Armi Jager AP85: An Italian .22 Rimfire Faux-MAS

[@leppeppel]

A FAMAS lookalike made from an AK, AR, and Galil lookalikes. I love it.

[@nicolaandria522]

Italian guy here, the Armi Jager .22 rifles were not exactly intended as serious replicas but more like military style plinking rifles for shooters in Italy and abroad for which it was impossible to legally acquire a real military style gun; Just the AP/74 was a bit of exception because it was actually bought by some armies (I forgot which ones) that had M16 rifles for basic training. BTW the company still exist in a different form under the name Nuova Jager.

[@giobenve]

Armando Piscetta is a myth here in Italy for gun collectors: he not only made clones but he also was the first one that put military surpluses in the market, so he basically invented the military gun collecting in Italy. Unfortunately he had to rechamber some guns due to the laws of that time and so now that that stupid laws don't exist anymore that rifles are not desirable anymore because you can own a totally original one, but what he did was great.

[@causewaykayak]

Thanks ! That was good supplementary information. European gun laws are an abomination. More crime than ever and the good guys got no protection.

[@panzerkampfwagen_vi_ausf_e]

'Myth' in inglese si usa solo per dire mito nel senso di racconto inventato, non per dire idolo

[@thedumbguncollector5546]

It was clear what he meant. sometimes we will even say “the man, the myth, the legend.”

[@causewaykayak]

​ "Legend" might be a useful alternative to 'myth' Whoops ... I am repeating what ... guncollector so correctly stated. Apologies !

[@Wetcorps]

We have the same problem in France with some military suprlus guns that were rechambered in obscure, stupidly expensive hunting calibers before the law change.

[@AssaultWeapons]

Piscetta died in 2023 nearly 100 old. The firm still exist called Nuova Jager whit others owners, and is AN italian importer of surplus guns, and the biggest ar15 manufacturer, both civilian and military, here in Italy

[@SafetyProMalta]

I have an M1A from them

[@Calvin_Coolage]

They make some beautiful AR-15s.

[@alwaystinkering7710]

Things I never expected to see: Ian reviewing my first gun. I went to the gun store in 1987 fully planning to buy a Ruger 10/22 and saw this on the wall. I Had. To. Have. It. I still do and it's a blast. It only holds 29 in the mag. It's great fun to mag dump. It was very easy for my 4'10" step daughter to shoot. It's such an oddball that it gets a lot of attention at the range.

[@TheTuttle99]

How much did it cost back then? Boy it must be fun to be able to walk into a store and pick up a beautiful piece like this

[@alwaystinkering7710]

@@TheTuttle99 I seem to remember it was just about the same as a Ruger 10/22 + a folding stock I was looking at buying. I think it was $240.

[@EnderPearlRs]

​@alwaystinkering7710 they are selling the one in this video for $1300

[@alwaystinkering7710]

@@EnderPearlRs 😳

[@SamuraiAkechi]

I'd include this in Fallout Europe

[@italianduded1161]

that would be awesome.

[@cycoholic]

Totally. When you're finished making Fallout : Europe, feel free to drop me a line. 😂

[@Enraged-Gecko]

Get in touch with the crew making Fallout London. It’s a fan mod, so they might be receptive.

[@dario9793]

The weapon aesthetics seems to fit very well with New Vegas

[@cycoholic]

@@Enraged-Gecko ooo, good point!

[@maledetto1221]

Armi Jager didn't close, part of it ended up being bought by Uberti while the rest of the company was renamed "Nuova Jager"(New Jager) and is still in the business today making AR15 and importing surplus. The company was heavily involved with the Italian government, Piscetta has done a lot of cool and obscure project during all those years. One of the most famous creation that we are grateful for is the 9x21 IMI, that allowed us(and many other countries) to have 9mm guns without breaking the law. The AP74 was also a best seller, not only for those armies with low budget in search for a training variant of the M16, also for private guards in .32 with the 8" barrel and folding wire stock in a PDW role, they are still kinda easy to find here for very cheap(200€).

[@maledetto1221]

@@nono-jj9rr Sadly the name was the same for all the variants and calibers: Jager AP74

[@jabella78]

As an Italian, I met Armando and I remember him firing with an MG42 in his range in Basaluzzo... a very experienced gunsmith, one of the best in Italy ever since! Miss him

[@jpkosoltrakul]

When I was in a military student in Thailand (no idea what it actually translates - no, it's not a cadet, it's a program for highschooler to enroll, and bypass the conscription) almost twenty years ago, the army had Jager AR-15 clones for live fire shooting training for the 2nd year students. For some reasons, there was no magazine available, and we had to single loading each round through the ejection port. The funny thing is that, in 3rd year, we were using HK33 instead, and they did have mags. But one of the students, who pretty much had no idea how assault rifle works, kept racking the charging handle after firing each round (similar to what he had done in 2nd year with the Jager). Of course, the sergeant didn't appreciate that.

[@RCZM64]

Jager magazines have been always difficult to come by in Spain, so it could be a production issue?

[@jpkosoltrakul]

@@RCZM64 I guess that the magazines that came with the rifles probably kaput ages before they got in our hands. Instead of sourcing for mags, it was just simpler to keep using them as a single shot rifle.

[@nutball3756]

I don't know what it's called there but I think the closest American thing to what you were enrolled in is the JROTC here

[@vulcangunner58]

I own an AP-84 "Galil" rifle,......I bought mine circa '88. My magazines (3) will not accept a full 30 rds., only 26-28 .22 LR cartridges. The quality is good, as seen here, and it shoots well. The only problem over the years was with the "charging lever" working loose. This was easily fixed with a little Loc-Tite on the two set screws securing it. Several family members have begged me for it, but it's not going anywhere! Thanks Ian, for an honest review!

[@maxsweeney4212]

What in the alternate history is that? The FAMAS-47? The Famashnikov? Baguette flavored borscht plinker?

[@disband_thebbc5933]

I've only just pressed play and I see more of a bullpuped AK in .22 with a handle strapped to the top than I do FAMAS. Being .22 I'd guess it's direct blowback internally. I guess I'm about to find out but I'm not getting much FAMAS at the moment.

[@disband_thebbc5933]

Well let's just say I wasn't surprised by anything after watching the video nothing wrong with it for what it is but the marketing of it was very shall we say optimistic. 😂

[@ianmedford4855]

PSA needs to build us a FAMAS.

[@MilosBrajkovic-rc3ik]

You are great! 🤣🤣🤣

[@petewitt3385]

Kalashnimas.

[@costantinoandruzzi2219]

Armando Piscetta is an Italian legend! Today, the company who picked up where Jager left off is called Nuova Jager.

[@muhughu]

This just might be one of the coolest .22's I have ever seen in my entire life.

[@AxLWake]

I don't know about this one but we have the AP-74, the AR copy, at home. It's a surprisingly good, accurate rifle.

[@arcblooper2699]

Thrilled to see Ian tackle Armi-Jager, I’m a big fan of the original Dawn of the Dead. It’s a very low budget film and AP-74s were used as stand ins for M16s. A couple years ago I finally tracked one down, it’s honestly the only “forgotten” weapon I have. One correction, the AP-74 magazine doesn’t actually resemble an AR-15 magazine. The magazine you see in the pictures is fake. The real magazine looks more like a Ruger MK magazine, and it inserts into the fake magazine which is just part of the lower. It makes reloads look pretty funny.

[@notmyname3883]

Awesome dotd reference. My favorite film ever.

[@johnscheib9077]

They made 2 versions of the magazine, both the naked one that looks like a Ruger mark series and ones with magazine sheetmetal to look vaguely like the original

[@robert8984]

I really like those Piscetta guns. He was a genuine "old school" craftsman, sitting in a (beautiful) Italian costal small town (less than 10k population) and build "his" guns with a hand full of employees.

[@BSJ-VT]

As a kid in the 80's I remember seeing these in the Gun Digests. Always thought they were cool and wished I could get one. Now I've got a VHS-2...

[@AshyGr33n]

This thing literally looks like a kitbashed "legally distinct" videogame gun 🤣

[@alexdemoya2119]

Very much so. Something in an early 2000s shooter that takes place in the near future of 202X

[@edwinsmith-jones6205]

The sort of thing that would trun up in Perfect Dark or Goldeneye.

[@Qmeister044]

@@edwinsmith-jones6205 I remember the WA2000 with wooden furniture turned up in one of the older Hitman games and I thought it was made up. This has a very similar feel to it.

[@TheTuttle99]

Are you saying it doesnt look good? I fucking love it omg

[@angelTechnician64]

Exactly what i thought, very clean lines too, i really dig it

[@TheCatBilbo]

Like an unholy mashup between a FAMAS & an EM-2 (SA80 forerunner). I like it!

[@mattelder1971]

In the 2A 3D printing community, we have a guy who is doing something very similar, using Ruger 10/22 parts. He has designed numerous chassis for the Ruger action that are based on well known historical rifles. I'm pretty sure a FAMAS is among them.

[@therongperson]

I remember the AP-74 being advertised in Shotgun News back in the mid-1980s, when I was in high school. Good memories.

[@timareskog2418]

I had one in .22Rf for many years and despite its “cheap” production I found it to be incredibly accurate and fast firing with its 15 round clip. The original Colt AR15/M16 scope fitted perfectly. It was virtually identical in dimensions & handling to the original AR15. There was also a .32ACP version.

[@BrettBaker-uk4te]

I wanted one of the .32s!

[@davideldridge4479]

I remember also reading shotgun news in hs in the 80s, good times.

[@65Slipkid]

My friend had an AP-74 in the early 80's. It was not very reliable, and once the novelty wore off, he kept trying, unsuccessfully, to trade it for my 10/22.

[@waywardgun]

It feels wrong and yet so right. Like a Groza & a Famas had a weirdly stylish Italian baby

[@TheTuttle99]

Thats a good description. But yeah i really like the design

[@alanwood7373]

I had one of these 25yrs ago. Fun gun. Company in the UK was "scalemead".

[@ibannymous]

I bought an AP74 as my first rifle when I turned 18 in NJ back before gun bans. I fired it so much that the sear got worn and it would occasionally double. I sold it off after that. It was a great rifle for plinking. I fired thousands of rounds through it. Good times when a brick of 22 could be had for under five dollars.

[@kutter_ttl6786]

With the AK style base, this rifle looks more like a Norinco Type 86S than it does a FAMAS.

[@murphy7801]

Depends which model of FAMAS you're speaking about. It definitely looks like the G2.

[@fubene5495]

I completly agree, remove the "aug grip", place some wood furniture and a "galil handguard" with a longer barrel on a 86S and you almost complete the picture. BTW type 86S and the Famas are really look a like in terms of shilouette at least, both are bullpups with a loooong carry handle and a "blocky butt".

[@BleedingUranium]

Indeed, the Type 86 definitely came to mind for me too.

[@henryturnerjr3857]

I remember being disappointed several times as a kid in the 80s walking into a gun store. "WOW!! You've got an AK 47!" Squints "Ohhh, its one of those. Nevermind"

[@flavortown3781]

This is how I feel about the sig 556/22s

[@RockAnywayBand]

I owned an AP-80 (the Kalashnikov lookalike) and it was a really good rifle, surprisingly accurate for its barrel length and reliable. Now every 22lr is made of plastic, Army Jagers were made of metal and wood.

[@Dan-wr8es]

I used to have one of the .32 acp versions for the AP-74 model. I remember being at a gunshow in Cleveland in 2021 and seeing one of these on display, but it was the .22 version. The owner was some Eastern European guy, and I was telling him that a few of these were made in .32 and I'd love to have one. The guy never heard of one of those before but I insisted that they were out there. About a year later at the very same gunshow I saw a different gentleman selling one of these with the wood stock, and it was the .32 version. I bought it and had it for a while, then I sold it. It was really cool for what it was worth, I distinctly remember it being very quiet. it held about 10-12 in the mag if I recall correctly and he told me once he sold it that it was, "rare as hen's teeth". I didn't have that much money at the time and I made a profit selling it but I wish I kept it.

[@ndenise3460]

I had an ap74. Not one internal piece would fit in an AR15. Yet the rcmp had it restricted by name as a "variant" . That is like saying a Fiero with a body kit is a Ferrari

[@700tgizzle]

This is a truly forgotten weapon. Thank you again it’s refreshing to see something. I knew nothing about on this channel.

[@dlmsarge8329]

I owned an Armi Jager AP-74 when I was in high school in the 70s. It was a very good .22 copy of the AR 15 including carry handle with flipping aperture sights, proper charging handle and bolt removal, pivoting uppper and lower and working dust cover. And it shot very well too. Super fun!

[@ThePerks2010]

I do love the weird little .22 tribute gun culture more of these please!

[@stefanmolnapor910]

YES!!

[@Panzermech]

It's the perfect stand in for a direct to video B rated movie. Love to find some old clones like this.

[@acidule445]

MY GOD ITS BEAUTIFUL

[@thefunksbeats]

I have two of these little oddities its a pretty fun lil plinker soft shooting and quiet even without a can

[@qanlik]

I've seen one of these at my LGS. I really, really wish I bought it just for how unique it was. Great video Ian!

[@jmpetersrn]

I get a kick out of these .22LR replicas. I own the AK version. Wish I had seen the FAUX MAS back then.

[@MMitchellMarmel]

Owned one of these back in the 90s. Good shooter.

[@causewaykayak]

Really interesting and sure I for one would like to see more of this range. Thank You .

[@emiliodesalvo7024]

Faux-MAS... Oh, the pun, oh, the pain...

[@KenworthW900HG]

Oh the bread

[@iaial0]

This thread

[@clothar23]

Fills me with dread.

[@DesertMav]

My first gun was a used Armi Jaeger AP-80 AK22 clone. It was a lot of fun to take to the range and the magazines were quite hard to find.

[@donwyoming1936]

I remember these. Wanted the AR & AK back in the day.

[@fabiomasellis8132]

Ah, the famous Italian FAM-AK

[@Terrorpleodon]

I actually have a Armi Jager. It is a .58 black powder gun I inherited from my dad. Never shot it because I never got the supplies but one day.

[@phileas007]

smokeless is just a passing fad

[@abs_nobody]

it's a strange frankenstein of what he knew works, that somehow come together in a coherent, working piece

[@agoogleaccount2861]

Armi Jager used to make a really good .22 magnum AK

[@caylumhenderson9396]

Sounds fun.. better than regular.22 long rifle or short

[@letsdothis9063]

I would definitely be interested in one of those.

[@agoogleaccount2861]

Wierd facts about those. They put a cleaning kit inside the non functional gas tube the magazine is straight and goes in a cast aluminum magwell insert .. and the stock and pistol grip are European walnut not made of whatever AK wood is made from or bakelite

[@joshuasuggs2379]

@@agoogleaccount2861 AK wood is plywood

[@scootertart]

There was a company called Scalemead in the 80's- based in the UK which used to sell this rifle, along with their AR/M16 copy and AK . If memory serves - Armi Jager used to make a large range of blank firing pistols and decorative swords as well. I still have one of their old catalogues somewhere.

[@abcdefghijkl123454]

In italy the short AR 15 copy in 32 acp was really popular with security guards

[@TheeCambion]

Really? that's pretty cool you wouldn't figure it would be. Considering they weren't familiar with regular AR-15s.

[@JuddKramer]

There was an Armi-Jager AP-74 for sale at my LGS fairly recently. It was dirt cheap because it was missing the little ten-round .22LR magazine that slides into the fake STANAG magazine and they're apparently tough to source. A lot of them wound up onscreen, filling in for M16's and AK's for scenes where no firing was needed.

[@Pitanh]

Damn Ian! The AP85 was the last in the series I needed, now a deal fell through because of The Ian Effect....(over inflation by a sycophant)! Keep up the good work.

[@rodneylittle2542]

I bought an AP-74 while I was in high school (around 1977) after finding an ad for it in Shotgun News. And I still have it.

[@martinvanpamelen5756]

I had an Armi Jager AP74 .22 cal. with wood furniture when i was a kid. other that the light primer strikes with some ammo it was a great little rifle and it was acurate for what it was.

[@YouCaughtCzars]

I really like this thing, it's one of those special times where something visually pops out at you as distinctively appealing and it just looks like a really fun plinker.

[@bami2]

Not sure if you have new lights or camera but the quality on this video is a lot better than regular uploads.

[@Goc4ever]

As an Italian i'm very satisfied that you've decided to show us an Italian firearm that looks like a Famas, well done Ian.

[@matthewspencer972]

A non-usable _representation_ of the muzzle device is a very good idea, because you can get .22 blanks that _might_ hot enough to make a grenade arm but are definitely not hot enough to throw far enough to spare you embarrassment.

[@pierluigiadreani2159]

Jager Is very underrated.

[@MrBoho7]

I think you really enjoy the character of this gun, its very cool and retro. I would love to see more of the Armi Jaeger look-a-likes

[@nerdyspinosaurid]

Calling a video "ad-free" when it includes a paid sponsor segment is definitely a choice. Just because it's outside of YT's main ad system doesn't mean it isn't an advertisement.

[@nat040496]

I legitimately love how it looks.

[@williamprice3929]

I think it is pretty cool looking.

[@yetiskies9240]

Just picked up an AP-74, wanted one since 1981, awesome plinker!

[@lionheartzcs2]

This is actually such a cool concept to me, its kinda like a weird mixing of Airsoft and actual firearms. Mimicking iconic designs in such a common and fun to shoot cartridge sounds dope as hell.

[@trancamortal]

I has one and really enjoyed It.

[@claudiovillani5538]

Armando Piscietta is a legend in the italian scene.

[@michaelblacktree]

Looks like the firearms equivalent to a 1980s dance music remix. I'm diggin' it. 😎

[@robertjones2811]

I have two of the ap-84 Galils from when Century Arms imported and bunch of them a couple years ago. Magazines are almost impossible to find.

[@wurzel9671]

Kinda looks like that funky bullpup AK74 chassis with a looong m16a1 carry handle on it. Edit: Polly because it kinda is.

[@titan_kirk]

You're thinking of the groza in 5.45x39

[@wurzel9671]

​@@titan_kirkdunno the name but Oxide covered it while ago

[@Firebirds4ever]

I have the AP74. Super cool and fun. Haven't used it a whole lot (parts are hard to find) and mags are impossible to find.

[@BigglesworthNWATT]

Picked up a Armi Jager SAA a few years ago at a gun shop in my home town without knowing much of the history behind it. Found out about the company and their production of old Colt replicas but this is the first hearing that they did other firearms. Very cool!

[@titiparisien7485]

There's also a 22lr FAMAS look-alike made in France, the F11, by a company called "Unique".

[@AshleyPomeroy]

It looks much more like a FAMAS - almost like an Airsoft copy. It's ironic a company called Unique would make a copy of something.

[@AxLWake]

Unique was a very reputable brand in France and Europe back in the days. They made many incredibly good firearms. Including an Olympic grade .22LR match pistol (Unique DES69) and what I consider being one of best and most beautiful .22LR semi auto rifles ever made. The Unique X51bis. Nobody knows about these rifles in the USA because they were never officially exported there but I assure you that they're brilliant.

[@fredboat]

Thanks for the walk down memory lane. Enjoyed, I had one of the AK47s and M16 s in 22lr years ago. Not super reliable ,But a good plinker.

[@thesketchydude1315]

hope one day you get around to the AP-74! was prominently featured in the 1978 film "Dawn of the Dead" in place of real M16A1s

[@AxLWake]

I never knew that. Cool. We have the AP-74 at home. It's a surprisingly good, accurate rifle.

[@bear-yv9ew]

Looking more high quality than ever Ian !

[@kevlarandchrome]

That thing looks super cool, I would have loved one of those as a kid if my dad had found one and given to me for Christmas. Nifty little piece of history.

[@bristleback3614]

this gun is a weird combination of Groza, Famas and L85. I like it

[@kylewhite8434]

I want this to come to the U.S.

[@chrisgosling6083]

this series of guns were imported in to the uk in .22 , .22 shotgun and 8 mm blank firer , interesting bit of history

[@mattelder1971]

Looking up the different models they made, one of the most interesting to me is the .32ACP version of the AP-75. I'd absolutely LOVE to find one. If you come across one, PLEASE do a video on it.

[@Freedomlander_101]

That carry handle is almost the exact one as the Early M16 vietnam war rifles

[@AxLWake]

Well, the AP-74, the AR copy does look like the Vietnam era M16. We have one at home. It's a surprisingly good, accurate rifle.

[@Willy_Tepes]

The Pietta Puma PPS/50 .22 LR, a PPSh-41 clone is also very cool.

[@jamesrice6096]

One of the funniest things about cool stuff that came from the 70s and 80s was being able to spend a reasonable amount of cash to see how they handled and shot. Some were gems, some were lemons, but you didn't have to pay half or a quarter year of car payments to find out.

[@STepanHAmbroski]

Apparently Bethesda has a history in Italian firearms design. Who knew?

[@mickgyver1068]

The safety is very cleverly positioned as a right handed thumb safety. Pretty cool!

[@magamike1800]

Saw these advertised in gun mags when I was a kid. That was in New Zealand so they were pretty widely marketed. Wanted the M16 but no way I could afford it.

[@AxLWake]

I don't know about this one but we have the AP-74, the AR copy, at home. It's a surprisingly good, accurate rifle.

[@MorganSuhm]

Faux-MAS is such a clever name twist, I'm still grinning from ear to ear.

[@Leonardo_Wilian]

Ak + M16 + Famas + Galil = I want one

[@AllAboutSurvival]

The use of AK-pattern action and M16A1-inspired carry handle adds an interesting twist to its design.

[@pontushaggstrom6261]

Huh? ad free?

[@nicdorman3826]

I'd guess this is a parteon post that came live early

[@wyattwillis1401]

There was very much an ad on the video when I watched it

[@kutter_ttl6786]

Showing a field strip of a gun flags the video for demonitization, so Ian probably put the 'ad-free' to say he didn't monetize the video and as a dig at KZbin.

[@dan_loeb]

​​@@wyattwillis1401 youtube puts ads on videos that don't have ads turned on, sometimes even ones they demonetized, so that they're still making money on video hosting.

[@tsufordman]

I had multiple YT ads on top of the sponsored bit.

[@mosesgonzalez2248]

Honestly I like the way it looks. Beautiful looking hybrid design that manages to avoid looking cursed like what video games are putting out.

[@Gruntman77]

Please do the entire line of Armi Jager rifles. I would love to see your videos on those.. I have a Armi Jager AP-74. The OG M16 look alike.

[@oldmanjones7832]

I Rember those as a teen in the 80s.They made a m-16 in 22lr and 32 acp and a wood stock, Ak and a Galil as well as others, I think. 🤔

[@fatcat3211]

little boys who could not have a AR15 dreamed of owning the AP74. I was one.

[@brivas3343]

I remember the Armi Jagers from back in the day. Even then they were considered cheap guns in my area.

[@TraTranc]

For American viewers: the laws that basically forced Piscetta to come out with .22 versions of the most modern military service rifles of the era are no longer in place here in Italy.

[@lancerevell5979]

I've handled and shot the AP-74, and liked it a lot. Never found one for sale though. I remember looking at the various models in gun digest books back in the late 1970s and early 1980s. 😎👍

[@AxLWake]

I don't know about this one but we have the AP-74, the AR copy, at home. It's a surprisingly good, accurate rifle.

[@stumpythedwarf8712]

It's actually very cool Ian, like most of the items you feature.

[@davidm.7099]

Oh so they did make more of those .22 replicas, that's so cool! They have an AP74 at my gun range with wood furniture, it looks awesome. Kinda gives an ADAR vibe (those wooden Russian AR15). Thanks for the vid as always!

[@matthewrikihana6818]

Suddenly, the mists of time part, and I realise😮, I've used a Jager M16 back in the 80s😂.

[@RamiNakhleh-m1d]

Nice Adler 👍

[@capnstewy55]

I enjoyed Ian chuckling as he said "hollow on the backside" just like the rest of us did.