AK 47 KALASHNIKOV AVTOMAT: DEVICE AND TTX, FIRST SHOT, HOW MUCH WEIGHTS, MODIFICATIONS, DRAWINGS, SCHEMES, SIZES

Kalashnikov assault rifle - the most common automatic weapon in the world. Despite the fact that the first samples of these weapons were adopted in the post-war years, AK 47 and its modifications are still used in the Russian army as the main weapon.

How did the first Kalashnikov AK-47

About the Kalashnikov rifle goes a lot of legends, most of which says that the device Kalashnikov rifle invented by its author from scratch. Few people know that the development of the AK 47 began after the capture of a rare model of the German MKb.42 rifle (H).

At the end of 1942, the Soviet command was concerned about the creation of automatic weapons capable of firing at a distance of about 400 meters. Shpagin's machine guns, popular at that time, did not allow effective fire on such distances. Captured German rifles MKb.42 (H) were forced to urgently engage in their own development of weapons under the caliber of 7.62. The second model to study was the American carbine M1.

The development of a new model began with the solution of the problem of producing new cartridges having a caliber of 7.62 × 39. Cartridges of this type were developed by Soviet designers Semin and Elizarov. As a result of research, it was decided to create cartridges of lesser capacity than rifle cartridges, since at a distance of about 400 meters cartridges for carbines were too powerful, and their production was quite expensive. Although other calibers were voiced during the development, 7.62 × 39 was recognized as the optimal type of cartridge for the new weapon.

Having created ammunition, the military command began work on the creation of new weapons. Development began to be conducted in three areas:

Machine;
Automatic rifle;
Carbine with manual recharge.

The story says that the development took two years, after which it was decided to select the Soudarev design automat for further refinements. Despite the fact that this machine possessed sufficiently impressive TTX, its weight was too great, which made it difficult to conduct dynamic combat. The modified machine was tested in 1945, but its weight was still too great. A year later, repeated tests were appointed, where the first prototype of the machine gun appeared, which was developed by young sergeant Kalashnikov.

Scheme and purpose of parts of the Kalashnikov AK-47

Before proceeding to the review of different models of AK, you should disassemble the purpose of each part of the machine.

Barrel - designed to set the direction of the bullet, equipped with a thread (so the weapon is called a rifled one), its caliber depends on its diameter;
Barrel box - serves to connect the mechanisms of the machine into one;
Cover box receiver - serves to protect against dirt and dust;
Front sight and sight;
Butt - its purpose is to provide a comfortable shooting;
Slide frame;
Gate;
The mechanism is returnable;
Handguards - his appointment in protecting the hands of the shooter from burns. It also provides a more comfortable grip of weapons;
Score;
Bayonet knife (in the early instances of AK did not occur).

All machines have a similar design, parts of different models may differ in appearance from each other.

Kalashnikov assault rifle 1946

Kalashnikov developed his first model of a submachine gun during treatment at the hospital, after which he decided to link his life with the design of weapons. After being discharged from the hospital, the young designer was sent for further service to the small arms test range, where in 1944 he showed his new experimental model of an automatic carbine, the dimensions and main parts of which resembled the American M1Garand carbine.

When the competition for an automatic machine was announced, Kalashnikov joined the AK 46 model project. This project was approved and, together with other projects, was sent to the Kovrov factory for the manufacture of prototypes.

Specifications AK 46

Parts and mechanisms of the Kalashnikov assault rifle of the 1946 model had fundamental differences from all the serial models of Soviet weapons known at that time. He had a separate switch of fire modes, a detachable receiver and a butterfly valve.

In the competition for the best machine gun, which took place in December 1946, AK 46 lost to its competitors AB-46 and AB. The production of a Kalashnikov was considered inexpedient and was removed from testing.

Despite the fact that later modifications of the Kalashnikov assault rifle are considered a model of reliability and ease of operation, the AK 46 did not possess these characteristics and was a rather capricious and complex weapon.

Creation AK 47

Kalashnikov thanks to the support of some members of the commission with whom he served at the shooting range, managed to get a review of the decision and get permission to carry out further modifications of his machine gun. As a result of further improvements, using the help of the designer Zaitsev, and copying the most successful solutions from the design of his main competitor of the Bulkin machine (AB), AK 47 was created, which was more structurally similar not to AK 46, but to AB.

It is necessary to clarify that copying the decisions of other designers should not be considered plagiarism, since in order to make all these solutions work flawlessly in a bundle, a lot of design work is needed. No one blames the Japanese for plagiarism, although the entire Japanese technique is the result of the same copying of the world's best developments and then honing them to perfection.

The history of AK 47 begins in January 1947. It was at this time that the Kalashnikov assault rifle’s weapons sample won the competition and was selected for mass production. The first batch of AK 47 was assembled in the second half of 1948, and at the end of 1949 AK 47 was adopted by the USSR Army.

Despite the simplicity of the design, the AK 47 had one major drawback - the Kalashnikov assault rifle did not have sufficient accuracy, although the caliber of the cartridge and its power had enough destructive power.

Serial production of the first years was quite problematic. Due to problems when assembling the receiver (which was assembled from a stamped body and an insert made by the milling method), the reject rate was huge. In order to eliminate this problem, it was necessary to make a solid receiver box, from a single forging, using the milling method. Although this increased the price of the machine, but a sharp decline in the marriage has saved a fairly large amount. Already in 1951, all new machines were supplied with a solid receiver. Up until 1959, significant changes were made to the design of the AK 47, lightweight models having various purposes were produced. In 1959, the Kalashnikov assault rifle modernized (AKM) replaced the AK 47.

Tactical and technical characteristics of the AK-47, how much the Kalashnikov rifle weighs

AK 47 has the following characteristics:

The caliber is 7.62 mm;
Length 870 mm, (with bayonet 1070mm);
AK 47 magazine holds 30 pieces of 7.62x39 cartridges;
The full mass of the machine gun with a bayonet and a full magazine is 5.09 kg;
Shooting speed is 660 shots per minute;
Shot range - 525 meters.

As for the weight of the AK 47 without a bayonet and with an empty magazine, it is 4.07 kg, with a full magazine - 4.7 kg.

Kalashnikov machine gun modernized (AKM)

In 1959, in exchange for AK 47, new modernized automatic machines began to be produced. The number of innovations was so significant, which made it possible to speak not about another refinement, but about creating a new model of the automaton. AKM even looks different from the AK 47. The barrel of the machine was equipped with a muzzle compensator, and the surface of the store was ribbed. Butt machine was installed at a lower angle.

Many design innovations in AKM were borrowed from the best world and Soviet models of those years. For example, the drummer and the descent are completely copied from the Czech rifle, Holek, the safety lever in the form of a shutter window cover — from Remington 8. Many things were borrowed from the Soviet machine gun AC 44.

AK-47 Kalashnikov assault rifle

The history of the knife bayonet leads its roots to rifle bayonets. Wanting to create a more sophisticated model of weapons, Kalashnikov once again used someone else’s to create a knife on his base, which bore a universal purpose, which could simultaneously act as a bayonet and serve as a household knife. He succeeded brilliantly, the bayonet was able to force out the HP 40. All bayonet knives can be divided into three groups:

A bayonet knife 6Х2, an early model with a great resemblance to rifle bayonets and HP 40;
The bayonet is a knife of the sample of 1959, it is based on the knife of sea divers;
Bayonet knife 1974 sample.

The history of the development of bayonets is inextricably linked with the emergence of new models of the Kalashnikov assault rifle.

Kalashnikov assault rifle 1974 (AK 74)

In 1974, a 5.45 mm rifle complex was adopted, which consisted of a new AK 74 and PKK 74. The USSR began using small-caliber cartridges following the example of the United States, which had long since switched to this caliber. Such a reduction in the caliber made it possible to reduce the mass of cartridges by one and a half times. The overall accuracy of fire increased as the bullet flew now with a higher initial speed, and the flight distance increased by 100 meters. The drawings of the new Kalashnikov assault rifle were developed by the best designers Izhmash, TsNIItochmash, and the Kovrov Mechanical Plant.

The new model of the machine used the following cartridges:

7H6 (1974, the bullet of which had a steel core in a lead shirt);
7H10 (1992, bullet enhanced penetrability);
7U1 (silent bullet);
7H22 (1998 armored bullet);
7H24 (bullet with increased accuracy).

AK 74 was originally produced in four versions, later AK-74M was also added to it. The latter version could replace all four variants of the AK 74, and could be equipped with a grenade launcher.

General misconceptions about Kalashnikov assault rifles

Kalashnikov assault rifles, despite the huge variety of types of automatic weapons in the world, are the most popular. Undoubtedly, this glory is deserved by them by law, but at the same time there are many legends that go even among professional military men.

The first legend says that the AK 47 is a complete copy of the German Sturmgever rifle. Although the development of the AK and were used samples of German weapons, the basis for the AK 47 served more like a Bulkin machine gun. The first Kalashnikov assault rifle was more like a German weapon. The design genius of Kalashnikov consists precisely in the fact that he was able to combine the most successful technical solutions of different models in one machine gun. For decades, the designer tracked all the improvements in various models of automata around the world, and worked out his own in view of new trends;
The second misconception says that the Kalashnikov assault rifle went into service in the army in 1947. Many models of weapons, having in their name the designation of the year of release of the first model, come into service only a few years later. After adopting a weapon, it should be produced by a large party before being sent to the army. It takes more than one month. Thus, two years have passed since the introduction of the AK 47 into service and until its appearance in the army. The first batch of Kalashnikov assault rifles was recorded in the army only in 1949. Some ordinary people believe that the AK were already at the end of the war and took part in the hostilities of that time. In fact, for the first time, Kalashnikov assault rifles participated in hostilities only in 1956. Ordinary citizens of the USSR saw these automata in the film "Max Perepelitsa", which came out a year earlier;
The reliability of the design and ease of assembly of the AK really became common, but the automatic machine began to have these characteristics only from 1959, when AKM was already called. AK 47 was expensive to manufacture and quite difficult to assemble. In the production of a huge amount of marriage. Only after numerous upgrades, the main of which was the creation of a new AKM model, the machine gun really became the standard of reliability;
AK release went in huge batches. In fact, due to the complexity of the production of AK 47, there was a huge shortage in the army. Many soldiers armed with rifles. Only the modernization of the receiver has allowed to simplify the assembly and quickly fill the army with machine guns;
Each new model of AK in all superior to the previous one. This is practically true, only in one AK 74 surpasses the later AKM: a silencer is easily installed on the AK 74, so in the Airborne Forces it still serves as the main weapon for silent operations;
Kalashnikov assault rifle - a unique model that has no analogues. In fact, the USSR provided military assistance to any state willing to become a "bright road to socialism" and generously shared weapons and drawings to them with them, therefore only the most backward countries did not produce their own copies of AK. This circumstance after years significantly undermined the monopoly of the USSR. There was at least one machine gun, very similar to AK, but made independently of it. This is the Chermak CZ SA Vz.58 machine gun, which was put into service in 1958;
AKS74U is the best machine, as it is used by paratroopers. In fact, this model is designed for tankers, gunners and other similar units that are not infantry infantry, so using a short machine gun for them is a great option.

In 1982-83, a huge amount of AKS74U was transferred to airborne units that were sent to Afghanistan. It was here that all the flaws of the weapon, which was unable to wage a long and hours-long battle, appeared. In 1989, when the war ended, the AKS74U were decommissioned and later used only in the Ministry of the Interior, where they can be seen now. By the way, there is a curious fact about this model - the AKS74U was produced in Tula and was the only model of the Kalashnikov assault rifle that was not produced in Izhevsk.

Currently, any civilian person, having received a hunter certificate and permission to purchase a rifle, can purchase a hunting version of the AK, called "Saiga". A novice hunter can purchase a smooth-bore modification of saiga.