A lot has changed at Kalashnikov USA since it was created to import firearms from Russia’s Kalashnikov Concern. K-USA had to change course after sanctions stopped any firearm-related imports from the country in 2014. That’s when Kalashnikov USA went into the gun-making business.
Well, they sort of did. SHOT Show attendees have seen a lot of prototypes and heard about firearms that were coming soon. Sadly, little of that ever made it into production and what did sometimes disappointed those who bought the guns.
All that changed last year with the installation of new leadership at the company. Jonathan Mossberg was brought in to run the now-manufacturing company with the mandate to get them manufacturing.
I toured Kalashnikov USA’s Pompano Beach, Florida operation last week and saw what they’ve been doing, some of what they’re planning to do and got a look at their latest gun.
Kalashnikov USA’s located in a nondescript industrial building. You’d never know that firearms are being made there, which may be the point.
Mossberg tells us they’re currently running at about 5% of capacity with the goal of getting it right. He says they’re only making products they know they can produce to the quality standards they’ve set. When they’re fully up and running, they’ll be able to turn out about six times what they’re doing right now in their current facility.
We got a look at part of their QC operation where fit and tolerances are tested.
Every single gun they produce is test-fired to ensure proper function.
Guns that pass get a ‘K’ proof stamp on their barrel.
KS-12T Tactical shotguns ready to ship.
The final packing process. These are KS-12 shotguns.
We saw pallets of completed firearms ready to ship. These were mostly KS-12 shotguns of one version or another, which they’re currently producing faster than KR-9s. That will change in the weeks and months to come as they lock down their processes and ramp up production to meet demand.
K-USA’s lineup right now consists of KS-12 semi-automatic shotguns and the KR-9 9mm line which includes a rifle, a SBR, and the KP-9 9mm pistol.
The KS-12 is essentially a Saiga-like design with a notched safety hold open and an adjustable gas system. That’s important, because running light birdshot and heavy 3-inch slugs, as customers will do, are two very different things. That’s a wide range of pressures that can give a semi-automatic shotgun fits.
The adjustable gas system is a change from the original KS-12 Kalashnikov USA produced which didn’t like light loads at all.
We put a lot of rounds downrange and as long as the shotguns’ gas systems was set correctly for the loads we were shooting, they cycled perfectly.
Just as much fun was the Vityaz-like KR-9 carbine. It’s fed by easy-feed 30-round magazines and is incredibly smooth-shooting with minimal recoil.
The gun’s manufactured to the original Russian design specs and features a 16.25″ barrel and a side-folding stock that actually gives you a decent cheek weld. This is a comfortable rifle to shoot. In addition to the carbine version, Kalashnikov USA’s also making a KR-9 SBR.
That’s CEO Jonathan Mossberg sending a few rounds down range with the compact KR-9 SBR. Don’t want to deal with a tax stamp? Not a problem.
You can attach a SB Tactical brace to the KP-9 Pistol and have just as much fun.
We also got a sneak peek at their latest product.
This is the Kalashnikov USA Komrad, and no, that’s not a shotgun. It’s classified by the ATF as a non-NFA firearm, so you can buy it without the hassle and expense of a tax stamp.
It ships with a SB Tactical SBA3 brace already mounted.
The Komrad will have iron sights with rail sections left right and bottom.
Here’s the new Komrad at the top with a KS-12 short barrel shotgun below it that’s intended for law enforcement and military sales. When they start hitting stores next month, you’ll be able to walk into a gun store and walk out with a Komrad (depending on where you live).
The KS-12 SBS will require a little more paperwork and some additional cash.
We’re told the MSRP for the Komrad will right about the $1000 mark. You can see the prices MSRP for Kalashnikov USA’s other products here.
If you’re wondering where the 7.62×39 AK in their lineup is, so were we. The answer is…it’s coming.
We were told when they expect to roll out their Russian spec, American-built AK rifle, but K-USA doesn’t want to get ahead of itself. They’re putting all of their efforts into getting it done right, then filling the distribution channels before announcing anything. Mossberg tells us they want to be sure that the company is turning out good guns and that they’re available to to buyers before any announcements are made or press releases issued.
That in itself is evidence of some significant changes that Mossberg’s made in the company in the year he’s been there.
Really happy to see Kalashnikov USA expanding their line of 12 gauge shotguns, and absolutely thrilled about the new shorter barreled “firearm” version of the 12 gauge platform.
Wonderful to have a US made Saiga with excellent build quality right out of the box. Can’t wait to start building with the new shorter gun!
Wake me when their AKs are actually in production.
And Rob Ski has put out at least a couple of videos on it.
Rob ski is good for entertainment but I would take his ‘reviews’ with a grain of salt. He likes to do ‘reviews’ for companies he is connected to and not divulge that to his viewers. Those rifles of course get glowing results while other rifles/companies he has no connections to always appear to find problems during the ‘unbiased’ review process. He needs to ‘cut the bullsh!t’ as he likes to put it.
Proof?
#metoo!
Nice.
THANK YOU DAN FOR YOU ARTICLE,
I WAS NOT AWARE THAT KALASHNIKOV EVEN HAD A PRODUCTION FACILITY IN THE U.S. NOR THE SIMPLE FACT THAT THEY MAKE A SHOTGUN.
JOHN LINZINMEIR
TUCSON, ARIZONA
Why are you yelling?
Whut? Whoze talking? Someone is talking….Janice, I can’t hear anything….would you people please be quiet?!?
Yes! EarPro nailed it!
Judging by his name, I think he thinks he is on another continent and has to yell. Or is an ear protection non-believer.
A big welcome to my new neighbor and lots of luck selling your products.
Cant I get a job there???
Im ready to retire soon.
I wont cost much.
Jay in Florida,
We are always looking for talent! Stop by for a tour, lunch and a bit of range time on us.
Jonathan Mossberg, CEO
Jay in Florida,
We are always looking for talent! Stop by for a tour, lunch and a bit of range time on us.
Jonathan Mossberg, CEO
Let me know when they start building something useful. All the same, good luck!
“It’s coming 😉”….You basturds! All the toppings but no ice cream.
Ugly commie crap. Can’t for the life of me figure why someone would lean towards ANYTHING Russian these days. It could be an alien space ray gun, but if the Russians have anything to do with it, I’m out. American for me. I’m sure you AKtards will all be ‘up in arms’ over what a great gun it is, but not really to concerned about supporting Mother Russia either eh?
The design is the original Russian, but this is an American company making guns in America.
One question. One statement.
1. Do you swear not one cent from these sales go back to Russia?
2. I don’t own an AK, or an AR, but plenty of experience with both. The worst AK is more reliable than best AR.
You want a quality AK? Buy a Valmet or a Galil.
Arsenal or Molot if you want top dog AKs.
I swear to nothing. But my understanding is that K-USA is owned by RWC Group.
And if money DID go back to Russia, they’d be in violation of the sanctions that are still in place. Which is the reason K-USA started manufacturing guns in the first place.
“I don’t own an AK, or an AR, but plenty of experience with both. The worst AK is more reliable than best AR.
You want a quality AK? Buy a Valmet or a Galil.”
BAHAHAHAHAHA!
*breaths*
BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
I don’t for the life of me know why people keep spitting this garbage.
Well if you are buying Smith and Wesson you are supporting communist MA so I’d make the argument if you buy from Kalashnikov USA in the free state of Florida you are actually more American and not supporting tyranny in the form of Maura Healey.
It would be really funny if they made them in Clearwater Florida. Just to really irk off the Scientologists.
what century are you from. Russia is not communist . bet you own plenty of products from Communist China… typical uninformed person.
“what century are you from.”
The Twentieth, why do you ask?
“Russia is not communist .”
Splitting hairs on that one. Currently, Russia is currently best described as a ‘Totalitarian Kleptocracy’.
As far as the citizens that live there, that’s little difference to communism. Putin has *zero* problem with killing anyone who criticizes him or questions his authority. And the corruption there is on-par with what the USSR/CCCP (Союз Советских
Социалистических Республик) was from about 1922 through 1991…
Nope, not Communism. That’s when ownership and planning of all means of production and distribution is by the workers themselves, not any form of government. An imaginary utopia where all are equal, give according to their abilities and receive according to their needs.
Also known as a pipe dream successful only in feeding a hapless population into the bloody jaws of a tyrant.
But hey, “Totalitarian Kleptocracy” is really right on the money. That’s been Russia since the collapse of the USSR was seized upon by opportunistic leftover hugs of the KGB and other forms of organized crime.
I thought it was a Mafiocracy as Vladimir doesn’t really like any opposition.
To each his own bro, no biggy. I love my AK not gonna lie, would sacrifice all the ARs in the safe before it. She’d kill me thou, loves her’s. I like the simplicity, like the caliber (ARs make it I know) but the histroy probably draws me the most. Mine isn’t an original Kalash of course (can’t afford that) just a variant, but still hella fun to shoot.
What is wrong with Russia? They are white, Christian and allies of America?
Ya forgot Protesters, ties to Putin, Rick Scott etc……… I wish em luck, always need new toys!
So is this only that they hired a member of the Mossberg family or is the Mossberg company involved in some way as part of Kalashnikov USA? As management? Part ownership? Joint Venture?
On the other hand, the money question is critical to me. If so much as a fraction of a cent per gun finds its way to an enemy nation, my answer is HELL NO!!!!
I won’t buy Glock because too much of the value in the manufacturing process is held back in Austria and too much of the American operation exists only to play games with export laws. That’s Austria, a friendly nation, and they are not allowed to have my gun budget money.
So please explain Kalashnikov-USA’s complete financial arrangement with the Motherland, or no sale.
No-one gives two f*cks about your whiny ass. I’m sure they can stand the loss of your purchase which, if it’s like most of you blow hards, would only exist in your tiny mind. So you don’t like Russia? It’s hardly the enemy given there are more Chinese and Israeli spys operating in the USA than there ever were Russian but hey, don’t let a little thing like facts get in the way of you buying mountains of Chinese shit from Wally World while deep throating IWI products…
You sure care a boatload of those f**ks seeing as how you snivel so loudly.
The USA is a big country, we get to have more than one enemy. Both Russia and China are at the top of that list. Both are building their military forces, improving their weapons with America as their principle target.
Avoiding giving support to Putin’s Russia is a hell of a lot easier than avoiding helping out the Chinese enemy, that’s true. At least with both countries there is one area we can enjoy no difficulty at all holding back our dollars from, and that is guns.
America still makes lots of guns.
And like I’ve said in other posts, I’ve no problem at all with an American gunmaker taking designs from an enemy nation and making those guns here. Just want to know the money stays friendly to the USA too, which is damned little to be asking for.
There is no financial dealing with Russia. They were going to be an importer for them, but sanctions killed that operation before it took off too far. Now that they cannot legally do business with Kalashnikov Concern, I can feel pretty good in saying there is no existing relationship.
Kalashnikov USA is salvaging their business model by trying to sell the same style of guns just made here. The name is just a name. It isn’t tied to the original company.
When are they going to make a deal and start producing the MP-412 REX? Sure scratches all the right itches…
Hey, I’d forgotten all about that one:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP-412_REX
Seems Bill Clinton and Boris Yeltsin made a deal and killed off any hope of the thing coming to America.
I do like top-break revolvers though. Would be real interested if an American gun maker made one out of all American sourced materials and labor. Kept all the wages and profit in-country. Wouldn’t care so much where the design came from. Especially if patents were expired or we just outright ripped it off from an enemy.
LCR-X ish? I love top break revolvers. I have a Webley that is quick to reload(moon clips) and is a blast to shoot.
The MP-412 REX looks like a 19th c. S&W top-break, except in modern materials and modern calibers. So it’s nothing new. If the Ruskies can import this revolver (or get it made here in the new Kalashnikov plant), I can only surmise that they will also possibly resurrect designs like the Merwin & Hulbert 4th model (an excellent revolver design) and make it in stainless in modern calibers, interchangeable barrels, &c. If they could do that for less then $1,500, I’d be there.
There was an attempt to bring back Merwin Hulbert gun designs in modern materials, back around 2010. But it fizzled, don’t know if pre-orders got their refunds but I do recall there was some promise made on that. I was tempted at the time but didn’t bite.
Izmash saigas are still all over broker. Same factory/line that produces ruskie military rifles. Buddy just won a never fired 223 version last night for 660.00.
A fool and his money are soon parted……
I guess a lot of folks like tactical shotguns? I am just wondering how you open a Kalashnikov manufacturing and the AK is NOT your first product…..
A Krinkov model or two in 5.45x39mm? I might be interested.
What I want to see them build is an honest to goodness semi-auto AK-103 thin stemmed bolt and all.
“The adjustable gas system is a change from the original KS-12 Kalashnikov USA produced which didn’t like light loads at all.”
since when has a saiga not had an adjustable gas system??? they are all (clones at least) typically 2 or 4 way adjustable. its just a selector on top of the gas block that you rotate to either allow full gas from the barrel or closed off and basically blow back only (for buckshot).
fake news!
my question is, how are they gonna get this run weak shells without moving gas block liek the rest of the industry has been doing for 30 years now?
I have my Komrad . I love the gun!! The only flaw I found with it is it doesn’t have a last round bolt hold open. You Can’t insert a loaded magazine unless the bolt is open. So you have to try to hold open the bold and insert a magazine of the same time. This takes both hands off the operation of the weapon !!!
I think people are getting tired hearing about a gun that has been “ coming soon” for 5 years. Why does anyone Still believe those liars is beyond me. Heck it has been over a year since this article was posted.
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