Evan Rosenthal of Kalashnikov USA was on hand at the Red Oktober event just outside Las Vegas on Oct. 23 - 24, 2021. He gave us a tour of the company's flagship products.
KR-103 Rifle
One of Kalashnikov USA’s most popular products is their KR-103 rifle. According to Rosenthal, it’s the closest thing you can get to an original Russian AK-47.
It's chambered in the traditional hard-hitting 7.62x39mm round. It's available with a side folding stock with a cold hammer-forged barrel with chrome lining that improves accuracy. There’s a forged trunnion and carrier with a side optic rail. It ships with a 30-round magazine. Best of all, like all Kalashnikov USA firearms, they're 100 percent made in the USA.
According to Rosenthal, the KR-103 duplicates and improves upon the incredible ruggedness and reliability that has made the AK-47 the most prolific firearm in the world, with over 100 million having been manufactured.
KP-9 9x19mm Pistol
A very attractive product offered by Kalashnikov USA, is their KP-9. Based on the Russian Vityaz-SN submachine gun, it is a small and robust firearm chambered in 9mm with the reliability of the Kalashnikov design.
It sports a 9.25-inch barrel, has an overall length of 18.25 inches, and weighs 5.62 pounds. It ships with five 30-round magazines. What’s nice is it has a rail on top to attach an optic, although it comes with decent iron sights. An SB Tactical triangle brace rounds out the package.
I was able to put a magazine through this gun, and it was a blast to shoot with very little recoil.
vKS-12 12-Gauge Shotgun
Kalashnikov USA's KS-12 shotgun combines the impressive power of a 12-gauge shotgun with the legendary reliability of a semi-automatic Kalashnikov rifle.
Based on the Russian Saiga series of shotguns, the KS-12 sports a tactical muzzle brake that reduces recoil and comes with a 10-round detachable magazine, although it does accept larger magazines and drums as well. It comes equipped with a six-position collapsible buttstock and weighs 8.86 pounds.
It accepts both standard 2.75- and 3-inch magnum 12-gauge cartridges. The gun’s innovative and adjustable gas system allows the use of everything from low recoil target loads to birdshot, buckshot, and slugs. This makes it an ideal all-around shotgun.
