Big Guide To Polish AKs Pt. 2: 5.45 & 5.56 Rifles (1977-2017)

This is part 2 in a set of videos looking at Polish AK rifles chambered for the 5.45x39mm & 5.56x45mm rounds. Also we discuss whats up with the AKM and AKMS since the fall of communism through late 2017.
This is a comprehensive overview, so please forgive us if some details have been glossed over or left out.
We begin with the canceled 7x41mm cartridge and the Lantan project. Then we go into the Tantal project's protracted development and design history, from the Wz.80 through the Wz.89.
After the fall of communism, we deal with the Wz.96 Beryl rifle and Mini Beryl carbine series.
Also we touch upon how the original ZM Lucznik (circle11) factory first privatized and then failed; and how from the ashes Fabryka Broni Radom was born.
Finally, we look at the 7.62x39 AKM and AKMS in today's democratic Poland.
This video has been a long time in coming. We had a few technical issues, which have (mostly) all been worked out finally.
Actually, it was recorded a year ago (Nov of 2017), so please forgive the slightly dated information on the Beryl, MSBS, and the WBP company. These topics have been expanded upon in more recent videos though, so no worries, we got you covered!
Featured Polish rifles include: KBK Wz.88 Tantal, Wz.89 Onyx, Wz.91, KBS Wz.96 Beryl, KBK Wz.96 Mini Beryl, and the civilian Archer-01.
Also the AKM, AKMS, and a modern AK from WBP.
Interested in becoming a Patreon contributor? Check out our Patreon page at:
/ mishaco
Visit ozarkbeararms.b... to read more articles.
This video is produced and published to KZbin for historical and educational purposes and to document and make record of the content herein publicly available for said purposes. The Mishaco channel is run by experienced and trained industry professionals and all activity portrayed and content herein is presented with all considerations to safety and in accordance with local, state, and the Federal law of the United States.

[@NwgunsandgearBlogspot]

The Tantal is my favorite 5.45 production rifle. The Poles really took the design to the next level. I wish they would have used a first Gen Beryl style stock instead.

[@Spike-13]

I love how you always show accessories or mag pouches etc I love that stuff

[@misha5670]

Thanks much for watching, cheers.

[@KaneCyborg]

Tantals were used by polish military contingents in Golan Heights and other similar peacekeeping missions through the 90. And served well. I spoke with the soldiers and thats why I bought my original military wz88. Tantal can accept Beryls mounting rail with minimal modyfication. Furniturs and stocks are interchechangeble. But what is interesting, tantal had a variant with side rail, so called night tantal (for NSP-3 night vision monstrosity). Quite unique design due to the fire selector and rugged construction. It is possible to buy this rail and innstall on regular Tantal like i did. In this way you can have a mount for Russian sights with side rail as well as the most stable long picatinny rail (I consider beryl rail system as best picatinny rail solution for ak platform). All that with functional fire selector and 3 round burst. In my humble opinion this 30-year-old construction with a slight modification can be much better than the latest Russian ak-15

[@AMX-30B]

Misha your knowledge levels are incredible

[@davidsawmandave8731]

I got 2 tantal rifles , one like yours with the wire stock and another built on black furniture, both shoot amazing and very smooth with little recoil , i just subbed a couple days and watch your videos every day , keep it up , best AK channel on KZbin

[@antoniopacheco4861]

Same here.

[@Voice1977]

A wonderful way to start off my morning, sit back and watch another informative video about Ak's. Thanks for posting !

[@misha5670]

Thanks much

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

+Mishaco Do you mind me asking if you form mental pictures of the guns, or is it more tactile memory? Perhaps you can describe how your senses combine to form memory of each weapon? I find it totally understandable that if you have a fascination with machines and engineering you wouldn't let a lack of eyesight slow you down. You are truly an inspiration to me. Thank you!

[@misha5670]

Honestly? there's probably no decent way to talk about that in a short youtube comment. However, if you were to post such a question in the Patreon Q&A for Nov, it would be possible to answer it in a video later.

[@JenniferinIllinois]

I miss my Tantal. Loved it!

[@misha5670]

Yep, they are interesting and unique firearms, and really there just aren't that many 5.45x39 variants out there to begin with.

[@sethgtt]

hey misha, are those green mags for the Beryl metal reinforced anywhere? i have a few and mine have plastic locking lugs and feed lips . if so, does that mean that the polish army issues mags that arent reinforced ??

[@brianhess418]

I'm like a knowledge sponge when I watch your videos!!! I love AK platform's especially in .556×45.i own 101 and 102 clones as well as a zastava m90 np.Thank you for every vid you make

[@misha5670]

Thank you much for watching, cheers.

[@SirGtfd]

You mentioned little help from Poland regarding knowledge regarding weapons. I've got little hint for you as well. Tantal didn't made itself like home because of that inhumane caliber - 5.45. Reports for this weapon (don't sure if that was anything beside Polish 5.45 system) was crucial for our slide to western hemisphere. Military was very fast in making a decision about abandoning it for new one - 5.56 even when they didn't had a replacement. They went back to 7.62 for a little while. In line infantry units like mechanized infantry there wasn't any Beryl guns till 2000ish.

[@kensai77]

Any news or rumors of WBP Poland making a 5.56 version of their AK-47 Beryl? Love your channel btw. I've learned a lot from watching. Thank you!

[@MattN47]

Hey Mishaco, In the video, you mentioned that in 1994, Poland wanted to politically move away from Russia and that was part of the reason for them dropping the 5.45x39 cartridge. If that's so (and it makes sense to me), then why initially adopt another Soviet cartridge (7.62x36)? Was it because they had so much surplus ammo, mags, and rifles in 7.62x39? Thanks

[@misha5670]

They didn't adopt a new Soviet cartridge. 7.62x39 had been in use since the 1950s, and the AKM and AKMS were never fully replaced by the WZ88 Tantal. So X39 was nothing new, they were just picking up a few more rifles in 7.62x39 while the Beryl project was finishing up. It was a substitute standard, aka temp measure.

[@timlance7656]

I had no idea. Thanks

[@dustinaskew1757]

Misha, do you know if any of the old custom made wood furniture sets for the Tantal's proprietary upper handguards are floating around?

[@Leman.Russ.6thLegion]

REPLACING THE BERYL IS A REALLY BAD IDEA. THE AK PLATFORM IS SUCH A GREAT SYSTEM.

[@fooleanperspective1426]

It really isn't. The GROT is a great modular rifle

[@Leman.Russ.6thLegion]

@@fooleanperspective1426 the modularity part doesn't impress me. 10 dudes with Mosins make for a very effective militia. I believe the Grot will be their next gun, but it is like fixing a problem that isn't there.

[@fooleanperspective1426]

@@Leman.Russ.6thLegion they need a 5.56 rifle with stanag mags and the ak74 is overcumbersone with a poor picatinny rail attachment method.

[@Leman.Russ.6thLegion]

@@fooleanperspective1426 I understand what the goal is. I really don't understand the magazine obsession. The ak mag is far superior to the ar15 type. 5.56, I get, because America and NATO use it.

[@Trumplican]

7X41MM ? that would have been pretty awesome

[@MatJan86]

What I heard it's the costs, tooling, etc. For civilian market last price I know of for MSBS is 8k PLN first deliveries done next year:/ And that is simply because civilian market is very small if not tiny. And everything coming out of EU is not helping to make that situation better. On a plus side Brownells opened up in Poland so maybe retro M16 is going to be sold eventually if things work out for them.

[@julianizydorczak5258]

Beryl was made in 7.62x39 and 5.45x39 for export

[@kristovkristov]

In 2017 polish army signed contract for 53000 of MSBS (now known as GROT). Thy should be delivered up to 2020.

[@misha5670]

Please notice the date of when this video was recorded. Its in the description. It was either post it as-is, or scrap over 40 minutes of video. We figured even though its a bit dated info, its still mostly relevant.

[@lc7789]

I have a couple questions about my AK. what's the best way to email you

[@misha5670]

Using e-mail? haha sorry, couldn't resist a joke. My address is: [e-mail] , cheers.

[@blindbob2539]

yeah, i bought a tantal. yeah, it was from century arms. yeah , the headspace is wrong. yeah, it's a big paperweight. yeah, i'm an idiot.

[@Leman.Russ.6thLegion]

I love my FOX. Soooooo cool.

[@misha5670]

Agreed, cheers

[@everdownwardandon4243]

Kinda off topic but would rpk74 furniture fit on a standard ak74?

[@misha5670]

No, not really. The lower handguard wouldn't at all, and the stock would fit but most likely be quite loose/wiggly.

[@adamal-janabi5922]

18:41

[@Martin-hk5vb]

Łucznik isn't pronounced lucks-nick. The right way to say it is wooch-nick. The L with a line through it is pronounced like a w and cz is like the ch sound in the word Czech. Also u is pronounced ooh. So there you go.

[@misha5670]

There I go what? My speech program didn't really understand any of what you said.

[@المخلاف-ظ8ط]

في اليمن البولنديه تقيمها مثل الروسيه واغلى سعر من الروسيه