OK, first it is technically not a Vector Arms gun just one built for on a Ohio Ordnance receiver.




Now I have not had a chance to evaluate this rifle for performance since it is not my gun but one special ordered by a customer of mine but I am going to assume two things:

1. It is hard to fuck up an AK.

2. Anyone who makes an AK with this much attention to quality will also be concerned with performance.



I always hated the "look" of AMD wire stocks but after fooling around with this one I love it. It shoulders well and the release on the AMD versus say a Romanian wire stock is night and day. This one is positive and 100% reliable.

Onto the important part.



This is why it is worth buying a $500 AK vs. a WASR10 conversion. The mag well is correct and I function tested about 6 different AKM mags and they all went in and out smoothly without hanging up or getting stuck. This is the way an AKM is suppossed to work.

Here's one I didn't know.



The AMD has a bolt hold open that works with or without a magazine inserted. This has always been my biggest gripe about AKM rifles since they get so damn hot so fast. A bolt hold open obviously lets the barrel air cool much faster and you dont have to stick a spent casing in between the bolt and receiver which blocks air flow.

EDIT: It would seem this is actually just a case of the bolt resting on the hammer and not a true bolt hold open as it seemed to be.

Because of this feature alone and the fact that it has a correct mag well I am going to buy one for myself despite the fact that I previously had 0 interest in the AMD 65.



Other features that will interest most people are of course the unique look of the AMD. It does look pretty cool I have to admit and is a nice change from the standard Kalashnikov profile.



Another nice feature is the muzzle brake doesn't look totally retarded on this rifle. It actually fits the look of the rifle. But it does look a bit loud.

Gonna have to wait until I get my own to find out for sure.

If you've been looking for a preban feature AKM type rifle but don't want a WASR10 nightmare I'd strongly recommend contacting Atlantic and buying a AMD 65.

For a review of the WASR 10 conversion see this link:

www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=286113

Quoted: Great review Steyr. NooB question: does it take normal AK mags? Thanks!

Yes.

Quoted: As I understand things, the only AK type with a BHO is the PSL.  Did this guy make one himself?  Are you sure you're not simply seeing a hammer that holds back the bolt and carrier if you gently position it properly?

Held open on evry try without being gentle.

May very well be sitting on the hammer because you can palm it forward. And if you rack it real fast and let go it won't hold. But on this one at least if you pull the bolt to the rear and let go, it stays.

I simply assumed it was a AMD 65 feature.

Will stand by for the CAMPYBOB report on this issue.

Quoted: Great review. I have a question though. On the bolt hold open, I can't see any evidence of a device that holds the bolt back, like a Saiga has for instance. Might this be the out of spec FCG getting caught on the carrier? It is a well known phenomenon with Romanian rifles.

Don't know.

Quoted: Secondly, I thought these are made on OOW receivers? Schulze

Some Atlantic Firearms rifles are OOW, some are Vector, etc.

I "think" the Vector made rifles sold at Atlantic use OOW receivers.

But again this isn't a Vector made rifle but a project of Atlantic Firearms.

Receiver is marked "ITM ARMS CO." and has a Vector Arms stamp.

Quoted: Did Atlantic build these, or are they reselling them?

Atlantic arms is building them (technically they had them subcontracted) but they are not simply reselling them as with the other AKs they sell.

Quoted: Bolt hold open on Saiga rifles, (AK100 reciever) just above the pistol grip.  Works great.   img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/ViperEH/Picture078.jpg AK104 img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/ViperEH/Picture067.jpg

Given the above it would seem likely that the bolt is in fact simply resting on the hammer in the case of the AMD.

Quoted: If you haven't done so already, you should post this in the AK forum too.

Good idea.