For more information, please visit Arsenal Inc.
If you are a fan of the AK, you love it for what it is. A solid, reliable rifle that has been proven around the world. What it isn’t, is the most modern of designs. This year, at SHOT Show 2020, Arsenal Inc. has updated the platform with some meaningful changes. Keeping what works, but also bringing a little of the 21st century to the table: meet the AK20.
For starters, what is unchanged? The receiver and operating system are exactly the same. The one exception being the rear QD sockets on the receiver’s left and right side. Currently the AK20 is only offered with milled receivers, but in Q3 a stamped version will be introduced.
As far as improvements go, they have actually free-floated the barrel. Rather than handguards making contact with the barrel at numerous places, Arsenal has created a free-floating aluminum rail that is attached to the receiver in a similar fashion of how a rail attaches to a barrel nut on an AR-15. This provides a continuous top rail for mounting optics and accessories, stretching back over the dust cover.
SEE ALSO: First Ever “Bedded Action” AR-15 Sub-MOA Athena Rifle $1,799 – SHOT Show 2020
Around the rail are M-LOK slots for mounting any other accessories as well. This feature alone brings a ton of modularity into a design that has largely been hard to accessorize. For a lightweight variant, they will offer a polymer handguard with a stainless steel heat shield.
The AK20 also has a free-floated gas tube, which can be removed for cleaning. Integrated into the design is an adjustable gas system featuring three positions. It can be moved from open, for regular ammunition, suppressed, or off. The off position will cut off all the gas and require the rifle to be cycled manually.
As far as barrel lengths go, the AK20 will be available in 8.5”, 10.5”, and 16.5” configurations. The barrels are threaded to accept Arsenal’s suppressors which will be available Q3. If you want to use your own muzzle device, the barrels feature a 14×1 left hand thread pitch.
Currently the AK20 is offered in 7.62×39 and 12.7×42. You will be able to purchase the Arsenal AK20 starting in Q1. The MSRP of the 16.5” rifle is $2,100.
For more information, please visit Arsenal Inc.