When did the Kalashnikov assault rifle appear? Kalashnikov assault rifle: history of creation, technical characteristics

The Kalashnikov assault rifle belongs to a type of small arms implemented based on the idea of ​​its creator Mikhail Kalashnikov specifically for the 7.62 mm cartridge. The Soviet army officially received it in 1949. In everyday life, in domestic and foreign works, the machine gun is called by the abbreviation “AK-47”, but it is not correct: in official documents this type of weapon is called “AK”, since the name AK-47 had a small series of modifications released in 1948.

The history of the creation of the Kalashnikov assault rifle includes four stages of its modernization. The AK is in service with our country to this day. The first Kalashnikov assault rifle “AK-46” was created in 1946, but this model was considered unsuitable, after which updated AK and AKS were produced. At the end of the 50s they were replaced by the AKM, which in 1974 gave way to the AK-74, which was replaced by the AK-74M in 1993, and in the early 2000s the “100th series” appeared. During its development, the AK-74M was used as the basis, while standard and shortened assault rifles chambered for the 5.56 mm cartridge - AK-101 and AK-102 - were created, as well as their modifications for the more powerful 7.62 mm cartridge - AK- 103 and AK-104. In addition, a new compact machine gun chambered for a 5.45 mm cartridge was designed - the AK-105, which belongs to the same series.

The popularity of the Kalashnikov assault rifle is based on its reliability, lightness and simplicity of design. For example, it will take no more than one minute to disassemble and assemble it! And the ability to modify the machine gun to fire cartridges of different calibers made it possible to establish its production in many countries. This has led to the fact that the number of AK combat units produced is about 100 million, and more than fifty countries are armed with the Kalashnikov assault rifle.

The AK is so popular in the world that it has long become a symbol of good luck, and not just a weapon. Some countries, such as Zimbabwe, Congo and others, have placed an image of a Kalashnikov assault rifle on their coat of arms, and Mozambique and New Zealand- on banknotes. In Egypt, a monument to AK was erected after the victory over the Israelis.

You can attach a bayonet-knife to any Kalashnikov assault rifle, which is designed for hand-to-hand combat, and also has a device for cutting wire. In addition, it can be equipped with an under-barrel grenade launcher.

All models of the Kalashnikov assault rifle with a folding stock have a special rail on which a night sight is mounted. Also, any variants of AK and AKM can be equipped with a removable silencer, which is used with US cartridges.

“Optimists can learn English, pessimists can learn Chinese, and realists can learn a Kalashnikov assault rifle.”

The science of how to distinguish between Kalashnikov assault rifle models

AK (AK-47)

The classic, very first AK-47 adopted for service is difficult to confuse with anything else. Made of iron and wood, without any bells and whistles, it has long become a symbol of reliability and ease of use in any conditions. At the same time, it didn’t take long for the machine gun to become like this: it took Mikhail Kalashnikov several years to bring his creation to fruition.

In 1946, the military leadership of the USSR announced a competition to create an assault rifle for intermediate (according to lethal force- between a pistol and a rifle) cartridge. The new weapon had to be maneuverable, fast-firing, and have sufficient bullet lethality and shooting accuracy. The competition took place in several stages and was extended more than once, since none of the gunsmiths could give the required result. In particular, the commission sent AK-46 models No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 (with a folding metal stock) for revision.

The improved Kalashnikov assault rifle, which was given the index AK-47, as Sergei Monetchikov writes in the book “The History of the Russian Automatic,” was almost completely redesigned. The best ideas were borrowed from the designs of competitors' weapons, implemented in individual parts and entire assemblies.

The machine gun did not have a classic solid stock. Taking into account the strong receiver, the separate wooden stock and fore-end contributed to holding the weapon during shooting. The design of the receiver was redesigned; it was fundamentally different from the previous ones with a special liner rigidly attached to it, connecting it to the barrel. In particular, a reflector of spent cartridges was attached to the insert.

The reloading handle, made integral with the bolt frame, was moved to the right side. This was demanded by test soldiers; they noted: the left-sided position of the handle interferes with shooting while moving on the move without stopping, touching the stomach. In the same position it is inconvenient to reload the weapon.

The transfer of controls to the right side of the receiver made it possible to create a successful fire switch (from single to automatic), which is also a fuse, made in the form of a single rotating part.

The large mass of the bolt frame and a powerful return spring ensured reliable operation of the mechanisms, including unfavorable conditions: when dusty, dirty, or thickened lubricant. The weapon turned out to be adapted for trouble-free operation in the range of air temperature changes up to 100 degrees Celsius.

The wooden parts of the new weapon - the butt, fore-end and receiver grip, as well as the pistol grip, made from birch blanks - were coated with three layers of varnish, which ensured their sufficient resistance to swelling in damp conditions.

AKS (AKS-47)

Simultaneously with the AK-47, a model with the letter “C”, meaning “folding”, was also adopted. This version of the machine gun was intended for special forces and airborne forces; its difference was in the metal rather than wooden butt, which could also be folded under the receiver.

“Such a stock, consisting of two stamped-welded rods, a shoulder rest and a locking mechanism, ensured ease of handling of the weapon - in the stowed position, when moving on skis, parachuting, as well as its use for firing from tanks, armored personnel carriers, etc. .”, writes Sergei Monetchikov.

The machine gun was supposed to be fired with the butt folded down, but if this was not possible, the weapon could also be fired with the butt folded. True, it was not very comfortable: the butt rods had insufficient rigidity and strength, and the wide shoulder rest did not fit into the hollow of the shoulder and therefore tended to move from there when firing in bursts.

AKM and AKMS

The modernized Kalashnikov assault rifle (AKM) was put into service 10 years after the AK-47 - in 1959. It turned out to be lighter, longer-range and easier to use.

“We, and especially the main customer, were not satisfied with the accuracy when shooting from stable positions, lying down from a rest, standing from a rest. We found a way out by introducing a trigger retarder, which increased the inter-cycle time,” Kalashnikov wrote in the book “Notes of a Gunsmith Designer.” Later, a muzzle compensator was developed, which made it possible to improve the accuracy of combat during automatic shooting from unstable positions, standing, kneeling, lying down from the hand."

The retarder allowed the bolt frame to stabilize in the extreme forward position before the next shot, which affected the accuracy of fire. The muzzle compensator in the form of a petal was installed on the barrel thread, and was one of the obvious distinctive features AKM. Due to the compensator, the trunk cut was not vertical, but diagonal. By the way, mufflers could be attached to the same thread.

Improving the accuracy of fire made it possible to increase its sighting range to 1000 meters, as a result, the aiming bar also changed, the range scale consisted of numbers from 1 to 10 (on the AK-47 - up to 8).

The butt was raised upward, which brought the resting point closer to the firing line. Changed external forms wooden forend. On the sides it received rests for the fingers. The phosphate-varnish coating, which replaced the oxide coating, increased the anti-corrosion resistance tenfold. Monetchikov notes that the store, made not from steel sheets, but from light alloys, has also undergone radical changes. To increase reliability and protect against deformation, the side walls of its body were reinforced with stiffeners.

The design of the bayonet-knife, attached under the barrel, was also new. A sheath with a rubber tip for electrical insulation allowed the knife to be used for cutting through barbed wire and live wires. Combat power The AKM increased significantly due to the possibility of installing the GP-25 Koster under-barrel grenade launcher. Like its predecessor, the AKM was also developed in a folding version with the letter “C” in the name.

AK-74

In the 1960s, the Soviet military leadership decided to develop small arms chambered for the low-impulse 5.45 mm caliber cartridge. The fact is that the AKM failed to achieve high accuracy of fire. The reason was that the cartridge was too powerful, which gave a strong impulse.

In addition, as Monetchikov writes, military trophies from South Vietnam also ended up in the hands of Soviet military specialists - American AR-15 rifles, the automatic version of which was later adopted by the US Army under the designation M-16. Even then, the AKM was inferior in many respects to the AR-15, in particular in terms of combat accuracy and hit probability.

“In terms of the difficulty of development, in terms of finding approaches, the design of an assault rifle chambered for the 5.45-mm caliber can probably only be compared with the birth of the AK-47 - the father of the entire family of our system. At first, when we decided to take the AKM automatic circuit as a basis, one one of the factory managers expressed the idea that there was no need to look for something here and invent something, they say, a simple re-barrel would be enough. I marveled in my soul at the naivety of such a judgment, - Mikhail Kalashnikov recalled about that period. - Of course, changing a barrel of a larger caliber to a smaller one is a matter Then, by the way, the popular opinion began to circulate that we just changed the number “47” to “74”.

The main feature of the new machine gun was a two-chamber muzzle brake, which, when firing, absorbed approximately half of the recoil energy. A rail for night sights was mounted on the left side of the receiver. The new rubber-metal design of the butt butt with transverse grooves reduced its sliding along the shoulder when conducting aimed shooting.

The handguard and stock were initially made of wood, but switched to black plastic in the 1980s. External feature the butt had grooves on both sides; they were made to lighten the overall weight of the machine gun. Shops were also made from plastic.

AKS-74

For the Airborne Forces, a modification with a folding stock was traditionally made, although this time it was retracted to the left along the receiver. It is believed that this decision was not very successful: when folded, the machine gun was wide and rubbed the skin when worn behind the back. When worn on the chest, it became inconvenient if it was necessary to fold back the butt without removing the weapon.

A leather cheek muff appeared on the upper side of the butt; it protected the shooter’s cheek from freezing to a metal part in winter conditions.

AKS-74U
Following the world fashion of the 1960-70s, the USSR decided to develop a small-sized machine gun that could be used in cramped combat conditions, mainly when shooting at close and medium distances. The next announced competition among designers was won by Mikhail Kalashnikov.

Compared to the AKS-74, the barrel was shortened from 415 to 206.5 millimeters, which is why the gas chamber had to be moved back. This, writes Sergei Monetchikov, entailed a change in the design of the front sight. Its base was made in conjunction with the gas chamber. This design also caused the sight to be moved closer to the shooter’s eye, otherwise the aiming line would be very short. Finishing the topic of the sight, we note that the machine guns of this model were equipped with self-luminous attachments for shooting at night and in conditions of limited visibility.

The greater pressure of the powder gases required the installation of a reinforced flame arrester. It was a cylindrical chamber with a bell (an extension in the form of a funnel) at the front. The flame arrester was mounted on the muzzle of the barrel, on a threaded fit.

The shortened machine gun was equipped with a more massive wooden fore-end and a gas tube receiver; it could use either standard 30-round magazines or shortened 20-round magazines.

For a more complete unification of the shortened machine gun with the AKS-74, it was decided to use the same butt, reclining on left side receiver.

AK-74M

This machine gun is a deep modernization of the weapon adopted for service in 1974. Having retained all the best qualities inherent in Kalashnikov assault rifles, the AK-74M acquired a number of new ones that significantly improved its combat and operational characteristics.

The main feature of the new model was a folding plastic stock, replacing the metal one. It was lighter than its predecessors and similar in design to the permanent plastic stock of the AK-74 produced in the late 1980s. When worn, it clings less to clothing and does not cause discomfort when shooting in low or high temperature conditions.

The handguard and the barrel lining of the gas tube of the machine gun were made of glass-filled polyamide. In terms of heat transfer, the new material was almost no different from wood, which eliminated hand burns during prolonged shooting. Longitudinal ribs on the fore-end made it easier and more secure to hold the weapon during aimed fire.

"The hundredth series" (AK 101-109)

These modifications of the Kalashnikov, developed in the 1990s on the basis of the AK-74M, are called the first domestic family of commercial weapons, since they were intended more for export than for domestic consumption. In particular, they were designed for the NATO cartridge of 5.56 by 45 millimeters.

Wooden parts are completely excluded from the designs of the "100th" series assault rifles (similar to the best model of the 5.45 mm Kalashnikov assault rifle - AK74M). The butt and forearm of all are made of impact-resistant glass-filled polyamide in black color, for which this weapon, as Monetchikov writes, received the name “Black Kalashnikov” from the Americans. All models have plastic stocks that fold to the left along the receiver and a rail for mounting sights.

The most original in the “hundredth” series were the AK-102, AK-104 and AK-105 assault rifles. In their design, a breakthrough was made in increasing the level of unification between standard assault rifles and their shortened versions. Due to a slight increase in the overall length (by 100 millimeters compared to the AKS-74U), it became possible to leave the gas chamber in the same place as in the AK-74, thus allowing the use of a unified moving system and sights.

The "hundredth" series assault rifles differ from each other mainly in caliber, barrel length (314 - 415 millimeters), and sector sights designed for different ranges (from 500 to 1000 meters).

This machine gun was also developed on the basis of the AK-74M; it also used developments from the “hundredth” series. Same black color, same polymer folding stock. The main difference from the classic Kalashnikovs can be considered a shortened barrel and a gas exhaust mechanism. Experts call the new pistol grip, which has better ergonomics, an important improvement.

The machine gun was created as a silent, flameless rifle system for covert shooting. It uses subsonic 9x39 mm cartridges, which together with a silencer make the shot almost inaudible. Magazine capacity - 20 rounds.

The forend has a special strip for various removable equipment - flashlights, laser pointers.

Most modern machine gun of the Kalashnikov family, the tests of which have not yet been completed. One of the most striking external changes is the use of Picatinny rails for attaching attachments. Unlike the AK-9, they are both on the forend and on top of the receiver. At the same time, the lower bar does not interfere with the installation of under-barrel grenade launchers - this option is retained. The AK-12 also has two short rails on the sides of the handguard and one on top of the gas chamber.

In addition, the butt of the machine gun is easily removed and can be folded in both directions. On top of that, it is telescopic; the cheekpiece and butt plate are adjustable in height. There is also a variant of the machine gun with a stationary, lighter plastic butt.

The fire switch safety flag is duplicated on the left side; the machine gun can fire single, short series of three shots, and in automatic mode. And in general, all the controls of the machine gun are made in such a way that a soldier can use them with one hand, including changing the magazine and pulling the bolt. By the way, a variety of magazines can be used, up to an experimental drum with 95 rounds.

The article is devoted specifically to the first Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifle.

Kalashnikov assault rifle chambered for the 7.62x39 mm intermediate cartridge and was designed by Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov in 1947. Entered into service in 1949 and was produced until 1959, supplied to the military under the designation GRAU-56-A-212. Since the machine gun was designed in 1947 and had a prototype AK-46, it is often referred to as AK-47.
Kalashnikov assault rifle is the most widespread and popular weapon in the world. Over 60 years, more than 70 million have been produced worldwide Kalashnikov assault rifles and its modifications. This is approximately 1/5 of all small arms produced in the world, the closest competitor Kalashnikov assault rifle is an American machine gun in the USA - about 8 million units were produced.

History of creation

Prerequisite for creation Kalashnikov assault rifle became second World War, during which the German StG-44 assault rifle chambered for the 7.92x33 mm intermediate cartridge and the American-made semi-automatic M1 carbine chambered for the 7.62x33 mm cartridge, which was supplied to the USSR under Lend-Lease, appeared. The military and designers appreciated positive sides machine guns and rifles chambered for intermediate cartridges and gave impetus to the development of domestic models of weapons chambered for intermediate cartridges.
Looking ahead a little. The Soviet intermediate cartridge 7.62x39 mm was developed by designers B.V. Semina and N.M. Elizarova at OKB-44 in November 1943. Initially, the cartridge caliber was 7.62x41 mm, but was later shortened. Production of the industrial cartridge began in 1944. The new cartridge occupied a niche between pistol cartridges and rifle-machine-gun cartridges. The intermediate cartridge received many advantages with minimal losses in performance characteristics. So the new cartridge has become smaller in size, much lighter, effective when shooting at enemy personnel at a distance of up to 700-800 meters, and has less recoil. So the weight of a 7.62x39 mm cartridge is 16.2 grams, and a 7.62x54 rifle-machine-gun cartridge weighs 24.7 grams. The weight difference is almost 9 grams, which is 60% lighter.
Thanks to the emergence of a more compact and less powerful cartridge, new models for this cartridge were created. So the new weapon was initially compact and lightweight compared to weapons chambered for 7.62x4 mm. The new weapon chambered for an intermediate cartridge was supposed to be effective at a range of 400-800 meters. A pistol was replaced with a new weapon - PPSh machine guns, PPD is the effective sighting range, which did not exceed 200-300 meters. This made it more effective than submachine guns with an effective range of 200-300 meters. The role of rifle cartridges was also reduced; often fighters did not need rifles and machine guns with high power and high recoil.
As a result, the intermediate cartridge was born Kalashnikov-AK assault rifle, Degtyarev-RPD light machine gun and Simonov-SKS self-loading carbine. Subsequently, in the USSR, the Kalashnikov assault rifle replaced the SKS carbine within 10-15 years, since AK had a higher density of fire, modern military conflicts have shown that semi-automatic rifles with an aiming range of 600-800 meters are not as effective as machine guns. Over the course of 10-15 years, the RPD machine gun unfairly replaced the Kalashnikov machine gun chambered for 7.62x54 mm due to the unification of machine guns.
The first Soviet AS-44 assault rifle chambered for the 7.62x41 mm intermediate cartridge was created by Alexey Ivanovich Sudaev (creator of the Sudaev submachine gun). The assault rifle was produced in a small batch for military testing, but was never put into service, despite the pros and cons, the military wanted to get the assault rifle for themselves after modifications, but the death of A.I. Sudaev stopped further work on finalizing the AS-44 assault rifle. After the death of A.I. Sudaveva was appointed new competition on the development of a machine gun, rifle and machine gun chambered for an intermediate cartridge. In November 1946, M.T. Kalashnikov presented his machine gun. The Kalashnikov's competitors were the Bulkin and Dementiev assault rifles.

The first sample of the AK-46 was visually different from AK-47- had a split safety lever and a fire switch, the cocking handle was on the left side. The military commission needed to move the cocking handle to the right side, combine the fire selector with the safety and place it on the right side of the machine gun to rid the left side of the automatic protrusions. After revision at the second competition Kalashnikov assault rifle deemed unsuitable. Despite the verdict, Kalashnikov, together with designer Zaitsev, finalized the machine gun at the Kovrov plant; during the finalization, some of the mechanisms were borrowed from other machine guns that took part in competitions, such as AB-46 / TKB-415 and early weapons. The ethical standards of borrowing technical solutions from other models were not forbidden in any way, but were even encouraged, since the military wanted to see a successful weapon model in which all these technical solutions were included. Despite the fact that the AK-46 was rejected, Kalashnikov turned for help to the military with whom he fought during the Second World War, so that he would be given the opportunity to present a new model of his assault rifle to the military commission. In the winter of 1946-1947, the commission was presented with Dementiev KBP-520, Bulkin TKB-415, and Kalashnikov KBP-580 assault rifles. The commission once again rejected all the assault rifles, but noted that the Kalashnikov assault rifle is the most reliable, but has poor accuracy, while the Bulkin TKB-415 assault rifle has good accuracy, but low reliability. Despite the negative assessment of the machine guns, it was decided to adopt Kalashnikov assault rifle, and postpone the problem with accuracy until another time, thereby arming the army with machine guns.

Production Kalashnikov assault rifles it was decided to establish it at the Izhevsk plant in 1947 (later at the Tula arms plant). After military and field tests in 1948, it was put into service Soviet army two modifications of the AK were adopted under the designation "7.62 mm Kalashnikov assault rifle" - AK and "7.62 mm Kalashnikov assault rifle with folding stock" - AKS.In 1949 M.T. Kalashnikov for creation AK was awarded the Stalin Prize of the first degree.
The machine turned out to be “half-baked”, as there were complaints about accuracy and operation in different climatic conditions, changes began to be made to the design and production. In the early 1950s, AK-47 a “competitor” to German Korobov’s design appeared—the TKB-417 assault rifle. The Korobov assault rifle had better accuracy, lighter weight and was cheaper to produce. Despite this, Kalashnikov corrected the shortcomings of his assault rifle and introduced a modernized version of the AK, which in 1959 was put into service as “ 7.62-mm modernized Kalashnikov assault rifle - AKM.

Automation of the Kalashnikov assault rifle

Kalashnikov assault rifle consists of approximately 95 parts. Automatic AK-47 works by removing part of the powder gases from the barrel during a shot. Gases entering the barrel bore push the gas piston, which gives impulse to the bolt group to complete a new cycle. During the rollback, the cylinder rotates, locking the cartridge in the chamber with further extraction of the cartridge case from the machine gun. The disadvantage of such a bolt group is its large weight (520 grams), which during shooting leads to noticeable recoil, which worsens the accuracy of the fire. The bolt is returned to the firing position using a return spring. When the cartridges in the magazine are used up, the bolt does not engage the slide stop, which is a disadvantage.
The USM trigger mechanism is not installed inside the housing as a separate unit. Allows automatic (burst firing - provides self-timer) and semi-automatic (single) fire. The trigger is combined into a single unit with a safety lock that locks the bolt and trigger, which prevents an accidental shot even with a loaded cartridge in the chamber. The trigger works using a twisted wire, which is located U-shaped inside the machine body. USM.
The receiver serves as the body of the entire machine, uniting all parts into a single whole. Inside the receiver there are four rails for sliding the bolt group. First AK-47 assault rifles had a stamped receiver, which greatly affected the quality and reliability of the machine. Later during production AKM began to be manufactured using the milling method, which increased reliability, but the weight of the machine also increased. On the receiver there is a sector sight with an aiming range of 800 meters.
First AK-47 they did not have compensators for muzzle brakes on the barrel. On the trunk AK There is a mount for the bayonet of a knife, which could be used during hand-to-hand combat. AKS did not provide for mounting a bayonet knife. The wooden butt of the machine gun has a pencil case for cleaning and servicing the machine.

Ammunition:

For shooting from AK assault rifle You can use 7.62x39 mm cartridges:

• ordinary bullet cartridges have a steel jacket, with a steel core; a lead jacket is located between the clad steel jacket and the core. The first cartridges had a soft steel core, which did not significantly increase the armor-piercing effect. The cartridge is designed for shooting at enemy personnel. The bullet has no distinctive markings on the nose of the bullet.
• The armor-piercing incendiary cartridge is designed for firing at enemy personnel and lightly armored vehicles at a distance of up to 300 meters. The cartridge is effective for shooting at fuel containers and gas tanks Vehicle. The bullet has a tombac-clad jacket, inside of which there is a steel core made of high-carbon steel, with lead between the jacket and the core. At the bottom of the bullet there is a tray with incendiary composition. The tip of the incendiary cartridge bullet is marked black with a red band.
• The tracer is designed for shooting at enemy personnel in the daytime and at night at a distance of up to 800 meters; when shooting, it helps to identify the enemy. It has a tombac-clad jacket with a steel core placed in lead. On the bottom there are nozzles for burning composition. The bullet is marked green at the end.
• - the incendiary cartridge is reassigned for firing at enemy personnel, enemy equipment or flammable materials at a distance of up to 700 meters to create fires. The cartridge consists of a copper jacket inside which contains a flammable composition in air. The bullet tip is marked in red.
• hunting, shell are intended for commercial hunting and shooting training. There is a lead core inside the tombac-clad steel bullet.
• There are also blanks, armor-piercing tracer cartridges, etc.

The machine is fed from a removable box-shaped double-row magazine with 30 rounds of ammunition. Since the intermediate cartridge has a conical shape, to accommodate them it was necessary to create a magazine with a recognizable bend. Magazines for AK and AKM were made of metal; later, for the AK-74, magazines began to be made of hard polymers. In addition to the 30-round magazine, sector magazines with 40 rounds and a drum magazine with 75 rounds have been created for AK and AKM. The magazine is attached to the machine gun by attaching the magazine to the neck of the receiver and securing it with a latch.

Accuracy AK assault rifle the first releases was not important, which was noted when it was put into service, but the reliability of the machine outweighed this drawback. With each modernization, with the help of muzzle cuts and muzzle brakes of compensators, the accuracy of the machine gun increased. The range of a direct shot at a tall enemy figure is 350 meters.

The standards for disassembling and assembling a Kalashnikov assault rifle in life safety lessons are:

• “Excellent” - 18 and 30 seconds
• For “good” - 30 and 35 seconds
• To “satisfactory” 35-40 seconds
• The standard for the military is 15 and 25 seconds

Combat use of the AK-47

Soviet public AK-47 was presented in the film "Maxim Perepelitsa" in 1955.
The first combat use of the AK occurred during Operation Whirlwind during the suppression of the uprising in Hungary on November 1, 1956. Then came the Vietnam War, where Kalashnikov assault rifle surpassed head and shoulders its competitor, the M16 assault rifle, whose reliability in the jungles of Vietnam “let us down.” After Vietnam, the Kalashnikov assault rifle appeared in every armed conflict that took place in the world.

Conclusion.

Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifle initially it turned out not to be ideal, but over time many of the shortcomings were eliminated, and it became the standard of reliability in weapons world. Klashnikov assault rifle has become synonymous with the word “reliability”. The subsequent adoption of the AKM confirmed the position of the machine gun in the weapons world.

Technical characteristics of the Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifle

Number of shots	30 in the store
Barrel caliber	7.62x39 mm, 8 grooves
Combat rate of fire	120 rounds per minute
Maximum rate of fire	540-600 rounds per minute
Sighting range	3200-3500 meters
Effective sighting range	800 meters
Maximum bullet range	3000 meters
starting speed departure	715 m/s
Automation	gas outlet
Weight	4.3 kg empty, 4.8 kg loaded
Dimensions	870 mm AK, 645 mm AKS

The Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifle, produced in 1947-1949, was designated “AK-47” in documents of those years, later replaced by “AK”

Kalashnikov AK assault rifle, 1949-1954.

Kalashnikov AK assault rifle, 1954-1959.

Kalashnikov AKS assault rifles (assault rifle with folding stock)

Kalashnikov AKS assault rifle, 1954-1959.

Before moving on to the history of the creation of the Kalashnikov assault rifle and a description of its design, it is necessary to define some points of terminology. In relation to the AK, the most technically correct term would be “automatic carbine”, that is, an automatic rifle with reduced weight and dimensions. Or the term “assault rifle” (German: Sturmgewehr or English: Assault rifle), introduced by Adolf Hitler as the name of the Haenel automatic carbine designed by Hugo Schmeisser, which was later given the designation Stg.44. The term “assault rifle” had a propaganda meaning, however, it has become widespread throughout the world in relation to all individual small arms automatic weapons chambered for an intermediate cartridge. The term “automatic”, introduced in the USSR and used to designate the Fedorov automatic rifle and even the PPSh-41 submachine gun, is in circulation only in the Russian Federation and in the so-called “post-Soviet space”. At the same time, along with the designation of weapons, in colloquial speech this term is applied to such electronic and mechanical devices as a coffee machine and slot machine, while the term “automatic carbine” much more accurately corresponds to and describes a certain class of automatic weapons.

Development and production (official version)

The decision to begin design work to create a new weapon-cartridge complex, which resulted in the adoption of the Kalashnikov automatic carbine into service by the USSR, was made on July 15, 1943 at a meeting of the Technical Council under the People's Commissariat of Defense of the USSR, based on the results of a study of the captured German MKb.42 automatic carbine ( H), which was the prototype of the future Stg.44, chambered for the world's first mass-produced intermediate cartridge 7.92x33 and the American M1 Carbine self-loading carbine chambered for 7.62x33.

The new model was supposed to conduct effective fire at ranges of about 400 meters and shoot a cartridge intermediate, between rifle and pistol in power, which exceeded the corresponding indicator of submachine guns and was not much inferior to weapons for excessively heavy, powerful and expensive rifle-machine-gun ammunition. This allowed him to successfully replace the entire arsenal of individual small arms in service with the Red Army, which used pistol and rifle cartridges and included Shpagin and Sudayev submachine guns, a Mosin repeating non-automatic rifle and several models of repeating carbines based on it, a Tokarev self-loading rifle, as well as machine guns of various systems.

The first samples of the new cartridge were created by OKB-44 just one month after the meeting, and its pilot production began in March 1944. It is noteworthy that neither domestic nor Western researchers found any real confirmation of the version that was in circulation at one time, which said, that this cartridge was completely or partially copied from earlier German experimental developments (in particular, they called the Geco cartridge of 7.62x38.5 mm caliber).

In November 1943, drawings and specifications for a new 7.62 mm intermediate cartridge designed by N.M. Elizarova and B.V. Semin were sent to all organizations involved in the development of a new weapon system. At this stage it had a caliber of 7.62x41 mm, but was subsequently redesigned, and quite significantly, during which the caliber was changed to 7.62x39 mm.

The new set of weapons for a single intermediate cartridge was supposed to include an automatic rifle (automatic carbine), as well as self-loading (non-automatic) repeating carbines and a light machine gun. Subsequently, the development of the repeating rifle was discontinued due to the obvious obsolescence of the concept. However, the SKS self-loading carbine was not produced for long (until the early 1950s) due to its relatively low manufacturability and lower combat qualities than the machine gun, and the Degtyarev RPD machine gun was subsequently (1961) replaced by a different model, widely standardized with a machine gun - RPK.

As for the development of the automatic carbine itself, it proceeded in several stages and included a number of competitions in which a large number of systems from various designers participated. In 1944, based on test results, the AS-44 designed by A.I. was selected for further development. Sudaeva. It was finalized and released in a small series, military tests of which were carried out in the spring and summer of the following year in the GSVG, as well as in a number of units on the territory of the USSR. Despite the positive reviews, the army leadership demanded a reduction in the weight of the weapon.

The sudden death of Sudaev interrupted the further progress of work on this model, so in 1946 another round of tests was carried out, which, among others, included Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov, who by that time had already created several quite interesting weapon designs, in particular, two pistols - a machine gun, one of which had a very original blowback braking system, a light machine gun and a self-loading carbine fed from cartridge packs, which lost to Simonov’s carbine in the competition. In November of the same year, his project was approved for the production of a prototype, and a month later, the first version of the experimental Kalashnikov automatic carbine, manufactured at the arms factory in the city of Kovrov, now sometimes conventionally designated as AK-46, together with the Bulkin and Dementyev samples, was submitted for testing .

It is curious that this model, developed in 1946, did not have many of the features of the future Kalashnikov assault rifle, which are often criticized in our time. Its cocking handle was located on the left, not on the right; instead of the safety-translator located on the right, there were separate flag-type safety and fire-type switches, and the body of the trigger mechanism was folded down and forward on a pin. However, the military from the selection committee demanded that the cocking handle be placed on the right, since it (the AK cocking handle), located on the left, in some ways of carrying a weapon or moving across the battlefield crawled against the shooter’s body, and also to combine the safety with the fire types translator into a single unit and place it on the right side to completely rid the left side of the receiver of any noticeable protrusions.

According to the results of the second round of the competition, the first Kalashnikov automatic carbine was declared unsuitable for further testing. However, Kalashnikov managed to challenge this decision, obtaining permission to further refine the AK-46, in which he was helped by acquaintance with a number of commission members with whom he had served since 1943, and received permission to refine the machine gun. For this purpose, he returned to Kovrov, where, together with the designer of the Kovrov plant No. 2 A. Zaitsev, as soon as possible actually developed a new automatic carbine, and based on a number of features it can be concluded that its design widely used elements (including the design of key components) borrowed from other samples submitted to the competition or simply from previously existing ones.

Thus, the design of the bolt frame with a rigidly attached gas piston, the general layout of the receiver and the placement of the return spring with a guide, the protrusion of which was used to lock the receiver cover, were copied from the experimental Bulkin assault rifle, which also participated in the competition; The trigger (with minor improvements), judging by the design, could have been “spied” on the Kholek rifle (according to another version, it goes back to the design of John Browning, which was also used in the M1 Garand rifle; these versions, however, are not mutually exclusive), the safety switch lever fire, which also serves as a dustproof cover for the bolt window, was very similar to that of the Remington 8 rifle, and a similar “hanging” of the bolt group inside the receiver with minimal friction areas and large gaps was characteristic of the Sudaev assault rifle.

Although formally the terms of the competition prohibited the authors of the systems from familiarizing themselves with the designs of competitors participating in it and making significant changes to the design of the submitted samples (that is, theoretically, the commission could not allow the new prototype of the Kalashnikov assault rifle to further participate in the competition), this still cannot be considered something something that goes beyond the norms - firstly, when creating new weapon systems, “quotations” from other models are not uncommon at all, and secondly, such borrowings in the USSR at that time were not only not prohibited, but were even encouraged , which is explained not only by the presence of specific (“socialist”) patent legislation, but also by completely pragmatic considerations of adopting the best model in conditions of constant lack of time and a very real military threat.

There is even an opinion that most of the changes and adopted design decisions of the Kalashnikov assault rifle were almost directly determined by the tactical and technical requirements put forward by the commission based on the results of the earlier stages of the TTT competition (tactical and technical requirements) for the new weapon, that is, in fact, they were imposed as the most acceptable from their military point of view, which partly confirms the fact that the systems of Kalashnikov’s competitors in their final versions used very similar design solutions.

It is also worth noting that the borrowing of successful solutions in itself cannot guarantee the success of the design as a whole, however, Kalashnikov and Zaitsev managed to create such a design, and in the shortest possible time, which in principle cannot be achieved by any compilation of ready-made components and design solutions. Moreover, there is an opinion that copying successful and proven technical solutions is one of the conditions for creating any successful weapon, in particular, allowing the designer not to “reinvent the wheel.”

According to some sources, the head of the research site for small arms and mortar weapons of the GAU (at which the AK-46 was “rejected”), V.F., also took an active part in the development of the Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifle. Lyuty, who later became the head of the 1947 field tests.

One way or another, in the winter of 1946-1947, for the next round of the competition, along with the also quite significantly improved, but not undergone such radical changes, samples of Dementyev (KBP-520) and Bulkin (TKB-415), Kalashnikov presented an essentially new design (KBP-580 ), which had little in common with the previous version.

As a result of the tests, it was found that not a single sample satisfies the tactical and technical requirements in full: the Kalashnikov assault rifle turned out to be the most reliable, but at the same time had unsatisfactory accuracy of fire, and the TKB-415, on the contrary, met the requirements for accuracy, but had problems with reliability. Ultimately, the commission’s choice was made in favor of the Kalashnikov model, and it was decided to postpone bringing its accuracy to the required values ​​for the future. Taking into account the current situation in the world at that time, such a decision seems quite justified, since it allowed the army to real terms to rearm with modern and reliable, although not the most accurate, weapons, which was preferable to both a reliable and accurate model, but it is not known when. At the end of 1947, Mikhail Timofeevich was seconded to Izhevsk, where it was decided to begin production of the Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifle.

Based on the results of military tests of the first batches produced in mid-1948, in mid-1949 two variants of the Kalashnikov design were adopted for service under the designations “7.62-mm Kalashnikov assault rifle” and “7.62-mm Kalashnikov assault rifle with folding stock” (abbreviated designations - AK-47 and AKS-47, respectively). Thus, the year of manufacture of the AK-47 can be considered 1948. AKS (GRAU Index - 56-A-212M) is a variant of the Kalashnikov assault rifle with a folding metal butt, intended for airborne troops. Initially produced with a stamped receiver, and since 1951 - milled due to high percentage defects during stamping.

One of the main problems that faced the developers during the deployment of mass production of the Kalashnikov assault rifle was the stamping technology used to make the receiver. The first releases of the AK-47 had a receiver made from a fairly large number of sheet stampings and parts milled from forgings.

The high percentage of defects forced the switch to milling technology in 1953. At the same time, a number of measures made it possible not only to prevent an increase in the weight of the weapon, but also to reduce it relative to samples with a stamped receiver, so the new AK-47 sample was designated as the “Lightweight 7.62-mm Kalashnikov assault rifle (AK).” In addition to the modified receiver design, it was also distinguished by the presence of stiffening ribs on the magazines (early magazines had smooth walls), the possibility of attaching a bayonet (the early version of the weapon was adopted without a bayonet) and a number of other, smaller details.

In subsequent years, the design of the Kalashnikov assault rifle was also continuously improved. The development team noted “low reliability, weapon failures when used in extreme climatic and extreme conditions, low accuracy of fire, and insufficient performance characteristics” of production samples of early models.

The appearance in the early 1950s of the TKB-517 assault rifle designed by German Korobov, which had less weight, better accuracy, and was also cheaper, led to the development of tactical and technical requirements for a new assault rifle (automatic carbine) and a light machine gun that was maximally unified with it. The corresponding competitive tests, for which Mikhail Timofeevich presented a modernized model of an automatic carbine and a machine gun based on it, took place in 1957-1958. As a result, the commission gave its preference to the Kalashnikov models, as they had greater reliability, as well as being sufficiently familiar to the arms industry and the troops, and in 1959, the “7.62-mm modernized Kalashnikov assault rifle” (abbreviated as AKM) was adopted for service.

AKM (Avtomat Kalashnikov Modernized, GRAU Index - 6P1) - modernization of the AK-47, adopted for service in 1959. In the AKM, the sighting range has been increased to 1000 m, and changes have been made to improve reliability and ease of use.

The AKM receiver is stamped, thereby reducing the weight of the weapon. The butt is raised upward to bring the machine's resting point closer to the firing line. Changes have been made to the trigger mechanism - a trigger retarder has been added, thanks to which the trigger is released a few milliseconds later during automatic firing. This delay has virtually no effect on the rate of fire, it only allows the bolt frame to stabilize in the extreme forward position before the next shot. The improvements had a positive effect on accuracy; vertical dispersion was especially reduced (almost by a third) compared to the AK-47 assault rifle.

The muzzle of the AKM barrel has a thread onto which a removable muzzle compensator is installed in the form of a petal (the so-called “tray compensator”), designed to compensate for the “movement” of the aiming point up and to the right when firing in bursts by using the pressure of the powder gases escaping from the barrel on the lower compensator protrusion. On the same thread, instead of a compensator, mufflers PBS or PBS-1 can be installed, for the use of which it is necessary to use 7.62US cartridges with a subsonic muzzle velocity. Also on the AKM it became possible to install the GP-25 Koster under-barrel grenade launcher.

AKMS (GRAU Index - 6P4) - a variant of the AKM with a folding stock. The butt mounting system was changed relative to the AKS (folded down and forward, under the receiver). The modification is designed specifically for paratroopers. AKMN (6P1N) - version with a night sight. AKMSN (6P4N) - modification of AKMSN with a folding metal butt.

In the 1970s, following the NATO countries, the USSR followed the path of transferring small arms to low-impulse cartridges with reduced-caliber bullets to lighten the wearable ammunition (for 8 magazines, a 5.45 mm caliber cartridge saves 1.4 kg) and reduces , was considered to have “excessive” power of the 7.62 mm cartridge. In 1974, a weapon complex chambered for 5.45×39 mm was adopted, consisting of an AK-74 and an RPK-74 light machine gun, and subsequently (1979) supplemented by a small-sized AKS-74U, created for use in a niche that Western armies were dominated by submachine guns, and in recent years by the so-called PDW. Production of the AKM in the USSR was curtailed, but this model remains in service to this day.

First combat use of the AK-47

The first case of mass combat use The Kalashnikov assault rifle on the world stage occurred on November 1, 1956, during the suppression of the uprising in Hungary. Until this moment, the AK-47 assault rifle was hidden from prying eyes in every possible way: soldiers carried it in special cases that concealed the outlines, and after the shooting, all the cartridges were carefully collected. The AK-47 has proven itself well in urban combat.

Design and principle of operation of the AK-47

The AK-47 consists of the following main parts and mechanisms: a barrel with a receiver, sights and a butt; detachable receiver cover; bolt carrier with gas piston; gate; return mechanism; gas tube with receiver lining; trigger mechanism; forend; shop; bayonet. In total there are approximately 95 parts in the AK.

The principle of operation of the AK-47 automation is based on the use of the energy of powder gases, discharged through the upper hole in the barrel wall, with a long working stroke of the gas piston. The barrel bore is locked by rotating the bolt around the longitudinal axis clockwise onto two radial lugs that fit into special cutouts in the receiver, thereby locking the bore before firing. Rotation of the bolt is ensured by the interaction of the protrusion on its body with a shaped groove on the inner surface of the bolt frame.

Barrel and receiver

The AK-47 barrel has 4 rifling, winding from left to top to right, the barrel was made of weapon steel.

There is a gas outlet in the wall of the barrel, closer to its muzzle. Near the muzzle, the base of the front sight is fixed on the barrel, and on the breech side there is a chamber with smooth walls, designed to accommodate a cartridge when fired. The muzzle of the barrel has a left-hand thread for screwing on the bushing when firing blanks.

The barrel is fixedly attached to the receiver, without the possibility of quick change in the field.

The receiver serves to connect the parts and mechanisms of the AK-47 into a single structure, place the bolt group and set the nature of its movement, ensure that the bolt closes the barrel bore and locks the bolt; The trigger mechanism is also located inside it.

The receiver consists of two parts: the receiver itself and a detachable cover located on top, which protects the mechanism from damage and contamination.

Inside the receiver has four guides that determine the movement of the bolt group - two upper and two lower. The lower left guide also has a reflective protrusion.

In the front part of the receiver there are cutouts through which the bolt is locked, the rear walls of which are thus lugs. The right lug also serves to direct the movement of the cartridge fed from the right row of the AK-47 magazine. On the left is a part with a similar purpose, which is not a combat rest.

The first batches of AK-47 had, in accordance with the instructions, a stamped receiver with a forged barrel insert. However, the available technology did not allow achieving the required rigidity at that time, and the defect rate was unacceptably high. As a result, in the mass production of the AK-47, cold stamping was initially replaced by milling the box from a solid forging, which caused an increase in the cost of production of the weapon. Subsequently, during the transition to the AKM, technological issues were resolved, and the receiver again acquired a mixed design.

The massive all-steel receiver gives the weapon high (especially in the early milled version) strength and reliability, especially in comparison with fragile light-alloy receivers of weapons like American rifle M16, but at the same time it makes it heavier, making modernization difficult.

Bolt group

It consists mainly of a bolt frame with a gas piston, the bolt itself, the ejector and the firing pin.

The AK-47 bolt group is located “hung out” in the receiver, moving along the guide protrusions located in its upper part as if on rails. This “suspended” position of the moving parts in the receiver with relatively large gaps ensures reliable operation of the system even when heavily soiled.

The bolt frame serves to activate the bolt and firing mechanism. It is fixedly connected to the gas piston rod, which is directly affected by the pressure of the powder gases removed from the barrel, ensuring the operation of the weapon’s automation. The weapon's reloading handle is located on the right and is made as a single unit with the bolt frame.

The bolt has a nearly cylindrical shape and two massive lugs, which, when the bolt is turned, fit into special cutouts in the receiver, thereby locking the barrel bore for firing. In addition, the bolt, with its longitudinal movement, feeds the next cartridge from the magazine before firing, for which purpose there is a rammer protrusion in its lower part.

Also attached to the bolt is an ejector mechanism, designed to remove a spent cartridge case or cartridge from the chamber in the event of a misfire. It consists of an ejector, its axis, a spring and a limiting pin.

To return the bolt group to the extreme forward position, a return mechanism is used, consisting of a return spring and a guide, which in turn consists of a guide tube, a guide rod included in it and a coupling. The rear stop of the return spring guide rod fits into the groove of the receiver and serves as a latch for the stamped receiver cover.

The mass of the moving parts of the AK-47 is about 520 grams. Thanks to a powerful gas engine, they come to the extreme rear position with a high speed of about 3.5-4 m/s, which in many ways ensures high reliability of the weapon, but reduces the accuracy of the battle due to the strong shaking of the weapon and powerful impacts of the moving parts in the extreme provisions. The moving parts of the AK-74 are lighter - the bolt carrier and bolt assembly weighs 477 grams, of which 405 g are for the bolt frame and 72 g for the bolt. The lightest moving parts in the AK family are those of the shortened AKS-74U: its bolt frame weighs about 370 grams (due to the shortening of the gas piston), and their combined mass with the bolt is about 440 grams.

Trigger mechanism

Trigger type, with a trigger rotating on an axis and a U-shaped mainspring made of triple twisted wire.

The trigger mechanism of the Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifle allows continuous and single fire. A single rotary part performs the functions of a fire mode switch (translator) and a double-action safety lever: in the safety position, it locks the trigger, the sear of single and continuous fire and prevents the rear movement of the bolt frame, partially blocking the longitudinal groove between the receiver and its cover. In this case, the moving parts can be pulled back to check the chamber, but their travel is not enough to chamber the next cartridge.

All parts of the automation and trigger mechanism are compactly assembled inside the receiver, thus playing the role of both the receiver and the body of the trigger mechanism.

The “classic” trigger of an AK-shaped weapon has three axes - for the self-timer, for the hammer and for the trigger. Civilian versions that do not fire in bursts usually do not have a self-timer axis.

Shop

The AK magazine is box-shaped, sector-type, double-row, 30 rounds. Consists of a body, a locking bar, a cover, a spring and a feeder.

The AK-47 and AKM had magazines with stamped steel casings. There were also plastic ones. Large taper of the 7.62 mm cartridge cartridge mod. 1943 caused them to have an unusually large bend, which became a characteristic feature of the weapon’s appearance. For the AK-74 family, a plastic magazine was introduced (initially polycarbonate, then glass-filled polyamide), only the bends (“lips”) in its upper part remained metal.

Kalashnikov assault rifle magazines are distinguished by their high reliability of supplying cartridges, even when they are filled to the maximum. Thick metal “jaws” at the top of even plastic magazines ensure reliable feeding and are very durable in rough handling - this design was subsequently copied by a number of foreign companies for their products.

In addition to the standard 30-round magazines for the machine gun, there are also machine gun magazines, which, if necessary, can be used for firing from the machine gun: for 40 (sector) or 75 (drum type) cartridges of 7.62 mm caliber and for 45 rounds of 5.45 caliber mm. If we also take into account foreign-made magazines created for various variants of the Kalashnikov system (including for the civilian weapons market), then the number of different variants will be at least several dozen, with a capacity of 10 to 100 rounds.

The magazine attachment point is characterized by the absence of a developed neck - the magazine is simply inserted into the receiver window, hooking its protrusion onto its front edge, and is secured with a latch.

Sighting device

The AK-47 sighting device consists of a sight and a front sight. The sight is a sector type, with the sighting block located in the middle part of the weapon. The sight is calibrated to 800 m (starting with AKM - up to 1000 m) in increments of 100 m, in addition, it has a division marked with the letter “P”, indicating a direct shot and corresponding to a range of 350 m. The rear sight is located on the mane of the sight and has a rectangular slot forms.

The front sight is located at the muzzle of the barrel, on a massive triangular base, the “wings” of which it is covered from the sides. When bringing the machine gun to normal combat, the front sight can be screwed in/out to raise/lower the average point of impact, and also moved left/right to deviate the average point of impact horizontally.

For some modifications of Kalashnikov assault rifles, if necessary, it is possible to install an optical or night sight on the side bracket.

Bayonet knife

The bayonet-knife is designed to defeat the enemy in close combat, for which it can be attached to an AK-47 assault rifle, or used as a knife. The bayonet-knife is put on a ring on the barrel coupling, attached with protrusions to the gas chamber, and with a latch engages with the ramrod stop. When unlocked from the weapon, the bayonet-knife is worn in a sheath on the waist belt.

Initially, the AK-47 was equipped with a relatively long (200 mm blade) detachable blade-type bayonet-knife, with two blades and a fuller.

When the AKM was adopted, a short (150 mm blade) detachable bayonet (type 1) was introduced, which had expanded functionality from the point of view of household use. Instead of a second blade, it received a file, and in combination with a sheath it could be used to cut barbed wire fences, including live ones. Also top part The handles are made of metal. The bayonet can be inserted with a ring for fastening into the scabbard and used as a hammer. There are two versions of this bayonet that differ mainly in the device.

A later version of the same bayonet (type 2) is also used on weapons of the AK-74 family. The quality of the metal used in the bayonet knife is somewhat inferior to foreign analogues of such well-known American companies as SOG, Cold Steel, Gerber.

Of the foreign variants, the Chinese clone of the AK-47 - Type 56 is notable for its use of a fixed folding needle bayonet.

AK-47 affiliation

Designed for disassembling, assembling, cleaning and lubricating the machine. Consists of a cleaning rod, a cleaning cloth, a brush, a screwdriver with a drift, a storage case and an oil can. The case body and cover are used as auxiliary tools for cleaning and lubricating weapons. Stored in a special cavity inside the stock, with the exception of models with a folding frame shoulder rest, where it is carried in a magazine bag.

Combat accuracy and fire efficiency

Accuracy of combat was not initially the strong point of the AK-47. Already during the military tests of its prototypes, it was noted that with the highest of the systems presented at the competition, the design of the Kalashnikov assault rifle did not provide the required accuracy conditions (like all the presented designs to one degree or another). Thus, by this parameter, even by the standards of the mid-1940s, the AK-47 was clearly not an outstanding example. However, reliability (in general, here reliability is a set of operational characteristics: reliability, firing until failure occurs, guaranteed life, actual life, life of individual parts and assemblies, storability, mechanical strength, etc., for which the AK-47 assault rifle, to in a word, the best even now) was recognized as paramount at that time, and it was decided to postpone the adjustment of accuracy to the required parameters for the future.

Further modernization of weapons, such as the introduction of various muzzle compensators and the transition to a low-pulse cartridge, really had a positive effect on the accuracy (and accuracy) of shooting from a machine gun. Thus, for the AKM, the total median deviation at a distance of 800 m is already 64 cm (vertical) and 90 cm (width), and for the AK74 it is 48 cm (vertical) and 64 cm (width). The range of a direct shot at the chest figure is 350 m.

The AK-47 allows you to hit the following targets with one bullet (for the best shooters, prone, with single fire):

head figure - 100 m;

waist figure and running figure - 300 m;

To hit a “running figure” type target at a distance of 800 m under the same conditions, 4 rounds are required when firing with single fire, and 9 rounds when firing in short bursts.

Naturally, these results were obtained during firing at a training ground, in conditions very different from real combat ones (however, the test methodology was created by professional military people, which implies trust in their conclusions).

Assembly and disassembly

Partial disassembly of the Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifle is carried out for cleaning, lubrication and inspection in the following order:

• separating the magazine and checking that there is no cartridge in the chamber;
• removing a pencil case with an accessory (for an AK-47 - from the butt, for an AKS - from the pocket of a magazine bag);
• cleaning rod compartment;
• separation of the receiver cover;
• removing the return mechanism;
• separation of the bolt frame with the bolt;
• separating the bolt from the bolt frame;
• separation of the gas tube with the barrel lining.

Reassembly after partial disassembly is carried out in the reverse order.

Patent status

Izhmash calls all AK-like models produced outside Russia counterfeit, however, there is no data on Kalashnikov registering copyright certificates for his machine gun: some certificates are on display at the Museum and Exhibition Complex of Small Arms named after M. T. Kalashnikov (Izhevsk) , issued to him in different years with the wording “for an invention in the field of military equipment” without any accompanying documents to establish the presence or absence of their connection with the AK-47. Even if the copyright certificate for the AK-47 assault rifle was issued to Kalashnikov, it is worth noting that the patent protection period for the original design developed in the forties has long expired.

Some improvements introduced in the AK-74 and the “hundredth series” AK are protected by a Eurasian patent dated 1997, owned by the Izhmash company.

Differences from the basic AK described in the patent include:

• folding stock with locks for combat and traveling position;
• a gas piston rod installed in the bolt frame hole using a thread with a gap;
• a socket for a pencil case with an accessory, formed by stiffening ribs inside the butt and closed with a spring-loaded rotary lid;
• a gas tube spring-loaded relative to the sight block in the direction of the muzzle;
• changed geometry of the transition from the field to the bottom of the rifling in the rifled part of the barrel.

Production and use of AK-47 outside Russia

The USSR government willingly supplied machine guns to everyone who at least verbally declared their commitment to the “cause of socialism.” As a result, in some third world countries, an AK-47 is cheaper than a live chicken. It can be seen in reports from almost any hot spot peace. The AK-47 is in service with the regular armies of more than fifty countries around the world, as well as many informal groups, including terrorist ones. In addition, licenses for the production of AK-47 were received free of charge by “brotherly countries”, for example, Bulgaria, Hungary, East Germany, China, Poland, North Korea and Yugoslavia.

In the 1950s, licenses for the production of the AK-47 were transferred by the USSR to 18 countries (mainly Warsaw Pact allies). At the same time, twelve more states began producing Kalashnikov assault rifles without a license. The number of countries in which the AK-47 was produced without a license in small batches, and even more so in a handicraft manner, cannot be counted. To date, according to Rosoboronexport, the licenses of all states that previously received them have already expired, however, production continues. The Polish company Bumar and the Bulgarian company Arsenal, which has now opened a branch in the United States and launched the production of assault rifles there, are especially active in producing clones of the Kalashnikov assault rifle. The production of AK-47 clones is deployed in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe. According to very rough estimates, there are from 70 to 105 million copies of various modifications of Kalashnikov assault rifles in the world. They have been adopted by the armies of 55 countries.

In some of the states that previously received licenses for the production of the AK-47, it was manufactured in a slightly modified form. Thus, in the modification of the AK, produced in Yugoslavia, Romania and some other countries, there was an additional pistol-type handle under the forend to hold the weapon. Other minor changes were also made - the bayonet mounts, the materials of the forend and butt, and the finishing were changed. There are known cases when two machine guns were connected on a special homemade mount, and the result was a setup similar to double-barreled air defense machine guns. In the GDR, a training modification of the AK chambered for the .22LR cartridge was produced. In addition, many types of military weapons have been created on the basis of the AK-47 - from carbines to sniper rifles. Some of these designs are factory conversions of original AK-47s.

Many of the AK-47 copies are in turn also copied (with the purchase of a license or not) with some modifications by other manufacturers, resulting in systems that are quite different from the original model, for example, the Vektor CR-21 - a South African automatic carbine with a bullpup layout, created on the basis of the Vektor R4, which is a copy of the Israeli Galil - a licensed copy of the Finnish Valmet Rk 62, which in turn is a licensed version of the AK-47.

In countries with liberal weapons legislation (primarily in the USA), various versions of the Kalashnikov system are very popular as civilian weapons.

In the United States, all AK-like weapons are known collectively as the AK-47 (“hey-kay-foti-sevn”). The first copies of the Kalashnikov assault rifle came to the United States along with soldiers returning from Vietnam. Since in those years the ownership of automatic (burst-firing) weapons in the United States was allowed to civilians, many of them were subsequently officially registered in compliance with all necessary formalities.

The Gun Control Act, adopted in 1968, banned the import of civilian automatic weapons, but due to a number of loopholes in the law, the sale of automatic weapons assembled in the United States remained possible. In addition, the import of self-loading AK-based variants was not limited in any way.

In 1986, an amendment to the same resolution (the so-called Firearm Owners Protection Act) prohibited not only the import, but also the sale of automatic weapons to civilians, as well as their production for the purpose of such sale; This regulation, however, does not apply to weapons registered before 1986, which can be legally purchased with an appropriate license, and with a Class III Dealer license, can be sold. Thus, in the United States, in the hands of civilians, there is currently a certain number of military-style Kalashnikov assault rifles capable of firing in bursts.

Subsequently, a number of decrees were also adopted (1989 Semi-Automatic Rifle Import Ban, 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban), which specifically prohibited the import of any AK-like weapons, with the exception of specifically modified versions, such as the Russian “Saiga” of some modifications, with a rifle stock instead of a pistol handles and other design changes. These additional restrictions have now been lifted due to the end of these regulations.

In other countries, in the vast majority of cases, civilian ownership of automatic weapons, if allowed by law, is only as an exception with a special permit, or for the purpose of collecting.

AK-47 at the moment

As weapons became obsolete, their shortcomings began to become more and more apparent, both those that were characteristic of them initially and those revealed over time due to changes in the requirements for small arms and the nature of combat operations. At the present time, even the latest modifications of the AK-47 are generally outdated weapons with virtually no reserves for significant modernization. The general obsolescence of the weapon also determines many of its specific significant shortcomings.

First of all, there is a significant mass of weapons by modern standards, due to the widespread use of steel parts in their design. At the same time, the Kalashnikov assault rifle itself cannot be called overly heavy, however, any attempts to significantly modernize it - for example, lengthening and weighting the barrel to increase shooting accuracy, not to mention the installation of additional sighting devices - will inevitably take its weight beyond the limits acceptable for military weapons , which is well demonstrated by the experience of creating and operating the Saiga and Vepr hunting carbines, as well as RPK machine guns. Attempts to lighten the weapon while maintaining an all-steel structure (that is, the existing production technology) also lead to an unacceptable reduction in its service strength, which partly proves negative experience operation of early batches of AK-74, the rigidity of the receivers of which turned out to be insufficient and required strengthening of the structure - that is, here the limit has already been reached and there are no reserves for modernization. In addition, on the AK-47, the bolt is locked using the cutouts of the receiver liner, and not the barrel extension, as in more modern models, which does not allow the receiver to be made from materials that are lighter and more technologically advanced to manufacture, although less durable. Two lugs are also a simple but not optimal solution - even the bolt SVD rifles has three lugs, providing more uniform locking and a smaller bolt rotation angle, not to mention modern Western models, which usually involve at least six lugs.

A significant drawback in modern conditions is a collapsible receiver with a detachable cover. This design makes it impossible to mount modern types sights (collimator, optical, night) using Weaver or Picatinny rails: placing a heavy sight on a removable receiver cover is useless due to the presence of significant structural play. As a result, most AK-like weapons allow the installation of only a limited number of sight models that use a dovetail-type side bracket, which also shifts the center of gravity of the weapon to the left and does not allow the butt to be folded on those models where this is provided for by the design. The only exceptions are rare variants such as the Polish “Beryl” assault rifle, which has a separate pedestal for the aiming bar, fixedly attached to the lower part of the receiver, or the South African “bullpup” assault rifle Vektor CR21, in which the collimator sight is located on a bar attached to the standard AK-47 sight base - with this arrangement it ends up right in the area of ​​the shooter’s eyes. The first solution is quite palliative, it significantly complicates the assembly and disassembly of the weapon, and also increases its bulkiness and weight; the second is suitable only for weapons made according to the bullpup design. On the other hand, it is thanks to the presence of a removable receiver cover that the assembly and disassembly of the AK is quick and convenient, which also provides excellent access to the parts of the weapon when cleaning it.

Currently, other, more successful solutions to this problem have emerged. Thus, on the AK-12, as well as on hunting carbines of the Saiga system, the receiver cover is hinged upwards and forwards, which allows for the installation of modern sighting bars (on the AK-12 and “tactical” variants of the Saiga, this solution is already applied) without compromising access to weapon mechanisms.

All parts of the trigger mechanism are compactly assembled inside the receiver, thus playing the role of both the bolt box and the body of the firing mechanism (trigger box). By modern standards, this is a disadvantage of weapons, since in more modern systems (and even in the relatively old Soviet SVD and American M16), the trigger is usually made in the form of a separate, easily removable unit, allowing for quick replacement to obtain various modifications (self-loading, with the ability to fire in bursts fixed length, and so on), and in the case of the M16 platform - and modernization of weapons by installing a new receiver unit on the existing trigger unit (for example, to switch to a new caliber of ammunition), which is a very economical solution.

There is no need to talk about a deeper degree of modularity, characteristic of many modern small arms systems, for example, the use of quick-change barrels of various lengths, in relation to the AK-47, including even its most recent modifications.

The high reliability of the Kalashnikov family of assault rifles, or more precisely, the methods used in its design to achieve it, is at the same time the reason for its significant shortcomings. The increased impulse of the gas venting mechanism, coupled with a gas piston fixedly attached to the bolt frame and large gaps between all parts, on the one hand, leads to the fact that the automatic weapon operates flawlessly even with heavy contamination (contamination is literally “blown out” from the receiver when fired), - on the other hand, large gaps when the bolt group moves lead to the appearance of multidirectional lateral impulses that displace the weapon from the aiming line, while the bolt frame comes to the rearmost position at a speed of about 5 m/s (for comparison, in systems with more " soft" operation of the automation even at initial stage When the bolt moves back, this speed usually does not exceed 4 m/s), guaranteeing severe shaking of the weapon when firing, which significantly reduces the effectiveness of automatic fire. According to some of the available estimates, weapons of the AK family are not at all suitable for conducting effective aimed fire in bursts. This is also the reason for the relatively large bolt overhang, and therefore the longer receiver length, to the detriment of the barrel length while maintaining the overall dimensions of the weapon. On the other hand, the AK bolt runs out completely inside the receiver, without involving the cavity of the butt, which makes it possible to make the latter foldable, reducing the dimensions of the weapon when carried.

Other shortcomings are less radical in nature, and can be characterized rather as individual characteristics sample.

One of the disadvantages of the AK-47 associated with the design of its trigger is the inconvenient location of the safety switch (on the right side of the receiver, under the cutout for the cocking handle) and a clear click when removing the weapon from safety, unmasking the shooter before opening fire. On many foreign versions (Tantal, Valmet, Galil) and on the AEK-971 assault rifle, an additional safety switch has been introduced, conveniently located on the left, which can significantly improve the ergonomics of the weapon. The trigger of an AK is considered to be quite tight, but it is noted that this can be easily corrected with simple skill.

The cocking handle located on the right is often considered a disadvantage of the AK family. This arrangement was at one time adopted based on very practical considerations: the handle located on the left, when carrying the weapon “on the chest” and moving it crawling, would rest against the shooter’s body, causing him significant discomfort. This was just typical, for example, for the German MP.40 submachine gun. The experimental Kalashnikov assault rifle of 1946 also had a handle located on the left, but the military commission considered it necessary to move it, like the fire safety switch, to the right. For example, on the foreign version of the Galil, for ease of cocking with the left hand, the handle is bent upward.

The AK-47 magazine receiver without a developed neck has also often become the object of criticism as not being ergonomic - sometimes there are claims that it increases the magazine change time by almost 2-3 times compared to a system with a neck.

The ergonomics of all variants of Kalashnikov assault rifles have often become the object of criticism. The AK-47 stock is considered too short, and the handguard is considered too “elegant”. However, this weapon was created for the relatively short military personnel of the 1940s, as well as taking into account its use in winter clothing and gloves. The situation could be partially corrected by a removable rubber butt pad, versions of which are widely offered on the civilian market. In Russian divisions special purpose and in the civilian market, it is very common to use non-serial versions of stocks, pistol grips, and so on on various AKs, which increases the ease of use of weapons, although it does not solve the problem in itself and leads to a significant increase in its cost.

Factory AK sights from a modern point of view should be considered quite rough, and a short sighting line (the distance between the front sight and the rear sight slot) does not contribute to high shooting accuracy. Most of the significantly redesigned foreign versions based on the AK-47 primarily received just more advanced sighting devices, and in most cases - with a completely diopter type located close to the shooter's eye. On the other hand, compared to the diopter, which has real advantages only when shooting at medium-long ranges, the “open” AK sight provides faster transfer of fire from one target to another and is more convenient when conducting automatic fire, since it covers the target less. It is worth noting that the first versions of the Kalashnikov assault rifle did not have rails for mounting optical sights. The ability to install a rail for mounting optical sights appeared only on the AK-74M modification.

The accuracy of the weapon’s fire was not its strong point from the very moment it was put into service, and, despite the constant increase in this characteristic during modernization, it remained at a lower level than that of similar foreign models. However, in general it can be considered acceptable for military weapons chambered for this cartridge. For example, according to data obtained abroad, AKs with a milled receiver (that is, an early 7.62 mm modification) regularly produced groups of hits with a diameter of 2-3-3.5 inches (~5-9 cm) at 100 yards with single shots ( 90 m). The effective range in the hands of an experienced shooter was up to 400 yards (about 350 m), and at this distance the dispersion diameter was approximately 7 inches (about 18 cm), that is, a quite acceptable value for hitting a single person. Weapons chambered for low-pulse cartridges have even better characteristics.

In general, although the AK certainly has numerous positive qualities and will be suitable for a long time to arm the armed forces of countries in which they are accustomed to it, there is an obvious need to replace it with more modern models, moreover, having radical differences in design that would make it possible not to repeat the described Above are the fundamental shortcomings of the outdated system.

Technical characteristics of the AK-47

• Caliber: 7.62×39
• Weapon length: 870 mm
• Barrel length: 414 mm
• Weight without cartridges: 3.8 kg.
• Rate of fire: 600 rounds/min
• Magazine capacity: 30 rounds
• Main characteristics of AKS
• Caliber: 7.62×39
• Weapon length: 880/645 mm
• Barrel length: 414 mm
• Weight without cartridges: 3.8 kg.
• Rate of fire: 600 rounds/min
• Magazine capacity: 30 rounds

Even during the First World War, it became clear that the density of fire of the rifle squad created with the help of rifles and carbines was insufficient.

There was a need for individual infantry soldiers to have personal rapid-fire weapons.

This problem was solved with the creation of submachine guns and machine guns. The Second World War gave rise to many different designs of automatic weapons, among which it should be noted.

However, towards the end of the war, a need arose to create new weapons, which was solved by the introduction of the Kalashnikov assault rifle.

How the first Kalashnikov assault rifle appeared

In 1943 Technical advice conducted a study of the German MKb.42(H) assault rifle, created for the Wehrmacht 7.92x33 mm cartridge. The German experience and the experience of the American designers who created the M1 Carbine were considered successful.

Soviet designers were faced with the question of creating similar weapons.

After several attempts to create a universal cartridge, experts settled on the 7.62x39 caliber. Its creators were designers N.M. Elizarov and B.V. Semin. Designer Sudaev developed the AS-44 assault rifle for this cartridge, which went into small series.

The machine passed army tests, but the military recommended modifying the design, reducing the overall weight of the machine. The death of Sudaev stopped work on this design.

The need to create weapons required a new round of the competition, at which the first Kalashnikov assault rifle was shown in 1946. Following the results of two stages, this machine was declared unsuitable, but the designer managed to obtain the right to modify it.

After modifications in 1947, the machine still did not satisfy necessary requirements, however, was better than the others presented in the competition.

Kalashnikov was sent to Izhevsk, where, after modification, the famous machine gun of the 1947 model appeared, which for decades determined the development of automatic weapons on the planet.

The question of who invented the Kalashnikov assault rifle does not have as clear an answer as it seems.

It’s hard to believe that a not very literate Komsomol member was able to create an effective military weapon.

Designer Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov claimed that the idea of ​​​​creating a new machine gun came to him after reading a book about small arms. But it’s one thing to think, and quite another to create it.

On the other hand, as a Komsomol leader, Mikhail Timofeevich was quite suitable for the role of a wedding general.

Let us remind you that this is exactly what Alexey Stakhanov became earlier, to whom all the work of the brigade was credited.

The layout and technical solutions used in the Kalashnikov Ak-47 assault rifle are in many ways similar to the German submachine gun, as well as the MP-40 created by a group of German specialists.

Automatic model 1946

The Kalashnikov AK-46 assault rifle itself was a very crude and intermediate version.

It was rather a transitional model from the Shpagin submachine gun, the most common at that time in the Soviet (Red) Army, to the weapon that became familiar to everyone under the name AK-47.

It contained many shortcomings, but it was a necessary step towards the subsequent constructive breakthrough. Let's look at this weapon in more detail.

What was the circuit and device

Since the original machine gun was quite different from the model we are used to, it is interesting to know what the differences were:

1. The cocking handle was located on the left, not on the right. The location has been changed by suggestion state commission, since when moving by crawling, the handle would rest against the stomach;
2. Availability of a separate fuse;
3. The lever for converting firing from single to burst firing was a separate device;
4. Folding trigger mechanism on a pin.

The bolt frame with a rigidly fixed gas piston appeared during modifications at the Kovrov plant before the second round of the competition.

Its appearance dramatically improved tactical specifications, so to the question of how a Kalashnikov assault rifle works, the answer is simple - due to the energy of the exhausted powder gases.

A similar device could have been copied from the Bulkin machine gun that participated in the competition.

The structure of the machine gun for burst firing was changed - the safety was combined with the transfer lever, which significantly simplified the design, making it clearer for soldiers.

What technical characteristics did the AK-46 have?

1. Cartridge caliber 7.62×41 model 1943;
2. Barrel length 450 millimeters;
3. The total length of the machine is 950 millimeters;
4. Magazine capacity of 30 rounds + 1 round in the barrel;
5. The weight of the machine gun, excluding the weight of cartridges, is 4.328 kilograms;
6. The target firing range is 0.8 kilometers.

How the AK-47 and AKS were created

After the second round, held in 1946, the commission made a decision that stated that none of the machines submitted to the competition, even after modifications, met the required characteristics.

The machine gun created by designer Bulkin came closest to the necessary requirements in terms of tactical and technical characteristics (TTX). However, for reasons of simplicity and accessibility of production, and maybe for some other reasons, it was decided to modify the Kalashnikov assault rifle.

To bring the weapon to required characteristics The Kalashnikov-Zaitsev design team was sent to Izhevsk. At that time, a group of famous German designers worked at the Izhevsk arms factory.

Among them was the famous Hugo Schmeisser, who at one time designed many samples of automatic and assault weapons. His weapons were successfully used by the Wehrmacht on various fronts of the Second World War.

It is unknown whether the Germans collaborated with the creators of the new machine gun, but it was very different from the one provided earlier.

The machine gun itself was originally produced with a wooden butt. However, for special troops this was inconvenient, primarily due to the length of the weapon, so a modification was created for them that reduced the dimensions of the product.

The wooden stock was replaced by a metal one, and the latter could be folded. This modification of the weapon was called the folding Kalashnikov assault rifle (AKS). It was possible to go into battle with this weapon straight after a parachute jump, without unfolding the butt.

What tactical and technical characteristics did the AK-47 have?

Let's consider the performance characteristics of the Kalashnikov assault rifle of the 1947 model. It should be noted here that the table itself is given for the basic model. The folding version is practically no different from it, with the exception of weight. It is 400 grams lighter and 2 millimeters shorter.

1. The caliber of the weapon is 7.62 millimeters.
2. The cartridge used for shooting is 7.62x39 mm;
3. The total length of the machine is 870 millimeters;
4. The length of the stem is 415 millimeters;
5. The weight of the machine gun excluding cartridges is 4.3 kilograms;
6. The total mass of cartridges is 576 grams;
7. Total weight including cartridges – 4.876 kilograms;
8. The maximum firing range is 0.8 kilometers;
9. Rate of fire – 600 rounds per minute;
10. Burst rate of fire – 400 rounds per minute;
11. Rate of fire with single shots – from 90 to 100 rounds per minute;
12. Initial bullet speed -715 m/s (2500 km/h);
13. The number of cartridges in the magazine is 30 pieces.

How did the modernized Kalashnikov assault rifle (AKM) appear?

In the early fifties, designer German Korobov presented a new model of infantry weapon, the TKB-517 assault rifle, to experts and army leadership.

This weapon had better accuracy and lighter weight compared to the AK-47. The mere fact that the production of TKB-517 was cheaper meant a lot. Taking into account the best technical and tactical characteristics of the newly introduced model, it was clear that the time had come for a new weapon.

However, the army leadership and government Soviet Union decided not to radically change the production technology (and also debunk the inflated glory of the designer) and gave Kalashnikov the opportunity to modernize its version of the weapon.

This is how the modernized AKM Kalashnikov assault rifle appeared.

In the new version, the butt was slightly raised compared to the original, which brought the butt resting point on the shoulder closer to the shot line. The target range was increased to one kilometer.

In addition, a light machine gun unified with it, called the RPK, was created on the basis of the AKM.

Is it possible to install a bayonet?

On the first AK-47 models, the installation of a bayonet was not provided. This fact indirectly proves the participation of German weapons designers in the work on weapons.

The fact is that during the Second World War, Nazi weapons did not have the possibility of attaching additional bladed weapons. The German infantryman had to be able to use weapons in such a way as to hit the enemy with a bullet.

Infantry soldiers were simply practically not trained in hand-to-hand combat techniques.

However, later the AK received a blade two hundred millimeters long, which was attached to the gas chamber. It had a double blade and fuller.

The appearance of the AKM also changed the design of additional weapons.

Instead of a double blade, a single blade appeared with a file on the other side.

The length of the blade was reduced to 150 millimeters. The bayonet-knife itself received more possibilities for use in the economic field for the needs of the soldier.

How the 1974 AK-74 model came to be

In the early seventies of the last century, the armies of potential enemies (NATO) began to massively switch their automatic weapons from the usual rifle caliber to a lightweight unified cartridge with a caliber of 5.56 millimeters.

There was an urgent need for the armies of the Warsaw Pact countries and the Soviet Union to take a step in the same direction. The 5.45 mm caliber was called upon to replace the rifle cartridge.

He had enough lethal force, but had less weight and was less expensive to produce. The total weight of the eight wearable ammunition loads has been reduced by 1,400 grams.

The new version of the machine gun has a 100-meter longer direct shot range and a magazine made of durable plastic. Thanks to the new muzzle brake the accuracy and precision of combat has increased.

What myths and misconceptions haunt the Kalashnikov assault rifle

Main myth Regarding this type of weapon, there is talk that this machine gun is the best on Earth. Essentially, on the planet, and even in Russia, there are many types of small arms that are superior in their characteristics to the Kalash; one can recall the same Abakan.

The second myth is that the machine gun was personally designed by Mikhail Timofeevich. In reality, the help of designer Zaitsev was simply invaluable; in addition, a whole group of designers also worked on the weapon. The work of German specialists led by Hugo Schmeisser cannot be ruled out.

Be that as it may, the Kalashnikov assault rifle was, is and will remain a legend glorifying Russian designers who created one of the most trouble-free assault rifles of the 20th century and, without a doubt, it is the most widespread.

Kalashnikov is still in service with a huge number of states. It is depicted on the coats of arms of 4 states and the flag of Mozambique. Yes, new weapons are coming, but it is unlikely that anyone else will achieve such mass distribution as the AK.

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