Kalashnikov AK-47

History of the Kalashnikov AK-47

Towards the end of World War II, when the Red Army effectively threw Hitler's war machine back into Poland and into the German mainland, the Soviets were often confronted with the latest military developments in Germany. One such development was the StG44 (Assault Rifle 44 = "Assault Rifle"), which was essentially the first truly successful and quantitatively deployed weapon of its kind - a weapon now classified as an "Assault Rifle".

The assault rifle variety was shorter than the standard service rifles found in many militaries at the time and could fire similar cartridges while having the automatic firepower of a machine gun. This firepower allows the soldier to provide suppressing effects and heavy fire at a distance without the need for a dedicated multi-machine gun crew to haul his heavy weapon system.

StG44 (aka "MP43/MP44" for "Machine Gun") engineers accomplished this feat by designing a shorter cartridge that, while less lethal at longer ranges, is ideal for those who want to get close A distance from someone who shoots a "storm". or "assault rifle", a rifle that allows for controlled automatic fire with a fairly compact weapon. The initiative produced the "7. 92x33 Kurz" intermediate cartridge.

The StG44 utilizes pneumatic, tilt-bolt action and manages 30 rounds from a spring-loaded, curved, detachable magazine. The cylinder is mounted on top of the barrel, while the fixed solid shoulder rest assists with recoil. The forearm acts as a forward grip for a firm two-handed grip and full three-point control (including shoulder support assist).

The weapon could fire at a rate of 600 rounds per minute, and some 425,000 prototypes had been produced by the end of the warsome even in service in the years that followed. The StG44 was fairly successful as an offensive weapon since it entered service on the Eastern Front in September 1943, and was intensively studied by the Allies after the war.

Soviet Mikhail Kalashnikov was drafted into the army in 1938 and served as a tank driver when he was wounded at the Battle of Bryansk in 1941. Despite losing the game, Kalashnikov - now a Part of a team - trying to meet the new needs of the Soviet Red Army for an offensive weapon to fire the new 7.62x39mm M1943 cartridge. Although the war ended in 1945, the development of new automatic weapons continued. The Kalashnikov submachine gun design (the prototype was known as the "AK-46") ??was successfully tested in 1946, and a modified, more reliable form appeared for additional testing in 1947.

The Red Army liked the robust nature of this new weapon and in 1949 officially accepted the type as "AK-47" (AK = "Avtomat Kalashnikova").

On the surface, the AK-47 is easily recognizable as a heavily modified StG44, but it always takes its own form due to the recognizable Kalashnikov styling. The AK-47 is indeed a very neat design, and has excellent functionality for its non-ceremonial role on the battlefield. The original form features a number of wooden furniture, making the collection instantly recognizable to anyone who sees it.

The weapon features a solid wood stock and a wood pistol grip and fore stock. Apart from the large charging handle and ejection port on the right side of the fuselage, the receiver is very flat and relatively featureless. The sight is actually located in front of the area on top of the receiver near the front of the cylinder. The front sight is mounted behind the muzzle.

The pistol grip is free and integrated into the slim curved trigger assembly, the trigger itself is located in a thin guard with a recognizable magazine catch in the front. One of the most notable features of the AK-47 series is the metal curved detachable magazine that holds 30 rounds of ammunition. Another distinguishing feature is that the gas cylinder sits above the barrel, and coupled with the wooden furniture and curved magazine, the AK-47 has a highly recognizable appearance to even the most casual observer.

The front end of the cylinder was clamped to the central part of the barrel. The AK-47 uses a pneumatic polished steel rotating bolt system with the gas piston permanently attached to the bolt bracket itself. Chromium is used to line barrels, fireboxes and gas cylinders, which helps combat common operational abuse.

The AK-47 is also designed as a select fire weapon, which means it defaults to semi-automatic fire (one round per trigger pull). Fully automatic mode (continuous firing of available cartridges using a single trigger) is possible by managing the included selector switch.

All in all, the weapon is a very useful yet powerful attack system that seems to have a certain mystical aesthetic (just ask any AK-47 owner/user).

Early production AK-47s were divided into two different batch types - the 1948 version and the subsequent 1952 version. However, the early forms - with stamped sheet metal receivers - proved to be inherently flawed, mainly due to sheet metal stamping techniques, which were then found all over Russia, which resulted in many of the AK-47 series being rejected outright at the factory. This inevitably forced the use of machined (solid steel) casings and delayed the widespread use of assault rifles until the mid-1950s. The machining process spanned AK-47 production from 1951 to 1959, resulting in an increase in the overall weight of the weapon.

However, even for mass production in the Soviet Union, this manufacturing method proved too expensive, forcing revisions to the AK-47 series. The resulting effort led to the AKM (M = "Modernization"), which returned the assault rifle's construction to its stamped steel roots - a process refined after extensive research into German methods of warfare - and Produces a significantly cheaper and lighter rifle. New muzzle velocity (with known slope) is introduced to counter muzzle climb.

Several other minor modifications were also introduced, and the AKM was further expanded to become the AKMS, which introduced a folding metal stock - a compact feature respected by paratroopers and vehicle crews alike. A distinguishing feature of the AKM series compared to the AK-47 is the shortened "dimple" mark above the magazine feed - the dimple is longer there on the AK-47.

Total production of the AK-47 ran from 1949 to 1975, and the facilities involved included (among other things) the famous Izhevsk and Tula Oblast Arsenals.

The RPK is an improved development of the light machine gun with a longer barrel assembly and bipod for suppressing effects and heavy automatic fire at squad level. The AKS employs a metal stock that folds down (similar to the AKMS) for compactness and is also suitable for vehicle occupants and paratroopers. In 1974, the series underwent a major redesign with the introduction of the AK-74, a version designed to fire the 5.45x39mm cartridge - but the Kalashnikov style remained the same. Modern AK-47s (over the past few decades) include the AK-101/102, AK-103/104, AK-105 and AK-107/108 - all of which use lightweight, inexpensive Plastics and polymers. The AK-101 became an export-friendly version for the widely accepted 5.56x45mm NATO cartridge, while the AK-102 represented its shortened "carbine" form.

The AKM is modernized in the AK-103, and the AK-104 in its carbine form. The AK-105 is a carbine version of the AK-74M model (a modernized AK-74 released in 1991). The AK-107 introduced a new gas system that changed the meaning of "AK" from "Avtomat Kalashnikova" to "Alexandrov/Kalashnikov", developed by Youriy Alexandrov.

The AK-108 is the AK-107 for the popular 5.56x45mm NATO cartridge. Other Kalashnikov-style weapons include semi-automatic rifles and shotgun designs.

The new "AK-200" is the latest AK-47 derivative to date and the official successor to the series. It debuted in 2010 and went into production with Izhmash in 2011, and as of this writing (2012), manufacturing is still in progress.

Again, this particular entry is gas operated by turning the bolt, but is capable of firing 5.45x39mm, 5.56x45mm NATO and 5.45x39mm, 5.56x45mm NATO and 7.62x39mm cartridge style drum magazine. Additionally, support for Picatinny rail accessories has been added, and the construction has been optimized for the most demanding buyers.

The AK-47 itself was manufactured under license (or outright illegal reproduction) in various forms in several countries around the world. This weapon type has proven to be very popular in many parts of the world, especially in former Soviet satellites and allies, where the 7.62x39mm cartridge also stands out.

China began replicating the system as the Type 56 in 1956. Hungary modified its AK-47 into the AKM-63, AMD-65 and AK-63 assault rifle forms.

The Israeli Galil uses the Kalashnikov submachine gun design, available in 5.56mm and 7.62mm models, and is based on the Finnish RK 62, which in turn is based on the AK-47. In 1982, South Africa introduced the Kalashnikov-like R4 assault rifle with a caliber of 5.56 mm, a licensed copy of the Israeli Galil series.

Yugoslavia developed its line of Zastava M76, M77 and M82 rifles (and several other notable forms) after the Kalashnikov model. The Chinese-origin Type 86S is based on the AKM, but has been modified into a "bull-fight" configuration, with the magazine feed located behind the pistol and trigger assembly.

It is believed that between 500 and 75 million AK-47s have been produced since the weapons inception. In addition, due to the influence of the AK-47, another 100 million of the derivative designs were produced, making the AK series one of the most successful firearms of all time.

If the AK-47 is limited in its design, it's accurate to over 1,000 feet and doesn't have any magazine empty indicators (the bolt doesn't stay open after the last round of firing). In any case, the AK-47's long range, ease of use and low maintenance requirements have proven to be very popular with both established armies and ad hoc organizations looking to power their operations and instill fear in the general population.

Kalashnikov AK-47 Specification

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