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What is Ak. AK74: purpose, combat properties and general arrangement of the machine gun, the principle of operation of automation; order of incomplete disassembly and assembly. Purpose, combat properties and general device of the PM

The Kalashnikov assault rifle is the main type of automatic small arms. It was created by the outstanding Soviet designer M. T. Kalashnikov. The machine has received wide recognition. It is simple in design and has high combat and operational qualities. On the basis of this machine gun, the Kalashnikov light machine gun (RPK) and other models of small arms with the most effective combat properties were created and adopted by the Soviet Army.

The honor of superiority in the creation of automatic weapons belongs to our Motherland. The world's first automatic pistol - the prototype of an automatic weapon - was designed by the outstanding Russian gunsmith V. G. Fedorov. Huge contribution V. A. Degtyarev and G. S. Shpagin contributed to the development of automatic weapons.

Purpose, combat properties, general device of the machine

The upgraded Kalashnikov assault rifle (Fig. 25) is an individual weapon and is designed to destroy enemy manpower. In hand-to-hand combat, a bayonet-knife is attached to the machine gun.

From the machine is automatic (AB) or single (OD) fire (shooting with single shots). Automatic fire is the main type of fire. The combat properties of the machine are characterized by the data given in table. five.

The machine gun consists of the following main parts and mechanisms (Fig. 26): a barrel with a receiver, an aiming device and a butt; receiver covers; bolt carrier with gas piston; shutter; return mechanism; gas tube with handguard; trigger mechanism; forearm; shop; bayonet-knife. The machine kit includes accessories, a belt and a bag for magazines. The automatic action of the machine is based on the use of the energy of powder gases discharged from the bore to the gas piston of the bolt carrier.

Purpose, arrangement of parts and mechanisms of the machine

Trunk(Fig. 27) serves to direct the Bullet's flight. Inside the barrel has a channel with four rifling, winding from left to right. The rifling serves to give the bullet a rotational motion. The gaps between the rifling are called fields, the distance between two opposite fields is called the caliber of the barrel.

In the breech, the bore is smooth, has the shape of a sleeve, this part of the bore is called the chamber. The transition from the chamber to the rifled part of the bore is called the bullet entry.

Outside, the barrel has a thread on the muzzle, the front sight base, a gas chamber, a coupling, a sight block and a cutout for the ejector hook on the breech section.

The communication of the gas chamber with the bore is made through the gas outlet.

Receiver(Fig. 28) serves to connect the parts and mechanisms of the machine, to ensure that the bore is closed with a bolt and the bolt is locked. A trigger mechanism is placed in the receiver.

receiver cover(Fig. 29) protects parts and mechanisms of the machine gun placed in the receiver from contamination.

sighting device(Fig. 30) serves to aim the machine when firing at targets at various distances and consists of a sight and a front sight.

The sight consists of a sight block, a leaf spring, an aiming bar and a collar.

The aiming bar has a mane with a slot for aiming and cutouts for holding the yoke in the installed position using a spring latch. On the aiming bar there is a scale with divisions from 1 to 10 and the letter "P". The numbers on the scale indicate the corresponding firing range in hundreds of meters, the letter "P" - the constant setting of the sight, which corresponds to sight 3.

For shooting at night, self-luminous attachments are used (on the mane of the aiming bar and front sight), as well as night sights.

The front sight is screwed into a runner, which is fixed at the base of the front sight. On the strip and on the base of the front sight there are risks that determine the position of the front sight.

Stock and pistol grip provide the convenience of shooting from a machine gun.

Bolt carrier with gas piston(Fig. 31) is designed to actuate the shutter and trigger mechanism.

Gate(Fig. 32) serves to send the cartridge into the chamber, close the bore, break the primer and remove the cartridge case (cartridge) from the chamber.

Return mechanism(Fig. 33) is designed to return the bolt carrier with the bolt to the forward position

Gas tube with handguard(Fig. 34) serves to direct the movement of the gas piston and protect hands from burns when firing.

trigger mechanism(Fig. 35) is designed to release the trigger from the combat cocking or from the self-timer cocking, striking the firing pin, ensuring automatic or single fire, stopping firing, preventing shots when the bolt is unlocked and for setting the machine to safety.

The trigger mechanism consists of a trigger with a mainspring, a trigger retarder with a spring, a trigger, a single fire sear with a spring, a self-timer with a spring and a translator.

The trigger with a mainspring is designed to strike the drummer. The trigger has a combat cocking, self-timer cocking, trunnions and a hole for the axis. The mainspring is put on the trigger trunnions and with its loop acts on the trigger, and with its ends - on the rectangular ledges of the trigger. The trigger retarder is used to slow down the movement of the trigger forward in order to improve the accuracy of combat during automatic fire. The trigger is designed to keep the trigger cocked and to pull the trigger; single fire whisper - to hold the trigger after firing in the rearmost position, if the trigger was not released during single fire. The purpose of the self-timer with a spring is to automatically release the trigger from the self-timer cocking when firing in bursts, as well as to prevent the trigger from being released when the bore is not closed and the bolt is not locked. The translator serves to set the machine to automatic and single fire or to the fuse.

handguard(Fig. 36) serves for the convenience of operating the machine gun and for protecting hands from burns.

Shop(Fig. 37) is designed to place cartridges and feed them into the receiver.

Bayonet knife(Fig. 38) is attached to the machine gun before an attack and serves to defeat the enemy in hand-to-hand combat, and can also be used as a knife, saw (for cutting metal) and scissors (for cutting wire).

A scabbard is used to carry a bayonet-knife on a waist belt (Fig. 39). If necessary, they are used together with a bayonet-knife for cutting wire.

Disassembly and assembly

The disassembly and assembly of the machine is carried out on the machine table or on a clean bedding. Parts and mechanisms are stacked in the order of disassembly. Handle them carefully, do not put one part on top of another and do not apply excessive force and sharp blows.

Disassembly of the machine can be complete and incomplete. A complete disassembly of the machine is carried out for cleaning when the machine is heavily soiled, after being exposed to rain, sand or snow, when switching to another lubricant and during repairs. In all other cases, incomplete disassembly is performed.

The procedure for incomplete disassembly of the machine

Separate store(Fig. 40). Holding the machine with your left hand by the neck of the butt or fore-end, right hand grab the magazine by pressing the latch with your thumb, move the bottom of the magazine forward and separate it. After that, check if there is a cartridge in the chamber, for which move the translator down, pull the bolt handle back, inspect the chamber, release the bolt handle and pull the trigger from the cocking.

Take out the pencil case with accessories. Drown the cover of the butt socket with the finger of the right hand so that the pencil case comes out of the socket under the action of the spring; open the pencil case and remove the rubbing, brush, screwdriver, punch and hairpin from it. In a machine with a folding butt, a pencil case is worn in the pocket of a shopping bag.

Separate cleaning rod. Pull the end of the ramrod away from the barrel so that its head comes out from under the stop at the base of the front sight (Fig. 41), and pull the ramrod up.

Separate the receiver cover(Fig. 42). Grasp the neck of the stock with your left hand, press the protrusion of the guide rod of the return mechanism with the thumb of this hand, lift up the back of the receiver cover with your right hand and separate the cover.

Separate return mechanism(Fig. 43). Holding the machine with your left hand by the neck of the butt, with your right hand move forward the guide rod of the return mechanism until its heel comes out of the longitudinal groove of the receiver; lift the rear end of the guide rod and remove the return mechanism from the channel of the bolt carrier.

Separate the bolt carrier with the bolt(Fig. 44). Continuing to hold the machine gun with your left hand, with your right hand pull the bolt carrier back to failure, lift it together with the bolt and separate it from the receiver.

Separate the bolt from the bolt carrier(Fig. 45). Take the bolt carrier in your left hand with the bolt up, pull the bolt back with your right hand, turn it so that the bolt leading ledge comes out of the figured cutout of the bolt carrier, and pull the bolt forward.

Separate the gas tube with the handguard(Fig. 46). Holding the machine with your left hand, with your right hand, put the accessory case with a rectangular hole on the protrusion of the gas tube lock, turn the lock away from you to a vertical position and remove the gas tube from the gas chamber nozzle.

The order of assembly of the machine after incomplete disassembly

Attach the gas tube to the handguard. Holding the machine gun with your left hand, with your right hand push the gas tube with its front end onto the gas chamber nozzle and press the rear end of the handguard against the barrel; turn the contactor towards you until its lock enters the slot on the sight block.

Attach bolt to bolt carrier. Take the bolt frame in your left hand, and the bolt in your right hand and insert it with a cylindrical part into the frame channel; rotate the bolt so that its leading ledge enters the figured cutout of the bolt carrier, and move the bolt forward.

Attach the bolt carrier with the bolt to the receiver. Grasp the neck of the butt with your left hand. Holding the bolt carrier with the bolt in the right hand so that the bolt, pressed with the thumb, is in the forward position, insert the gas piston into the cavity of the sight block and push the bolt carrier forward so that the limbs of the receiver enter the grooves of the bolt carrier, press it with a little effort to the receiver and move forward.

Attach return mechanism. With your right hand, insert the return mechanism into the channel of the bolt carrier; while compressing the return spring, move the guide rod forward and, lowering it slightly down, insert its heel into the longitudinal groove of the receiver.

Attach receiver cover. Insert the receiver cover with the front end into the semicircular cutout on the sight block; press the rear end of the cover with the palm of your right hand forward and downward so that the protrusion of the guide rod of the return mechanism enters the hole in the receiver cover.

Pull the trigger from the cocking and put on the safety. Pull the trigger and raise the translator up to failure.

Attach a cleaning rod.

Put the pencil case in the butt socket(Fig. 47). Put the accessory in the case and close it with a lid, put the case upside down in the butt socket and drown it so that the socket is closed with a lid. In a machine with a folding butt, the pencil case is retracted into the pocket of a shopping bag.

Connect the magazine to the machine. Holding the machine with your left hand by the neck of the butt or forearm, insert the magazine hook into the receiver window with your right hand and turn the magazine towards you so that the latch jumps over the magazine support ledge.

When assembling the machine, the numbers on its parts are compared with the number on the receiver.

Cartridge device

Live cartridge (Fig. 48) consists of a bullet, cartridge case, powder charge and capsule. Cartridges arr. 1943 are issued with ordinary bullets and with bullets for special purposes: tracer and armor-piercing - incendiary (Fig. 49). The head parts of special bullets have a distinctive color.

Bullet intended: ordinary - to defeat enemy manpower located openly and behind masks pierced by a bullet; tracer - to defeat enemy manpower, as well as to correct fire and target designation; armor-piercing incendiary - for igniting flammable liquids and destroying enemy manpower located behind light armor covers at ranges up to 300 m. An ordinary bullet consists of a shell, a steel core and a lead jacket; tracer - from a shell, a lead core, a cup and a tracer composition; armor-piercing incendiary - from a shell, a tip, a steel core, a lead jacket, a lead pallet and an incendiary composition.

Sleeve serves to connect all parts of the cartridge, protect the powder charge from external influences and to eliminate the breakthrough of powder gases towards the shutter. It consists of a body, a muzzle and a bottom.

Powder charge serves to inform the bullet forward movement. It consists of pyroxylin powder.

Capsule designed to ignite the powder charge. It consists of a brass cap, percussion, composition and a foil mug.

Features of the Kalashnikov light machine gun (RPK) device

The Kalashnikov light machine gun (Fig. 50) is the most powerful automatic weapon. It is designed to destroy manpower and destroy enemy firepower; its tactical and technical characteristics are given in table. 5. The principle of operation of the RPK and its main parts are similar to the principle of operation and the main parts of A KM.

Unlike the machine gun, the sighting device of the machine gun has a rear sight. It has a mane with a slot for aiming. When making corrections for side wind and side movement of the target, the rear sight mane moves to the right or left with the handwheel. The barrel of a machine gun is somewhat longer than that of an assault rifle. This contributes to an increase in the initial velocity of the bullet, as a result of which the ranges of a direct shot and actual fire on targets increase.

For convenience when firing, the machine gun has a bipod and a butt (a slightly different device than the Kalashnikov assault rifle). The bipod is not separated from the machine gun.

In case of incomplete disassembly, the machine gun is mounted on a bipod. To do this, holding it with your left hand by the fore-end in a vertical position, with your right hand release the legs of the bipod from the spring fastener; move the bipod away from the barrel so that its legs are hushed up in a fixed position; install the machine gun on the bipod with the muzzle to the left. After assembly, put the machine gun in a vertical position with your left hand; with the right hand, slightly reducing the legs of the bipod, press them against the barrel and secure with a spring clasp.

Questions

1. Tell us about the purpose, combat properties and principle of operation of the Kalashnikov assault rifle.

2. Name the main parts of the machine.

3. Tell us about the purpose and arrangement of parts and mechanisms of the machine.

4. What are the features of the Kalashnikov light machine gun?

5. Perform partial disassembly and assembly of the machine.

WEAPONS DEVICE

The 5.45 mm Kalashnikov assault rifle is an individual weapon. It is designed to destroy manpower and destroy enemy firepower. To defeat the enemy in hand-to-hand combat, a bayonet-knife is attached to the machine gun. For shooting and observation in conditions of natural night illumination, the AK74N, AKS74N assault rifles are equipped with a universal night shooting sight (NSPU).

For firing from a machine gun, cartridges with ordinary (with a steel core) and tracer bullets are used.

Automatic or single fire is carried out from the machine gun. Automatic fire is the main type of fire: it is conducted in short (up to 5 shots) and long (up to 10 shots from a machine gun) bursts and continuously. The supply of cartridges during firing is made from a box magazine with a capacity of 30 rounds.

The effective firing range of the machine gun is 1000 m. The most effective fire on ground targets: on the machine gun is at a distance of up to 500 m, and on airplanes, helicopters and paratroopers at a distance of up to 500 m. 1000 m

Direct shot range:

At the machine on the chest figure - 440 m,

According to the running figure - 625 m;

The rate of fire is about 600 rounds per minute.

Combat rate of fire: when firing bursts from a machine gun - up to 100; when firing single shots from a machine gun - up to 40,

The weight of the assault rifle without a bayonet-knife with a plastic magazine loaded with cartridges: AK74 - 3.6 kg; AK74N - 5.9 kg; AKS74 - 3.5 kg; AKS74N - 5.8 kg. The weight of the bayonet-knife with the scabbard is 490 g.

receiver covers;

shutter;

return mechanism;

Shop.

The machine kit includes: accessory, belt and bag for magazines; in addition, a rifle case with a pocket for a magazine is included in the kit with a folding butt, and a universal night sight is also included in the kit with a night sight.

The principle of operation of automation.

The automatic action of the machine is based on the use of the energy of powder gases discharged from the bore into the gas chamber.

The order of incomplete disassembly of the machine gun (machine gun):

1) Separate the store.

2) Remove the accessory case from the stock socket.

3) Separate the cleaning rod.

4) Separate the muzzle brake compensator from the machine.

5) Separate the receiver cover.

6) Separate the return mechanism.

7) Separate the bolt carrier with the bolt.

8) Separate the bolt from the bolt carrier.

9) Separate the gas tube with the handguard.

Assembly is carried out in the reverse order.

AK74: parts and mechanisms of the machine gun, their purpose; delays in firing, their causes and solutions.

The machine consists of the following main parts and mechanisms:

Barrel with receiver, sighting device, stock and pistol grip;

receiver covers;

Bolt frame with gas piston;

shutter;

return mechanism;

Gas tube with handguard;

trigger mechanism;

Shop.

In addition, the machine has a muzzle brake-compensator and a bayonet-knife.

The barrel serves to direct the flight of the bullet.

The receiver is used to connect the parts and mechanisms of the machine, to ensure that the bore is closed with a bolt and the bolt is locked. A trigger mechanism is placed in the receiver. The top of the box is closed with a lid.

The receiver cover protects the parts and mechanisms placed in the receiver from contamination.

The aiming device is used to aim the machine when firing at targets at various ranges. It consists of a sight and a front sight.

The buttstock and pistol grip are used for the convenience of the machine gun when firing.

The bolt carrier with a gas piston is used to actuate the bolt and trigger mechanism.

The shutter serves to send the cartridge into the chamber, close the bore, break the primer and remove the cartridge case (cartridge) from the chamber.

The return mechanism serves to return the bolt carrier with the bolt to the forward position.

The gas tube serves to guide the movement of the gas piston.

The barrel pad serves to protect the hands of the submachine gunner (machine gunner) from burns when firing.

The trigger mechanism is used to release the trigger from the combat cocking or from the self-timer cocking, to strike the striker, to ensure automatic or single fire, to stop firing, to prevent shots when the bolt is unlocked and to set the machine gun (machine gun) to safety.

The fore-end serves for the convenience of action and to protect the hands of the submachine gunner (machine gunner) from burns.

The magazine serves to place cartridges and feed them into the receiver.

The muzzle brake-compensator of the machine serves to increase the accuracy of the battle and reduce the recoil energy.

The bayonet-knife is attached to the machine to defeat the enemy in battle. In addition, it is used as a knife, saw (for cutting metal) and scissors (for cutting wire).

Shooting delays, their causes and solutions.

Parts and mechanisms of the machine gun (machine gun) with proper handling and proper care for a long time work reliably and without fail. However, as a result of contamination of mechanisms, wear of parts and careless handling of the machine gun (machine gun), as well as malfunction of cartridges, delays in firing may occur.

The delay that occurred during firing should be tried to be eliminated by reloading, for which purpose the bolt carrier must be quickly pulled back by the handle to failure, released and continued firing. If the delay is not eliminated, then you need to find out the cause of its occurrence and eliminate the delay, as indicated below.

Delays and their characteristics	Reasons for delays	Remedy
Cartridge failure The shutter is in the forward position, but the shot did not occur - there is no cartridge in the chamber	1. Dirty or faulty magazine 2. Faulty magazine latch	Reload the machine gun (machine gun) and continue firing. If the delay repeats, replace the magazine. If the magazine latch malfunctions, send the machine gun (machine gun) to the repair shop
Cartridge sticking The bullet bullet hit the breech section of the barrel, the moving parts stopped in the middle position	Store malfunction	While holding the bolt handle, remove the stuck cartridge and continue firing. If the delay repeats, replace the magazine
Misfire The bolt is in the forward position, the cartridge is in the chamber, the trigger is released - the shot did not occur	1. Malfunction of the cartridge 2. Malfunction of the striker or trigger mechanism; contamination or solidification of the lubricant (no or small pinprick of the striker on the primer) / 3. Jamming of the striker in the gate	Reload the machine gun (machine gun) and continue firing. When the delay is repeated, inspect and clean the drummer and trigger mechanism; in case of breakage or wear of the trigger mechanism, send the machine gun (machine gun) to the repair shop Separate the firing pin from the bolt and clean the hole in the bolt under the firing pin
Not extracting the sleeve The cartridge case is in the chamber, the next cartridge rests against it with a bullet, the moving parts have stopped in the middle position	1. Dirty cartridge or dirty chamber 2. Dirty or defective ejector or its spring	Pull the bolt handle back and, holding it in the rear position, separate the magazine and remove the stuck cartridge. Remove the cartridge case from the chamber with a bolt or ramrod. Continue shooting. When repeating the delay, clean the chamber and cartridges. Inspect and clean the ejector from dirt and continue shooting. If the ejector malfunctions, send the machine gun (machine gun) to the repair shop
Sticking or not reflecting the sleeve The sleeve was not ejected from the receiver, but remained in it in front of the bolt or sent back to the chamber by the bolt	1. Contamination of rubbing parts, gas paths or chamber 2. Contamination or malfunction of the ejector	Pull the bolt handle back, eject the cartridge case and continue firing. When repeating the delay, clean the gas paths, rubbing parts and the chamber; lubricate moving parts. If the ejector malfunctions, send the machine gun (machine gun) to the repair shop
Shutter frame in forward position	Return spring failure	Replace the spring (in a combat situation, turn the front part of the spring with the tucked end back and continue firing

QUESTIONS

ON FIRE PREPARATION:

VUS-093500

Question number 1: "Purpose, performance characteristics and main parts of the Kalashnikov assault rifle (AK-74)"

Answer:

Kalashnikov assault rifle AK-74 is an individual firearm, automatic small arms and is used to destroy enemy manpower with single fire and a burst at a distance of up to 1000 meters.

TACTICAL AND TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AK-74 AUTOMATIC.

MAIN PARTS OF THE KALASHNIKOV AK-74

1. Barrel with receiver and sight, pistol grip and stock.

2. Shop.

3. Pencil case with accessories.

4. Cover of the receiver.

5. Return mechanism.

6. Bolt carrier with gas piston.

7. Shutter.

8. Gas tube with handguard.

10. bayonet

Question number 2: "Appointment, performance characteristics and main parts of the Makarov pistol (PM)"

Answer:

9mm Makarov pistol(Fig. 1) - a self-loading pistol of the "compact" class. It is an individual weapon of attack and defense and serves to defeat the enemy at short distances.

Rice. 1. General view of the 9mm Makarov pistol

PERFORMANCE AND TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

MAIN PARTS OF THE GUN

1. Frame with barrel and trigger guard.

2. Bolt with striker, fuse and ejector .

3. Return spring.

4. Handle with screw.

5. Shutter lag.

6. Shop.

7. Trigger mechanism (trigger, trigger rod with cocking lever, sear with spring, trigger, mainspring, mainspring valve).

Question number 3: "The purpose of the parts and mechanisms of the Kalashnikov assault rifle (AK-74)"

Answer:

Purpose of parts and mechanisms Kalashnikov assault rifle (AK-74).

Trunk- serves to direct the flight of the bullet and give it rotational motion.

Flash hider (muzzle brake-compensator)- serves to reduce the fire effect on the muzzle cut.

gas chamber- serves to direct the powder gases to the gas piston.

Receiver- serves to connect the parts and mechanisms of the machine, their interaction, closing the bore with a bolt and locking the bolt.

sighting device- serves to aim the machine at the target.

receiver cover- serves to protect the trigger mechanism from mechanical damage.

Bolt carrier with gas piston- serves to actuate the shutter and trigger mechanism.

Bolt with striker and ejector- serves to send a cartridge into the chamber, lock the bore when fired, eject the spent cartridge case and strike the primer.

Return mechanism- serves to return the bolt carrier with the bolt to the extreme forward position.

Gas tube with handguard- serves to direct the movement of the gas piston and protect hands from burns during firing.

trigger mechanism- serves to pull the trigger from a combat platoon; striking a striker; providing automatic or single fire; stop shooting; prevention of shots when the bore is not locked and the safety is on.

handguard- serves to hold weapons and protect hands from burns.

Shop- serves to place and feed cartridges into the receiver.

Trigger- serves to hold the trigger on the cocking and its descent.

fire translator- serves to install the machine on automatic or single fire or on the fuse.

Kalashnikov assault rifle AK-47, produced in 1947-1949, in the documents of those years had the designation "AK-47", later replaced by "AK"

Kalashnikov assault rifle AK, 1949-1954

Kalashnikov assault rifle AK, 1954-1959

Kalashnikov assault rifles AKS (assault rifle with folding butt)

Kalashnikov assault rifle AKS, 1954-1959

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

Development and production (official version)

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

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

The first samples of the new cartridge were created by OKB-44 already one month after the meeting, and its pilot production began in March 1944. It is noteworthy that neither domestic nor Western researchers found any real confirmation of the version that had been in circulation at one time, which said, that this cartridge was completely or partially copied from earlier German experimental developments (they called, in particular, the Geco cartridge of caliber 7.62 × 38.5 mm).

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

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

As for the development of the automatic carbine itself, it went through several stages and included a number of competitions in which a large number of systems of various designers participated. In 1944, according to the test results, the AC-44 designed by A.I. was selected for further development. Sudayev. It was finalized and released in a small series, military tests of which were carried out in the spring and summer of next year at the GSVG, as well as in a number of units on the territory of the USSR. In spite of positive reviews, the army leadership demanded a reduction in the mass of weapons.

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

It is curious that this model, developed in 1946, did not have many of the features of the future Kalashnikov assault rifle, which are often criticized in our time. His cocking handle was located on the left, not on the right, instead of the fuse-translator located on the right, there were separate flag fuses and a translator of types of fire, and the body of the firing mechanism was made folding down and forward on a hairpin. However, the military from the selection committee demanded that the cocking handle be placed on the right, since it (the AK cocking handle), located on the left, with some methods of carrying weapons or moving around the battlefield, crawled against the body of the shooter, and also to combine the fuse with the translator of types of fire into a single knot and place it on the right to completely rid the left side of the receiver of any perceptible protrusions.

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

So, the design of the bolt frame with a rigidly attached gas piston, the general layout of the receiver and the placement of the return spring with the guide, the protrusion of which was used to lock the receiver cover, were copied from Bulkin's experimental machine gun that also participated in the competition; USM (with minor improvements), judging by the design, could be “peeped” from the Holek rifle (according to another version, it goes back to the development of John Browning, which was also used in the M1 Garand rifle; these versions, however, are not mutually exclusive), the fuse-mode selector lever fire, which also acts as a dust cover for the shutter window, was very reminiscent of that of the Remington 8 rifle, and a similar “hanging out” of the bolt group inside the receiver with minimal friction areas and large gaps was typical for the Sudaev assault rifle.

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

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

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

According to some sources, V.F. Lyuty, who later became the head of the field tests in 1947.

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

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

According to the results military trials the first batches produced in mid-1948, in mid-1949, two versions of the Kalashnikov design were adopted under the designations "7.62-mm Kalashnikov assault rifle" and "7.62-mm Kalashnikov assault rifle with a folding butt" (abbreviated designations - AK- 47 and AKS-47, respectively). Thus, the year of manufacture of the AK-47 can be considered 1948. AKS (GRAU Index - 56-A-212M) - a version of the Kalashnikov assault rifle with a folding metal butt, intended for airborne troops. It was originally produced with a stamped receiver, and since 1951 - milled due to the high percentage of marriage during stamping.

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

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

In subsequent years, the design of the Kalashnikov assault rifle was also continuously improved. The development team noted "low reliability, weapon failures when used in extreme climatic and extreme conditions, low accuracy of fire, insufficiently high operational characteristics" of serial samples of early models.

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

AKM (Kalashnikov Modernized, Index GRAU - 6P1) - modernization of the AK-47, adopted in 1959. In AKM effective range increased to 1000 m, changes were made to improve reliability and ease of use.

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

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

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

In the 1970s, following the NATO countries, the USSR followed the path of transferring small arms to low-pulse cartridges with reduced caliber bullets to facilitate portable ammunition (for 8 magazines, a 5.45 mm caliber cartridge saves 1.4 kg in weight) and reduce , as it was believed, "excessive" power of the 7.62-mm cartridge. In 1974, a weapon complex chambered for 5.45 × 39 mm was adopted, consisting of AK-74 and light machine gun RPK-74, and later (1979) supplemented by the small-sized AKS-74U, created for use in a niche occupied by submachine guns in Western armies, and in last years- the so-called PDW. The production of AKM in the USSR was curtailed, however this sample and remains in service to this day.

First combat use of the AK-47

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

The design and principle of operation of the AK-47

AK-47 consists of the following main parts and mechanisms: barrel with receiver, sights and stock; detachable receiver cover; bolt carrier with gas piston; gate; return mechanism; gas tube with handguard; trigger mechanism; handguard; shop; bayonet. There are approximately 95 parts in the AK.

The principle of operation of the AK-47 automation is based on the use of the energy of powder gases discharged through the upper hole in the barrel wall, with a long stroke of the gas piston. The barrel bore is locked by turning the bolt around the longitudinal axis clockwise by two radial lugs included in the special cutouts of the receiver, which achieves the locking of the bore before firing. The rotation of the shutter is ensured by the interaction of the protrusion on its body with a curly groove on the inner surface of the shutter frame.

Barrel and receiver

The AK-47 barrel bore has 4 grooves, winding from left-up-right, the barrel was made of gun-grade steel.

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

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

The receiver is used to connect the parts and mechanisms of the AK-47 into a single structure, to place the bolt group and set the nature of its movement, to ensure that the barrel is closed by the bolt and the bolt is locked; also inside it is placed the trigger mechanism.

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

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

In front of the receiver there are cutouts for which the bolt is locked, the rear walls of which are, therefore, lugs. The right combat stop also serves to guide the movement of the cartridge fed from the right row of the AK-47 magazine. On the left is a part similar in purpose, which is not a combat stop.

The first batches of AK-47s had, in accordance with the assignment, a stamped receiver with a forged barrel liner. However, the available technology did not allow then to achieve the required rigidity, and the rejection rate was unacceptably high. As a result, in serial production AK-47 cold stamping was initially replaced by milling a box from a solid forging, which caused an increase in the cost of production of weapons. Subsequently, during the transition to AKM, technological issues were resolved, and the receiver again acquired a mixed design.

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

bolt group

It consists mainly of a bolt carrier with a gas piston, the bolt itself, an ejector and a striker.

The AK-47 bolt group is located in the receiver "hung", moving along the guides in its upper part as if on rails. Such a “hung” position of moving parts in the receiver with relatively large gaps ensures reliable operation of the system even with heavy contamination.

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

The shutter has a close to cylindrical shape and two massive lugs, which, when the shutter is turned, enter into special cutouts in the receiver, which locks the barrel bore for firing. In addition, the shutter, with its longitudinal movement, feeds the next cartridge from the magazine before firing, for which there is a protrusion of the rammer in its lower part.

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

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

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

trigger mechanism

Hammer type, with a hammer rotating on the axis and a U-shaped mainspring made of triple twisted wire.

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

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

The "classic" USM AK-shaped weapon has three axes - for the self-timer, for the trigger and for the trigger. Civilian variants that do not fire bursts usually do not have a self-timer axis.

Shop

Shop AK - box-shaped, sector type, two-row, 30 rounds. It consists of a body, a locking plate, a cover, a spring and a feeder.

The AK-47 and AKM had magazines with stamped steel cases. There were also plastic ones. Large taper of the 7.62 mm cartridge case mod. 1943 led to their unusually large bend, which became feature weapon shape. For the AK-74 family, a plastic magazine was introduced (originally polycarbonate, then glass-filled polyamide), only the folds ("sponges") in its upper part remained metal.

Shops of Kalashnikov assault rifles are distinguished by high reliability of feeding cartridges, even when they are filled to the maximum. Thick metal "sponges" at the top of even plastic magazines provide a reliable supply and are very tenacious with rough handling - a design subsequently copied by a number of foreign firms for their products.

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

The magazine mount is characterized by the absence of a developed neck - the magazine is simply inserted into the receiver window, catching a protrusion behind it Front edge, and secured with a latch.

sighting device

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

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

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

Bayonet knife

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

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

When the AKM was adopted, a short (150 mm blade) detachable bayonet-knife (type 1) was introduced, which had expanded functionality in terms of household use. Instead of a second blade, he received a saw, and in combination with a scabbard, he could be used to cut barbed wire obstacles, including those under tension. Also, the upper part of the handle is made of metal. The bayonet can be inserted into the sheath and used as a hammer. There are two variants of this bayonet that differ mainly in the device.

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

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

Belonging to AK-47

Designed for disassembly, assembly, cleaning and lubrication of the machine. Consists of a ramrod, wiping, a brush, a screwdriver with a punch, a storage case and an oil can. The body and cover of the case are used as auxiliary tools for cleaning and lubricating the weapon. It is stored in a special cavity inside the butt, with the exception of models with a folding frame shoulder rest, in which it is worn in a bag for magazines.

The accuracy of the battle and the effectiveness of fire

The accuracy of the battle was not originally strong point AK-47. Already during the military tests of its prototypes, it was noted that with the greatest of the reliability systems submitted for the competition, required by the conditions of accuracy, the design of the Kalashnikov assault rifle did not provide (like all the designs presented to one degree or another). Thus, according to this parameter, even by the standards of the mid-1940s, the AK-47 was clearly not an outstanding model. Nevertheless, reliability (in general, reliability here is a set of operational characteristics: failure-free operation, shot to failure, guaranteed resource, actual resource, resource of individual parts and assemblies, persistence, mechanical strength, etc., according to which the AK-47 assault rifle, to word, the best even now) was recognized at that time as paramount, and it was decided to postpone the fine-tuning of accuracy to the required parameters for the future.

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

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

head figure - 100 m;

waist figure and running figure - 300 m;

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

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

Assembly and disassembly

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

magazine separation and checking the absence of a cartridge in the chamber;
removal of a pencil case with accessories (for AK-47 - from the butt, for AKS - from the pocket of a shopping bag);
ramrod compartment;
separation of the receiver cover;
extraction of the return mechanism;
separation of the shutter frame with the shutter;
separation of the bolt from the bolt carrier;
branch of the gas tube with a handguard.

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

Patent Status

Izhmash calls all AK-like models produced outside of Russia counterfeit, however, there is no evidence that Kalashnikov registered copyright certificates for his machine gun: some certificates are exhibited at the M. T. Kalashnikov Museum and Exhibition Complex of Small Arms (Izhevsk) issued to him in different years with the wording "for an invention in the field military equipment" without any accompanying documents to establish the presence or absence of their connection with the AK-47. Even if the author's certificate for the AK-47 assault rifle was issued to Kalashnikov, it is worth noting that the terms of patent protection for the original design developed in the forties have long expired.

Some of the improvements introduced in the AK-74 and AK "hundredth series" are protected by a Eurasian patent from 1997, owned by Izhmash.

Differences from the basic AK described in the patent include:

folding butt with locks for combat and traveling position;
a gas piston rod mounted in a hole in the bolt carrier with a threaded clearance;
a pocket for a pencil case with accessories, formed by stiffening ribs inside the butt and closed with a spring-loaded swivel lid;
a gas tube spring-loaded relative to the sight block in the direction of the muzzle;
changed geometry of the transition from the field to the bottom of the rifling in the rifled part of the barrel.

Production and use of the AK-47 outside of Russia

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

In the 1950s, licenses for the production of AK-47s were transferred by the USSR to 18 countries (mainly the Warsaw Pact allies). At the same time, twelve more states launched the production of Kalashnikov assault rifles without a license. The number of countries in which the AK-47 was produced without a license in small batches, and even more so 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 clones of the Kalashnikov assault rifle are the Polish company Bumar and the Bulgarian company Arsenal, which has now opened a branch in the United States and launched the production of assault rifles there. The production of AK-47 clones is deployed in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe. According to very rough estimates, there are from 70 to 105 million copies of various modifications of Kalashnikov assault rifles in the world. They are adopted by the armies of 55 countries of the world.

In some of the states that had previously received licenses for the production of the AK-47, it was manufactured in a slightly modified form. So, in the modification of the AK, produced in Yugoslavia, Romania and some other countries, there was an additional pistol-type grip under the forearm to hold the weapon. Other minor changes were also made - the bayonet mounts, the materials of the forearm and butt, and the finish were changed. There are cases when two machine guns were connected on a special home-made mount, and an installation similar to double-barreled air defense machine guns was obtained. In the GDR, a training modification of the AK chambered for .22LR was produced. In addition, many samples were created based on the AK-47 military weapons- from carbines to sniper rifles. Some of these designs are factory conversions of the original AK-47s.

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

In countries with liberal gun laws (first of all, in the USA), various versions of the Kalashnikov system are very popular as civilian weapons.

In the US, all AK-like weapons are known under common name"AK-47" ("hey-kay-foti-sevn"). The first copies of the Kalashnikov assault rifle came to the United States along with soldiers returning from Vietnam. Since in those years the possession of automatic (firing bursts) weapons in the United States was allowed to civilians, subsequently many of them were officially registered with all the necessary formalities.

The Gun Control Act, passed in 1968, prohibited the import of civilian automatic weapons, but thanks to a number of loopholes in the legislation, the sale of automatic weapons assembled in the United States remained possible. In addition, the import of self-loading variants based on AK was not limited to anything.

In 1986, an amendment to the same decree (the so-called Firearm Owners Protection Act) banned not only the import, but also the sale of automatic weapons to civilians, as well as their production for the purpose of such sale; this regulation, however, does not apply to weapons registered before 1986, which can be purchased on legal grounds in the presence of the corresponding license, and in the presence of the license of the dealer of the corresponding level (Class III Dealer) - and sold. Thus, in the US in the hands civilians and there are currently a certain number of military-style Kalashnikov assault rifles capable of firing bursts.

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

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

AK-47 at the moment

As the weapon became obsolete, its shortcomings began to appear more and more, both characteristic of it initially and identified over time due to changes in the requirements for small arms and the nature of hostilities. At the present time, even the latest modifications of the AK-47 are generally obsolete weapons, with practically no reserves for significant modernization. The general obsolescence of weapons also determines many of its specific significant shortcomings.

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

A significant drawback in modern conditions is a collapsible receiver with a detachable lid. This design makes it impossible to mount modern types of sights (collimator, optical, night) using Weaver or Picatinny rails: placing a heavy sight on a removable receiver cover is useless due to its significant structural play. As a result, AK-like weapons for the most part allow the installation of only a limited number of models of sights that use a dovetail-type side bracket, which also shifts the center of gravity of the weapon to the left and does not allow the stock to be folded on those models where this is provided for by the design. The only exceptions are rare variants such as the Polish Beryl assault rifle, which has a separate pedestal for the aiming bar, which is fixedly attached to the bottom of the receiver, or the South African bullpup assault rifle Vektor CR21, which has red dot sight located on a bar attached to the base of the sight, standard for the AK-47 - with this arrangement, it turns out to be just in the area of \u200b\u200bthe shooter's eyes. The first solution is rather palliative, significantly complicates the assembly and disassembly of weapons, and also increases their bulkiness and weight; the second is only suitable for weapons made according to the bullpup scheme. On the other hand, it is precisely due to the presence of a removable receiver cover that the assembly and disassembly of the AK is carried out quickly and conveniently, and this also provides excellent access to the details of the weapon when cleaning it.

At present, there are other, more successful solutions to this problem. So, on the AK-12, as well as on the Saiga hunting carbines, the receiver cover is hinged up and down, which allows the installation of modern sighting bars (on the AK-12 and "tactical" versions of the Saiga, this solution is already applied) without compromising access to weapon mechanisms.

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

To speak of a deeper degree of modularity characteristic of many modern small arms systems - for example, the use of quick-change barrels of various lengths - in relation to the AK-47, including even its most recent modifications, all the more so.

The high reliability of the family of Kalashnikov assault rifles, or rather, the methods used in its design to achieve it, is at the same time the cause of its significant drawbacks. The increased momentum of the gas exhaust mechanism, coupled with the gas piston fixed to the bolt frame and large gaps between all parts, on the one hand, leads to the fact that the automatic weapons work flawlessly even with heavy pollution (contamination is literally "blown" out of the receiver when fired), - on the other hand, large gaps during the movement of the bolt group lead to the appearance of multidirectional lateral impulses that displace the weapon from the aiming line, while the bolt carrier, which comes to the extreme rear position at a speed of the order of 5 m / s (for comparison, for systems with more " soft" operation of automation even on initial stage when the shutter moves back, this speed usually does not exceed 4 m / s), guarantees the strongest shaking of the weapon during firing, which significantly reduces the effectiveness of automatic fire. According to some of the available estimates, the weapons of the AK family are generally not suitable for effective aimed fire in bursts. This is also the reason for the relatively large slide overrun, and hence the greater length of the receiver, to the detriment of the length of the barrel while maintaining the overall dimensions of the weapon. On the other hand, the AK bolt run-out occurs completely inside the receiver, without using the butt cavity, which allows the latter to be folded, reducing the dimensions of the weapon when carried.

Other shortcomings are less radical, and can be characterized more as individual features of the sample.

As one of the shortcomings of the AK-47 associated with the design of its trigger, the inconvenient location of the translator-fuse is often called (on the right side of the receiver, under the cutout for the cocking handle) and a clear click when the weapon is removed from the protection, unmasking the shooter before opening fire. On many foreign variants ("Tantalum", "Valmet", "Galil") and on the AEK-971 machine gun, an additional translator-fuse has been introduced, conveniently located on the left, which can significantly improve the ergonomics of the weapon. The AK release is considered to be quite tight, but it is noted that this is completely corrected by a simple skill.

The cocking handle located on the right is often attributed to the shortcomings of the AK family. Such an arrangement of it was at one time adopted on the basis of quite practical considerations: the handle located on the left, when carrying the weapon “on the chest” and crawling, would rest against the body of the shooter, giving him significant discomfort. This was just typical, for example, for the German MP.40 submachine gun. The experimental Kalashnikov assault rifle of 1946 also had a handle located on the left, but the military commission considered it necessary to move it, like the fuse-translator of types of fire, to the right. For example, on the foreign version of "Galil", for the convenience of cocking with the left hand, the handle is bent up.

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

Ergonomics of all variants of Kalashnikov assault rifles has often been criticized. The stock of the AK-47 is considered to be too short, and the fore-end is considered to be too "elegant". However, this weapon was created for the relatively undersized military personnel of the 1940s, as well as taking into account its use in winter clothes and gloves. The situation could be partially corrected by a removable rubber butt pad, variants of which are widely offered on the civilian market. IN Russian divisions for special purposes and on the civilian market, use on various AKs is very common serial variants stocks, pistol grips, and so on, which increases the usability of weapons, although it does not solve the problem in itself and leads to a significant increase in its cost.

The factory sights of the AK from a modern point of view should be recognized as rather rough, and the short aiming line (the distance between the front sight and the slot of the rear sight) does not contribute to high accuracy. Most of the significantly reworked foreign variants based on the AK-47 first of all received just more advanced sights, and in most cases - with an entirely diopter-type shooter located close to the eye. On the other hand, compared to the diopter, which has real advantages only when firing at medium-long ranges, the “open” AK sight provides a faster transfer of fire from one target to another and is more convenient when conducting automatic fire, as it covers the target less. It is worth noting that the first versions of the Kalashnikov assault rifle straps for mounting optical sights did not have. The ability to install a bar for mounting optical sights appeared only on the AK-74M modification.

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

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

Specifications AK-47

Caliber: 7.62x39
Weapon length: 870 mm
Barrel length: 414 mm
Weight without cartridges: 3.8 kg.
Rate of fire: 600 rds / min
Magazine capacity: 30 rounds
Main characteristics of AKS
Caliber: 7.62x39
Weapon length: 880/645 mm
Barrel length: 414 mm
Weight without cartridges: 3.8 kg.
Rate of fire: 600 rds / min
Magazine capacity: 30 rounds

The Kalashnikov assault rifle is very popular all over the world. Thanks to its reliability and high performance, it has become a symbol Soviet weapons. In addition, AK served as the basis for the creation of Saiga carbines, which were highly appreciated by many hunters.

All the technical components of the machine are worthy of attention, but judging by the reviews, the AK-74 trigger mechanism is of greater interest. Information about the device and purpose of the USM of this rifle model contained in the article.

Acquaintance

The Kalashnikov assault rifle is an individual weapon, with the help of which the manpower of the enemy is destroyed. Also, with the help of AK, enemy fire weapons are disabled. In addition, you can eliminate the enemy hand-to-hand, using a machine gun equipped with a bayonet-knife. It is possible to install night shooting universal sights on the weapon. As ammunition, an ordinary cartridge containing a steel core is used, and options for which tracer bullets are provided. With full ammunition and without a bayonet-knife, the machine gun weighs no more than 3.6 kg. Within one minute, up to 600 shots can be fired from the weapon.

About the main parts and mechanisms

The design of the Kalashnikov assault rifle has the following items:

receiver and barrel;
sighting devices;
butt;
pistol grip;
shutter frame;
gas piston;
shutter and return mechanism;
gas tube and handguard;
handguard and shop;

The AK-74 is also equipped with a bayonet-knife. The weapon is completed with special accessories, a belt and a bag for ammunition. The rifle unit, for which a folding stock is provided, is supplied with a special case with a pocket for a clip.

About the USM device of the Kalashnikov assault rifle

USM AK-74 consists of the following spare parts:

spring-loaded sear, providing shooting single;
trigger;
spring-loaded triggers and their moderators;
an interpreter whose task is to change the mode of fire;
self-timer.

The location of the USM AK-74 was the receiver. The technical unit is fastened using three interchangeable axles.

About purpose

USM AK-74 performs the following functions:

Removes the trigger from the self-timer or cocking.
Keeps the trigger cocked.
Provides automatic or single firing. Also, the trigger mechanism is responsible for the ceasefire.
With the help of the USM in the AK-74, the drummer is affected.
Prevents firing if the bolt is not locked.
Sets an automatic weapon to safety.

About the Kalasha trigger

The impact on the drummer is carried out by means of a spring-loaded trigger. It can be armed and self-timer. Equipped with rectangular ledges, shank, trunnions and holes, which are equipped with the USM AK-74 axle. The trigger is actuated by a mainspring, which is attached to the trunnions and is made in the form of a loop. The second end of the spring is connected to the rectangular ledges on the trigger.

About the trigger retarder

In order to improve the accuracy of the battle during automatic firing, the trigger is slowed down by a special spring-loaded element in the AK-74 USM device, which is called the retarder. It is equipped with a front and rear lugs, a hole for the axle, a spring and a latch that is studded to the rear lugs.

About single shooting

After a shot has been fired, the trigger is moved to the rear position and held with a sear. This element is located on the same axis as the trigger. The sear is equipped with a special cutout for the interpreter sector, a spring and an axial hole. If the interpreter is on safety, its turns are limited due to the cutout.

How is burst firing done?

The trigger is removed from the platoon thanks to the spring-loaded self-timer. With the help of this USM element, trigger release is prevented if the barrel channel of the machine gun is not closed or the shutter is not locked. The self-timer is equipped with:

A sear with which the trigger is set to the platoon.
A special lever that rotates the self-timer by a ledge in the bolt carrier when it is in the forward position.
Spring. It is located on the same axis as the self-timer. The long end of the spring crosses the receiver and winds up in an annular groove on the axles where the self-timer and trigger are located.

About translator

With the help of this element of the trigger mechanism, the machine is set to perform firing in single and bursts. The translator is equipped with special trunnions. Their location was special holes in the receiver. If the translator is in the lower position, the Kalashnikov assault rifle is set to fire single shots. In the middle position - automatic fire. If the translator is moved all the way up, then the AK is set to safety.

Causes of misfires

During the use of the Kalashnikov assault rifle, misfires sometimes occur. In this case, the ammunition is sent to the chamber, the shutter is shifted to the forward position, and after the trigger is released, the shot is not fired. There can be several reasons for misfires. Most likely the cartridge is faulty. Also, the drummer, which is wedged in the bolt, or the trigger mechanism may be faulty. According to experts, misfires occur when the mechanical assembly is dirty or the lubricant has frozen in it. In this case, the machine is recharged. If the delay is repeated again, then disassembling the USM AK-74 can correct the situation. This unit may be broken or completely worn out.

How to remove the mechanical trigger assembly?

Judging by the reviews, some owners of carbines are interested in how to remove the trigger on the AK-74. Disassembly of automatic weapons is carried out as follows:

First you need to disconnect the clip from the machine. To do this, hold the weapon with one hand by the forearm, grab the magazine with the other and, while pressing the locking latch, gently pull down. The locking bar is equipped with special protrusions that are pressed in with an awl or screwdriver.
There is a ramrod in a special hole under the barrel of the carbine. It needs to be removed.
Then the cover is removed from the receiver. The guide tube in the return mechanism is equipped with a small protrusion. To dismantle, you need to press on it, and lift the cover itself.
After that, you can proceed to extract the shock-return mechanism. This will be easy if his tube is moved forward until its heel goes beyond the longitudinal groove of the box. To get the tube, you need to pry it by the end.
Detach the shutter frame. The weapon is pre-set for automatic firing. The dismantling of the bolt carrier consists in pulling it all the way, lifting it up and moving it back.
To remove the shutter, you need to take it back and turn it. If the actions are performed correctly, a protrusion should appear in the groove of the bolt carrier. After that, the shutter is advanced forward and removed. With the help of a special drift, a pin is knocked out, which is necessary to hold the striker on the axis in the ejector, which is also dismantled along with the drummers.
Before dismantling the gas pipe, the flag that closes it must be set in a vertical position. One end of the tube is connected to the branch pipe. To detach it, you need to pry it over the edge.

How to disassemble trigger in a carbine?

After dismantling the trigger mechanism, you can proceed to disassemble it. Start by separating the trigger. To remove it, you need to press on a special lever in the self-timer.

With the help of any pointed object, the mainspring rises from both edges and winds up with both ends behind the protrusions of the trigger, the axis of which must be shifted to the left. It then rotates until its trunnion is turned towards the chamber. After that, the trigger and the mainspring are removed. After completing these steps, with the help of a punch, they begin to dismantle the trigger and sear. When removing the axis previously shifted to the left, the sear is held in the single firing mode. The self-timer (AC) is also dismantled with a punch, the axis of which, as in the previous case, is shifted to the left before removal. In the course of work, it is necessary to hold the AC and its spring. In the machine for clips with ammunition there is a special opening through which the self-timer is removed. You can start dismantling the translator after it is set perpendicular to the receiver. Before removal, the axis of this element is shifted to the right.

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What is Ak. AK74: purpose, combat properties and general arrangement of the machine gun, the principle of operation of automation; order of incomplete disassembly and assembly. Purpose, combat properties and general device of the PM

Purpose, combat properties, general device of the machine

Purpose, arrangement of parts and mechanisms of the machine

Disassembly and assembly

The procedure for incomplete disassembly of the machine

The order of assembly of the machine after incomplete disassembly

Cartridge device

Features of the Kalashnikov light machine gun (RPK) device

The principle of operation of automation.

AK74: parts and mechanisms of the machine gun, their purpose; delays in firing, their causes and solutions.

Shooting delays, their causes and solutions.

Development and production (official version)

First combat use of the AK-47

The design and principle of operation of the AK-47

Barrel and receiver

bolt group

trigger mechanism

Shop

sighting device

Bayonet knife

Belonging to AK-47

The accuracy of the battle and the effectiveness of fire

Assembly and disassembly

Patent Status

Production and use of the AK-47 outside of Russia

AK-47 at the moment

Specifications AK-47

Acquaintance

About the main parts and mechanisms

About the USM device of the Kalashnikov assault rifle

About purpose

About the Kalasha trigger

About the trigger retarder

About single shooting

How is burst firing done?

About translator

Causes of misfires

How to remove the mechanical trigger assembly?

How to disassemble trigger in a carbine?

What else to read

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