2A2 seen here is able to utilize scopes and other optics as evidenced by the rail mount on the top rear of the receiver, just forward of the trigger. To the left of the M2A2 is the ammunition can, held via a cradle secured to the mount. Based on the muzzle, the weapon is likely a U.S. Ordnance manufactured M2A2.

     The roof of the pick-up truck's crew cab has no less than five drone jammers of three different makes. It is now more the norm for Ukrainian as well as Russian vehicles to have more than one jammer. The intent is generate interference across multiple frequencies in the hope that any drone that seeks to attack the pick-up happens to be using one of the jammed channels.

For more information on the Browning M2, visit:

https://photosofmilitaryhistory.blogspot.com/2025/02/russo-ukrainian-war-m2e2-ma-deuce-50.html

Russo-Ukrainian War: The M2E2 "Ma Deuce" .50 Caliber HMG

Source: Reddit

     A mainstay weapon of Ukrainian rapid response anti-drone units is the Browning M2 .50 caliber (12.7mm) heavy machine-gun. Here, it looks to be mounted in the bed of a 5th. generation Toyota Hilux double-cab pick-up truck. Nicknamed the “Ma Deuce”, the development of the M2 commenced in 1918 and first entered U.S. military service in 1933. Besides being used by infantry as a heavy support weapon, the M2 and its derivatives were used in aircraft (both as main armament and defensive armament), mounted on naval ships, mounted on tanks (typically for anti-aircraft use), and more. The M2 is still in production and has seen action in dozens of conflicts around the world in the hands of over two scores of military forces. The version of the weapon shown here is a M2E2 which incorporates a quick change barrel.

     By itself, the M2 has a weight of 84 pounds of which the barrel accounts for 24 of those pounds. It uses a short recoil-operated action and has a cyclic rate of fire of between 450 to 550 rounds per minute. However, the M2 is a select-fire weapon, being able to fire one round at a time as well as full automatic. The gunner, with training, can conduct slow fire which consists of 5 to 7 round bursts every 10 to 15 seconds (a rate of fire of under 40 rounds per minute) or rapid fire which is 5 to 7 rounds every 5 to 10 seconds (a rate of fire over 40 rounds per minute). The gunner must bear in mind that firing more than 150 rounds in two minutes will heat the barrel to the point that a round can cook off in the breech. The gunner has 10 seconds to extract a unspent round from the breech before a cook off can occur. If the round cannot be extracted, then the gunner has to wait at least 5 minutes before attempting extraction and give time for the barrel to cool. The M2 is belt fed and ammunition is held together by either M2 or M9 links.

     Typical ammunition is the M2 ball, M1 tracer, M2 AP (Armor-Piercing), and M8 API (Armor-Piercing Incendiary) cartridges. The M2 ball round can penetrate up to 1 inch of concrete at 1,500 meters and 6 inches of sand at the same distance. The M2 AP round can penetrate 8mm of homogeneous armor at 1,500 meters (just under 1 mile), 5mm of face-hardened armor at 1,500 meters, and 406mm of sand at the same distance. The maximum range is 7,400 meters or 4.6 miles. The M2E2 seen here is using the standard leaf-type rear sight and the front blade-type sight. The rear sight is graduated from 100 to 2,600 yards and has a windage knob for deflection adjustments.

     The gunner is wearing a Partizan Camouflage uniform which is also known as SS Leto/Autumn (“leto” means summer in Russian). The camouflage is made by the Russian company Kula and it is derived from the Russian military camouflage pattern of the same name which first appeared in 2004. For anyone familiar with German World War II camouflage, Partizan is based on the Waffen-SS camouflage pattern known as SS-Eichenlaubmuster (“oakleaf pattern”). Like Waffen-SS camouflage, Partizan is reversible into the “autumn” side which replaces the green base color with a brown hue. Kula makes another similar pattern, SS Spring (also called Medusa or Partizan-M), which uses the same pattern but uses a dark brown background with various shades of green splotches. The latter also more closely matches the coloration of the Waffen-SS “oakleaf” camouflage.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The Tula TOZ-66 Shotgun

Source: inukraine.official on Instagram

     Ukrainian troops riding in the back of a pick-up truck or similar vehicle. The soldier taking the video is showing off his anti-drone weapon of choice; a vintage Tula TOZ-66 12-gauge, side-by-side shotgun.

     The Tula Arms Plant introduced the TOZ-66 in 1968 and production ran until 1974. Nevertheless, the ruggedness of the design and having been produced in great numbers, the TOZ-66 saw widespread use well after Tula had moved on to more modern designs. As seen here, the TOZ-66 can still be found and this soldier is using it to hunt drones rather than game.

     Although the external hammers gives the 8 pound TOZ-66 an antiquated appearance, their use allows the firer to easily see if the shotgun is ready to fire. In the image, the hammers are cocked, meaning the TOZ-66 is ready to fire. Had they been uncocked, the shotgun could be carried loaded with a good measure of safety against accidental discharge. The TOZ-66 has double triggers, allowing the firer to discharge each barrel independently. 

     The TOZ-66 is a break action shotgun, meaning, to reload, the firer uses the center lever just behind the breech to unlatch the barrels which hinge downward. This downward motion engages an extractor catch which ejects the spent shells. The firer loads new shells then brings the barrels up, engaging the latch. After cocking the hammers, the TOZ-66 is ready to fire. The rate of fire is purely based on how trained the operator is in reloading.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The PKM GPMG

Source: davinciwolves on Instagram

     A machine-gunner of the 108th. Mechanized Battalion “Da Vinci Wolves”, 59th. Motorized Brigade “Yakiv Handziuk”. He is armed with a PKM general purpose machine gun (GPMG), one of the most common machine-guns in use by the Ukrainian military as well as the armed forces of the Russian Federation. Entering service in 1961 as the PK (Pulemyot Kalashnikova; Kalashnikov's machine-gun), the modernized PKM (Модернизированный; Modernized) appearing in 1969. The PKM and its variants remain in production and equip dozens of military forces around the world.

     The PKM is chambered for the Soviet 7.62x54mmR cartridge and the machine-gun uses a gas-operated, long-stroke piston, open/rotating bolt action. The open bolt assists in cooling the breech to prevent ammunition cook-off due to heat generated by automatic fire. The bolt and bolt carrier are upside down and the gas piston and the gas system are mounted beneath the barrel. The cyclic rate of fire of the PKM is 600 to 800 rounds per minute though the practical rate of fire is far less, being 250 rounds per minute. With the cartridge generating a muzzle velocity of 2,707 feet per second, the effective range of the PKM is 1,000 meters though its maximum range is 3,800 meters. Ammunition usually comes in 100-, 200-, or 250-round belts using non-disintegrating metal links with the belts kept in ammunition boxes. The 100-round belt box is considered the “assault” box as it can be attached to the bottom of the PKM. The larger belts are typically utilized when the PKM is being fired from a tripod, the tripod having mounts for the boxes. The rounds feed from the right and the spent brass ejects to the left. In practice, after firing 400 rounds in succession, the barrel is either changed out and replaced with another to give the removed barrel time to cool or the gunner ceases fire to permit the barrel to cool in place. Failure to do this risks bore wear.

     The PKM weighs a tad shy of 20 pounds which includes the detachable bipod but does not include the assault ammunition box. If a full assault box is attached, the weight increases by 8 or 7 pounds depending on if the box is the standard one or the lighter, aluminum version. Normally, aiming is done using iron sights but the PKM can be fitted with aiming optics using a side-rail bracket on the left side of the receiver. The more common optical sight used is the 1P29, a 4x magnification optic. The rear iron sight is a sliding tangent type with 100 meter increments starting at 100 meters up to 1,500 meters. The rear sight also has small side dials to adjust for windage.