CMMG Mk47 AKS8 Pistol

The Pistol version of the mutant comes equipped with a round buff tube only, but adding an “arm Brace” from SB Tactical (sb-tactical.com)—like the SBm4 model shown here—will require only a larger-diameter “pistol” buffer tube be installed.
The Pistol version of the mutant comes equipped with a round buff tube only, but adding an “arm Brace” from SB Tactical (sb-tactical.com)—like the SBm4 model shown here—will require only a larger-diameter “pistol” buffer tube be installed.

Other notable features include upper and lower receivers machined from billet 7075-T6 aluminum alloy, a 15-slot Picatinny top rail machined into the upper receiver, pinned gas block, Mil-Spec AR trigger group, Magpul MOE pistol grip, ambidextrous sling attachment plate at the rear of the lower receiver and a knurled 6.5-inch buffer tube.

During testing the Mk47 AKS8’s Mil-Spec trigger group proved smoother than typical. Average pull-weight measured 7 lbs. 12 oz. on our Lyman digital trigger-pull gauge—a bit heavier than we would prefer, but acceptable nonetheless—with a barely perceptible amount of take-up and no stacking or over-travel.

The mutant pistol proved itself to be one of the most-precise 7.62x39mm chambered guns we’ve yet to bench test, printing this 50-yard 5-shot group with Hornady’s always-top performing 123-gr. SST load.
The mutant pistol proved itself to be one of the most-precise 7.62x39mm chambered guns we’ve yet to bench test, printing this 50-yard 5-shot group with Hornady’s always-top performing 123-gr. SST load.

The Mk47 AKS8 measures 25 inches in overall length and weighs 6 lbs. 2 oz. empty, without magazine or optics. The PMAG 30 AK MOE loaded with 30 rounds of 123-grain 7.62×39 adds another 25.1 oz., and depending on your choice of optic, overall loaded weight could easily top eight pounds. If you plan on shooting this pistol offhand, you might want to consider adding an SB Tactical (sb-tactical.com) pistol stabilizing arm brace and approiate-diameter buffer tube. This ATF approved device does a great job of taking the shakes out of holding up an 8-pound pistol—even using both hands. Some shooters have been known to use a stabilizing arm brace to shoot from the shoulder, but doing so turns the pistol into an unregistered SBR (“Short Barreled Rifle”) and will put you in a world of hurt with the G-Men if you get caught doing it. It does work outstandingly-well for a solide cheek weld, however.

All testing was done using a trijicon MRO optic (trijicon.com) mounted to the receiver using Samson’s (samson-mfg) new quick-Release Trijicon MRO base.
All testing was done using a trijicon MRO optic (trijicon.com) mounted to the receiver using Samson’s (samson-mfg) new quick-Release Trijicon MRO base.

For testing we mounted a Trijicon MRO (“Miniaturized Rifle Optic) 1x25mm red-dot optic in and MRO low mount ($629; www.trijicon.com) on the upper receiver’s top rail using the new QR Trijicon MRO quick-detach base from Samson Manufacturing ($99; samson-mfg.com). We tested for accuracy and reliability from a bench rest at 50 yards, using an optional 5-round magazine in place of the 30-rounder, which protrudes 7.5 inches out of the bottom of the lower receiver.

Testing ammunition included inexpensive Russian fodder from Tula and Wolf, mixed with premium Hornady steel-cased ammo loaded with 123-grain SST bullets. We have yet to test a 7.62x39mm firearm in the past three years that hasn’t given us its most-precise results with the Hornady load, and this time was no different. The Mutant Pistol turned in some impressive 5-shot groups using the with the Hornady ammo—the best of which was a neat little cluster measuring 0.78-inches. Better yet, every single group fired with all of the ammunition tested never produced a group-size larger than two-inches. Just goes to show what 7.62x39mm—oftentimes considered an inherantly inaccurate cartridge—is capable of when launched from a precise AR-type platform.

The most effective means we found of accurately firing the Mutant pistol was with a good, solid cheek-weld on the buffer tube. Recoil and muzzle blast were more than manageable...the Krink muzzle brake does the trick.
The most effective means we found of accurately firing the Mutant pistol was with a good, solid cheek-weld on the buffer tube. Recoil and muzzle blast were more than manageable…the Krink muzzle brake does the trick.

The Mk47 AKS8 proved to be a rugged, reliable and accurate AR pistol that packs a big punch. With the 30-round magazine installed you’ve got 45,240 ft. lbs. of kinetic energy on line, which should be more than enough to dispatch a car load of RIJs (“Radical Islamic Jihadists”). See the Mk47 AKS8 at your gun shop, or for more information contact CMMG, Inc., Dept. OT; Tel.: (660) 248-2293; E-mail: [email protected]; Web: www.cmmginc.com