re: UK Mail: North Korea shows off special forces armed with "grenade launchers"

Let me add...

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The North Korean Type 88 is usually seen issued with standard 30 round magazines and, aside from the standard wooden or synthetic fixed stock, a side-folding or top-folding stock (pictured). Two notable distinctions differentiate the North Korean helical design from other helical magazines that have been developed. First, and perhaps most obviously, this magazines was developed for a larger, more powerful rifle calibre than existing designs. Existing helical magazines have typically been developed for pistol calibre weapons, with designs having been produced in calibres such as 7.62 x 25, 9 x 17SR (.380 ACP), 9 x 18, and 9 x 19 mm. Secondly, whereas other helical magazines have typically been developed in conjunction with the firearms intended to make use of them, the recent North Korean example was instead produced for use with an existing weapon, appearing to make use of the bayonet lug for mounting. The top-folding stock, another North Korean innovation, allows the stock to be folded with the magazine inserted, which would not be possible with typical side-folding or under-folding AK stocks. Whilst there are persistent rumours of both Russian and Chinese developments of helical magazines for AK pattern weapons, no documentary evidence has emerged to date. The nature of the post-production design and the inherent complexity of helical magazines (when compared to standard removable box magazines) suggest that while these magazines offer a greatly increased cartridge capacity, they may render the weapon more prone to malfunctions and misfires. It is unknown if similar magazines have been developed for other calibres, or to what extent the helical magazine has been integrated into the Korean People’s Army.

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Am I correct to no one outside of NK has actually seen these 5.45x39 helical magazines function?

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Any of you military Baws ever March/trot/double time in formation with your gun aimed at your boys face?

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It would make sense and make for a better parade if they use realistic looking mock-ups for as much of the equipment as possible. Everyone in the parade is on their feet for many hours. That "Goose Step" marching gait is VERY tiring. So, it would make sense to lighten their load as much as possible. For example, helmets could be light plastic shells instead of heavier material.

So, if they want fresh troops high-stepping as crisp as possible, they will lighten the load with mock-ups, IMHO.

PS That NK soldier really does look like the NK version of Forrest Gump!

I know a lot. I'm sort of one of those people who thinks they know almost everything.
Though I routinely abandon threads when I see that I was wrong.

Not condoning people attacking you for being slightly wrong. But when MJ2 said you would hold onto this thread like he did the MPG thread, he wasn't wrong.

The UK mail article is the one who is wrong here. Don't get mad though. Plenty of good war and weapons knowledge is needed here.

It was the hypocrisy and outright lies of a handful that I could not let go unanswered.

I understand.

I too thought they were grenade launchers. Weapons aren't my realm of expertise.

There's definitely a trigger...

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That's the rifle's magazine not a grenade launcher.

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Welcome to the party. But I hate to tell you that you're a day and 20 pages too late.

Round 2?

Has anyone said anything about this proving that the media is stupid and too lazy to do the right research before publishing an article?

I'm too lazy to read through 20 pages.

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Rebel posted this yesterday, but I think it pretty much sums up what has happened in this thread.

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I think you started a thread claiming NK army was trying to fool everyone with pvc piping mocked up to look like a grenade launcher.

By the 2nd page someone more knowledgeable than you pointed out that what you were thinking were grenade launchers were in fact a type of tubular magazine. Thread should've been over by 3rd page.

But because you are so socially awkward, you stated arguing about if AK's have a gas chamber.

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I really feel like we're spinning our wheels at this point.