Pistolized rifles don’t usually light my fire, but Arsenal’s new Krinkov pistol, chambered in 5.56 NATO, has it goin’on. Unlike their AK-pattern rifles, which must be imported in ‘Sporter’ form and then painstakingly converted for 922(r) compliance, these Krinks are imported as-is from their (Bulgarian?) factory.

But why 5.56 NATO, instead of 5.45×39? Thank your friends at the ATFE, if you have any. The feds really don’t like ‘armor-piercing’ handguns, and most of the world’s 5.45×39 ammo is Russian steel-core 7N6. This would have scotched the whole import deal, so they’re chambered in USA-friendly (and non-steel cored) 5.56 NATO instead.

All this ATF-ready, buffer-tubeless fun will set you back a suggested $800 MSRP.

19 COMMENTS

  1. So, add $200 for a tax stamp, slap a stock on there, and you have an AK-pattern SBR in 5.56. I kinda like the sound of that.

  2. I’m pretty sure that it’s not impossible to buy steel core 5.56. In fact yeah. They are selling it right down the street. Also, even non-steel 5.56 penetrates level 3 body armor as dies most all rifle calibers. Unless they mean steel plate armor, like On a vehicle. If that’s the case, I wouldn’t trust 5.56 or 5.45 to penetrate any kind of decent armor. Steel core or no. Just another reason we can go ahead and trash the ATF.

    • The laws are nonsense. If I’m not mistaken, it’s entirely based on what the bullet is made of, not it’s actual ability to penetrate armor. As you mentioned, pretty much any kind of rifle round will penetrate those vests because of the pressure.

    • Will you get such good penetration with such a short barrel? I’m not sure how much velocity 5.56 loses as the barrel shortens up.

  3. that is one big freakin’ pistol! no chance of consealed carry with this, heck, I’d like to see a holster that would hold this mama. my S&W MP15 has become one of my favorites lately, just can’t find a range around me to shoot farther than 100 yards (I desperately want to try 300 yard shots)

    anyone have any idea of how bad the recoil/kick is?

    still, put this is the category: me want one.

  4. Maybe I’ve been misinformed somewhere along the line, but isn’t pretty much any FMJ rifle round “armor piercing”?

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