Double Bell AK-12 Assault Rifle AEG

If you are keeping your eye out for a modern AK, the AK-12 is the latest and greatest! The Double Bell AK-12 differs slightly from previous AK releases in its design, offering a more convenient battery compartment to solve one of the main issues with other AK-12s, meaning you no longer have to worry about trapping your wiring.

On the inside, this AK-12 is running the usual AK internal setup, including a TM-compatible version 3 gearbox with a slider adjustable HOP-up unit and a top-wired battery compartment inside the receiver top cover. The steel gearset runs on 8mm ball bearing bushings, the piston has a full steel tooth rack and the inner barrel is a 6.03mm tightbore, giving you a few pre-upgraded parts to give those who seek top-tier performance a head start.

Starting at the tip of the 16.3-inch steel outer barrel we have an AK-12 style muzzle brake with its aggressive spiked front end and long slender form.  Designed to help stabilise the rifle when it is pressed against a hinge or lock in a breaching scenario, the spikes at the front give the AK-12 a uniquely menacing look but we advise being cautious when handling this platform as it could take someone's eye out!

The muzzle brake and mount assembly are pinned to the outer barrel and the pins will need to be removed and the mount assembly slid backwards along the barrel before the muzzle brake can be unthreaded. Once the pins are out and the mount assembly has been moved clear, you can remove the brake, revealing 14mm CCW male threading beneath. This is a bit different from previous AK-12 releases from LCT and ARCTURUS but still allows you to mount a tracer unit or suppressor for that sneaky aesthetic.

Moving rearwards along the alloy outer barrel brings us to the front sight/gas block of the AK-12, which is constructed from alloy and has a dummy gas adjuster at the front, just like the real thing.  The front sight post is at the top, protected on either side with protective wings. This means if you drop this hefty beast it may get scratched up, but the front sight should remain usable and intact in all but the worst-case scenario.

The gas block connects to the aluminium gas tube, following the correct profile for the AK-12 with its more modern manufacturing techniques. The gas tube is fluted to reduce weight and encourage heat dissipation in the real AK-12 and like the barrel, is free-floated inside the handguards. This means any amount of force you apply to the handguards will not be transferred to the barrel and negatively affect accuracy; a big part of the many improvements in the AK-12 design.

Below the gas tube, affixed to the rear of the gas block, we have a sling point which is mounted around the barrel, allowing for a two-point sling setup for those who require it. The sling point is fixed in place on the right side, so if you like your sling on the left we recommend using a keyring or a loop of paracord to add an extension.

Following the gas tube back leads us to the handguards of the AK-12, which are machined from aluminium with flawless, crisp details. The handguards have integral 20mm Picatinny rails at the 6 and 12 o'clock positions and removable side rails at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions. The real AK-12 handguards are constructed from polymer but are not exactly famed for their strength. Making the handguard from aluminium keeps the weight low while providing more robust accessory mounting interfaces and a more rigid overall feel.

Moving rearwards once more we come to the receiver, which follows the familiar AK design format. The fire selector is the standard AK pattern which does double duty as a dust cover when in the "safe" position. The fire modes are SAFE - FULL AUTO - SEMI AUTO, in that order, just like the real AK series of rifles. Contrary to popular belief, this was not designed in because Russian soldiers primarily use full auto; it was so that a quick sweep down with the selector when wearing thick winter gloves put you in the semi-auto position quickly and with minimum movement. Each fire mode is indicated with authentic Cyrillic markings which are stamped into the receiver, a nice touch of realism to heighten immersion.

The receiver top cover design is another area the AK-12 improves upon the original AK. The top cover is constructed from alloy and has a 20mm Picatinny rail machined into the upper surface to allow for optical sights to be mounted using far more user-friendly Western mounting solutions, saving you the hassle of installing a side rail like you would have to on the standard AK.

Unlike the original AK-12 and other replicas, the Double Bell AK-12 makes use of a standard hinged top cover which opens using a simple button on the centre rear, making battery access far easier with a much lower risk of trapping the wiring and damaging it. With the button pressed and the top cover raised you will find a mini-Tamiya battery connector inside. We recommend a 7.4V 1300mAh LiPo battery in AK stick configuration for an easy fit and great performance, though 9.6V NiMh batteries in AK stick configuration will also fit inside.

The AK-12 pistol grip is a significant ergonomic improvement over the legacy AK grip and has comfortable finger grooves with bevelled relief cuts for added comfort. The grip is set at a more vertical angle than the older AK grip to provide a more comfortable wrist position when shooting with the stock collapsed fully. AKs are not known for their comfort or ergonomics, so it is nice to see the AK-12 give us a little more home comfort to suit our pampered Western hands!

The adjustable stock of the AK-12 mounts over a buffer tube which is similar in design to the M4/AR15 but is not compatible with M4/AR15 stocks. The tube provides 5 positions of adjustment for the high density polymer stock. The stock itself is an A-frame style stock with a low profile adjustment lever protected from snagging by the A-frame design. At the base of the stock we are also treated to a pair of QD sling sockets, one on either side. These can be used with QD sling swivels and paired with the sling point on the barrel at the front for a two-point sling setup or used alone if you prefer a single-point sling.

The stock is also able to fold to the side for storage, or compressed shooting in CQB situations. To fold the stock you will need to press the button at the rear of the receiver on the left side, and the stock can be folded to the left side. Unlike the original AK-12 stock, this stock doesn't lock in place in the folded position, but this has the benefit of being fast to deploy without needing any buttons or the fiddly catch of the original AK-12 to be pressed.

One last trick the stock has in store is its storage compartment which can be accessed by pulling the tab at the toe of the stock outwards and sliding the rubber butt plate downwards and off. This will reveal an empty buffer tube which is used for a cleaning kit in the real AK-12, but is ideally sized for a packet of tactical wine gums, soft mints or smarties, your pick! A more skirmish-friendly solution may be to store a spare battery here, or accessory batteries, but don't forget you need calories to perform effectively on the battlefield!

The internals of the Double Bell AK-12 are formed around the version 3 gearbox, equipped with a quick change spring system so you can tune the power by installing different springs without needing to open the gearbox itself. The steel gearset is 100% compatible with aftermarket V3 gears and runs on 8mm ball-bearing bushings for reduced gearbox noise and lower friction.

The piston is constructed from polymer but has a full rack of steel teeth to provide strength where needed while keeping the overall piston weight to a minimum. The cylinder is constructed from stainless steel for perfect air seal and low friction with the piston, and is the type 1 variety, providing a perfect air volume match for the 6.03mm tightbore inner barrel.

If you have a desire for a modern flavour of AK, the Double Bell AK-12 should scratch that itch! With full metal construction and a large proportion of steel along with pre-upgraded internals with widespread aftermarket options, this AK marries the hefty, realistic feel any AK platform needs with modern accessory interfaces so you can dress it up to your liking!

Features

• Full metal construction - Loads of steel
• 6.03mm Tightbore inner barrel - Improved accuracy potential & FPS
• Aluminium 20mm Picatinny railed handguards - Ready for 20mm accessories, side rails are removable
• Front sling point on the gas block - Fixed in position, on the left side
• 20mm Picatinny railed receiver top cover - Tightly fitted top cover, optics will hold zero perfectly
• Adjustable tangent aperture iron sights - Fixed front post, rear sight on the receiver rail
• Slider adjustable HOP-up unit - Accessible through the ejection port with the mock bolt carrier pulled back
• Ambidextrous magazine release - Centrally positioned, easy access for left or right-handed shooters
• 3-Position fire selector switch on the right side - SAFE - FULL AUTO - SEMI AUTO
• Ergonomic finger ridged pistol grip - More vertical angle than the norm, more comfortable with modern stances
• Side folding retractable stock - 5 Lengths of pull, to fold to the side press the button at the left rear of the receiver
• Serrated rubber butt plate - Adds grip, great for use with body armour or in wet weather
• Top wired: Mini Tamiya connector - Battery compartment beneath the top cover, press the button on the rear to open
• Recommended battery:7.4V 1300mAh LiPo AK Stick Battery with mini-Tamiya connector
• Compatible with standard AK AEG Magazines

Package Includes

• Double Bell AK-12 Assault Rifle AEG
• 450rnd High Capacity Magazine
• User manual