I recently completed a 4 day practical rifle training course at Frontsight firearms training institute, outside of Las Vegas Nevada.

The equipment I chose to run for this 4 day course was as follows:

*Arsenal Saiga AK (7.62x39)
equipped with Ultimak rails, Magpul XTM two piece rail covers, CAA butt stock tube, Magpul STR butt stock. Krebs BHO safety lever, Hogue pistol grip, CSS charging handle knob
*Bulgarian Circle 10 magazines
*PMC 123 grain FMJ ammo (440 rounds)
*Primary Arms Micro Red dot
*Huskey Amentum slider sling from Ares Armor
*NSR Tactical kydex (HRP) heavy rifle pouch, specifically designed for Bulgarian Circle 10 mags
*ITW mag boots


The rifle, mags & equipment were going to be put through 40 hours of desert cold and heat, dirt, rocks and abuse.
Shooting would be done from no less than 7 different shooting positions including a lot of prone shooting from up to 400 yards.

Arsenal Saiga rifle:
This was one of those Sporter style rifles when it began its life. It was converted to the AK style rifle afterwards.
Through 4 days of shooting the rifle performed flawlessly with 0 (ZERO) malfunctions of any kind.
Accuracy was better than expected for an AK rifle.
With all the prone shooting we were doing, the guys next to me were kicking up loads of desert dirt with their muzzle brakes that literally covered my rifle. No matter, it performed flawlessly.

Ammo (PMC 123 grain FMJ 7.62x39):
Ammo performed flawlessly. 0 (ZERO) problems of any sort.

Mags: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/715220/arsenal-inc-magazine-ak-47-762x39mm-russian-30-round-polymer-black
Bulgarian Circle 10 mags are renowned for their reliability and these didn't disappoint.
They were so smooth in fact, that my tactical reloads were faster than most of the guys running AR's
Again 0 (ZERO problems of any kind.

*NSR Tactical kydex (HRP) heavy rifle pouch, specifically designed for Bulgarian Circle 10 mags
http://nsrtactical.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=20_22&products_id=11
These kydex mag pouches were exceptional.
They had excellent retention while still being lightning fast to remove and insert mags.
The kydex is very solid and good looking.
It's actually two mag pouches but you're given the option to put them together or run them as separate pouches.

Primary Arms Micro red dot
https://www.primaryarms.com/Primary_Arms_Micro_Dot_With_Fixed_Base_p/md-07.htm
The Primary Arms red dot was very inexpensive so I didn't expect much bit it held zero and performed flawlessly.

Huskey Amentum slider sling from Ares Armor
http://aresarmor.com/store/Item/aahuskey2pt
The sling was great. Fast adjustment and heed to stabilize shots. I'd recommend it highly to anyone looking for a high quality 2 point.

ITW Magboot
http://www.lapolicegear.com/itw-magboot-genii.html
These boots are designed to enhance grip, reduce mag damage from drops or if you, like I do, use the bottom of the mag as a monopod in the prone.
The mag boots did their job. Although they were designed for AR mags, they do work on AK mags as well.

Magpul XTM 2 piece rail covers.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/2319115812/magpul-xtm-modular-full-profile-picatinny-rail-cover-polymer-package-of-4
I'm going to say these failed.
With the constant up and down, prone to standing and back, the rails panels started to come loose.
Occasionally I had to press them together to keep them from falling off.
Two times one of the panels actually fell off.

Ultimak rails
http://ultimak.com/BuyAK.htm
I installed the Ultimak gas tube upper rail as well as the tri rail on this rifle and am 100% satisfied with how they worked. Extremely solid products.

Any personal observations or discussions on how other rifles held out under those conditions..just curious? Sounds like an excellent course. Is it the Four Day Advanced Practical Rifle Course you attended?

I noticed many magazine failures on AR platform rifles, including one literally falling to pieces during an emergency reload.
One guys FN FAL had its safety lever break clean off.
A couple type 3 double feed problems with AR's.

I'm not disparaging any other platform, just reporting observations.

All of the mag problems I saw were with aluminum mags.

Thanks!

all very good quality gear. How big of a target are you shooting at 400 yards? I was going to mount my primary micro on my AK but I couldn't imagine shooting out that far un-magnified.

I may try out those magboots too

all very good quality gear. How big of a target are you shooting at 400 yards? I was going to mount my primary micro on my AK but I couldn't imagine shooting out that far un-magnified.

I may try out those magboots too

The target is the same from every distance.

Silhouette target, approx 12" wide x 18" high
The area you're supposed to hit is approx 10" wide x 10" high

I noticed many magazine failures on AR platform rifles, including one literally falling to pieces during an emergency reload.
One guys FN FAL had its safety lever break clean off.
A couple type 3 double feed problems with AR's.

I'm not disparaging any other platform, just reporting observations.

All of the mag problems I saw were with aluminum mags.

Interesting.  For those that had double feeds with their mags, were they older mags?  Some people are still using mags from pre-Vietnam.  That's cool and all, but not when they start giving you problems.  Some people forget that mags are disposable items.  But at the prices that they are going for now, I can understand wanting to keep the ones you've got as long as you can.  I number my mags and if I get any feeding malfunction, they go on probation for a while until I can figure out if it was the mag or not. 

For my AK, I have both Bulgarian polymer and Korean steel mags.  All I know is that the steel mags are WAY heavier than the polymer mags.  I haven't really run them that much though to be able to comment on difference, but they've both worked flawlessly so far. 

I'm all for buying quality gear, but even quality gear fails.  In my last carbine class, an Aimpoint T-1 couldn't adjust elevation, a Trijicon 1-4x would shift POA in anything besides 1x because a lens came lose and the safety lever/selector on my LMT cracked right off.  So shat happens even with quality gear, but hopefully just less frequently. 

I noticed many magazine failures on AR platform rifles, including one literally falling to pieces during an emergency reload.
One guys FN FAL had its safety lever break clean off.
A couple type 3 double feed problems with AR's.

I'm not disparaging any other platform, just reporting observations.

All of the mag problems I saw were with aluminum mags.

Any issues with dust (fine) starting to gum up the works on guys stuff?

Thank you Keoni for the positive review on my pouches. If anyone ever needs anything feel free to email me at Dave@nsrtactical.com.

Thank you Keoni for the positive review on my pouches. If anyone ever needs anything feel free to email me at Dave@nsrtactical.com.

2A hawaii has officially made it big time. We got vendors here now. Welcome 

Thank you Keoni for the positive review on my pouches. If anyone ever needs anything feel free to email me at Dave@nsrtactical.com.

No problem.

They worked extremely well.

A few of the other shooters at Frontsight asked me where I got them as well.

I highly recommend them.