Lethal range of the AK 47. Kalashnikov assault rifle: where are we mistaken?

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 everything produced small arms in the world, closest competitor Kalashnikov assault rifle is American machine gun USA - about 8 million units produced.

History of creation

Prerequisite for creation Kalashnikov assault rifle became second World War, during which appeared German machine gun StG -44 chambered for the 7.92x33 mm intermediate cartridge and an American-made semi-automatic M1 carbine chambered for the 7.62x33 mm cartridge, which was supplied to the USSR under Lend-Lease. 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 has filled a niche between pistol cartridges and rifle and 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. Submachine guns PPSh and PPD-effective were replaced by new weapons 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.
First Soviet machine guns The AS-44 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 it to the military commission new sample his machine gun. 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, two modifications of the AK were adopted into service by the Soviet Army 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 in 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 heavy weight(520 grams), which during shooting leads to noticeable recoil and worsens the accuracy of the battle. The bolt is returned to the firing position using a return spring. When the cartridges in the magazine are used up, do not lock the bolt. shutter lag, which is a minus.
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 a mount is provided 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 tip 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 firing at fuel containers and gas tanks of vehicles. 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 repurposed 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.
First combat use The AK occurred during Operation Whirlwind to suppress 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 the 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

Shots/min:

600 Muzzle velocity, m/s: 710 ,
715 (AKM) Sighting range: 800 m (AKM 1000 m) Type of ammunition: 30-round box magazine Sight: sector

7.62 mm Kalashnikov assault rifle(AK, Also known as AK-47, GAU index - 56-A-212) - an assault rifle, developed by M. Kalashnikov in 1947, is the most common small arms in the world. It is characterized by extremely high reliability and ease of maintenance.

History of creation

However, it is worth noting that the similar outlines of the barrel, front sight and gas tube are due to the use of a similar gas engine, which could not have been borrowed by Kalashnikov from Schmeisser, since it was invented long before. The design differences are quite large and consist in the barrel locking device (rotary bolt for the AK and skewed bolt for the MP-43), firing mechanism, differences in disassembling the weapon (for a Kalashnikov assault rifle, you need to remove the receiver cover for this, and for the StG- 44 - fold down the trigger box along with the fire control handle on the pin). It is also worth noting that the AK is lighter than the development of cold stamping technology, which he was engaged in until 1952, which played a role in the appearance of the stamped magazine and receiver of the AKM (from 1959). Meanwhile, similar technologies were used before Schmeiser, including in the USSR in the manufacture of PPSh and PPS-43 submachine guns, which had a predominantly stamped design before the advent of the StG-44, that is, by that time the Soviet side already had some experience in production of small arms parts by stamping. However, it should be noted that Hugo Schmeisser did not leave memoirs about the time spent in the USSR, so any other information about the participation of Schmeisser and other German specialists in the development of the Kalashnikov assault rifle is currently unavailable.

It is also worth adding that the design of the AK used elements of an experimental automatic carbine created by Kalashnikov back in 1944, and experimental samples of the new machine gun for field testing were ready before the appearance of German specialists in Izhevsk.

Thus, we can conclude with great confidence that the AK is Mikhail Kalashnikov’s own development.

Design

First combat use

The first case of AK use on the world stage occurred in 1956, during the suppression of an uprising in Hungary. The AK performed well in urban battles, thanks to its power, not typical of submachine guns, and its compactness, it could often do what tanks could not do.

AK after the collapse of the USSR

Despite the existing opinion that the collapse of the USSR led to a sharp increase in sales volumes of Kalashnikov assault rifles and a drop in prices for them, serious research refutes this. Both the prices themselves and the trends in their changes before and after the collapse of the USSR are the same.

AKM series

AKMSU- a shortened version of the AKM with a folding stock, intended for special forces and airborne troops. It was released in very small quantities and did not receive wide distribution among the troops. It did not officially enter service.

ACMN (6P1N) - option with a night sight.
- AKMSN (6P4N) - modification of AKMN with a folding metal butt.

Models with balanced automatic

The next fundamental step in the development of the AK model range was the AK-107 and AK-108 assault rifles. They use a modified automatic reloading scheme - shockless with separated masses. In this scheme, the machine has two gas pistons with rods moving towards each other. The main piston activates the automation, the additional one moves the massive compensator, the movements of which compensate for the impulse of the bolt mechanism. This makes it possible to eliminate the shaking of the machine gun from moving the bolt, which increases the accuracy of automatic fire, especially from unstable positions, by 1.5-2 times. Machine guns built according to this design can successfully compete with the structurally more complex AN-94 (however inferior in terms of accuracy of fire in bursts of 2 shots) and the AEK-971, which is very similar in design to the AK.

Table of characteristics of AK series assault rifles and their domestic competitors

Name	A country	Caliber x case length, mm	Length, mm with/without stock	Barrel length, mm	Weight, kg (without cartridges)	Magazine capacity	Rate of fire, rounds per minute	Sighting range, m	Initial bullet speed, m/s
AK	USSR	7.62x39	870	415	4,3	30	600	800	710
AKM	USSR, Russia	7.62x39	870	415	3,14	30	600	1000	715
AK-74	USSR, Russia	5.45x39	940	415	3,3	30	600-650	1000	900
AK-101	Russia	5.56x45	943/700	415	3,4	30	600	1000	910
AK-102	Russia	5.56x45	824/586	314	3	30	-	500	-
AK-107	Russia	5.45x39	943/700	415	3,8	30	850	1000	910
AEK-971	Russia	5.45x39	965/720	420	3,3	30	800-900	1000	900
AN-94	Russia	5.45x39	943/728	405	3.85	30	1800/600	1000	-

Civil options

In addition to modifications for military purposes, several hunting models have been created on the basis of the AK. smoothbore weapons 12, 20 and .410 calibers, rifled for cartridges 7.62×39 mm, 7.62×51 mm, 5.45×39 mm, and also (for export sales) 5.56× 45 mm:

Saiga hunting carbines are the most famous weapon of this type, appearing in the 1970s. The impetus for its creation was the appeal of the First Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee of Kazakhstan to Brezhnev personally with a request to create a weapon with which it would be possible to shoot saigas (migrating saigas ate and trampled large crops, and groups of hunters armed with smooth-bore hunting rifles were not able to fight animals). Then the Izhmash designers began creating Saiga hunting carbines. For four years, Izhmash designers and testers, together with representatives of Glavohota and local game managers, tested carbines and brought them to perfection, mainly in Kazakhstan. After the development of the new weapon was completed, about three hundred Saiga model carbines were manufactured chambered for 5.6x39 mm. And although in the 70s the initial industrial batch of self-loading hunting carbines chambered for the 5.6×39 cartridge was made, the carbine remained unclaimed for many years. Also, based on the design of the AKM assault rifle, a hunting rifle was produced self-loading carbine"Saiga" chambered for 7.62x39 mm. From military weapons The carbine differs primarily in that it is impossible to fire automatically from it, for which some details have been changed. In addition, the attachment point for the magazine to the weapon has been changed to make it impossible to insert a magazine from a combat assault rifle into the carbine. The butt and fore-end of the carbine are made like classic hunting rifles; the parts are made of both plastic and (mostly) wood. Since the carbine does not have a pistol grip fire control, and the trigger and its safety guard are shifted closer to the neck of the hunting-type butt, it was necessary to introduce a special trigger rod in the trigger mechanism. There are two types of magazines - with a capacity of five and ten rounds. Modifications of this carbine are also available for 5.45x39 and 5.56x45 mm cartridges.

Vepr hunting rifles - products of the Molot plant, OJSC Vyatsko-Polyansky Machine-Building Plant;
AKMS-MF and AKM-MFA - products of the Vinnitsa arms factory "FORT";
Vulcan - hunting rifles from Kharkov SOBR LLC.

Patent status

There are no foreign patents for the design of the AK and its modifications. However, the production of counterfeit AKs is very common and is encouraged by the US Department of Defense through purchases in particular for the Iraqi army.

Production and use of AKs outside Russia

Modern Polish version (Karabinek szturmowy wz.1996 “Beryl”)

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

In 2004, Rosoboronexport and Mikhail Kalashnikov personally accused the United States of supporting the distribution of pirated copies of the AK. This is a commentary on the fact that the United States supplies the ruling regimes of Afghanistan and Iraq with Kalashnikov assault rifles produced in the countries of Eastern Europe. Regarding this statement, weapons proliferation expert Professor Aaron Karp noted: “It’s as if the Chinese were demanding payments for every weapon they produced. firearms on the grounds that it was they who invented gunpowder 700 years ago.” Such a statement best demonstrates that the Kalashnikov assault rifle has become not just a weapon, but an element of universal human culture. However, it does not justify gross violation of copyright and illegal use of intellectual property.

In some of the states that previously received licenses for the production of AKs, it was manufactured in a slightly modified form. Thus, in the modification of the AK, produced in Yugoslavia 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 - from carbines to sniper rifles. Some of these designs are factory conversions of original AKs.

Foreign samples

China

Hungary

NGM-81 is a copy of the AK-74 assault rifle.
DKM-63 - an assault rifle, first introduced in 1963, was produced until the end of the 80s. It had a wooden butt, a metal forend, made as a single unit with the receiver. An additional pistol grip was also installed.
AMD is a shortened modification of the DKM-63 assault rifle; the AMD assault rifle has a simple tubular butt with a rubber-coated steel heel. The barrel is shorter than that of the DKM-63, and there is a muzzle compensator at the end.

Israel

Automatic "Galil"

Poland

Polish PNG 60

KA-88, KA-89, KA-90 - Polish version of the AK-74 assault rifle. The assault rifles are produced with a forend made of wood or corrugated plastic. Uses 5.56 mm cartridge.
PNG 60

Romania

Romanian AIM assault rifle with 10-round magazine

AI-74 - Variant of the AK-74 assault rifle. It has an additional pistol grip and a fixed buttstock.

Croatia

Finland

Valmet Rk 62 is an assault rifle created under license based on the Kalashnikov assault rifle in the 1950s. The external difference from the prototype is the shape of the fore-end, butt and flash suppressor. Based on it also created

The symbols of the twentieth century have become many inanimate material objects, one way or another demonstrating obvious technological progress, which in just a century has acquired the character of a real revolution. This and spaceship, and an intercontinental strategic missile, and a nuclear submarine, and a computer, and nuclear bomb, and other achievements of applied science. Among all these attributes modern world The Kalashnikov assault rifle, the most widely replicated small arms on the planet, takes its place. He was depicted on coats of arms and flags, children were named after him and songs were composed. A unique silhouette was minted on coins, movie heroes courageously clutched the forend in their hands, and the barrels spewed merciless flames, crushing enemies. Without this weapon it is impossible to imagine the history of the 20th century. Of course, it’s bad that the entire second half of this century passed under the roar of gunfire, but perhaps some consolation can be found in the fact that the most outstanding machine gun in the world was created in Russia.

Automatic weapons of two world wars

Already in late XIX centuries, humanity has acquired rapid-fire weapons. Machine guns different systems were accepted into the arsenals of the armies of European, Asian, and American states; the ability to mow down chains of advancing enemy troops became commonplace. After the outbreak of World War II, the production of automatic carbines and submachine guns reached unprecedented levels. Red Army soldiers fired from PPSh, Wehrmacht soldiers fired from MP-38, and Thompsons were very popular among American G.I. There were other types of rapid-fire weapons, less common and more powerful. The difference between an assault rifle and a submachine gun was the type of ammunition used. Both our PPSh and the German MP-38 were created for the round-head straight pistol cartridge of 9 mm caliber. In contrast, the MP-43 (aka Stg 44, aka “Schmeisser”) fired rifle cartridges of 7.92 caliber (x 33 mm), which achieved greater penetrating power.

This rapid-fire carbine, like the American M1, was used by advancing infantry to suppress weakly fortified pockets of resistance. Carrying such a weapon was not easy, but the effect justified such difficulties. Already in 1942, the leadership of the Red Army had a desire to obtain a similar model, combining high firepower with compactness and relative lightness. But there was another aspect that was important. The new weapon had to be simple and trouble-free, shoot in any conditions and not be capricious.

The idea is good in its execution. In the Stalinist USSR, the distance between word and deed was minimal. The People's Commissariat of Defense announced a competition in the summer of 1943, inviting all specialized design organizations to take part in it. The cartridge was already ready - it was developed by engineers Elizarov and Semin. The ammunition was an 8-gram pointed bullet of 7.62 mm caliber in a brass jacket with lead filling, installed in a bottle-shaped sleeve. The total length of the cartridge is 41 mm, the powder charge enclosed in the primer sleeve provided an initial speed and energy impulse sufficient to effectively defeat enemy personnel at distances of over a kilometer. Now it was necessary to create a rapid-fire weapon that would realize this potential.

Contender for victory - Sudaev

The proposal of the NPO competition, whose chairman was also Supreme Commander-in-Chief J.V. Stalin, assumed the unconditional participation of all defense enterprises involved in the design of small arms. But there was no longer any need to urge Soviet engineers, they were already working in full force in three directions at once. Engineers created an automatic rifle (that’s what an automatic carbine chambered for a rifle cartridge was called in the USSR), a rapid-fire hand-loading carbine and a self-loading carbine. As of the summer of 1944, among other designs, the Sudaev assault rifle (AS-44) was in the lead. They did not have time to launch it into production until the end of the war, but it underwent practical tests in East Germany immediately after the Victory, and, by and large, they were crowned with success. Claims of the Western Group military personnel Soviet troops who held it in their hands and shot from it, boiled down mainly to its heaviness. The competition was extended until 1946, there was nowhere to rush, and only the optimal model should be accepted into service.

Kalashnikov's dream

The great designer himself told the story of how he had an irresistible desire to give his native country the best rapid-fire small arms in the world. In 1942, he, a sergeant, was wounded and, hiding behind some hillock, watched with pain and horror as German infantrymen shot our soldiers point-blank with their submachine guns. Then he decided that never, in any other armed conflicts, should Soviet soldiers be defenseless. They will receive the most reliable, most powerful and trouble-free small arms, a real combat machine gun. Kalashnikov was prompted to start designing by his personal military experience, which can only be bitter.

While undergoing treatment in the hospital, the sergeant wasted no time. He managed to sketch out a general layout diagram of the new model and proposed it for consideration. Specialists from the Shchurovsky NIPSMVO (Scientific Testing Range for Small Arms and Mortars) near Moscow became interested in this project and sent Sergeant Kalashnikov to Kovrov Plant No. 2, where he was to expand his range of specialized knowledge and participate in the manufacture of prototypes.

The first Kalashnikov

The Kalashnikov assault rifle of the first version (AK-46) was a compilation of the most successful solutions used in the American Garand rifle (M-1) and other designs known to it (in particular, the Garandovsky rotating bolt was used), united by a common innovative idea. It was a carbine with a seven-round magazine, capable of firing in short bursts. The receiver is detachable; fire modes are switched by a lever located on the left.

The new model did not embody the entire range of ideas of the novice designer, but even then, in 1946, the main line was outlined, expressed in maximum reliability, simplicity and manufacturability.

It should also be noted high level competition that the newcomer had to withstand from experienced gunsmiths - the Tula “bisons” Dementyev and Bulkin. After two rounds of comparative tests, the Kalashnikov assault rifle was excluded from the competition, the characteristics of which were not satisfactory to the commission. It was a heavy blow, but the young designer did not give up, especially since the officers of the Shchurov NIPSMVO, having already managed to believe in his brainchild, supported their comrade. The friendly team achieved their goal: the project was not closed, but only sent for revision.

The Bulkin assault rifle (AB) had many advantages; fresh ideas were implemented in its design, but it did not have the main thing that Kalashnikov wanted to achieve (simplicity and reliability). Technical and practical experience the young engineer, who had recently worn sergeant's shoulder straps, also lacked it. But he had the main thing - a frantic desire to do for home country the best machine gun in the world.

1947, second round

Engineer Zaitsev, a designer with invaluable experience, undertook to help the talented inventor. Together they completely revised the layout concept of the sample and made many changes to it. The Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifle had little in common with its 1946 prototype; it looked more like an AB. This does not indicate plagiarism; the internal design remained the author’s, but some borrowing still took place. In the Stalinist USSR, copyrights generally had a slightly different meaning than in today’s Russian Federation: national interests were put at the forefront, not personal ambitions. The inventions and achievements of engineers were considered the property of the entire people and state, and not of the individual who made them. In addition, in those years, many designs and circuits of a wide variety of equipment (from radios to airplanes) were simply copied from foreign models. And one more thing: without talent it is impossible to create anything outstanding, even if you collect all the talented solutions into one incompetently put together mechanism.

The new Kalashnikov assault rifle - 47 - was ready by December of the same 1946 and took part in the second round of the competition along with modified models of Bulkin and Dementiev. The commission was faced with a difficult task: from three options, each of which had its own advantages (but also disadvantages), to choose a new weapon for the Soviet Army. AD and TKB-415 (Bulkin system) showed very good accuracy of hits, much better than the Kalashnikov assault rifle. Reliability characteristics, however, lagged behind competitors; contamination and impacts led to failures.

The decision of the commission members was unexpected for experienced designers from Tula. They considered reliability more important than tactical and technical data, which, however, were recommended to be improved during development work. Military experts understood that it was still impossible to make an ideal weapon, and it was time to rearm the Soviet Army.

Re-equipment and improvement of production

People of the older generation recall that at the end of the forties, soldiers, passing through settlements During the exercises, the new Kalashnikov assault rifles were carried on the back exclusively in canvas cases. Even the appearance of these small arms was a mystery. Its production began at the Izhevsk plant, and by mid-1948 the first batches began to arrive at military units. Official adoption took place in December 1949. At that time, two modifications were made: AK (regular combined arms) and AKS (for the Airborne Forces, equipped with a folding metal butt). The caliber of the Kalashnikov assault rifle was the same 7.62 mm.

In the very first years of operation, serious changes were made to the design regarding the receiver. For the first samples, it was carried out using the stamping method, which was dictated by greater manufacturability and the desire to reduce costs. Inside there was a milled liner, fastened with rivets. When hit by a riveting hammer, the box was bent, seemingly almost imperceptible, but leading to disruption of the mechanism. Savings turned into costs, the defect rate increased, from military units there were complaints and returns to the manufacturer. In 1951, it was decided to manufacture the receiver from a solid forging using the milling method.

There were also other design changes (in order to increase reliability, reduce weight and improve shooting accuracy).

"Kalashnikov" walks around the planet

In the 60s, the classification of secrecy was removed from the main small arms of the Soviet army. This was facilitated by many factors, in particular the widespread distribution of AKs across the planet. If in Korea Chinese volunteers and units of the People's Liberation Army were armed mainly with PPSh, then Vietnamese guerrillas beat the aggressors using new Kalashnikov assault rifles. As always happens, during combat operations the weapons fell into the hands of the enemy, and the Americans were shocked to see the amazing reliability of the samples made in the USSR.

Along with other products of the Soviet defense industry, the Kalashnikov assault rifle was supplied to the armies and armed forces of different countries. Sometimes military assistance was gratuitous and was in response to a promise to pursue Marxist policies in regions extremely remote from Soviet borders. As a result, our weapons were not always in the possession of those friendly to Soviet Union modes.

Disassembly and assembly of the Kalashnikov assault rifle was included in school curriculum on initial military training (CTP). For this purpose, in the seventies, units decommissioned from combat service were used, in which the barrel was sawn through with a milling cutter and the firing pin was ground off. The caliber has changed, since 1974 it began to enter service new machine Kalashnikov-74. It had a number of design differences from the prototype.

Its performance characteristics are as follows:

New AK 1974

The AK-74 was announced as a new rifle system, including, in addition to the machine gun, also the RPK-74 machine gun, distinguished mainly by a reinforced receiver and an elongated barrel. Research in the field of metallurgy was also carried out with the goal of reducing weight. To improve ergonomics and reduce costs, the stock, handle and forend began to be made from plywood-veneer compositions or polymers. But the main difference was the new caliber of the Kalashnikov assault rifle - 5.45 mm. Recoil has been reduced, bullets have steel cores and a shifted center of gravity. Five types of ammunition have been developed for the AK-74, including those for silent shooting, increased penetration, and others. Later, an under-barrel grenade launcher and mounts for sighting systems, optical and night vision were added to this entire arsenal.

The plastic magazine of the Kalashnikov assault rifle has become lighter; it has become possible to place not 30, but 45 rounds of ammunition in it at the same weight. In the standard version, its capacity remains unchanged.

Accuracy has improved, but when using cartridges with a shifted center of gravity, problems arise when overcoming easily pierced obstacles.

Special forces of the Armed Forces and the Ministry of Internal Affairs also received new shortened Kalashnikov assault rifles. They are distinguished by barrel length, lighter weight and compactness due to the folding butt.

About authorship

Disassembling and assembling a Kalashnikov assault rifle is very simple; partial implementation does not require any tools. There are still no analogues in the weapons world, but there are vague hints of borrowing the design and even the whole idea in the press. The main reason opinions about the allegedly dishonest history of the creation of an outstanding weapon model, as a rule, are definite external resemblance Soviet machine gun (and especially its horn magazine) with the same “Schmeisser” and poor awareness of fans of “fried” facts in the field of the design of various weapon systems. It would be useful for such experts to first try to disassemble the German assault rifle, clean and lubricate it, and after that talk about whether M. T. Kalashnikov stole his brainchild or created it himself.

Where is it sold?

Nowadays, it is much easier to purchase weapons than in years past. There are quite official methods of sale, in which almost any sample can be registered as a sporting or hunting “barrel”. But there is another way.

Over the past two decades in the territory former Union Many armed conflicts and wars erupted, during which control of the safety of property in army warehouses was almost impossible. Firing from a Kalashnikov assault rifle has become a familiar background sound for residents of many previously calm and peaceful regions, and its presence in the house has acquired the character of possessing an ordinary household item necessary in the household. This was the case in Nagorno-Karabakh, Chechnya, Transnistria, Ossetia, Abkhazia and other areas of the previously unified country. Depending on the availability and number of unregistered “barrels”, the price for which you can buy a Kalashnikov assault rifle on the black market is determined. It typically ranges from US$400 to US$1,500, depending on technical condition, model and country of origin. Caliber also matters. Together with the degree of availability of ammunition, it affects the amount that the owner asks for per unit. Soviet-style weapons were produced in different countries, sometimes under an official license, and sometimes counterfeit. The technology is simple; its organization does not require very complex equipment, but in terms of the use of special alloys and high-quality steels, real Russian machine gun Kalashnikov. Its price is usually higher than Chinese, sometimes twice or more. They also charge a lot for shortened modifications - they are favored by criminal groups, while in real combat conditions the AK-47 or AK-74 behaves more reliably. Conventional versions have fewer failures and the barrel overheats to a lesser extent. But, as they say, to each his own.

Pneumatic Kalashnikov assault rifle and other toys

Sociologists note that modern children show significantly less interest in shooting toys than in construction sets or, for example, cars. Those who grew up in the sixties and eighties never dreamed of the variety offered by today's retail chains specializing in products for children and teenagers. Imagine that you could easily buy almost exact copy German MP-38, Parabellum, PPSh or pneumatic Kalashnikov assault rifle, made life-size in all details, twenty-five to thirty years ago it was difficult. And what is typical is that there is no queue for these “treasures”, despite the fairly affordable price. Perhaps this is explained by the fact that modern children watch much fewer films about war, or, on the contrary, they show too many documentaries on TV that capture the suffering of people caught in the midst of not at all joyful events. However, computer “shooting games” are still popular among young people, and Kalashnikovs do not play them last role. Maybe this is not bad, but it’s better to remember that the great designer created his machine gun to protect his native country, and not to cause trouble.

Home distinctive feature appearance"AN-94" is a widespread use of plastics (glass-filled, reinforced polyamide). The stock in the classical sense is replaced here by a fire monitor-type casing, inside of which a firing unit, consisting of a barrel connected to the receiver, moves along metal guides. Inside the box there is a bolt carrier with an unusually short bolt and a trigger. The trigger mechanism is integrated with the pistol grip and, if necessary, can be easily disconnected from the general working mechanism. What at first glance appears to be a gas tube with an unusual placement under the barrel is actually a guide lever that supports the barrel as it recoils according to the principle artillery piece. A standard 40-mm GP-25 grenade launcher is also mounted here with an adapter. It is also noteworthy that the bayonet-knife is attached not in the lower position, like on the AK, but on the right side. This is done for reasons of ensuring simultaneous fastening of both the grenade launcher and the bayonet. In other designs, before installing the grenade launcher, you must make sure that the bayonet is removed. In battle, this can waste precious seconds for a fighter’s life. In addition, the horizontal position provides greater penetration into the intercostal space compared to the vertical position. In this position, the bayonet-knife can be used to make not only piercing, but also lateral cutting blows. As for the gas tube, it, as well as the entire firing unit, together with the box, are placed inside the casing. When firing, two main movements occur in the casing of a machine gun:
- rollback of the barrel connected to the box and
- reciprocating movement of the bolt group.
In this case, the shutter does not “overshoot” behind the store, as happens in all types automatic weapons. The design of the machine allows ammunition to be supplied in two steps - preliminary removal from the magazine when the frame moves backwards and sending it into the chamber when it rolls forward after locking the chamber by turning the sliding bolt. In this case, the stroke length of the frame with the bolt barely exceeds the length of the cartridge used. This is another significant difference from known shooting systems, where the recoil of the bolt group is limited practically by the length of the receiver. In addition, inside the casing there is a shock absorber and a buffer, which not only effectively dampen the impact of the rolling firing unit on the rear wall of the box, but also set an additional accelerating impulse to return it to its original position. All this is designed to ensure a high rate of fire.
And here we come to the main advantage of Nikonov’s sample! The machine has three fire modes: single, short burst with a two-shot cut-off, and automatic. But this is not the main thing. And the main thing is that the machine gun fires in a short burst mode of two shots and the first two shots of fully automatic fire at a high rate of 1800 (!) rounds per minute. When firing with automatic fire, the weapon independently, without additional manipulations, returns to the normal rate of 600 rounds per minute, i.e. rate of fire of a Kalashnikov assault rifle. And this cycle is repeated every time the shutter is pressed. Considering that during operation the firing unit performs a rollback, then during the rollback the machine gun manages to complete two cycles at a high pace and only after both bullets have left the barrel, it reaches its rearmost point, hits the buffer and the shooter feels the summed recoil impulse of the first shots . Shifting the recoil impulse significantly increases shooting accuracy and the likelihood of hitting a target.
I often have to shoot different types new automatic weapons, and when I first picked up the Abakan, Nikonov warned me not to “prop” the weapon with my shoulder, which is sometimes used to compensate for recoil. He said that from such compensation, although the shots are heaped, they fall below the target. And he was right. Surprisingly, Nikonov’s recoil impulse is practically not felt! Shooters are well aware of the effect of “lifting” the barrel when shooting in long bursts. Here such a phenomenon is practically absent. And the point is not only that the design uses an unusually successful two-chamber muzzle brake, which received the name “snail” among Izhmashev designers. As we noted above, in all firing modes the shutter does not travel behind the magazine. This prevents the firing unit from hitting the rear wall at normal speed (600 rounds per minute). As a result, the Nikonov is one and a half times more accurate than the Kalashnikov, and the American automatic rifle M16A2 0.5 times. And this despite the fact that, according to objective data, the 5.56 x 45 mm HATO cartridge itself has better accuracy characteristics than our 5.45 x 39. Thus, Nikonov created a weapon that, even existing model cartridge, solely due to its more advanced design, achieved a sharp improvement in shooting quality.
If in 1974 the state made expenses for the development and implementation of the whole “cartridge + weapon” complex, now these expenses have been at least halved. This is Gennady Nikonov’s economic contribution to the treasury of the Fatherland.

Performance characteristics

Cartridge used
Principle of operation:	combination of the principle of free recoil of the firing unit and operation with a drive from gas engine bolt frame, without a regulator, before firing the chamber is locked by turning the sliding bolt.
Rate of fire, rounds per minute:
Overall length, mm:
With stock folded
With the butt folded down
Weight, without equipment and without magazine, kg
	the channel and chamber are chrome-plated, four right-hand rifling, rifling pitch 195 mm.
Barrel length, mm
Fire range, m
Effective fire
Aimed fire

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 the Second World War, during which the German StG-44 assault rifle chambered for the intermediate cartridge 7.92x33 mm and the American-made semi-automatic M1 carbine chambered for 7.62x33 mm appeared, which was supplied to the USSR under Lend-Lease. The military and designers appreciated the positive aspects of the machine gun and rifle 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. Submachine guns PPSh and PPD-effective sighting range, which did not exceed 200-300 meters, were replaced with new weapons. 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. Sudavev was assigned a new competition to develop 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, two modifications of the AK were adopted into service by the Soviet Army 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 a mount was provided 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 tip 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 firing at fuel containers and gas tanks of vehicles. 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 an 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 repurposed 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 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.

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
Initial departure speed	715 m/s
Automation	gas outlet
Weight	4.3 kg empty, 4.8 kg loaded
Dimensions	870 mm AK, 645 mm AKS