Nice to see an actual soldier's opinion on the AK12. That despite its shortcomings compared to other rifles, it still delivered on the features necessary to make it a better choice than an AK74M in most cases.
@@jesseterrell2109 there's a bunch of issue in the earlier versions (most reviews on youtube are made with trophy ones from the start of the war). For example the dust cover rail doesn't hold zero. But it sounds like they iterated and fixed many.
@@jesseterrell2109 So have I. And in many ways it is. But I also feel like as a mass fielded rifle, the BASIC features such as being optic ready immediately and the ability to competently mount lights and lasers make it a better rifle
Most of the comments from everyone saying the AK-12 is a shit rifle comes from the fact that the majority of "AK-12"s here in the states are built on crappy, out of spec, deactivated blank fire or display guns turned into parts kits and illegally brought over here to the US. No shit you're going to have problems, you're using the bottom of the barrel parts, ham-fucking it all together on a US-made barrel and most of the time a Bulgarian trunnion to try to build something that looks like an AK-12. That being said, was it expensive and unnecessary? Would a simple modernization kit for the 74M have been more suitable than an entirely new weapon? Sure. Even then, the AK-12 suffered from just an overall cheapening of the gun by the time it hit production lines.
@@Nathan-Roman Sure, read the last part of my post. A simple modernization kit would've been better and we would not even have to talk about objectively poor design choices.
@@provenancemachining I know what you wrote. Asserting that most people got their information from their experience with parts kits, reactivations, and reproductions is silly, though
A new mass-produced rifle was basically Izhmekh's only way to survive back then. Also Ratnik programme needed a compatible rifle to mount other Ratnik stuff anyway. Although, KK won a large Pakistani and then even larger Indian contracts just a couple years after AK-12 release, so the factory would not just instantly die An upgrade portion also exists, called KM-AK, resulting rifle called AK-RMO. Being close to commercial 200 series AK, it's functional, but resulting rifle is just heavier than even quite hefty 12. You may look at the pictures, at that beefy folding stock adapter! Zenitco lost that contract because not every grunt do need that level of quality and precision, for people like National Guard sappers a rifle is just a paperweight most of the time. And trench fighters will buy Zenit for themselves anyway
@@Max_Da_G it was just a throwaway joke comment mainly referring to the fact we have active duty participants in war zones reviewing gear. That's all. No need to take everything so seriously.
yup, man is the real field tester, gun companies at this point might be contacting him to send their stuff just so he can talk about using it in the field. I don't know if that is sad or not but it is what it is.
@@auberginesonofdude7970 Although Americans haven't been in a real war since 1945, many weapons channels are owned by Iraq/Afghanistan veterans, some are even owned by mercenaries. Their combat experience is obviously baby mode compared to Ukraine, but they still got to use real weapons in real field conditions while getting shot at. Don't disregard their experience and knowledge
i have to disagree, I love the 3-rounds burst, if you dont care about accuracy that much but more about "putting down" targets then all you have to do is to aim at the bottom silhouette quickly and at least one of that will hit, and ngl it was always 3 rounds in the target for me, idk if thats a good explanation but when on semi auto sometimes i had a miss on bigger distance and had to put another round to hit the target, with 3 round burst that never happened to me and the time i took for the aiming was lower
The safety lever paddle being closer to the trigger seems like a great upgrade to me. During my conscription in the Finnish army I had an RK-62 which is an AK variant and I noticed I needed to slightly release my grip and use my middle finger to reach the lever. m4/AR type thumb switch might be even better ergonomics wise but I honestly don't know well that would work in practice since the safety on AKs tends to be quite stiff.
I have been following Val since the beginning he’s really gotten better ! And I thought it was pretty good from the beginning, but he’s learned a lot and I think this is one of the best videos yet ! Thanks stay safe
My biggest puzzle and question is, where the hell did this guy learnt english so damn well and then talks in pure slavic accent without even a bit of European english accent? Anyways very good content without bias. SLAVA UKRAINE 🇺🇦
Dunno. I live in eastern Ukraine for my entire life and, from my experience, English were learnt by almost anybody who were born after the soviet collapse and had any ambitions in life. That's why Zelensky and most of his stuff can speak English, btw.
Rite cause it’s something weird about the Ak-12 when it gets here and them white boas review it, never seen it in the hands of a brother but we can’t get them anymore or 3 letter gang will be at your door
Cope more. You're just upset that the Americans pointed out all the issues present in the original version. They were right, and the Kalashnikov changes prove that...
@@joeblowe3180 The American reviewers did not even have a real AK-12, how would they be able to review something they dont have? If a Ukrainian soldier with actual combat experience says its good then its probably good. Why would he be biased?
The only real review so far on youtube. Others are just fake, civilian AK-12 that somebody built in their backyard(like 9-hole, Oxide, Garand Thumb) or trophy guns where it got cut into pieces before entering the US and welded together, coupled with replacing parts to turn them from military small-arms to civilian gun(Take Brandon Herrera for example, he got many Soviet origin weapons import into the State that way). The fake one is nowhere near the factory's capability, and the neutered version severely reduces its efficiency.
@@alekvh1342AK74s aren’t rare at all. There are tons of them. There are also thousands of captured AK12s, although most Russian soldiers still carry the AK74M
@@FacitOmniaVoluntas.Because the Russian soldiers preffer the AK-74M over the AK-12, they constantly post it on their Telegram channels about how they hate the AK-12.
@@FacitOmniaVoluntas. No. Most Russian troops carry AK-12s. In fact many were worn out by intense combat (barrel) in a few months and replaced. So the receiver cover didn't even have a chance to lose stability over pin and hole wear. 77Ms are used by mostly rear echelon units.
Hello Val, i know you said previously that you don’t want to post any q&a because you don‘t want to glorify yourself, however maybe do some q&a just with gear related questions and not personal ones? Keep up the good work :)
This is an extraordinary example captured in Russia that gives us a fascinating glimpse into a world we don't often get to see up close. The level of detail is incredible, and it's truly a captivating sight. It's wonderful to hear that you're alive and well, and I hope you get to experience more amazing things like this in the future.
Such a good video. Most videos I see of this thing they are shitting on it. Good to see an actual soldier review it. Seems like an upgrade to the ak74 no matter which way you put it.
Come on Valgear, don´t ride on the AK12 hype train just becouse you have a new toy :D - the 4 position selector is awkward to operate, the latch that unlocks the folding stock gets stuck often and you almost need some tool to activate it, the handguard doesnt hold zero + no aftermarket solution in the west, unique threadless muzzle doesnt give normal person the option to get suppressor. The cleaning rod you can carry inside the handguard, there is a compartment under the heatshield, but to get it out you need to dissasemble the handguard with an option to loose the retaining pin, upper rail may or may not hold zero after abusing the rifle and using heavy (NVG) scope. If you update standard AK-74 with your ukraininan KRUK parts, its better in every way.
That amount of play on the gas tube section of rail was crazy, I'd just mount the peq on the dust cover if you have the space. You can count on Russians to design a cool firearm and invest millions into making it standard issue, but cut corners last minute like picatinny rail tolerances and having the selector switch come off the receiver lol. Incredible, only marginally better than an old soviet ak74. They should have just gotten a bunch of zenitco rails and modernized the current AK74's/AKM's in circulation how the US did with the M4. Probably much cheaper too.
@@blakeslide6919 My favourite is AK-74M (russian plastic sidefolder, donated by recon ork) with KRUK handguard + red dot on top, light on the side + GP-30 grenade launcher (also donated from tourist).. . Ideal AK for assault stuff 🙂 For defense, suppresed, heavy buffer M4A1 with scope + red dot, peq is very nice and i wouldnt trade it for HK416 or some other service piston rifles as i find their recoil excessive since they are mostly overgassed. With standard issue M4A1 in Ukraine the only problem is the inconsistency in reliability. Some rifles work 100% even when dirty (~70%), some have problems (~20%), some very unreliable (~10%). One must test the rifles thoroughly before going to combat and select.
@@UkrainianBasementRat Did they send all new rifles or various used surplus stuff? In my Army experience, you really just need good magazines and a little bit of lube and they will run amazing in all conditions. US Army magazines can not be trusted to work well, magpul works very well.
I love the new butt stock and pistol grip on the AK12! I remember the prototype concept design of the AK-12, the hand guard, the rear of the upper receiver, and the fire selector looked so clean and nice. Seeing the old AK74 fire controls on this makes the AK12 look like just an AK74 with black furniture and rails. I think there was a lot of corruption and confusion when the weapon contracts were made in Russia, which led to AK12s being made in smaller numbers and the rifles ended up looking more like an AK74 than something brand new. Very nice for a war trophy, I wish you many more trophies in battle
AK-12 is basically a re-designed AK-74. The idea was to use existing design and make it have the accessory rails and accept muzzle devices easier. So you aren't wrong in your impression, because essentially that's exactly what AK-12 is. The first iterations of AK-12 used the surplus KM-AK furniture kits that were rejected by Russian military over the weight they added to AK-74M. At the same time the new stock and pistol grip weren't fully finished and ready for mass production either. So it wasn't corruption that did it. It was merely using what's available and has passed trials. As for initial batches being made in small numbers: even though AK-12 is a redesigned AK-74, it still required a decent amount of changes to manufacturing method and required a lot of new parts. Barrel trunnion for instance is all-new, the block that used to house the front sight was replaced and modified with a new welded-on gas tube. New gas block/front sight base. Finally: what he is holding isn't AK-12M1. It's AK-12M.
Alot of them build their own with ''part kits'' and then test and review them which i do not understand. They have an AKM or AK-74 and put polymer furniture on it, dustcover with rails and folding butstock on it and call it an AK-12 like wth? You lower the suspension and put a spoiler on a Toyota Hilux doesn't make it a Ferrari. The internal workings are still the same you just changed the physical appearance.
@@muffy469 AKM/AK-74 receivers are not the same as AK-12s. They have to be made from AK-12 cut receivers since its basically impossible to get one that isnt demilled in the states. That said, a rebuilt cut receiver is like 98% the same as a factory one IF done correctly but the entire process of buying a cut receiver (last I saw was around 2500$ before they disappeared) then actually finding a gunsmith/builder that knows how to rebuild an AK-12 receiver and sourcing the correct, different profile AK-12 specific barrel and assembling the whole thing is a very very difficult, specialized skill. simply put its virtually impossible to get in the USA. Yes, its been done by a very small group and its commendable but again, its like 98% the original, same way many other rare collectible guns will have a shiny streak down the middle of the receiver after they land on US shores in 2 halves.
Favorite guntuber at this point. Great work, and stay safe 👍🫡. I yearn to see the day when both the great nations live in peace and harmony again, but until then fight the good fight and stay strong!
Great review. As an American civilian, I'll probably have to wait until a company here makes a solid clone before I can ever get my hands on anything AK-12. Until then, my AK-74M will have to do.
Speaking only as an Armchair General. It appears that the AK-12M and onward is shaping up to be an adequate serviceable rifle. Not sure if some of the features like the removable top cover and attempt at the free floating handguard was worth it IMO. It's fixable as new developments with the top cover have shown but the simpler AK-200 series hinged rail dust cover and railed handguard just seemed to me to be a more simple no fuss feature to me. And like everyone they got bit by the burst idea and have dropped it quickly. A succinct and informative review from those using in in combat. Been meaning to comment but your videos are really informative in a way on serious and honest users of something can be.
Yeah, i think the 100 series AKs + a Bastion or Zenith dust cover and handguard that were on the market for years and always held zero would have been a much better option as an upgrade pack for the russian forces, instead of reinventing the wheel, but i guess they wanted a new complete package instead of being involved with a bunch of non govt. subcontractors. But as we see the rifle is going trough rapid evolution and at the end of this conflict it is probably going to be up there with some of the best combat rifles.
@@DerDrecksack87 If you've seen the 9-hole review of their ""AK-12"" they echo much of the same sentiment. I am not entirely sure the Russian military sees the value of COTS equipment like Western militaries do.
@@beibotanov ah so it was a Heckler & Koch situation, where the company is too big and expensive to run without constant government purchase & refurbishment orders.
@@DerDrecksack87 well, yes but also no - Ratnik programme needed a compatible rifle to mount other Ratnik stuff anyway. Although, KK won a large Pakistani and then even larger Indian contracts just a couple years after AK-12 release, so the factory would not just instantly die
If he says it's good, it's good. You can't get any real life warfare experience from most of the other gun reviewers, and with every "new gun" the further modernisations it gets the better it's gonna get as he said unfortunate for Ukrainians.
Very cool review! Looks like a retrofitted model, kind of a hybrid, not the complete modernisation package. The 2023 AK also has ambidextrous selector switch, no 2 round burst, new improved handguard and front assembly, with flash hider/compensator compatible with r the new suppressor.
The 2023 rifle is the gen3 AK-12. This is a gen2 AK-12, these modernisations appeared pre-war in 2020. L-shaped stock (with no cheek riser, that's for the 2023 stock), new grip and trigger guard assembly, new rear diopter sight. I think they also reinforced the top cover to better hold zero, and it was done again for the 2023 gen3.
Initially the AK was actually classed as an SMG, and the doctrine was to use it hipfiring while assaulting positions like the PPSH and PPD. I guess this changed some time in the late 50s.
@@tiortedrootsky No, they are rifles now, as they have replaced the SKS. They were actually SMGs in doctrine during that time, replacing the PPSh and PPD.
@@ArchOfficial i just looked in a couple of manuals, rifle / automatic rifle (винтовка) is only mentioned in relation to SVD, SVT and the like. AK is always avtomat (автомат). Carbine is SKS. Not sure what you refer to when you say about the change in classification. Avtomat is something that fires cartridges smaller than full power rifle ones, capable of full auto fire but not intended for excessive use of it, like machine gun. SMGs could be refered to as machine-pistol (пистолет-пулемет) or avtomat. Anything that fits "assault rifle" niche, select fire carbine officially would be referered to as avtomat in Russia.
First of all as American I've been all about the AK since the age of 12 years old and I am 40 Americans talk a lot of bad stuff about that AK12 that is a very good assault rifle What they did was amazing with it it looks great I never shot one but it can't be much different I love the way it looks the gas to looks magic degrees it's furniture looks great When they talk bad about it it's because they're jealous of it that AK12 puts the American M4 to shame
From what I heard is noticed how they already made second ones and he has a first generation one they took all the feedback and complaints already and made a second generation version of them that’s supposed to be better
@@dannydanny2789 yes they just keep improving with feedback at the end of this war that ak 12 will be great from what I heard it’s alright way better now than those first ones
What do you prefer between an AK-12 and a modded AK-74 with rails etc? From the pictures I’ve seen, the Russian units who typically already had modified AK-74Ms stuck with them, while the lower budget guys with stock AK-74Ms adopted the AK-12 more frequently.
Here it is, a real AK-12. A real review non biased and best of all, not using an AK 74 with Ak12 look alike parts and call it an AK 12. Herrera, A-hole reviews and whoever the fuck said this weapon was a downgrade, eat your heart out.
Yeah the unfortunate truth is that the russians build solid stuff that might look crude, but it works and mostly does its job and quickly enters mass production
Объективно, без хуйни мнение человека который понимает что такое армейская штурмовая винтовка. Наконец на просторах интернета нашел мнение кого-то кроме любителей стрельбы по картону в стерильных условиях стрельбища
Nah just people dont get, it dont worth the price, you just can tune standard 74 to be that good. And Russian media as with t14 showing it as best assault rifle in the world.
@@sectero9450its DOES worth the price, AK-74 in tuning is quite heavy, AK-12 does not add much weight and ak-12 is issued in army, many people get it free, and dont care about custom handguard, stock and other
@@An1Kum it was a parts kit gun reassembled in the states by a well respected ak manufacturer. However we have photograph evidence from Ukraine of Russian AK 12’s early in the war suffering the same issues that the American one did. You’re coping dude.
A few points. This isn't AK-12M1. This is AK-12M with the furniture that was originally intended. If you look at the writing on the side of the rifle you'll find 6P70M designation. Muzzle device moves slightly, but it doesn't affect the grouping. Bullet doesn't strike it, so no deviation that matters. Also, as you said, once in combat, it gets pretty stuck so no worries about movement. The front handguard. It was designed to be free-floated and not affect iron sights and optics if rifle is pressed against something. If all you have is a weapon light and hand stop or vertical grip, then it's perfectly sufficient. AK-12M1 did indeed significantly increased the mounting stiffness of that handguard via increasing the thickness of the plastic and by adding a second mounting pin. So now Russian SF can use lasers even better. If Russians come close, call Volga on 149.200
Moving muzzle devices can reduce accuracy by three times or more. Because harmonics change completely, not tightening down a compensator or silencer can make a 1 moa rifle into 4 moa one
they are extremely rare, not like the videogames. They aren't really intended for conventional warfare (though I'm sure they've seen a fair bit of use in Ukraine). Mostly used for counter terrorism type work and special forces stuff. Neither rifle would be the top choice for most applications. Only really beneficial if you need full auto capable weapons with an extremely effective suppressor, and there're more common rifles that can achieve 90% of that
great content! Been binge-watching your videos all morning. I do similar gear review-type content but don't have access to all the cool stuff you do. Stay safe out there.
It's nice to see someone evaluate the rifle for what it is rather than compare it to the latest and greatest AR-15s or an AK-74 with +2kg of zenit parts.
It is very refreshing to hear an honest review of this rifle by someone who has experience. I was led to believe it was not a good rifle. How about does it compare with say a Zenit modernized AK 74 ?
@@baneofbanes so the ones that barely saw any use. and yet people still act like the current version is trash because someone else said so 3 years ago.
@@sb17899 I they saw extensive use during the intimate invasion. That’s why they went to the second and then third versions. Look I get you people can’t understand nuance but cmon.
"On nashy positions!" Fortunately I have Ukrainian relatives, otherwise I'd be at a loss. But do not be offended, that's the last thing I would intend! Keep the excellent work. _Nashy_ sounds familiar to the Portuguese "nossos", Spanish "nuestros" or the French "nôtres" but not at all to the English "our/ours. All the best. Slava 3CY!
I find it a bit funny that someone who is actively killing the people who use the equipment he reviews still gives it a more fair review than "journalists" who have little to no skin in the game. Although supposedly the very first AK-12 versions had more severe issues.
Good video, i was not expecting you would like that new AK. Since the videos i saw on youtube, well from US based youtubers. They were all like nah, not really good weapon. For a weapon that is supposed to be mass produced and to be general infantry assault rifle, it's not supposed to be next level Ferrari. I trust you more than UA-camrs from US assembling AKs from different spare parts kit. Would use that AK-12 as your new weapon of choice?
"I don't need accuracy, I need the gun to work" Spoken like a true frontline soldier
We've reach the point in the internets history where soldiers are reviewing captured enemy equipment in the middle of a war.
😂😂😂😂😂😂
these unboxing videos are getting out of hand
I'm waiting for a MrBeast style video in a battlefield. That would be epic.
What a time to be alive 😅
Slava Russia
Your reviews are so good! Practical, precise, with NO bias and theorethical bullshit! Thumbs up for you 👍
Agreed
You know it’s gonna be a good guntuber when they got an accent
Well that doesn’t really matter what matter is he is fighting for his country that’s what makes him cool
Everyone has an accent
Fact
Tbh, the accent reminds me of a Czech friend
@@jakubhamari974 He must be czech. as a Slovak I can recognize Czech accent everywhere. But this guy fights in UA since 2014 I think. amazing
Nice to see an actual soldier's opinion on the AK12. That despite its shortcomings compared to other rifles, it still delivered on the features necessary to make it a better choice than an AK74M in most cases.
this seems to be the iterated version. They fixed many things from the 1st batch
I’ve heard many people in the states saying the ak12 is a step down from the 74m
@@jesseterrell2109 there's a bunch of issue in the earlier versions (most reviews on youtube are made with trophy ones from the start of the war). For example the dust cover rail doesn't hold zero. But it sounds like they iterated and fixed many.
@@jesseterrell2109 So have I. And in many ways it is. But I also feel like as a mass fielded rifle, the BASIC features such as being optic ready immediately and the ability to competently mount lights and lasers make it a better rifle
@@valiant545 yea I agree and I think kalashnikov concern did fix most of these problems with new rifles.
"Once they fix the handguard wobble issue it will be *unfortunately* a very good assault rifle" LOL
And Russians had INDEED fixed the wobble.
@@Max_Da_GGood to hear
@@bigmanbigman2544do u live in Russia?
@@yuwelcome Why does it matter?
@@Max_Da_G Now if only they had enough PERSTs for it to actually matter 😂
Most of the comments from everyone saying the AK-12 is a shit rifle comes from the fact that the majority of "AK-12"s here in the states are built on crappy, out of spec, deactivated blank fire or display guns turned into parts kits and illegally brought over here to the US. No shit you're going to have problems, you're using the bottom of the barrel parts, ham-fucking it all together on a US-made barrel and most of the time a Bulgarian trunnion to try to build something that looks like an AK-12. That being said, was it expensive and unnecessary? Would a simple modernization kit for the 74M have been more suitable than an entirely new weapon? Sure. Even then, the AK-12 suffered from just an overall cheapening of the gun by the time it hit production lines.
Alternatively, people could be talking about the objectively poor design choices
@@Nathan-Roman Sure, read the last part of my post. A simple modernization kit would've been better and we would not even have to talk about objectively poor design choices.
@@provenancemachining I know what you wrote. Asserting that most people got their information from their experience with parts kits, reactivations, and reproductions is silly, though
A new mass-produced rifle was basically Izhmekh's only way to survive back then. Also Ratnik programme needed a compatible rifle to mount other Ratnik stuff anyway. Although, KK won a large Pakistani and then even larger Indian contracts just a couple years after AK-12 release, so the factory would not just instantly die
An upgrade portion also exists, called KM-AK, resulting rifle called AK-RMO. Being close to commercial 200 series AK, it's functional, but resulting rifle is just heavier than even quite hefty 12. You may look at the pictures, at that beefy folding stock adapter!
Zenitco lost that contract because not every grunt do need that level of quality and precision, for people like National Guard sappers a rifle is just a paperweight most of the time. And trench fighters will buy Zenit for themselves anyway
Yeah, and it had like three iterations already, it's much better than at the start of the war
Finally, someone who doesn't trash talk the AK-12, and this is reviewed by the opposite side. Big respect to you, sir!
Tbf a lot of the trash talk for the AK 12 came because the first iteration really sucked.
@@baneofbanes Yeah a lot of that trash talk was extremely valid and based in reality, the early versions had lots of teething issues
Ian McCollum with Forgotten Weapons - "How the fuck do I compete with this"
Ian digs into developmental history, so he isn't even competing with this. Valgear is doing purely practical assessment. He doesn't care for history.
@@Max_Da_G it was just a throwaway joke comment mainly referring to the fact we have active duty participants in war zones reviewing gear. That's all. No need to take everything so seriously.
@@Max_Da_G Woosh
Two very different appraisals, there is room for both.
This man is KILLING IT the best weapon/gear videos on UA-cam
yup, man is the real field tester, gun companies at this point might be contacting him to send their stuff just so he can talk about using it in the field.
I don't know if that is sad or not but it is what it is.
Very kind words man, thank you!
@@valgear5525100% same thoughts. Hope one day after war ends you will be most valuable gun youtuber in the world!
He is best because he is not Murican tacticool guy. He fights with this gadgets.
@@auberginesonofdude7970
Although Americans haven't been in a real war since 1945, many weapons channels are owned by Iraq/Afghanistan veterans, some are even owned by mercenaries. Their combat experience is obviously baby mode compared to Ukraine, but they still got to use real weapons in real field conditions while getting shot at. Don't disregard their experience and knowledge
6:53 Beryl still retains 3 round burst setting, no one uses it, and it's another thing in trigger assembly that you have to clean and can be broken.
i have to disagree, I love the 3-rounds burst, if you dont care about accuracy that much but more about "putting down" targets then all you have to do is to aim at the bottom silhouette quickly and at least one of that will hit, and ngl it was always 3 rounds in the target for me, idk if thats a good explanation but when on semi auto sometimes i had a miss on bigger distance and had to put another round to hit the target, with 3 round burst that never happened to me and the time i took for the aiming was lower
@@IslamsBomb Just burst with full auto?
@@rez4958 meh
These videos are goning to be invaluable for future generations who are studying this war. Love the content Val, appreciate your work 👍.
these videos will dissapear in max 5 years...
with western censorship and propaganda, videos vill survive only on HDD of people that download them
Due to the nature of war, there's a fair chance this can go down by policy changes/bias
When an enemy reviews your weapon and says it works perfect for the purpose, you have to trust him😅
good health to you Mr Valgear, and good luck on your journey!
The safety lever paddle being closer to the trigger seems like a great upgrade to me. During my conscription in the Finnish army I had an RK-62 which is an AK variant and I noticed I needed to slightly release my grip and use my middle finger to reach the lever. m4/AR type thumb switch might be even better ergonomics wise but I honestly don't know well that would work in practice since the safety on AKs tends to be quite stiff.
I have been following Val since the beginning he’s really gotten better ! And I thought it was pretty good from the beginning, but he’s learned a lot and I think this is one of the best videos yet ! Thanks stay safe
My biggest puzzle and question is, where the hell did this guy learnt english so damn well and then talks in pure slavic accent without even a bit of European english accent? Anyways very good content without bias. SLAVA UKRAINE 🇺🇦
Dunno. I live in eastern Ukraine for my entire life and, from my experience, English were learnt by almost anybody who were born after the soviet collapse and had any ambitions in life. That's why Zelensky and most of his stuff can speak English, btw.
рабы должны понимать что говорит хозяин поэтому и знают английский
Dude’s accent sounds finnish, he might be a part of foreign legion.
There's no "slavic accent". There's no "slavic culture". You westerners can't grasp simple concepts of cultural anthropology.
@@beegxxc9832 I bet he learned English from a Finn.
I love how practical your review is from a infantryman perspective. Good work 👌
Great review,and unlike the American reviews the rifle is the actual real AK-12 and not some semiauto copy someone threw together.
Rite cause it’s something weird about the Ak-12 when it gets here and them white boas review it, never seen it in the hands of a brother but we can’t get them anymore or 3 letter gang will be at your door
You can't get an AK 12 in the US because of our stupid laws why is this surprising??
Cope more. You're just upset that the Americans pointed out all the issues present in the original version. They were right, and the Kalashnikov changes prove that...
@@joeblowe3180 The American reviewers did not even have a real AK-12, how would they be able to review something they dont have? If a Ukrainian soldier with actual combat experience says its good then its probably good. Why would he be biased?
@@joeblowe3180lmao amerimutts seething hard 😂😂😂
Another informative and enjoyable overview of the gear being used. Stay safe out there! Thanks for what you are doing for our gear community!
Congratulations: very good introduction of AK 12 ! I learned about the main differences to AK 74 by this video. Great! Stay safe!
best AK12 review on youtube
The only real review so far on youtube. Others are just fake, civilian AK-12 that somebody built in their backyard(like 9-hole, Oxide, Garand Thumb) or trophy guns where it got cut into pieces before entering the US and welded together, coupled with replacing parts to turn them from military small-arms to civilian gun(Take Brandon Herrera for example, he got many Soviet origin weapons import into the State that way). The fake one is nowhere near the factory's capability, and the neutered version severely reduces its efficiency.
@@Phoenixrising2055Exactly!
I feel like this man must be Special Forces soldier. So many different armaments. Also has high level of military swagger. NICE
Это наемник...😉😂
@@АндрейШмырев-ж3з Ukraine doesnt employ mercenaries. nice try bot
@@fogellmclovin3740 если он воюет за другое государство и при этом получает от данной страны деньги за свою работу, то это наемник
@@vacample3892 Он украинец и является членом ВСУ. Поэтому его нельзя квалифицировать как наемника.
Mercenary
This is an example captured from the Russian's right? Super cool, not something you get to see in depth too often. Glad you're alive and well.
Yes, and as far as I know it is still quite more rare than AK74
exactly! not an AK12 copy made up of nonsense cheap parts - unlike other youtube channels
@@alekvh1342AK74s aren’t rare at all. There are tons of them. There are also thousands of captured AK12s, although most Russian soldiers still carry the AK74M
@@FacitOmniaVoluntas.Because the Russian soldiers preffer the AK-74M over the AK-12, they constantly post it on their Telegram channels about how they hate the AK-12.
@@FacitOmniaVoluntas. No. Most Russian troops carry AK-12s. In fact many were worn out by intense combat (barrel) in a few months and replaced. So the receiver cover didn't even have a chance to lose stability over pin and hole wear. 77Ms are used by mostly rear echelon units.
I like that you have no bias on these reviews just straight up honest pros and cons. Good English as well!
Hello Val, i know you said previously that you don’t want to post any q&a because you don‘t want to glorify yourself, however maybe do some q&a just with gear related questions and not personal ones? Keep up the good work :)
This is an extraordinary example captured in Russia that gives us a fascinating glimpse into a world we don't often get to see up close. The level of detail is incredible, and it's truly a captivating sight. It's wonderful to hear that you're alive and well, and I hope you get to experience more amazing things like this in the future.
Holy shit did chatgpt write this?
@@LaughingMan44 hes just mesmerized, dont mind em
Impressive, very nice, now let's see Paul Allen's rifle.
@@StormerSixActualoh my god, it even got a eotech Vodoo on it, the tasteful thickness of it…
You do not seem like a real human???
People with combat experience reviewing equipment > larpers reviewing equipment
So sad what you guys have to go through! I hope soon there are only videos where you show how it is afther rebuilding everything!
Great video! Rellay great to see someone who reviews a gun with a practical view to what should be expected of it.
Such a good video. Most videos I see of this thing they are shitting on it. Good to see an actual soldier review it. Seems like an upgrade to the ak74 no matter which way you put it.
The literal "I would kill to have one" hahaha
Keep up the good work man! Thank you for posting these for us. All the luck.
Thanks for your video. As someone who wants to go to the army I appreciate technical stuff videos.
Just discovered this channel, what amazing content and work!
Come on Valgear, don´t ride on the AK12 hype train just becouse you have a new toy :D - the 4 position selector is awkward to operate, the latch that unlocks the folding stock gets stuck often and you almost need some tool to activate it, the handguard doesnt hold zero + no aftermarket solution in the west, unique threadless muzzle doesnt give normal person the option to get suppressor. The cleaning rod you can carry inside the handguard, there is a compartment under the heatshield, but to get it out you need to dissasemble the handguard with an option to loose the retaining pin, upper rail may or may not hold zero after abusing the rifle and using heavy (NVG) scope.
If you update standard AK-74 with your ukraininan KRUK parts, its better in every way.
The new toy factor is real! :D
I noticed that buttstock swivel tab problem. "Uhhh dude you're using needlenose pliers to unfold your rifle..." Oh boy.
That amount of play on the gas tube section of rail was crazy, I'd just mount the peq on the dust cover if you have the space. You can count on Russians to design a cool firearm and invest millions into making it standard issue, but cut corners last minute like picatinny rail tolerances and having the selector switch come off the receiver lol. Incredible, only marginally better than an old soviet ak74.
They should have just gotten a bunch of zenitco rails and modernized the current AK74's/AKM's in circulation how the US did with the M4. Probably much cheaper too.
@@blakeslide6919 My favourite is AK-74M (russian plastic sidefolder, donated by recon ork) with KRUK handguard + red dot on top, light on the side + GP-30 grenade launcher (also donated from tourist).. . Ideal AK for assault stuff 🙂
For defense, suppresed, heavy buffer M4A1 with scope + red dot, peq is very nice and i wouldnt trade it for HK416 or some other service piston rifles as i find their recoil excessive since they are mostly overgassed.
With standard issue M4A1 in Ukraine the only problem is the inconsistency in reliability. Some rifles work 100% even when dirty (~70%), some have problems (~20%), some very unreliable (~10%). One must test the rifles thoroughly before going to combat and select.
@@UkrainianBasementRat Did they send all new rifles or various used surplus stuff? In my Army experience, you really just need good magazines and a little bit of lube and they will run amazing in all conditions. US Army magazines can not be trusted to work well, magpul works very well.
I love the new butt stock and pistol grip on the AK12! I remember the prototype concept design of the AK-12, the hand guard, the rear of the upper receiver, and the fire selector looked so clean and nice.
Seeing the old AK74 fire controls on this makes the AK12 look like just an AK74 with black furniture and rails. I think there was a lot of corruption and confusion when the weapon contracts were made in Russia, which led to AK12s being made in smaller numbers and the rifles ended up looking more like an AK74 than something brand new.
Very nice for a war trophy, I wish you many more trophies in battle
Funding was allocated to tactical yahct 😂
@@Bren.nto6971General Oligarchkov has to make a living somehow
AK-12 is basically a re-designed AK-74. The idea was to use existing design and make it have the accessory rails and accept muzzle devices easier. So you aren't wrong in your impression, because essentially that's exactly what AK-12 is. The first iterations of AK-12 used the surplus KM-AK furniture kits that were rejected by Russian military over the weight they added to AK-74M. At the same time the new stock and pistol grip weren't fully finished and ready for mass production either. So it wasn't corruption that did it. It was merely using what's available and has passed trials. As for initial batches being made in small numbers: even though AK-12 is a redesigned AK-74, it still required a decent amount of changes to manufacturing method and required a lot of new parts. Barrel trunnion for instance is all-new, the block that used to house the front sight was replaced and modified with a new welded-on gas tube. New gas block/front sight base.
Finally: what he is holding isn't AK-12M1. It's AK-12M.
They wouldn't rehaul the ergonomics anyway, it's something everyone in Russia knows how to operate already.
Ah, Val showing us another one of his war trophies I wonder what’s next maybe AS VAL?
That’s some nice drop loot
I know alot of American guntubers dog on the AK-12 but i think its a pretty neat weapon, wish I could own one but dont see that ever happening now 😓
Its shit end of the story...
Alot of them build their own with ''part kits'' and then test and review them which i do not understand. They have an AKM or AK-74 and put polymer furniture on it, dustcover with rails and folding butstock on it and call it an AK-12 like wth? You lower the suspension and put a spoiler on a Toyota Hilux doesn't make it a Ferrari. The internal workings are still the same you just changed the physical appearance.
@@muffy469 AKM/AK-74 receivers are not the same as AK-12s. They have to be made from AK-12 cut receivers since its basically impossible to get one that isnt demilled in the states. That said, a rebuilt cut receiver is like 98% the same as a factory one IF done correctly but the entire process of buying a cut receiver (last I saw was around 2500$ before they disappeared) then actually finding a gunsmith/builder that knows how to rebuild an AK-12 receiver and sourcing the correct, different profile AK-12 specific barrel and assembling the whole thing is a very very difficult, specialized skill. simply put its virtually impossible to get in the USA. Yes, its been done by a very small group and its commendable but again, its like 98% the original, same way many other rare collectible guns will have a shiny streak down the middle of the receiver after they land on US shores in 2 halves.
Favorite guntuber at this point. Great work, and stay safe 👍🫡. I yearn to see the day when both the great nations live in peace and harmony again, but until then fight the good fight and stay strong!
Nice little captured weapon
Thank you for this!! I like seeing a soldiers view of the ak-12.
Thank you for reviewing this rifle. Much appreciated! Good luck and stay safe!
Love to watching u ROCKING AK12 with 45 rdr mag on it, its so HYPED & Loved it.
woah good job to your friend for this trophy.
Your friend got himself an awesome battlefield trophy man👍
Thank you for this unbiased review really hard to come across these days
Great review. As an American civilian, I'll probably have to wait until a company here makes a solid clone before I can ever get my hands on anything AK-12. Until then, my AK-74M will have to do.
I need more channels like yours
they die too fast😢
Speaking only as an Armchair General. It appears that the AK-12M and onward is shaping up to be an adequate serviceable rifle. Not sure if some of the features like the removable top cover and attempt at the free floating handguard was worth it IMO. It's fixable as new developments with the top cover have shown but the simpler AK-200 series hinged rail dust cover and railed handguard just seemed to me to be a more simple no fuss feature to me. And like everyone they got bit by the burst idea and have dropped it quickly.
A succinct and informative review from those using in in combat. Been meaning to comment but your videos are really informative in a way on serious and honest users of something can be.
Yeah, i think the 100 series AKs + a Bastion or Zenith dust cover and handguard that were on the market for years and always held zero would have been a much better option as an upgrade pack for the russian forces, instead of reinventing the wheel, but i guess they wanted a new complete package instead of being involved with a bunch of non govt. subcontractors. But as we see the rifle is going trough rapid evolution and at the end of this conflict it is probably going to be up there with some of the best combat rifles.
@@DerDrecksack87 If you've seen the 9-hole review of their ""AK-12"" they echo much of the same sentiment. I am not entirely sure the Russian military sees the value of COTS equipment like Western militaries do.
@@DerDrecksack87 A new mass-produced rifle was basically Izhmekh's only way to survive
@@beibotanov ah so it was a Heckler & Koch situation, where the company is too big and expensive to run without constant government purchase & refurbishment orders.
@@DerDrecksack87 well, yes but also no - Ratnik programme needed a compatible rifle to mount other Ratnik stuff anyway. Although, KK won a large Pakistani and then even larger Indian contracts just a couple years after AK-12 release, so the factory would not just instantly die
If he says it's good, it's good. You can't get any real life warfare experience from most of the other gun reviewers, and with every "new gun" the further modernisations it gets the better it's gonna get as he said unfortunate for Ukrainians.
Very impressed review of the AK-12 assault rifle.
Glad to see you're doing well on the field. Hope you'll do a video about the RGD-5 or F-1 hand grenades. Stay safe homie!
It's comeing
Please review RGO and RGN grenades. Every reviewer poops on them saying that classic grenades are better.
Very cool review! Looks like a retrofitted model, kind of a hybrid, not the complete modernisation package. The 2023 AK also has ambidextrous selector switch, no 2 round burst, new improved handguard and front assembly, with flash hider/compensator compatible with r the new suppressor.
This model appeared 1 year ago in a Rosobornexport video, along with a civilian TR3 model. The fully modernized gun appeard this year, around june
The 2023 rifle is the gen3 AK-12. This is a gen2 AK-12, these modernisations appeared pre-war in 2020. L-shaped stock (with no cheek riser, that's for the 2023 stock), new grip and trigger guard assembly, new rear diopter sight. I think they also reinforced the top cover to better hold zero, and it was done again for the 2023 gen3.
I don’t need accuracy I need gun to work….legend 😅😅😅
Fun fact: the ak platform was developed to replace the ppsh family of smgs. The SKS was intended to replace the mosin as the general infantry rifle.
Russians have AKs, Americans have ARs, and Europeans have futuristic looking guns
Initially the AK was actually classed as an SMG, and the doctrine was to use it hipfiring while assaulting positions like the PPSH and PPD. I guess this changed some time in the late 50s.
@@ArchOfficial "classified as smg". If you mean that they were called "avtomat", than they still are. AK is "avtomat Kalashnikova".
@@tiortedrootsky No, they are rifles now, as they have replaced the SKS. They were actually SMGs in doctrine during that time, replacing the PPSh and PPD.
@@ArchOfficial i just looked in a couple of manuals, rifle / automatic rifle (винтовка) is only mentioned in relation to SVD, SVT and the like. AK is always avtomat (автомат). Carbine is SKS.
Not sure what you refer to when you say about the change in classification.
Avtomat is something that fires cartridges smaller than full power rifle ones, capable of full auto fire but not intended for excessive use of it, like machine gun.
SMGs could be refered to as machine-pistol (пистолет-пулемет) or avtomat.
Anything that fits "assault rifle" niche, select fire carbine officially would be referered to as avtomat in Russia.
I remember your channel before 10 k subscribers keep it good bro
❤
First of all as American I've been all about the AK since the age of 12 years old and I am 40 Americans talk a lot of bad stuff about that AK12 that is a very good assault rifle What they did was amazing with it it looks great I never shot one but it can't be much different I love the way it looks the gas to looks magic degrees it's furniture looks great When they talk bad about it it's because they're jealous of it that AK12 puts the American M4 to shame
Real spec ops guys in russian army say that ak12 is actually good and often they point out what you pointed out.
From what I heard is noticed how they already made second ones and he has a first generation one they took all the feedback and complaints already and made a second generation version of them that’s supposed to be better
@@Unruly6ixxуже есть третья версия
@@ДмитрийЛогинов-й8ц Yeahh since this post I did hear about more models
@@Unruly6ixxyeah, there are three iterations as of now.
@@dannydanny2789 yes they just keep improving with feedback at the end of this war that ak 12 will be great from what I heard it’s alright way better now than those first ones
7:05 damn those nasty geezers 😂
Great video as always, stay safe and let's hope for peace soon.
I didn't know it had the little cleaning kit. Very cool.
Ak74 has one as well in the butt of the stock
What do you prefer between an AK-12 and a modded AK-74 with rails etc? From the pictures I’ve seen, the Russian units who typically already had modified AK-74Ms stuck with them, while the lower budget guys with stock AK-74Ms adopted the AK-12 more frequently.
Is Valgear AK12 chambered 6.5 Grendel ammo?
@@vivacehome1 no, the Russians are just overly optimistic. I'm not sure anyone can see a person at 800 meters much less shoot the guy.
AK-74 with rails actually heavier than AK-12
any AK with zenitco or sureshot is far better
Here it is, a real AK-12. A real review non biased and best of all, not using an AK 74 with Ak12 look alike parts and call it an AK 12. Herrera, A-hole reviews and whoever the fuck said this weapon was a downgrade, eat your heart out.
Yeah the unfortunate truth is that the russians build solid stuff that might look crude, but it works and mostly does its job and quickly enters mass production
This is the most recent production model which is different from the ones Brandon and 9-Holes got their hands on.
@@Horgler the ones they got their hands on was not even a real AK-12. facts.
@@Horglerthey got TR-3 original civilian of the first production type ak12
@@Horgler no, Russians have got next generation (AK-12M 2023)
Gun manufacturers : *promises battlefield ruggedness*
Valgear : *LET ME PROVE YOU'RE THEORY BY FIRE.*
Объективно, без хуйни мнение человека который понимает что такое армейская штурмовая винтовка. Наконец на просторах интернета нашел мнение кого-то кроме любителей стрельбы по картону в стерильных условиях стрельбища
best looking ar i done seen in a long time
Thanks for sharing bro, please stay safe out there.
"B-but reddit told me its a bad gun"
Nah just people dont get, it dont worth the price, you just can tune standard 74 to be that good. And Russian media as with t14 showing it as best assault rifle in the world.
@@sectero9450its DOES worth the price, AK-74 in tuning is quite heavy, AK-12 does not add much weight
and ak-12 is issued in army, many people get it free, and dont care about custom handguard, stock and other
@@sectero9450 that good, but heavier!
@@beibotanov You don't need to use fucking zenitco. Use magpul lol
Its a good gun just that it has been mass produced and the production quality has gone down.
hopefully you can get some of the newer rifles, more trophies 🏆
Every western reviewer was telling that AK12 is bad rifle.
Because their audience want to hear that ,UNFORTUNATELY.
No it was because the first iterations of the AK 12 sucked.
@@baneofbanes I wonder how someone in Florida or San Francisco gets access to AK12.
@@An1Kum they don’t. Especially not San Francisco.
I’m guessing you’re not an American.
@@baneofbanes No, I am not.
I wonder how these gun experts get access to a real Russian army AK12.
@@An1Kum it was a parts kit gun reassembled in the states by a well respected ak manufacturer.
However we have photograph evidence from Ukraine of Russian AK 12’s early in the war suffering the same issues that the American one did.
You’re coping dude.
following all your videos friend. we have not forgotten you and the people of Ukraine. we will be there soon.
A few points.
This isn't AK-12M1. This is AK-12M with the furniture that was originally intended. If you look at the writing on the side of the rifle you'll find 6P70M designation.
Muzzle device moves slightly, but it doesn't affect the grouping. Bullet doesn't strike it, so no deviation that matters. Also, as you said, once in combat, it gets pretty stuck so no worries about movement.
The front handguard. It was designed to be free-floated and not affect iron sights and optics if rifle is pressed against something. If all you have is a weapon light and hand stop or vertical grip, then it's perfectly sufficient. AK-12M1 did indeed significantly increased the mounting stiffness of that handguard via increasing the thickness of the plastic and by adding a second mounting pin. So now Russian SF can use lasers even better.
If Russians come close, call Volga on 149.200
Volga idi na hyi, kak ponyal😊
Moving muzzle devices can reduce accuracy by three times or more. Because harmonics change completely, not tightening down a compensator or silencer can make a 1 moa rifle into 4 moa one
Volga 149.200 can barely handle number of calls these days.
@@codaalive5076 in Kursk by Russian conscripts
Other than the modernized furniture, I think the sights are the most interesting feature in my opinion
Wow great to see! Any chance you have been able to get your hands on VSS or As-Val that would be an awesome piece to get your opinion on!
Скорее всего, он пулю из всс получит
they are extremely rare, not like the videogames. They aren't really intended for conventional warfare (though I'm sure they've seen a fair bit of use in Ukraine). Mostly used for counter terrorism type work and special forces stuff. Neither rifle would be the top choice for most applications. Only really beneficial if you need full auto capable weapons with an extremely effective suppressor, and there're more common rifles that can achieve 90% of that
@@Alexandr-ss5hyурус пытается шутить
A beautiful trophy!
his background reminds me of my childhood
Great video!! I was curious about this gun
Your videos are like no other, thank you for everything you do! The fact that you can use the 2rnd burst FCG in a AKM sounds very neat to me.
great content! Been binge-watching your videos all morning. I do similar gear review-type content but don't have access to all the cool stuff you do. Stay safe out there.
I liked this video!
Straight to the point!
+1 Sub
It's nice to see someone evaluate the rifle for what it is rather than compare it to the latest and greatest AR-15s or an AK-74 with +2kg of zenit parts.
It is very refreshing to hear an honest review of this rifle by someone who has experience. I was led to believe it was not a good rifle. How about does it compare with say a Zenit modernized AK 74 ?
Love your videos!
Good luck and good health to you brother, and thank you for the interesting video
This channel beats so many others where guys just try to look tough or show off some expensive gear...
Interesting opinion, i do not expect positive review from you after everybody blame it.
Thanks for the honest opinion!
Good luck and stay safe!
Real example from Russia as well great footage❤
i always knew it was a good rifle
"b-but reddit said it was bad!"
stay safe out there man
Did you even watch the video? He even said himself that the first rifles were bad.
@@baneofbanes so the ones that barely saw any use. and yet people still act like the current version is trash because someone else said so 3 years ago.
@@sb17899 I they saw extensive use during the intimate invasion. That’s why they went to the second and then third versions.
Look I get you people can’t understand nuance but cmon.
"On nashy positions!" Fortunately I have Ukrainian relatives, otherwise I'd be at a loss. But do not be offended, that's the last thing I would intend! Keep the excellent work.
_Nashy_ sounds familiar to the Portuguese "nossos", Spanish "nuestros" or the French "nôtres" but not at all to the English "our/ours.
All the best. Slava 3CY!
Beautiful piece of gear, love the AK-12
I find it a bit funny that someone who is actively killing the people who use the equipment he reviews still gives it a more fair review than "journalists" who have little to no skin in the game. Although supposedly the very first AK-12 versions had more severe issues.
Just discovered this channel through Telegram, very cool and subbed. Slava Ukraini from Britain
What an incredibly rare find.
What a cool channel! Please keep it up
Good video, i was not expecting you would like that new AK. Since the videos i saw on youtube, well from US based youtubers. They were all like nah, not really good weapon.
For a weapon that is supposed to be mass produced and to be general infantry assault rifle, it's not supposed to be next level Ferrari.
I trust you more than UA-camrs from US assembling AKs from different spare parts kit.
Would use that AK-12 as your new weapon of choice?
Not as a weapon of choice for my role, but for 95% of the army it would be great gun
@@valgear5525 Cool! So what is your favourite weapon, which one you like to use the most?
Looking forward to your future videos, you rock.
@valgear5525 us based people can't get actual AK 12s due to our stupid laws
Love you videos keep it up!❤
Awesome video also awesome trophy
could you do a review of the 1P87 sight and magnifier? would love to see it
Fantastic video as always.