Chiappa Firearms RAK-9 9mm carbine
SHOT Show 2019 – The Chiappa Firearms RAK-9 9mm semi-automatic carbine takes the pistol-caliber carbines (PCC) market by storm with its faithful take on the original AKM design, its modular magazine well and now, with its new ATI Fiberforce polymer furniture – a US exclusive!
The Chiappa Firearms RAK-9 semi-automatic carbine is almost unique in the field of semi-automatic, full-length pistol-caliber carbines (PCC) so popular these days in that it is the only mass-produced PCC currently available to be based on an AK/AKM design while the vast majority of other entries in this category are either original designs, based on the AR-15 rifle, or long-barrel versions of popular sub-machine guns.
The Chiappa Firearms RAK-9 is built to stay as faithful to the original AK/AKM design as possible. As such, all metal components are manufactured out of steel – the receiver first and foremost, being a stamped steel AKM receiver redesigned in Italy for the specifications of the 9mm Luger cartridge and manufactured in Romania.
The bolt of the Chiappa Firearms RAK-9 carbine also remains as faithful as possible to that of the original AKM, while having been redesigned for 9mm. The RAK-9 is a straight blowback design, and as such the bolt does not come with a gas piston, replaced by a full-length metal rod that adds front mass to ensure reliable locking with any load.
The controls configuration of the Chiappa Firearms RAK-9 semi-automatic carbine remains the same as found on the original AKM assault rifle, and so does the 17.25" barrel length. The polymer pistol grip and wooden handguard and stock are AKM originals, and interchangeable with any original or aftermarket AK component; same goes for the drift-adjustable hooded post and range-adjustable leaf rear sight.
New for 2019, the Chiappa Firearms RAK-9 will also be available with an ATI Fiberforce black polymer ventilated handguard and thumbhole stock – a variant unique to the U.S. market.
Chiappa Firearms RAK-9 rifle, with the new polymer stock
In its iterations sold in the United States, the Chiappa Firearms RAK-9 semi-automatic pistol-caliber carbine feeds through proprietary single-stack magazines holding ten rounds of 9mm Luger ammunition. These magazines resemble chopped-down 7,62x39mm 10-rounders in size and look.
In its original "European" configuration, the RAK-9 feeds instead through a polymer magazine well that will accept Beretta 92-type pistol magazines. Just like with the PAK-9 pistol, the polymer magazine well is interchangeable and can be swapped with a replacement part that will convert the RAK-9 to feed from Glock magazines.
