AK 47 GEN DATA A Type 2 AK-47, the first machined receiver variation Type Assault rifle Place of origin Soviet

Union Service history In service 1949present Used by See Users Production history Designer Mikhail Kalashnikov Designed 19441947 Manufacturer Izhmash Produced 19491959[2] Number built approximately 75 million AK-47 100 million AK-type rifles[3][4] Variants See Variants Specifications Weight 4.78 kg (10.5 lb) with a loaded magazine,[5] AKM weight with unloaded ma gazine 3.1 Kg.[6] Length 880 mm (35 in) fixed wooden stock[6] 875 mm (34.4 in) folding stock extended 645 mm (25.4 in) stock folded Barrel length 415 mm (16.3 in)[6] Cartridge 7.6239mm M43/M67[6] Action Gas-operated, rotating bolt Rate of fire Cyclic rate of fire is 600 rounds/min[6] Semi-auto rate of fire is 40 rounds/min[6] Full-auto burst rate of fire is 100 rounds/min[6] Muzzle velocity 715 m/s (2,350 ft/s)[6][7] Effective range 350 metres (380 yd)[6] Feed system Standard magazine capacity is 30 rounds.[6] There are also 10, 2 0, 40, 75, or 100-round detachable box and drum style magazines. Sights Adjustable iron sights with a 378 mm (14.9 in) sight radius:[6] AK-47 has 100800 meter adjustments AKM has 1001000 meter adjustments [6]

----------- HISTORY----------------

The AK-47 is a selective-fire, gas-operated 7.6239mm assault rifle, first develop ed in the USSR by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is officially known as Avtomat Kalashn ikova (Russian: ). It is also known as a Kalashnikov, an "AK", or in Russi Design work on the AK-47 began in the last year of World War II (1945). After th e war in 1946, the AK-46 was presented for official military trials. In 1947 the fixed-stock version was introduced into active service with selected units of t he Soviet Army. An early development of the design was the AKS (SSkladnoy or "fol ding"), which was equipped with an underfolding metal shoulder stock. In 1949, t he AK-47 was officially accepted by the Soviet Armed Forces and used by the majo rity of the member states of the Warsaw Pact. The original AK-47 was one of the first true "assault rifles" to be manufactured , after the original Sturmgewehr 44.[8][9] Even after six decades the model and its variants remain the most widely used and popular assault rifles in the world because of their durability, low production cost, and ease of use. It has been manufactured in many countries and has seen service with armed forces as well as irregular forces worldwide. The AK-47 was the basis for developing many other t ypes of individual and crew-served firearms. More AK-type rifles have been produ

ced than all other assault rifles combined Design The Germans were the first to pioneer the assault rifle concept, during World Wa r II, based upon research that showed that most firefights happen within 400 met ers and that contemporary rifles were overpowered for most small-arms combat.[10 ][11][12][13] The Germans sought to develop a select-fire intermediate powered r ifle combining the firepower of a submachine gun with the accuracy and range of a rifle.[10][11][12][13] This was done by shortening the standard 7.9257mm cartri dge to 7.9233mm and giving it a lighter 125 grain bullet, that limited range but allowed for more controllable automatic fire.[10][11][12][13] The result was the Sturmgewehr 44.[10][11][12][13] Like the Germans, the Soviets were influenced by experience showing most combat happens within 400 meters and that their soldiers were consistently outgunned by heavily armed German troops, especially those armed with the Sturmgewehr 44 ass ault rifles.[14][15] The Soviets were so impressed with the Sturmgewehr 44, that after World War II, they held a design competition to develop an assault rifle of their own.[16][17] The winner was the AK-47.[12] Mikhail Kalashnikov began his career as a weapon designer while in a hospital af ter he was shot in the shoulder during the Battle of Bryansk.[18] After tinkerin g with a submachine gun design, he entered a competition for a new weapon that w ould chamber the 7.62x41mm cartridge developed by Elisarov and Semin in 1943 (th e 7.62x41mm cartridge predated the current 7.6239mm M1943). A particular requirem ent of the competition was the reliability of the firearm in the muddy, wet, and frozen conditions of the Soviet front line. Kalashnikov designed a carbine, str ongly influenced by the American M1 Garand, that lost out to the Simonov design (scaled down PTRS-41), that later became the SKS semi-automatic carbine. At the same time, the Soviet Army was interested in developing a true assault rifle emp loying a shortened M1943 round. The first such weapon was presented by Sudayev i n 1944, but trials found it to be too heavy.[19] A new design competition was he ld two years later where Kalashnikov and his design team submitted an entry. It was a gas-operated rifle which had a breech-block mechanism similar to his 1944 carbine, and a curved 30-round magazine. Kalashnikov's rifles (codenamed AK-1 and 2) proved to be reliable and the weapon was accepted to second round of competition along with designs by A.A Demetev an d F. Bulkin. In late 1946, as the rifles were being tested, one of Kalashnikov's assistants, Aleksandr Zaytsev, suggested a major redesign of AK 1, particularly to improve reliability. At first, Kalashnikov was reluctant, given that their r ifle had already fared better than its competitors. Eventually, however, Zaytsev managed to persuade Kalashnikov. The new rifle was produced for a second round of firing tests and field trials. There, Kalashnikov assault rifle model 1947 pr oved to be simple and reliable under a wide range of conditions with convenient handling characteristics. Production began on 6 July 1947,[20] and in 1949 it wa s adopted by the Soviet Army as "7.62mm Kalashnikov assault rifle (AK)".[21] The AK 47 is best described as a hybrid of previous rifle technology innovations : the trigger, double locking lugs and unlocking raceway of the M1 Garand/M1 car bine,[22] the safety mechanism of the John Browning designed Remington Model 8 r ifle,[23] and the gas system and layout of the Sturmgewehr 44. Kalashnikov's tea m had access to all of these weapons and had no need to "reinvent the wheel",[24 ][25] though he denied that his design was based on the German Sturmgewehr 44 as sault rifle.[26] Kalashnikov himself observed: "A lot of Russian Army soldiers a sk me how one can become a constructor, and how new weaponry is designed. These are very difficult questions. Each designer seems to have his own paths, his own successes and failures. But one thing is clear: before attempting to create som

ething new, it is vital to have a good appreciation of everything that already e xists in this field. I myself have had many experiences confirming this to be so ."[27] There are claims about Kalashnikov copying other designs, like Bulgina's Tkb 415 [28] or Simonov's AVS 31[29] In a History Channel special about the AK 47, an in terviewer asked Mikhail Kalashnikov if he had been influenced by the Sturmgewehr 44 design at all. Kalashnikov became very irate and angrily refuted the idea th at the Sturmgewehr 44 design had been an influence on him in any way whatsoever; however, it is known that Kalashnikov's team had direct access to examples of t he Sturmgewehr 4 Receiver development AKMS on a Type 4B receiver (top), with a Type 2A There were many difficulties during the initial phase of production. The first p roduction models had stamped sheet metal receivers. Difficulties were encountere d in welding the guide and ejector rails, causing high rejection rates.[30] Inst ead of halting production, a heavy machined receiver was substituted for the she et metal receiver. This was a more costly process, but the use of machined recei vers accelerated production as tooling and labor for the earlier Mosin Nagant ri fle's machined receiver were easily adapted. Partly because of these problems, t he Soviets were not able to distribute large numbers of the new rifle to soldier s until 1956. During this time, production of the interim SKS rifle continued.[3 1] Once manufacturing difficulties had been overcome, a redesigned version designat ed the AKM (M for "modernized" or "upgraded" (in Russian: ed in 1959.[32] This new model used a stamped sheet metal receiver and featured a slanted muzzle brake on the end of the barrel to compensate for muzzle rise un der recoil. In addition, a hammer retarder was added to prevent the weapon from firing out of battery (without the bolt being fully closed), during rapid or aut omatic fire.[33] This is also sometimes referred to as a "cyclic rate reducer", or simply "rate reducer", as it also has the effect of reducing the number of ro unds fired per minute during automatic fire. It was also roughly one-third light er than the previous model.[32] Both licensed and unlicensed production of the K alashnikov weapons abroad were almost exclusively of the AKM variant, partially due to the much easier production of the stamped receiver. This model is the mos t commonly encountered, having been produced in much greater quantities. All rif les based on the Kalashnikov design are frequently referred to as AK-47s in the West, although this is only correct when applied to rifles based on the original three receiver types.[34] In most former Eastern Bloc countries, the weapon is known simply as the "Kalashnikov" or "AK". The photo above at right illustrates the differences between the Type 2 milled receiver and the Type 4 stamped, inclu ding the use of rivets rather than welds on the stamped receiver, as well as the placement of a small dimple above the magazine well for stabilization of the ma gazine. In 1974, the Soviets began replacing their AK-47 and AKM rifles with a newer des ign, the AK-74. This new rifle and cartridge had only started being exported to eastern European nations when the Soviet Union collapsed, drastically slowing pr oduction of this and other weapons of the former Soviet bloc

Features An Afghan National Police instructor using a Type 56, a Chinese copy of the AK-4 7 The gas-operated mechanism of a Chinese AK-47

The main advantages of the Kalashnikov rifle are its simple design, fairly compa ct size, and adaptation to mass production. It is inexpensive to manufacture and easy to clean and maintain. Its ruggedness and reliability are legendary.[35] T he AK-47 was initially designed for ease of operation and repair by glove-wearin g Soviet soldiers in Arctic conditions. The large gas piston, generous clearance s between moving parts, and tapered cartridge case design allow the gun to endur e large amounts of foreign matter and fouling without failing to cycle. This rel iability comes at the cost of accuracy, as the looser tolerances do not allow fo r precision and consistency[citation needed]. Reflecting Soviet infantry doctrin e of its time, the rifle is meant to be part of massed infantry fire, not long r ange engagements. There are scores of variants of Kalashnikov assault rifles made in dozens of coun tries, far too numerous to address here. They all owe their roots to Mikhail Kal ashnikov. Many are clones of varying quality ranging from finely engineered weap ons to pieces of questionable workmanship. [36] As a result, the AK-47 has a serv ice life of approximately 6,000[37] to 15,000[38] rounds. The bore and chamber, as well as the gas piston and the interior of the gas cyli nder, are generally chromium-plated. This plating dramatically increases the lif e of these parts by resisting corrosion and wear. This is particularly important , as most military-production ammunition (and virtually all ammunition produced by the Soviet Union and other Warsaw Pact nations) during the 20th century conta ined potassium chlorate in the primers. On firing, this was converted to corrosi ve and hygroscopic potassium chloride which mandated frequent and thorough clean ing in order to prevent damage. Chrome plating of critical parts is now common o n many modern military weapons. Operating cycle Viet Cong soldier stands beneath a Viet Cong flag carrying his AK-47 rifle. Note : fire selector, bolt handle and magazine lever. To fire, the operator inserts a loaded magazine, pulls back and releases the cha rging handle, and then pulls the trigger. In semi-automatic, the firearm fires o nly once, requiring the trigger to be released and depressed again for the next shot. In full-automatic, the rifle continues to fire automatically cycling fresh rounds into the chamber, until the magazine is exhausted or pressure is release d from the trigger. As each bullet travels through the barrel, a portion of the gases expanding behind it is diverted into the gas tube above the barrel, where it impacts the gas piston. The piston, in turn, is driven backward, pushing the bolt carrier, which causes the bolt to move backwards, ejecting the spent round, and chambering a new round when the recoil spring pushes it forward.[39] The gas operation uses what is known as a long-stroke, that is the piston moves back into the receiver a long way, pushing the bolt carrier along. This contrast s most other gas operated rifles of the 20th century which used a short-stroke p iston. Those designs have a piston that gives a single sharp blow to get the bol t group moving through transfer of momentum rather than pushing it all the way b ack. Rifles using that system are the commonly used FN FAL and AR-18, along with the derivatives of the latter such as the SA-80. The comparison is of importanc e because the FAL, and later the M16 have been the rifles which faced the Kalash nikov in battle throughout the 2nd half of the 20th century. In contrast to the AK, the gas system of the M16 does not use a piston at all. Fire selector The prototype of the AK-47, the AK-46, had a separate fire selector and safety.[ 40] These were later combined in the production version to simplify the design. The fire selector is a large lever located on the right side of the rifle, it ac ts as a dust-cover and prevents the charging handle from being pulled fully to t he rear when it is on safe.[41] It is operated by the shooter's right fore-finge rs and it has 3 settings: up = safe, center = full-auto and down = semi-auto.[41

] The reason for this is, under stress a soldier will push the selector lever do wn with considerable force bypassing the full-auto stage and setting the rifle t o semi-auto.[41] To set the AK-47 to full-auto requires the deliberate action of centering the selector lever.[41] Some AK-47 type rifles also have a small vert ical selector lever on the left side of the receiver just above the pistol grip. [41] This lever is operated by the shooter's right thumb and has three settings: forward = safe, center = full-auto and backward = semi-auto.[41] Sights Rear sight of a Chinese Type 56 Note: 100 to 800 meter settings The AK-47 has a 378mm (14.88 inches) sight radius.[6] The AK-47 uses a notched r ear tangent iron sight, it is adjustable and is calibrated in hundreds from 100 to 800 meters (100 to 1000 meters for AKM models).[42] The front sight is a post adjustable for elevation in the field. Windage adjustment is done by the armory before issue. The "fixed" battle setting can be used for all ranges up to 300 m eters.[42][43] This "point-blank range" setting marked " ",[43] allows the shooter to fire at close range targets without adjusting the sights. Longer range setti ngs are intended for area suppression. These settings mirror the Mosin-Nagant an d SKS rifles which the AK-47 replaced. Some AK type rifles have a front sight wi th a flip-up luminous dot that is calibrated at 50 meters, for improved night fi ghting.[42] All current AK-47s (100 series), have a side rail for mounting a var iety of scopes and sighting devices, such as the PSO-1 Optical Sniper Sight.[44] However, their side folding stocks cannot be folded with the optics mounted.[45 ] Ballistics Main article: 7.6239mm Gunshot wound caused by an AK-47 during the Vietnam War. Image (b) shows multipl e fragments and the retained core from an AK-47 round The standard AK-47 or AKM fires the 7.6239mm cartridge with a muzzle velocity of 715 m/s.[7][46] Projectile weight is normally 8 g (123 grain). The AK-47 and AKM , with the 7.6239mm cartridge, have a battle range of around 350 metres (1,150 ft ).[6] The 7.6239mm cartridge produces significant wounding effects if the project ile tumbles in tissue;[47] but it produces relatively minor wounds when the proj ectile exits the body before beginning to yaw.[48][49] Accuracy United States Marine firing an AK-47. Note: empty shell cases in flight. The AK-47's accuracy has always been considered to be "good enough."[50][51][52] The milled AK-47s are capable of shooting 35 inch groups at 100 yards, whereas t he stamped AKM's are capable of shooting 46 inch groups at 100 yards.[52] "There are advantages and disadvantages in both forged/milled receivers and stamped rec eivers. Milled/Forged Receivers are much more rigid, flexing less as the rifle i s fired thus not hindering accuracy as much as stamped receivers. Stamped receiv ers on the other hand are a bit more rugged since it has some give in it and hav e less chances of having metal fatigue under heavy usage."[52] As a result, the newer stamped steel receiver AKM models are actually less accurate than their pr edecessors.[52] Magazines A major but often overlooked factor in a firearm's reliability is the design of its magazine. The AK-47s magazine has a pronounced curve which allows it to smoot hly feed ammunition into the chamber. Its heavy steel construction combined with "feed-lips" (the surfaces at the top of the magazine that control the angle at which the cartridge enters the chamber) machined from a single steel billet make s it highly resistant to damage. This makes the AK-47 magazine more reliable, al though heavier than U.S. and NATO magazines. The steel AK-47 magazine weighs .38 kg (0.84 lb) empty[53] and has been replaced by a lighter steel-reinforced plas tic magazine weighing .25 kg (0.55 lb) empty.[6] Most Yugoslavian and some East

German AK magazines were made with cartridge followers that hold the bolt open w hen empty; however, most AK magazine followers allow the bolt to close when the magazine is empty. Additional firepower Zastava M70 rifle with grenade sights raised. The Zastava M70 (AKMS type rifle) with a GP-25 grenade launcher. Soviet RGD-5 hand grenade All current model AK-47 rifles can mount under-barrel 40mm grenade-launchers suc h as the GP-25, GP-30 & GP-34.,[54] which can fire up to 20 rounds per minute an d have an effective range of up to 400 meters.[54] The main grenade is the VOG-2 5 fragmentation grenade which has a 6 meter lethality radius. The Zastava M70s (AKM type rifle) also have a grenade-launching sight and gas cu t-off on the gas block, and are capable of launching rifle-grenades. To launch t hem a 22mm diameter grenade launching adapter is screwed on in place of the slan t brake or other muzzle device.[55] The AK-47 can also mount a (rarely used) cup-type grenade-launcher that fires st andard RGD-5 Soviet hand-grenades.[56] The soup-can shaped launcher is screwed o nto to AK-47s muzzle.[56][57] To fire first, insert a standard RGD-5 hand-grenade into the launcher and then remove the safety pin. Second, insert a special blan k cartridge into the rifles chamber. Third, place the butt-stock of the rifle on the ground and fire from this position. The maximum effective range is approxim ately 150 meters.[56] The RGD-5 hand-grenade has a lethality radius of 25 meters .[58] Disassembly Dismantling the rifle involves the operator depressing the magazine catch and re moving the magazine. The charging handle is pulled to the rear and the operator inspects the chamber to verify the weapon is unloaded. The operator presses forw ard on the retainer button at the rear of the receiver cover while simultaneousl y lifting up on the rear of the cover to remove it. The operator then pushes the spring assembly forward and lifts it from its raceway, withdrawing it out of th e bolt carrier and to the rear. The operator must then pull the carrier assembly all the way to the rear, lift it, and then pull it away. The operator removes t he bolt by pushing it to the rear of the bolt carrier; rotating the bolt so the camming lug clears the raceway on the underside of the bolt carrier and then pul ls it forward and free. When cleaning, the operator will pay special attention t o the barrel, bolt face, and gas piston, then oil lightly and reassemble.[39] Variants Kalashnikov variants include: 1955 AK-47 Type 3 AK-47 194851, 7.6239mm The very earliest models, with the Type 1 stamped sheet metal receiver, are now very rare. AK-47 1952, 7.6239mm Has a milled receiver and wooden buttstock and handguard . Barrel and chamber are chrome plated to resist corrosion. Rifle weight is 4.2 kg (9.3 lb). AKSFeatured a downward-folding metal stock similar to that of the German MP40 , for use in the restricted space in the BMP infantry combat vehicle, as well as by paratroops. RPK, 7.6239mm Hand-held machine gun version with longer barrel and bipod. AKM, 7.6239mm A simplified, lighter version of the AK-47; Type 4 receiver is made from stamped and riveted sheet metal (see schematic above). A slanted muzzl e device was added to counter climb in automatic fire. Rifle weight is 3.1 kg (6 .8 lb) due to the lighter receiver. This is the most ubiquitous variant of the A K-47. AKMS, 7.6239mm Folding-stock version of the AKM intended for airborne troops.

Stock may be either side- or under-folding AK-74 series, 5.4539mm AK-101/AK-102 series AK-103/AK-104 series AK-107/AK-108 series AK-12 Saiga semi-automatic rifle AK variant for hunting and civilian use. Built on AK receiver with hunting style stock and hand guard in .223/5.5645, 7.6239, 5.4539 , .308 Winchester Saiga semi-automatic shotgun AK variant for hunting and civilian use. Built on AK receiver with hunting style stock and hand guard in 12-Gauge, 20-Gauge, an d .410-Bore. KSK shotgun A new version of AK variant military using shotgun Usually the AKn was introduced in year 1900+n. Production outside of the Soviet Union/Russia Military variants only. Includes new designs substantially derived from the Kala shnikov. Country Variant(s) Albania Automatiku Shqiptar model 56 (ASH-78 Tip-1) Albanian Automatic Assault Rifle Mod el 56 Type-1 [Made in Polian Arsenal] (Straight forward copy of Type 56, which in turn is a clone of the Soviet AKM rifle) Automatiku Shqiptar Tipi 1982 (ASH-82) Albanian Automatic Assault Rifle Type 198 2 [Made in Polian Arsenal] (Straight forward copy of AKMS) Automatiku Shqiptar model 56 (ASH-78 Tip-2) Albanian Light Machine Gun [Made in Polian Arsenal] (Straight forward copy of RPK) Automatiku Shqiptar model 56 (ASH-78 Tip-3) Albanian Automatic Hybrid Rifle Mode l 56 Type-3 [Made in Polian Arsenal] (Hybrid rifle for multi-purpose roles mainly Marksman rifle with secondary assault rifle and grenade launcher capability) Other unknown variants. Several other unnamed & unidentified versions of the AKMS have been produce main ly with short barrels similar to the Soviet AKS-74U mainly for special forces, T ank & Armoured crew also for Helicopter pilots and police. There have also been modifications and fresh production of heavily modified ASh82 (AKMS) with SOPMOD accessories, mainly for Albania s special forces RENEA & e xports. Bangladesh Chinese Type 56 Bulgaria AKK (Type 3 AK-47), AKKS (Type 3 with side-folding buttstock) AKKMS (AKMS) AKKN-47 (fittings for NPSU night sights) AK-47M1 (Type 3 with black polymer furniture) AK-47MA1/AR-M1 (same as -M1, but in 5.56 mm NATO) AKS-47M1 (AKMS in 5.56x45mm NATO), AKS-47MA1 (same as AKS-47M1, but semi-automat ic only) AKS-47S (AK-47M1, short version, with East German folding stock, laser aiming de vice) AKS-47UF (short version of -M1, Russian folding stock), AR-SF (same as 47UF, but 5.56 mm NATO) AKS 93SM6 (similar to 47M1, cannot use grenade launcher) RKKS, AKT 47 (.22 rimfire training rifle) BARR 101 (semi automatic only version with a 5 round magazine) Cambodia Chinese Type 56, Soviet AK 47, and AKM People's Republic of China Type 56 German Democratic Republic MPi K (AK 47), MPi KS (AKS), MPi KM (AKM), MPi K MS 72 (AKMS), KK MPi Mod.69 (.22 Lr select fire trainer); Egypt AK 47, Misr assault rifle (AKM), Maadi. Ethiopia AK 47, AK 103 (manufactured locally at the State run Gafat Armam ent Engineering Complex as the Et 97/1[59]) Hungary AK 55 (domestic manufacture of the 2nd Model AK 47)AK 63D/E (AMM

/AMMSz), AKM 63, AMD 65, AMP 69, NGM 81(AK 63 in 5.56mm NATO) Iraq Tabuk Sniper Rifle, Tabuk Assault Rifle (with fixed or underfolding stoc k, outright clones of Yugoslavian M70 rifles series), Tabuk Short Assault Rifle India Trichy Assault Rifle 7.62 mm, manufactured by Ordnance Factory Tiruchira ppalli of Ordnance Factories Board[60] Iran KLS (AK47), KLF (AKS), KLT (AKMS) Israel IMI Galil Finland RK 62, RK 95 TP Nigeria Produced by the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria as OBJ 006[61][62] North Korea Type 58A (Type 3 AK 47), Type 58B (stamped steel folding stock), Type 68A (AKM 47) Type 68B (AKMS), Type 88 (AKS 74)[63][64] Pakistan Reverse engineered by hand and machine in Pakistan's highland ar eas near the border of Afghanistan; more recently the Pakistan Ordnance Factorie s started the manufacture of an AK47/AKM clone called PK 10[65] Philippines Armscor MAK22 and MAK22FS [66] Poland pmK/kbk AK (name has changed from pmK "pistolet maszynowy Kaasznikowa", K alashnikov SMG to the kbk AK "karabinek AK", Kalashnikov Carbine in mid 1960s) ( AK 47), kbkg wz. 1960, kbk AKM (AKM), kbk AKMS (AKMS), kbk wz. 1988 Tantal based on the 7.62 mm kbk AKMS wz. 81, kbs wz. 1996 Beryl Romania PM md. 63 (AKM), PM md. 65 (AKMS), PM md. 90 (AKMS), collectivel y exported under the umbrella name AIM or AIMS, Draco Pistol 7.62X39mm PA md. 86 (AK 74), exported as the AIMS 74 PM md. 90 short barrel, PA md. 86 short barrel, exported as the AIMR South Africa R4 assault rifle Sudan MAZ,[67] based on the Type 56 Vietnam Chinese Type 56, Soviet AK 47, AK 74, AK 108 and AKM Venezuela License granted, factory under construction[68] Yugoslavia/Serbia M60, M64, M70, M76, M77, M92, M21 Certainly more have been produced elsewhere; but the above list represents known producers and is limited to only military variants. An updated AK 47 design is still produced in Russia. Derivatives Type 56 and AKS 47 The basic design of the AK 47 has been used as the basis for other successful ri fle designs such as the Finnish Rk 62/76 and Rk 95 Tp, the Israeli Galil, the In dian INSAS and the Yugoslav Zastava M76 and M77/82 rifles. Several bullpup desig ns have surfaced such as the Chinese Norinco Type 86S, although none have been p roduced in quantity. Bullpup conversions are also available commercially. Further information: list of weapons influenced by the Kalashnikov design Licensing OJSC IzhMash has repeatedly claimed that the majority of manufacturers produce A K 47s without a proper license from IZH.[69][70] The Izhevsk Machine Tool Factor y acquired a patent in 1999,[clarification needed] making manufacture of the new est Kalashnikov rifles, such as AK 100s by anyone other than themselves illegal in countries where a patent is granted. However, older variants, such as AK and AKM are public domain due to age of design. Illicit trade Cambodian AK 47 with black furniture Modified Chinese (Norinco) AK 47 commercial variant that has been customized by its owner Throughout the world, the AK and its variants are among the most commonly smuggl ed small arms sold to governments, rebels, criminals, and civilians alike, with little international oversight.[citation needed] In some countries, prices for A

Ks are very low; in Somalia, Rwanda, Mozambique, Congo and Tanzania prices are b etween $30 and $125 per weapon, and prices have fallen in the last few decades d ue to mass counterfeiting. Moiss Nam observed that in a small town in Kenya in 198 6, an AK 47 cost fifteen cows but that in 2005, the price was down to four cows indicating that supply was "immense".[71] The weapon has appeared in a number of conflicts including clashes in the Balkans, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia.[72] The Taliban and the Northern Alliance fought each other with Soviet AKs; some of these were exported to Pakistan. The gun is now also made in Pakistan's semi au tonomous areas (see more at Khyber Pass Copy).[citation needed] Estimated numbers of AK type weapons vary. The Small Arms Survey suggest that "b etween 70 and 100 million of these weapons have been produced since 1947."[73] T he World Bank estimates that out of the 500 million total firearms available wor ldwide, 100 million are of the Kalashnikov family, and 75 million are AK 47s.[74 ] Only about 5 million of these were manufactured in the former USSR.[75] Becaus e AK type weapons have been made in other countries, often illicitly, it is impo ssible to know how many really exist.[76] Mikhail Kalashnikov addressed the Unit ed Nations in 2006 at a conference aimed at solving the problem of illicit weapo ns, saying that he appreciated the AK 47's role in state sponsored defense but t hat counterfeit weapons carrying his name in the hands of "terrorists and thugs" caused him regret.[77] Cultural influence "Basically, it's the anti Western cach of it ... And you know, one man's terroris t is another man's freedom fighter, so we all sort of think, oh boy, we've got a little bit of Che Guevara in us. And this accounts for the popularity of the (A K 47) weapon. Plus I think that in the United States it's considered countercult ure, which is always something that citizens in this country kind of like ... It 's kind of sticking a finger in the eye of the man, if you will." Larry Kahaner, author of AK 47: The Weapon That Changed the Face of War[78] Russia/Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China, as well as Western count ries (especially the United States) supplied arms and technical knowledge to num erous countries and rebel forces in a global struggle between the Warsaw Pact na tions and their allies against NATO and their allies called the Cold War. While the NATO countries used rifles such as the relatively expensive M14, HK G3 and M 16 assault rifle during this time, the low production and materials costs of the AK 47 meant that the Russia/USSR could produce and supply its allies at a very low cost. Because of its low cost, it was also duplicated or used as the basis f or many other rifles, such as the Israeli Galil, Chinese Type 56, and Swiss SIG SG 550. As a result, the Cold War saw the mass export of AK 47s by the Soviet Un ion and the PRC to their allies, such as the Nicaraguan Sandinistas, Viet Cong a s well as Middle Eastern, Asian, and African revolutionaries. The United States also purchased the Type 56 from the PRC to give to the mujahideen guerrillas dur ing the Soviet war in Afghanistan.[79] Flag of Mozambique featuring the AK 47.

In parts of the Western world, the AK 47 is associated with their enemies; both Cold War era and present day. During the 1980s, the Soviet Union became the prin cipal arms dealer to countries embargoed by Western nations, including Middle Ea stern nations such as Syria, Libya and Iran, who welcomed Soviet Union backing a

The proliferation of this weapon is reflected by more than just numbers. The AK 47 is included in the flag of Mozambique and its emblem, an acknowledgment that the country's leaders gained power in large part through the effective use of th eir AK 47s.[80] It is also found in the coat of arms of Zimbabwe and East Timor, the revolution era coat of arms of Burkina Faso, the flag of Hezbollah, and the logo of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.[citation needed] A U.S. Army M.P. inspects a Soviet AK 47 recovered in Vietnam, 1968.

gainst Israel. After the fall of the Soviet Union, AK 47s were sold both openly and on the black market to any group with cash, including drug cartels and dicta torial states, and more recently they have been seen in the hands of Islamic gro ups such as the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Iraq, and FARC, Ejrcito d e Liberacin Nacional guerrillas in Colombia. Western movies often portray crimina ls, gang members and terrorists using AK 47s. For these reasons, in the U.S. and Western Europe the AK 47 is stereotypically regarded as the weapon of choice of insurgents, gangsters and terrorists. Conversely, throughout the developing wor ld, the AK 47 can be positively attributed with revolutionaries or freedom fight ers against foreign occupation, imperialism, or colonialism.[78] In Mexico, the AK 47 is known as "Cuerno de Chivo" (literally "Ram's Horn") and is one of the weapons of choice of Mexican drug cartels. It is sometimes mention ed in Mexican folk music lyrics.[81] In 2006, Colombian musician and peace activist Csar Lpez devised the escopetarra, an AK converted into a guitar. One sold for US$17,000 in a fundraiser held to be nefit the victims of anti personnel mines, while another was exhibited at the Un ited Nations' Conference on Disarmament.[82] The AK 47 made an appearance in U.S. popular culture as a recurring focus in the Nicolas Cage film Lord of War. There are numerous monologues in the movie focus ing on the weapon and its effects on global conflict and the gun running market, such as: "Of all the weapons in the vast soviet arsenal, nothing was more profitable than Avtomat Kalashnikova model of 1947. More commonly known as the AK 47, or Kalash nikov. It's the world's most popular assault rifle. A weapon all fighters love. An elegantly simple 9 pound amalgamation of forged steel and plywood. It doesn't break, jam, or overheat. It'll shoot whether it's covered in mud or filled with sand. It's so easy, even a child can use it; and they do. The Soviets put the g un on a coin. Mozambique put it on their flag. Since the end of the Cold War, th e Kalashnikov has become the Russian people's greatest export. After that comes vodka, caviar, and suicidal novelists. One thing is for sure, no one was lining up to buy their cars."[83] Kalashnikov Museum The Kalashnikov Museum (also called the AK 47 museum) opened on 4 November 2004, in Izhevsk, Udmurt Republic. This city is in the Ural Region of Russia. The mus eum chronicles the biography of General Kalashnikov, as well as documents the in vention of the AK 47. The museum complex of small arms of M. T. Kalashnikov, a s eries of halls and multimedia exhibitions is devoted to the evolution of the AK 47 assault rifle and attracts 10,000 monthly visitors.[84] Nadezhda Vechtomova, the museum director stated in an interview that the purpose of the museum is to honor the ingenuity of the inventor and the hard work of th e employees and to "separate the weapon as a weapon of murder from the people wh o are producing it and to tell its history in our country."

Production history Designer Mikhail Kalashnikov Designed 1950s Manufacturer Izhmash,Tula arsenal, others. Produced 1959 present Number built More than 10,278,300 Variants AKMS, AKMP, AKML, AKMLP, AKMSP, AKMSU, AKMSN, AKMSNP Specifications (Updated information) Weight AKM: 3.1 kg (6.83 lb) AKML: 3.80 kg (8.4 lb) AKMS: 3.3 kg (7.3 lb) AKMSN: 3.77 kg (8.3 lb) AKMS: 3.8 kg (8.4 lb) with full magazine 30 rnd magazine: 0.33 kg (0.73 lb) 6H4 bayonet: 0.32 kg (0.71 lb) Length AKM, AKML: 880 mm (34.6 in) AKMS, AKMSN: 920 mm (36.2 in) stock extended / 655 mm (25.8 in) stock folded AKMS, AKMSN: 920 mm (36.2 in) stock extended / 655 mm (25.8 in) stock folded Barrel length 415 mm (16.3 in) Cartridge 7.62x39mm Action Gas operated, rotating bolt Rate of fire 600 rounds/min Muzzle velocity 715 m/s (2,346 ft/s) Effective range 400 m,1001,000 m sight adjustments Maximum range 1000 m Feed system 10, 20, 30, 40 round box magazines or RPK 40 round box magazines . Also compatible with 75 round and drum magazines from the RPK. Sights Rear sight notch on sliding tangent, front post Sight radius: 378 mm (14.9 in)

SPECIFICATION / GEN DATA MODIFIED AK 47s

For other uses, see AKM (disambiguation). AKM AKM automatkarbin, Ryssland 7,62x39mm Armmuseum.jpg Type Assault rifle Place of origin Soviet Union Service history In service 1959present [1] Used by (See Users) Wars Vietnam War Laotian civil war Portuguese Colonial War Cambodian Civil War Yom Kippur War Cambodian Vietnamese War Chadian Libyan Conflict Sino Vietnamese War Western Sahara War Soviet war in Afghanistan IranIraq War South African Border War Gulf War Croatian War of Independence Bosnian War First Chechen war Second Chechen War War in Afghanistan (2001 present) CambodianThai border stand off Iraq War 2008 South Ossetia war The Troubles Somali Civil War Mexican Drug War Yugoslav Wars Syrian civil war Libyan civil war Various other conflicts in Africa and Asia Production history Designer Mikhail Kalashnikov Designed 1950s Manufacturer Izhmash,Tula arsenal, others. Produced 1959 present Number built More than 10,278,300 Variants AKMS, AKMP, AKML, AKMLP, AKMSP, AKMSU, AKMSN, AKMSNP Specifications (Updated information) Weight AKM: 3.1 kg (6.83 lb)

AKML: 3.80 kg (8.4 lb) AKMS: 3.3 kg (7.3 lb) AKMSN: 3.77 kg (8.3 lb) AKMS: 3.8 kg (8.4 lb) with full magazine 30 rnd magazine: 0.33 kg (0.73 lb) 6H4 bayonet: 0.32 kg (0.71 lb) Length AKM, AKML: 880 mm (34.6 in) AKMS, AKMSN: 920 mm (36.2 in) stock extended / 655 mm (25.8 in) stock folded AKMS, AKMSN: 920 mm (36.2 in) stock extended / 655 mm (25.8 in) stock folded Barrel length 415 mm (16.3 in) Cartridge 7.62x39mm Action Gas operated, rotating bolt Rate of fire 600 rounds/min Muzzle velocity 715 m/s (2,346 ft/s) Effective range 400 m,1001,000 m sight adjustments Maximum range 1000 m Feed system 10, 20, 30, 40 round box magazines or RPK 40 round box magazines . Also compatible with 75 round and drum magazines from the RPK. Sights Rear sight notch on sliding tangent, front post Sight radius: 378 mm (14.9 in)

The AKM (Russian: ; Avtomat Kalashnikova Modernizirovann mm assault rifle designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is an upgraded version of t he AK-47 rifle and was developed in the 1950s. Introduced into service with the Soviet Army in 1959, the AKM is the most ubiqui tous variant of the entire AK series of firearms and it has found widespread use with most member states of the former Warsaw Pact and its many African and Asia n allies as well as being widely exported and produced in many other countries. The production of these Soviet rifles was carried out at both the Tula Arms Plan t and Izhmash. It was officially replaced in Soviet Front-Line service by the AK -74 in the late 1970s, but remains in use worldwide. Contents 1 Design details 1.1 Improvements over AK-47 1.2 Barrel 1.3 Gas block 1.4 Bolt carrier 1.5 Stock 1.6 Spring 1.7 Sight 1.8 Accessories 1.9 Ammunition 2 Variants 2.1 AKMS 3 Users 4 See also 5 References 6 External links Design details Question book-new.svg This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improv e this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may b e challenged and removed. (August 2009) The AKM is an assault rifle using the 7.62x39mm Soviet intermediate cartridge. I t is gas operated with a rotating bolt. The AKM is capable of selective fire, fi

ring either single shots or automatic at a cyclic rate of 600 rounds/min. Despit e being replaced in the late 1970s by the AK-74 the AKM is still in service in s ome Russian Army reserve and second-line units and several east European countri es. Improvements over AK-47 The AKMS variant field stripped (below) compared to the American M16. Compared to the AK-47, the AKM features detail improvements and enhancements tha t optimized the rifle for mass production; some parts and assemblies were concei ved using simplified manufacturing methods. Notably, the AK-47's milled steel re ceiver was replaced by a U-shaped steel stamping. As a result of these modificat ions, the AKMs weight was reduced by approx. 1 kg (2.2 lb), the accuracy during a utomatic fire was increased and several reliability issues were addressed. The A K-47 s chrome-lined barrel was retained, a common feature of Soviet weapons whic h resists wear and corrosion, particularly under harsh field conditions and near -universal Eastern Bloc use of corrosive primed ammunition. The AKMs receiver, compared to the AK-47, has a stamped sheet metal housing to wh ich a rear stock trunnion and forward barrel trunnion are fastened using rivets. The receiver housing also features a rigid tubular cross-section support that a dds structural strength. Guide rails that assist the bolt carriers movement which also incorporates the ejector are installed inside the receiver through spot we lding. As a weight-saving measure, the stamped receiver cover is of thinner gaug e metal than that of the AK-47. In order to maintain strength and durability it employs both longitudinal and latitudinal reinforcing ribs. Barrel The forward barrel trunnion has a verse hole for a pin that secures runnion has two extended mounting other fixed models use a stepped the inside of the receiver. non-threaded socket for the barrel and a trans the barrel in place. On some models the rear t arms on both sides that support the buttstock; shaped trunnion that covers the full width of

The AKMs barrel is installed in the forward trunnion and pinned (as opposed to th e AK-47, which has a one piece receiver with integral trunnions and a barrel tha t is screwed-in). Additionally the barrel has horizontal guide slots that help a lign and secure the handguards in place. To increase the weapons accuracy during automatic fire, the AKM was fitted with a slant cut muzzle brake that helps redi rect expanding propellant gases upward and to the right during firing, which mit igates the rise of the muzzle during an automatic burst when held by a right-han ded firer. The muzzle brake is threaded on to the end of the barrel with a lefthand thread. Not all AKMs had slant muzzle brakes; some were also fitted with th e older muzzle nut which came from the AK-47. Most AKMs with muzzle nuts were ol der production weapons. The AKM s slant brake can also be used on the AK-47, whi ch had a simple nut to cover the threads. Gas block The gas block in the AKM does not have a cleaning rod capture or sling loop but is instead fitted with an integrated bayonet support collar that has a cleaning rod guide hole. The forward sling loop was relocated to the front handguard reta iner cap. The handguard retainer also has notches that determine the position of the handguards on the barrel. The AKMs laminated wood handguards have lateral gr ooves that help securely grip the rifle. Gas relief ports that alleviate gas pressure in the piston cylinder (placed hori zontally in a row on the gas cylinder in the AK-47) were moved forward to the ga s block and placed in a radial arrangement. Bolt carrier The AKMs bolt carrier is slightly lighter in weight and despite some minor differ

ences in its shape it can be used interchangeably with the AK-47s bolt carrier an d bolt. Stock The wooden stock used in the AKM is further hollowed in order to reduce weight a nd is longer and straighter than that of the AK-47, which assists accuracy for s ubsequent shots during rapid and automatic fire. Spring The AKM uses a modified return spring mechanism, which replaces the single recoi l spring guide rod with a dual U-shaped wire guide. The AKM has a modified trigger assembly, equipped with a hammer-release delaying device (installed on the same axis pin together with the trigger and disconnector) commonly called a "rate re ducer". In fact its primary purpose is not to reduce the rate of automatic fire; it is a safety device to ensure the weapon will only fire on automatic when the bolt is fully locked, as the hammer is tripped by the bolt carrier s last few m illimetres of forward movement. The device also reduces "trigger slap" or "trigg er bounce" and the weapons rate of fire, which also reduces the dispersion of bul lets when firing in fully automatic mode. The hammer was also changed and equipp ed with a protrusion that engages the rate reducer and the trigger has only one notched hammer release arm (compared to two parallel arms in the AK-47). Sight The AKMs rear sight consists of a ramp with a range scale marked from 100 to 1,00 0 m (graduated every 100 m), as compared to that of the original AK-47, which wa s graduated to 800 meters. The rear sight leafs position teeth that secure the sl iding adjustable notch were transferred over from the right to the left edge of the ramp. The front sight post also has a slightly different shape and its botto m portion is more narrow. Accessories 6H4-type bayonet and scabbard The AKM comes supplied with a different accessory kit that contains a M1959 6H4 or 6H3-type bayonet and comes with synthetic or steel magazines. The 6H3-type ba yonet blade forms a wire-cutting device when coupled with its scabbard. The poly mer grip and upper part of the scabbard provide insulation from the metal blade and bottom part of the scabbard to safely cut electrified wire. The kit also com es with a punch used to drive out various pins and a device that aids in assembl ing the rate reducing mechanism. The GP-25 Grenade launcher can also be fitted o nto the AKM. Ammunition The weapon uses the same ammunition as the AK-47: the 7.62x39mm M43 intermediate rifle cartridge. The AKM mechanism s design principles and procedures for loadi ng and firing are practically identical to those of the AK-47, the only differen ce being the trigger assembly (during the return stage of the bolt carrier on fu lly automatic mode) as a result of incorporating the rate reducer device. Variants AKMS AKMS without magazine An AKMS (top) compared to a standard Soviet AK-47 (bottom). The main variant of the AKM is the AKMS (S Skladnoy [Folding]), which was equipp ed with an under folding metal shoulder stock in place of the fixed wooden stock . The metal stock of the AKMS is somewhat different from the folding stock of th e previous AKS-47 model as it has a modified locking mechanism, which locks both support arms of the AKMS stock instead of just one (left arm) as in the AKS-47 folding model. It is also made of rivetted steel pressings, instead of the mille d versions of most AKS-47s.

The AKM was produced in the following versions: AKMP, AKML and AKMLP, whereas th e AKMS led to the following models AKMSP, AKMSN and AKMSNP. It is designed espec ially for use by paratroopersas the folding stock permits more space for other eq uipment when jumping from a plane and then landing. The AKMP rifle uses subdued Radium-illuminated aiming points integrated into the front and rear sight. These sights enable targets to be engaged in low-light co nditions, e.g. when the battlefield is illuminated with flares, fires or muzzle flashes or when the target is visible as a shadow against an illuminated backgro und. The sliding notch on the sight arm is then moved to the S setting (which corr esponds to the 3 setting in the AKM). The sight itself is guided on the sliding sc ale and has a socket, which contains a tritium gas-filled capsule directly benea th the day-time notch. The tritium front post installs into the front sight base using a detent and spring. The AKML comes equipped with a side-rail used to attach a night vision device. T he mount comprises a flat plate riveted to the left wall of the receiver housing and a support bracket fixed to the mounting base with screws. To shield the lig ht-sensitive photo detector plate of the night vision sight, the weapon uses a s lotted flash suppressor, which replaces the standard recoil compensator. The AKM L can also be deployed in the prone position with a detachable barrel-mounted bi pod that helps stabilize the weapon and reduces operator fatigue during prolonge d periods of observation. The bipod is supplied as an accessory and is carried i n a holster attached to the duty belt. The AKMLP is a version of the AKML with tritium sights (as in the AKMP). The AKMSP rifle is based on the folding stock AKMS variant but fitted with triti um night sights, as in the AKMP. The AKMSN model is derived from the AKMS and features an accessory rail used to mount a night vision sensor as seen on the AKML and additionally a flash hider a nd bipod. The left arm of the AKMSNs folding stock is bent outwards in order to a void the sight mount bracket during folding and the sling loop was moved further to the rear. A version of the AKMSN additionally supplied with factory tritium night sights i s called the AKMSNP. A version of the AKM with a modified lower handguard designed to accept the 40 m m wz. 1974 Pallad grenade launcher was developed in Poland and designated the ka rabinek-granatnik wz. 1974.