NATO-spec AKM
The war in Ukraine has been tragic, and for most of us it feels far away. We try to follow information sources the best we can, but it’s hard to really know what’s going on over there. One thing is for sure; the situation isn’t a good one. For those who have close ties to Ukraine and Russia, the war hits much closer to home.
Aleksandr, who is originally from a suburb of Ukraine’s capital city, Kyiv, has been following what’s been going on through family and friends since before the first incursion across the border. Together with his community network here in the U.S., he and his group have been doing what they can for Ukrainian citizens by donating money and humanitarian supplies, and even offering to help situate or host displaced families. “It’s frustrating, maddening and heartbreaking,” he says of the conflict. “We’re trying our best to do what we can.”
A couple of years ago Aleksandr and his son Dennis built out an initial version of the AKM that you see here. The theme of their build happens to fit what’s going on in Ukraine right now, so we asked if they minded sharing it with our readers. Aleksandr said anything that keeps Ukraine’s plight at the front of people’s minds is a good thing, so they agreed.
The base rifle started out as a kit build from a Romanian G parts kit and a Nodak receiver, which was chambered in the traditional AK caliber of 7.62x39mm. After recent events, Aleksandr decided to transfer all the parts he had on the “Romy G” to a newer AK he picked up about a year ago from Arms of America to form what he calls his “NATO-spec AKM.”
The revamped rifle is now based on a WBP Jack 556SR, which is a Polish-made AKM chambered in 5.56x45mm, a standardized NATO round. Aleksandr tells us the idea behind this AK is that it melds a Polish weapon with Ukrainian and American aftermarket parts and NATO-spec ammunition. He recognizes how much Poland has done for Ukraine, so he says it was natural to use his Wytwornia Broni Jacek Popinski (WBP) rifle as the foundation for the themed build.
Based in Rogów, Poland, WBP offers AKs in plenty of varieties; Aleksandr and Dennis decided to pick up a 5.56-caliber model since the ammunition is plentiful here in the States and can be shared with their other rifles, a few AR-15s and a Mini-14. “We thought about going with the AK-74’s 5.45x39mm caliber, but found that non-magnetic ammo is hard to find, and even if you find it, it’s wildly pricey,” Dennis tells us. “Range rules in our area also necessitate non-magnetic ammo, so we went with 5.56 instead.”
WBP’s Jack 556SR is a finely crafted AK that’s classic in almost every sense of the word but employs improved materials and slightly tighter tolerances that help elevate it above others. It features a deep black finish throughout and an in-house-made barrel crafted from 4150 steel that’s finished with black nitride for increased wear resistance. A translucent polymer magazine comes standard from WBP as well.
WBP AKs are easily identifiable thanks to the Polish eagle etched on the left side of the sight block. A national symbol, the Polish crowned eagle is steeped in legend and is said to symbolize the sovereignty and unity of Poland. We noticed that the rifle’s serial numbers are located on most of its major parts, which is a nice touch. Aleksandr and Dennis’s Jack 556SR came with a laminate wood furniture set, which was swapped out for a heavy dose of Ukrainian flavor.
For those who may be are unaware, Ukraine is home to several high-quality small arms accessories makers including KPYK, Strela, and Military Equipment. The ongoing war in the country’s east, combined with a robust competition-shooting scene, kept these accessories makers busy manufacturing and innovating. After the Russian invasion, these brands are now producing products solely for the defense of Ukraine. “Ukrainian parts for AKs and ARs are some of the best in the world,” Aleksandr proudly says. “They’re hard to get at moment, but I had bought a few pieces from Legion USA before the invasion, which is what you see on this rifle.”
Starting from the tip, you’ll find an AK-74 style Wolf Fang muzzle brake made by Strela. It includes a 24×1.5RH thread adapter that allows it to mount perfectly to the WBP’s 14.1LH threaded barrel. The sexy handguard and buttstock on the rifle are made by KPYK, pronounced “krook.” The extended length 6082-T6 aluminum handguard features m-lok interfaces on all four sides as well as a length of Picatinny rail above the gas tube for even more accessory mounting options.
In the rear you’ll find a foldable KPYK buttstock. It’s an eye-catching piece to be sure and it’s ultra-functional, too. Not only does it fold to the left of the receiver for compact storage, it also extends in length by 1.2 inches and has a four-position cheek riser that rises up to 0.8-inch high. The machining work on the handguard and especially the stock are immaculately precise, as both are primarily machined from solid aluminum bars. The stock feels great to manipulate; extending its rubber buttpad and folding it feels ball-bearing slick. The cheek riser is made of polyamide, a durable nylon suited for surfaces that require high wear resistance.
Moving to the rifle’s top, you’ll notice a railed top cover made by another Ukrainian outfit called Military Equipment (ME). This full-length cover allows for the mounting of optics and is said to hold zero without issue. It is milled from a block of aviation 2024T aluminum alloy, which ensures strength and low weight.
The cover is installed in much the same way as a standard cover except that there is a rotary knob at its rear and a stiff clamping lever at the front. Tightening the rear knob down ensures that the top cover stays in place; when combined with the front clamp, the extra stiffness helps the mounted optic retain zero. Aleksandr reports that while it’s pretty good at retaining zero, he wouldn’t rely on it for tight precision shots. Then again, AKs generally aren’t made for those kinds of shots anyway. He says it has worked very well for run-and-gun accuracy at the steel carbine matches where he competes.
For targeting, the father and son duo chose to mount a Holosun HS407C X2 red dot to the ME top cover. The HS407C is an open-reflex optical sight that features a super-bright LED providing a 2 MOA dot reticle. It is also packed full of Holosun’s signature features including a solar panel that keeps the optic powered even after the battery dies and a power saving “shake and wake” instant activation feature.
Aleksandr and Dennis are grateful for America’s steadfast assistance to Ukraine and wanted to make sure the USA was represented on this rifle. They selected a number of American-made accessories including a TangoDown AKOE Battlegrip and an LBE Unlimited AK G3 trigger. The larger, more comfortable TangoDown grip gets rid of AK trigger guard “finger bite” and recoil pain that is associated with the thin standard AK grip. LBE’s flat-face, single-stage trigger features an improved pull of between three and four pounds and eliminates the trigger slap that is sometimes found with other triggers.
You’ve undoubtedly noticed the SureFire light and laser unit that sits on the forend of the rifle. The SureFire XVL2-IRC is a light/laser module that’s capable of white light, visible laser, and infrared laser functions. The dynamic unit was developed for use on both pistols and rifles. Thanks to its compact size, it fits perfectly in between the AKM’s front sight and gas block. A SureFire RSR remote switch keeps control of the unit within reach.
Details always matter, which is why we were glad to see that the SureFire switch’s wires were nicely tucked away and secured thanks to a couple of dual-channel Emissary Development micro cable clips. These polymer clips fit into m-lok slots and are the smallest cable clips that we’ve encountered so far. Just under the rail, you’ll notice another small accessory, the SLR Rifleworks m-lok finger stop. Used as a reference point, the finger stop takes up very little space and adds almost no weight.
WPB already includes an enhanced safety lever and magazine release on their Jack series rifles, but the charging handle is left standard. To remedy this, a Tromix extended charging handle was added on top of the bolt’s existing handle. The oversized handle gives the user more leverage when charging the rifle or clearing malfunctions.
If there ever was a NATO version of an AKM, we’d say that Aleksandr and Dennis’s NATO-spec AKM certainly should qualify. A final detail that the pair added to the carbine is their own rendition of the blue-and-yellow Ukrainian flag. Their “flag” comes in the form of two LaRue index clips that were custom dyed by Dennis and added to the weapon’s gas block rail. It’s a subtle reminder to keep the people of Ukraine and their struggle on our minds. To that end, we’ll close this story out by repeating what Aleksandr said to us as we parted company: “Slava Ukraini! Glory to Ukraine!”
Build Sheet
NATO-spec AKM
Specifications
Base Rifle: WBP Jack 556SR
Caliber: 5.56x45mm
Capacity: 30+1
Min. Length: 30 in.
Max. Length: 39 in.
Weight Unloaded: 9 lbs, 1 oz.
Barrel Length: 16 in.
Featured Accessories
Optic: Holosun 510C
Light/Laser: SureFire XVL2-IRC
Handguard: KPYK CRC 1U004 AKM extended handguard
Buttstock: KPYK CRC 5002/9033 folding telescopic buttstock
Parts & Accessories: Strela Wolf AK47/AK74 Wolf Fang muzzle brake, SureFire RSR remote switch, KPYK m-lok Picatinny rail 5-slot, KPYK m-lok Picatinny rail 10-slot, KPYK QD sling mount, Emissary Development micro cable clips, LaRue index clips, Tromix AK extended charging handle, SLR Rifleworks finger stop, TangoDown AKOE Battlegrip, Military Equipment Picatinny rail top cover, LBE Unlimited AK G3 trigger group
About the Owners
Name: Aleksandr S. and Dennis S.
Special Thanks: Everyone that supports the Ukrainian people. Slava Ukraini!
