ARMOURY: G&G PRK 9

from Airsoft Action - May 2020

THIS IS MY M4: PART 6

G&G INNOVATION + AK STYLE = PCC PERFECTION

THE 9MM CARBINE AEG HAS BEEN ALL THE RAGE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WITH NUMEROUS AIRSOFT MANUFACTURERS ENTERING THE FRAY BOTH WITH LICENCED REPLICAS AND MORE ESOTERIC DESIGNS OF THEIR OWN CREATION. BILL HAS BEEN WATCHING THE ROLLOUT OF A NEW FAMILY OF “PISTOL CALIBRE CARBINES” FROM G&G ARMAMENT FOR A WHILE NOW AND FINALLY GETS HANDS ON WITH THE ALL-NEW PRK-9!

Usually I’m a bit of a stickler when it comes to airsoft guns, and whilst I’m certainly not all about the “Mil” look I do tend to veer towards AEGs and GBBs that have at least some basis in reality! However, at the risk of contradicting myself, I also have an insanely soft spot for manufacturers that go their own sweet way in terms of new designs, and unique directions, and I have to say that G&G Armament are certainly at the forefront of this.

Whilst they do create some fabulous “Mil” and, indeed, competition rifles and carbines, they’re also unafraid of going in their own direction and I have to say that this appeals to me greatly. The new “PRK” family shows just how much fun a manufacturer can have when they take off the blinkers and decide to create something all of their own!

Regular readers of AA will also know that I have something of a “Kalshnikov obsession” and my personal collection is quite extensive these days, with everything from a totally classic AK-47 up to and including the AK-12. If pushed, I would have to say that my personal favourites are still the classic AKM and AKMS variants as they are so versatile in airsoft form, covering off conflicts from the Cold War up to the present day, so you might well expect me to take one look at the G&G PRK-9 and immediately dismiss it.

In this you’d be very, VERY wrong!

Basically, of the three PRK-9 models that are being released as I write (some retailers already have them on pre-order!) two are essentially what, in the real US-firearms world, would be described as “pistols”. The basic PRK9 resembles an MP5K if you squint a bit - and that’s no bad thing; with no stock of any description the PRK-9 is definitely in “pistol” territory. Whilst the PRK-9 L gives you a “pistol calibre” full-length rifle, it’s the PRK-9 RTS with a side-folding buffer-tube stock that got my attention right from the very first moment I started seeing it as shows.

COOLNESS INSIDE AND OUT! Essentially the PRK-9 and PRK-9 RTS are the same, short (13 inch/330mm) and sweet AK-style members of the family and both come with the same features. Internally you have a metal gearbox and gearset, 8mm bearings and a fully programmable Mosfet that gives you semi/full auto/3-round burst functions. You also get the tried and tested G&G ETU, but the hop-up unit is the first-in-the market rotary hop-up chamber for the VIII gearbox, which I’ll come back to later.

Externally is where things, at least for me, get really

“…IT FEATURES A FAL-STYLE LOCKING SYSTEM THAT HOLDS A BUFFER TUBE WITH POLYMER SLIDING STOCK (THE STOCK DESIGN IS ONE OF G&GS OWN, AND IS VERY, VERY GOOD!) FIRMLY AND SOLIDLY OPEN OR CLOSED, MEANING YOU CAN SHOULDER AND AIM PROPERLY, RATHER THAN JUST SPRAYING AND PRAYING!”

interesting though! The PRK-9 models look completely like a cut down AK, with a full metal lower receiver and hinged topcover visually the same as those you’d find on any AK variant; the fire-selector is also 100% “klacker” but of the “tactical style” featuring, as it does, the thumb-rests for ease of use. Whilst the dedicated and stockless “pistol” variant is nice, it’s the RTS model that to me is the most useable as it features a FAL-style locking system that holds a buffer tube with polymer sliding stock (the stock design is one of G&Gs own, and is very, very good!) firmly and solidly open or closed, meaning you can shoulder and aim properly, rather than just spraying and praying!

And at the front end things are also distinctly different, as the muzzle of the PRK-9 is only a mere 90mm from the front of the lower receiver! Yes, it really is THAT short! Even so there are some cool features in evidence with a fixed 5-slot lower rail for a foregrip, and additional 10-slot rails fitted at 3 and 6 o’clock; the rail on the RHS is cut away to accommodate a short folding cocking lever which reveals the hop adjustment wheel. In addition, the muzzle itself is neatly finished off with a knurled cover, which can be removed to reveal a standard 14mm CCW thread so that you can fit a suppressor or tracer unit… in my mind the PRK-9 is just gagging for a suppressor!

All the PRK-9 models come with fixed, shrouded metal AK-style foresights, along with a very useable polymer rear sight, which makes it ready to go from the box; the top covers are railed though so it’s easy to fit an optic of your choice if you so desire. The standard 40BB translucent “bullet” magazine (I understand that G&G will soon be releasing a PRK-9 drum mag for you hi-cap lovers!) is quite striking, looks great, and fits solidly with no wobble. If, however, you’re not used to AK mags then the PRK-9 model may vex you a little initially as you really need to seat the front lip into the magwell very positively to enable you to rock the mag back and lock it firmly in place. Do practice this until you have your load completely down, as it’s no way as intuitive as the load for an AR but if you’re used to an AK you’ll be fine.

BANG ON Huge thought and attention to detail has gone into the PRK-9, and this shows on the range! Although it’s a properly small and tidy package, on testing the RTS came in at 1.09 Joule/344fps on my usual RZR .20g BBs. Once I was happy with the power level I adjusted the hop, which is extremely easy to do with the newly designed horizontal adjustment wheel and upped to .25g RZRs. The shot distance was great, sending the BBs right to the extent of the 30m range with a dead-flat trajectory! After running a couple of full mags through the PRK-9 I was able to achieve a nice tight group and switching to full-auto delivered a line of BBs straight to target. The “bullet” magazine feeds perfectly, so bloody well done as usual G&G!

I’ve already seen a few comments doing the rounds and for the “AK Puritans” out there, the PRK series is definitely going to be one that you either coo or scream over! However, I’d urge anyone to stop before they rant, as actually the fundamental design, certainly in respect of the “pistol” and RTS variants, does actually exist in the real world in the form of the Chiappa PAK-9! The PAK-9 is, at heart, a 9mm AK distributed by Italian firearms legends Chiappa, made in a Romanian arms factory called NOVA.

“THE SHOT DISTANCE WAS GREAT, SENDING THE BBS RIGHT TO THE EXTENT OF THE 30M RANGE WITH A DEAD-FLAT TRAJECTORY! AFTER RUNNING A COUPLE OF FULL MAGS THROUGH THE PRK-9 I WAS ABLE TO ACHIEVE A NICE TIGHT GROUP AND SWITCHING TO FULL-AUTO DELIVERED A LINE OF BBS STRAIGHT TO TARGET.”

The receiver is 100% AK but a plastic magazine block attached to the handguard allows the weapon to feed from 9mm pistol magazines, specifically Beretta 92 magazines and for a twitch under US$400, the PAK-9 comes with two

ten rounders. You can fit an interchangeable magazine adapter for it, that allows you to convert from Beretta to Glock magazines easily and without tools and the package includes a threaded barrel, the Glock mag adapter, sling and rear adapter for mounting a pistol brace or SBR stock (after NFA approval).

Now, whether or not the G&G design team took inspiration from the PAK-9, the fact of the matter is that they have created something that on the face of it is a bit “out there” but actually has a grounding in the real firearms world! This to me simply reinforces the joy of owning a PRK-9 RTS, as it takes it from a “play AEG” to something a little more serious, and something that could, with its 40BB mags actually sit in the right themed game, up to and including being in the hands of a belligerent modern OPFOR in a MilSim setting!

Whilst models like the MP5K, the CZ Scorpion and indeed the entire plethora of “9mm ARs” are all very well, at heart I am definitely an “AK Chap” and the PRK-9 RTS really sings to me because of this! I believe that after much thought I shall be adding one to the “Kalashnikov Kollektion” because it’s superbly made, shoots well, and is actually a genuine addition to the ongoing story of the muchrevered AK. Whether it was luck or fine judgement, once again G&G Armament have come up with the goods and full credit to them for another fine series of AEGs that I am certain we’ll be seeing on sites around the world very soon!

My thanks go to G&G (www. guay2.com) for supplying the test model, and to UK distributors www.nuprol.com for facilitating delivery. AA

“WHILST MODELS LIKE THE MP5K, THE CZ SCORPION AND INDEED THE ENTIRE PLETHORA OF “9MM ARS” ARE ALL VERY WELL, AT HEART I AM DEFINITELY AN “AK CHAP” AND THE PRK-9 RTS REALLY SINGS TO ME BECAUSE OF THIS!”