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PaperclipPerfector  2d ago (text post)   1759 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for April 19, 2026

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

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They exist. Tokarev is a niche handgun for collectors in the USA. Handguns chambered in rifle cartridges appeal to gun nuts for some reason, IDK why, but you can easily find both AK caliber and AR-15 caliber handguns.

There are 3 reasons why:

  • it's an end run around the 1989 Federal import ban of "non-sporting" rifles (pistols are not rifles), which in addition to AKs also tends to affect clones of HK products, particularly MP5s
  • it's an end run around SBR laws, especially after the advent of the "pistol brace" (it's a stock with a fig leaf over it); yes, the lack of tax and registration is part of it, but there are a bunch of other rules around SBRs that don't apply to pistols
  • because rifles that short are kind of stupid and impractical, and memes are a great reason to own guns (usually Dracos and TEC-9s, but also applies to AR-18s around St. Patrick's day, Carcanos around President's Day, FALs in certain paint jobs, etc.)

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