Kalashnikov rifle

A Kalashnikov rifle is any one of a series of automatic rifles based on the original design of Mikhail Kalashnikov. They are officially known in Russian as "Avtomat Kalashnikova" ("Kalashnikov's Automatic Gun"; Russian: Автома́т Кала́шникова), but are widely known as Kalashnikovs, AKs, or in Russian slang, as a "Kalash". They were originally manufactured in the Soviet Union, primarily by Kalashnikov Concern, formerly Izhmash, but these rifles and their variants are now manufactured in many other countries.[1]

The Kalashnikov assault rifle 1974 model by Izhmash, Russia

Types

The primary types of Kalashnikov rifles.[2]

Soviet 7.62 x 39 mm AK-47 Type 2 assault rifle (1951 issue), the first model variation that features a milled receiver
ModelCartridgeYearManufacturer
AK-477.62×39mm1949Izhmash and others
AKM7.62×39mm1959Izhmash, Tula Arms Plant and others
AK-745.45×39mm1974Izhmash
AK-101, AK-1025.56×45mm1995Izhmash
AK-103, AK-1047.62×39mm2001Izhmash
AK-1055.45×39mm2001Izhmash
AK-12, AK-12K 5.45×39mm 2011 Kalashnikov Concern, formerly Izhmash
AK-15, AK-15K 7.62×39mm 2018 Kalashnikov Concern
Comparative characteristics of Kalashnikov assault rifles and machine guns
NameCountryCartridgeLength extended/folded (mm)Barrel length (mm)Weight (kg) (empty)Cyclic rate of fire (rounds per minute)Maximum sighting range (m)Muzzle velocity (m/s)
AK-47Soviet Union7.62×39mm8704153.47600800710
AKMSoviet Union7.62×39mm8804153.16001,000715
RPK(s)Soviet Union7.62×39mm1040/8205904.80/5.66001,000745
PK(M)Soviet Union7.62×54mmR11736059.0/7.56501,500825
AK-74Soviet Union5.45×39mm9434153.076001,000900
AKS-74Soviet Union5.45×39mm933/6904152.976001,000900
AK-74MRussia5.45×39mm943/7054153.46501,000900
RPK-74Soviet Union5.45×3910605904.76001,000960
AKS-74USoviet Union5.45×39mm730/490206,52.7700500735
AK-101Russia5.56×45mm NATO943/7004153.66001,000910
AK-102Russia5.56×45mm NATO824/5863143.0600500850
AK-103Russia7.62×39mm943/7054153.46001,000715
AK-104Russia7.62×39mm824/5863143.0600500670
AK-105Russia5.45×39mm824/5863143.2600500840
AK-107Russia5.45×39mm943/7004153.88501,000900
AK-108Russia5.56×45mm NATO943/7004153.89001,000910
AK-109Russia7.62×39mm943/7004153.89001,000750
AK-9Russia9×39mm705/4652003.1/3.8 (with suppressor)600400290 (СП-5) / 305 (СП-6)
AK-12Russia5.45×39mm940/7304153.37001,000900
AK-15Russia7.62×39mm862/9224153.57001,000715

Variants

Original AK-47 variants (7.62×39mm)

  • Issue of 1948/49 – The very earliest models, with the Type 1 stamped sheet metal receiver, are now very rare.
  • Issue of 1951 – Type 2: Has a milled receiver. Barrel and chamber are chrome plated to resist corrosion.
  • Issue of 1954/55 – Type 3: Lightened milled receiver variant. Rifle weight is 3.47 kg (7.7 lb).[3]
  • AKS – Featured a downward-folding metal stock similar to that of the German MP40, for use in the restricted space in the BMP infantry combat vehicle, as well as by paratroops.
  • AKN (AKSN) – Night scope rail.[4]

Modernized (7.62×39mm)

AKM with a steel-reinforced ABS plastic matte black magazine
  • AKM – A simplified, lighter version of the AK-47; Type 4 receiver is made from stamped and riveted sheet metal. A slanted muzzle device was added to counter climb in automatic fire. Rifle weight is 2.93 kg (6.5 lb)[5][6][N 1] due to the lighter receiver. This is the most ubiquitous variant of the AK-47.
  • RPK – Hand-held machine gun version with longer barrel and bipod. The variants – RPKS, RPKN (RPKSN), RPKL (RPKSL) – mirror AKM variants. The "S" variants have a side-folding wooden stock.

Low-impulse variants (5.45×39mm)

AK-74 and RPK-74

The 100 Series

AK-74M

5.45×39mm / 5.56×45mm NATO / 7.62×39mm

The AK-12 series

5.45×39mm / 7.62×39mm

  • AK-12 / AK-15 – A new AK family derivative based on the AK-400 prototype. Accepted as main service rifle in January of 2018.
  • AK-12K / AK-15K – Carbine.
  • RPK-16 - Squad automatic weapon, based on the AK-12.

Other weapons

Production

The Kalashnikov rifles and their variants have been manufactured in many countries, with and without licenses. Manufacturing countries in alphabetical order include:

CountryVariant(s)
Albania Automatiku Shqiptar 1978 model 56 (ASH-78 Tip-1) copy of Type 56 based on AKM rifle; Tipi 1982 model (ASH-82) copy of AKMS; model 56 Tip-2, copy of RPK; and model 56 Tip-3. Several other versions of the AKMS have been produced mainly with short barrels similar to Soviet AKS-74U for special forces, tank & armored crew and for helicopter pilots and police. There have also been modified ASh-82 (AKMS) with SOPMOD accessories, mainly for Albania's special forces RENEA & exports.[8]
Armenia K-3 (bullpup, 5.45×39mm)
Azerbaijan Khazri (AK-74M)[9]
Bangladesh Chinese Type 56
Bulgaria AKK/AKKS (Type 3 AK-47/w. side-folding buttstock); AKKMS (AKMS), AKKN-47 (fittings for NPSU night sights); AK-47M1 (Type 3 with black polymer furniture); AK-47MA1/AR-M1 (same as -M1, but in 5.56mm NATO); AKS-47M1 (AKMS in 5.56×45mm NATO); AKS-47S (AK-47M1, short version, with East German folding stock, laser aiming device); AKS-47UF (short version of -M1, Russian folding stock), AR-SF (same as −47UF, but 5.56mm NATO); AKS-93SM6 (similar to −47M1, cannot use grenade launcher); RKKS (RPK), AKT-47 (.22 rimfire training rifle)
Cambodia Chinese Type 56, Soviet AK-47, and AKM
China Type 56
Croatia APS-95
Cuba AKM[10]
East Germany[11] MPi-K/MPi-KS (AK-47/AKS); MPi-KM (AKM, wooden and plastic stock); MPi-KMS-72 (side-folding stock); MPi-KMS-K (carbine); MPi-AK-74N (AK-74); MPi-AKS-74N (side-folding stock); MPi-AKS-74NK (carbine); KK-MPi Mod.69 (.22 LR select-fire trainer)
Egypt AK-47, Misr assault rifle (AKM), Maadi
Ethiopia AK-47, AK-103 (manufactured locally at the State-run Gafat Armament Engineering Complex as the Et-97/1)[12]
Finland RK 62, (7.62×39mm)

RK 95 TP, (7.62×39mm) improvements including a fire control selector and a muzzle device that enabled the firing of rifle grenades, the attachment of a silencer, or bayonet

Hungary[13] AK-55 (domestic manufacture of the 2nd Model AK-47); AKM-63 (also known as AMD-63 in the US; modernized AK-55), AMD-65M (modernized AKM-63, shorter barrel and side-folding stock), AMP-69 (rifle grenade launcher); AK-63F/D (other name AMM/AMMSz), AK-63MF (modernized); NGM-81 (5.56×45mm NATO; fixed and under-folding stock)
India Trichy Assault Rifle, AK-7[14][15]
Iran KLS/KLF (AK-47/AKS), KLT (AKMS)
Iraq Tabuk Sniper Rifle, Tabuk Assault Rifle (with fixed or underfolding stock, outright clones of Yugoslavian M70 rifles series), Tabuk Short Assault Rifle
Nigeria Produced by the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria as OBJ-006[16][17]
North Korea Type 58A/B (Type 3 AK-47/w. stamped steel folding stock), Type 68A/B (AKM/AKMS), Type 88 (AKS-74)[18][19]
Pakistan Reverse engineered by hand and machine in Pakistan's highland areas (see Khyber Pass Copy) near the border of Afghanistan; more recently the Pakistan Ordnance Factories started the manufacture of an AK-47/AKM clone called PK-10[20]
Poland [21] pmK (kbk AK) / pmKS (kbk AKS) (name has changed from pmK – "pistolet maszynowy Kałasznikowa", Kalashnikov SMG to the kbk AK – "karabinek AK", Kalashnikov Carbine in mid-1960s) (AK-47/AKS); kbkg wz. 1960 (rifle grenade launcher), kbkg wz. 1960/72 (modernized); kbk AKM / kbk AKMS (AKM/AKMS); kbk wz. 1988 Tantal (5.45×39mm), skbk wz. 1989 Onyks (compact carbine); kbs wz. 1996 Beryl (5.56×45mm), kbk wz. 1996 Mini-Beryl (compact carbine)
Romania PM md. 63/65 (AKM/AKMS), PM md. 80, PM md. 90, collectively exported under the umbrella name AIM or AIMS; PA md. 86 (AK-74), exported as the AIMS-74; PM md. 90 short barrel, PA md. 86 short barrel, exported as the AIMR; PSL (designated marksman rifle; other names PSL-54C, Romak III, FPK and SSG-97)
Sudan MAZ[22] (based on the Type 56)
Ukraine Vepr (bullpup, 5.45×39mm), Malyuk (bullpup)[23]
United States US132 rifle (7.62×39mm), US132Z assault rifle (7.62×39mm), US109L shotgun (12 Gauge) & US109T shotgun (12 Gauge). Produced by Kalashnikov USA.[24][25][26]
Vietnam AKM-1, AKM-VN (AKM) assault rifle, TUL-1 (RPK) light machine gun, Galil ACE 31/32 assault rifle
Venezuela AK-103 [27] / License granted to Venezuela[28]
Yugoslavia/Serbia M64, M70, M72, M76, M77, M80, M82, M85, M90, M91, M92, M99, M21

Similar rifles

The following rifles were either based on the Kalashnikov design, or have a different design but are superficially similar in appearance:

Notes

  1. ↑ AKMS is ~200 g (0.44 lb) heavier than the AKM rifle.

References

  1. ↑ "RIP Kalashnikov: 20 facts you may not have known about AK-47 and its creator". RT. December 23, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Концерн Калашников -- Официальный сайт". kalashnikov.com.
  3. ↑ НСД. 7,62-мм автомат АК 1967, pp. 161–162.
  4. ↑ Monetchikov 2005, p. 76.
  5. ↑ НСД. 7,62-мм автомат АКМ (АКМС) 1983, pp. 149–150.
  6. ↑ "AK 47 fix stock Russian AKM, deactivated assault rifle". Web.archive.org. Retrieved 2018-08-30.
  7. ↑ "AKML (AKMSL)". AK-INFO.RU. Retrieved 8 Feb 2013.
  8. ↑ Albanian Small Arms by Aftermath Gun Club.
  9. ↑ Азербайджан приступил к серийному производству автоматов АК-74М по российской лицензии [Azerbaijan began serial production of AK-74M assault rifles under Russian license]. ЦАМТО (in Russian). Moscow: Centre for Analysis of World Arms Trade. 8 July 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  10. ↑ Dimov, Roman. "Kalashnikov Arms Versions". The AK Site. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007.
  11. ↑ "MPi-K / MPi-AK Assault Rifle Series". Энциклопедия оружия и боеприпасов (in Russian). Retrieved 19 Feb 2013.
  12. ↑ "Advertisement flyer for manufacturing capabilities of the GAEC – Gafat Armament Engineering Complex". Archived from the original on July 10, 2011. Retrieved 2014-01-23. Retrieved on 8 October 2010.
  13. ↑ "Hungary. Assault Rifles". Энциклопедия оружия и боеприпасов (in Russian). Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  14. ↑ "Why General Kalashnikov couldn't sell the AK in India". India Today.
  15. ↑ "Ishapore factory develops Indian variant of AK-47 - Times of India".
  16. ↑ "Nigeria to mass-produce Nigerian version of AK-47 rifles." Retrieved on 5 October 2008.
  17. ↑ "DICON – Defence Industry Corp. of Nigeria" Archived 2013-12-27 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 23 June 2012.
  18. ↑ US Department of Defense, North Korea Country Handbook 1997, Appendix A: Equipment Recognition, PPSH 1943 SUBMACHINEGUN (TYPE-50 CHINA/MODEL-49 DPRK), p. A-79.
  19. ↑ US Department of Defense, North Korea Country Handbook 1997, Appendix A: Equipment Recognition, TYPE-68 (AKM) ASSAULT RIFLE, p. A-77.
  20. ↑ Russia confronts Pakistan, China over copied weapons. Archived 2011-07-17 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 16 October 2010.
  21. ↑ "Poland. Assault Rifles". Энциклопедия оружия и боеприпасов (in Russian). Retrieved 19 Feb 2013.
  22. ↑ "MAZ". Military Industry Corporation. Archived from the original on 27 December 2008. Retrieved 8 February 2009.
  23. ↑ Raigorodetsky, Aleksandr (6 Oct 2011). Автомат "Малюк" ("Малыш") (Украина) ["Malyuk" Assault Rifle (Ukraine)]. Оружейная экзотика (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2015-09-03. Retrieved 1 Dec 2012.
  24. ↑ "Kalashnikov USA Website".
  25. ↑ Aaron Smith (30 June 2015). "The first American-made Kalashnikovs are now for sale". CNN.com.
  26. ↑ Max Slowik (August 10, 2015). "Kalashnikov USA prices out first wave of American AKs". Guns.com.
  27. ↑ "Primeros 3,000: Cavim inicia entrega de fusiles de asalto Kalashnikov AK-103 a la Fuerza Armada de Venezuela". infodefensa.com. 3 June 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2015. (on spanish)
  28. ↑ Martin Sieff (15 August 2007). "Defense Focus: Venezuela's Kalashnikovs". UPI.com. Archived from the original on 2008-06-04. Retrieved 19 October 2008.

Sources

  • Michael Hodges (2007). AK47: The Story of a Gun. MacAdam/Cage Pub. ISBN 978-1-59692-286-0.
  • Joe Poyer (2006). The AK-47 and AK-74 Kalashnikov Rifles and Their Variations: A Shooter's and Collector's Guide. North Cape Publications. ISBN 978-1-882391-41-7.
  • Gordon L. Rottman (2011). The AK-47: Kalashnikov-series assault rifles. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84908-835-0.
  • Martin J Brayley (2013). Kalashnikov AK47 Series: The 7.62 x 39mm Assault Rifle in Detail. Crowood. ISBN 978-1-84797-526-3.
  • Marco Vorobiev (2016). Gun Digest Shooter's Guide to AKs. F+W Media. ISBN 978-1-4402-4647-0.
  • Duncan Long (1 September 1988). AK47: The Complete Kalashnikov Family Of Assault Rifles. Paladin Press. ISBN 978-0-87364-477-8.
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