This! I think going back to a JAKL style charging handle and removing the BHO would be ideal. The whole “slap to release” would get old fast
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I still read about and see videos where the 556 and 545 guns have problems fairly regularly.
You are seeing a small (less than 5%) of the guns they have sold that have issues. Many of those involve home reloads and not factory ammo.
I think the VUK is really cool and you definitely have my interest. I have a couple of thoughts on this rifle.
- While the x and y and dimples over the mag well are nice, it doesn’t matter as this isn’t a stamped AK receiver. That is a good thing so I don’t see the need to recreate it as it is just extra cost. So I am ambivalent about these “features”.
- AR Trigger and safety is an excellent upgrade. Well done.
- 7.62x39 ASAP please.
- Rear Sight. I know you went with the current rear sight based on customer feedback. I would much rather see a rear sight that looks like the sight on a Krebs KTR-03V or the Finnish RK series of rifles. Even the rear sight on the 9mm VUK is a better look to me.
- Charging Handle. While I prefer the concept of the charging handle up front like the Jakl, if you want to put it on the bolt then give us the option of having the charging handle on the left side of the gun. There is no point on keeping the ergonomic nightmare of the original AK on an improved AK or AK like rifle.
- The 9mm VUK is really cool. I might like that better than the AKV. What would be even cooler is the small VUK in 7.62x39 or 300BLK.
I am excited for this rifle to ship and I hope there will continue to be more updates in the near future.
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I’m not a fan of the changes besides redesigning the stock area to accept AK stocks. That was pretty cleaver. I think PSA leaned way too hard in the “Why would I get this over an AK?” comments. The PSA JAKL was originally meant to be a PSA take on the AK-521 which itself was meant to be an improved version of the AK with modern ergonomics and having the charging handle on the correct side.
I thought the PSA VUK more or less being a slightly modified JAKL upper on a modified KS47 lower was always supposed to be the point? At an absolute minimum the charging needs to either be on the left side, offer either left or right side charging uppers or go back to the standard JAKL charging handle that’s ambi!
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5.45 is only used by AK purist/Collectors at this point. That round has no mainstream support in the U.S. now that the imports are cut off all that’s is the tiny bit still coming in and those who stockpiled while times were good.
.223/5.56 has for all intents and purposes taken over 5.45 given it’s similar albeit superior performance all the while being cheaper and not being at the mercy of imports like 5.45 and to a lesser extent 7.62x39.
PSA said they planned a 5.45 VUK at some point though I’d be surprised if they continue that pursuit and even start manufacturing 5.45x39 given how so few actually want it.
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Based on a comment in this video, PSA is quite aware of the mixed opinions over the charging handle placement. So hopefully they can come up with a solution that almost everyone likes.
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yeah i kinda figured that with the 5.45
if aac were to produce the 5.45 at this point id be very surprised.
PSA has canceled plans to produce 5.45x39.
edit: It’s on indefinite hold so there’s a possibility it could potentially come much later.
My only AK ATM is a Pioneer Arms 5.56x45. I was thinking about selling it and getting into 7.62x39. But at this point I think the writing is truly on the wall. American Calibers are in style and Soviet Calibers besides 7.62x39 will be more niche/boutique.
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5.45 steel is made on the same line as the 7.62x39. That ammo is constantly in demand so probably easiet to not shut down the line to move over. Besides, even if they do make it ak “purists” will trash it.
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I probably would have sold my 5.56x45 AK and gotten a PSA AK-74 if they had committed to 5.45x39. Oh well I guess I’ll hold on to it. 5.56 AK’s and American calibers in general appear to be the future.
Im wondering what the future of AKs as a whole will be. They cant compete with $400 ARs and the draw of cheap import ammo is no longer there.
Guess I’m glad I never went down that rabbit hole.
AKs are a lot of fun. But import laws/bans have certainly hurt their sales.
Is vuk shelved?
not at all.
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i can understand somes frustrtion that the 5.45x39 has been cancelled, but at the same time, it really is a niche round.
if i were you i’d do just that. 7.62x39 isnt going anywhere as theres so much out there calibered in it, and the US rounds well you know, they’re US.
yeah, they cant, but i dont think they’ll be going anywhere. the AK’s are popular,but more expensive for some reason, than ar’s are now. and i dont think anyone will be jumping into ak’s just for giggles, rather they will get one just for the nostalgia of it… the ones that are really into ak’s have them already. I thik if anything they’ll be around, but not dominent in any way in the industry cause there really is no where to go innovation wise.
As the AK-V thwaps an AR-V upside the head.
hey man i love my ar-v 
the ak-v is a lot of fun though… especially with a alg trigger
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