OK, I decided my little rant-ette on the subject of airsoft AK Betas - or Spetz or Krinks, or whatever you want to call them - was maybe a triffle harsh, for two reasons...

First of all, like many airsoft Russian loadout freaks, I am biased against any form of corruption of Mikhail Kalashnikov's iconic design and believe in keeping the AK format faithful to Soviet, Communist Bloc, Chicom and Russian real steel designs. Having said all that, I sort of suddenly remembered that the Beta format is actually a realistic and in existence design, and therefore at least marginally 'authentic'.

Secondly, and this is a bit embarrassing, I forgot that I actually wanted to buy a Beta for my 'Russian MVD' CQB loadout! (Du-uh!)

Getting 'real' with Betas
The reason I had my humongous Milgeek trivia brain jerked into remembering that Betas are 'real' is quite funny actually. I was relaxing at home yesterday, half watching some crap TV, and I happened to notice something on screen that made me sit up and pay attention...

'Rambo', the latest (and hopefully last) Stallone nonsense, was playing and I spied a sawn-off AK47 that was being used by the 'Karen' rebel who was acting as Rambo's guide in the movie. It was nothing less than a stock-less 'Beta' with a wooden fore-grip and a AKM flash-hider.

The term for this sort of stunted AK47 is an 'AK Pistol', and it actually does exist although it's evolution is far from Soviet in origin. From what I can determine - and feel free to correct me - the shorty AK47 format was developed in the West by criminals as a concealed weapon with a big punch!

Of course the accuracy of such a weapon must be abysmal and the recoil horrendous - but at close range I imagine it could make quite a mess and is very intimidating.

Furthermore, these AK47 'pistols' aren't rare items either, as there is a whole cottage industry - it seems - in the good ol' US of A that has turned this bastardisation of the AK47 into something of an art form - all be it one that has a 'love it or hate it' appeal. The Ak-47.us website has a whole section dedicated to these piss-tols, with a list of manufacturers who produce them in a variety of short and ultra-shot lengths.

The marmite of airsoft guns
Well, actually existing is one thing, but having a good excuse for slipping a Beta design into your collection is quit another. Obviously the one and only excuse for using a Beta with a 'Russian' loadout is that no-one manufactures any one of the several real steal CQB SMGs which are in service with the Russian police and special forces. There have been a couple of nice attempts at Bizons and VSS Vintorez - but these tend to be expensive and temperamental custom jobs that aren't within the reach of the average airsofter.

And so the airsofter who wants to have an affordable MVD or FSB CQB loadout is left with little alternative but to bite the bullet and use a Beta type AEG. This is made somewhat palatable by the fact that the two main models of Beta out there - made by TM and JG - are very reliable and accurate (or so I am told).

But itz street in'it?
So authentisity goes out the window - but what about the 'fun' element?

Yes, here's where I concede some ground to the users of the Beta types. The little beasty looks a right bit of fun to use - it's light and handy, so won't tire you out after a day of lugging it around the field and it's mean looking.

The sawn-off aspect to it gives it a nasty and aggressive edge, and that negative association between criminality and the AK affords it a certain intimidation value.

So when I buy my JG Beta and integrate it into my 'Black Russian' loadout it will be interesting to see if the little swine wins me over into the AK pistol camp or not. If nothing else having the compact little AK will mean I have an easily carried 'spare' AEG in my kit bag just in case, just in case. We shall see, though I guess the one thing I cannot knock is the price of owning an airsoft Beta - the JG model is only £89!

Links to the real steel AK Pistol manufacturers - WARNING! I am not responsible in the event that any of the pictures contained in these sites makes your eyes bleed!

> Ewbank AK47 Pistols (OMFG!)
> AK-47.us - AK Pistol variants
> How to build a real AK Pistol (I kid you not)