The AKS-74U machine gun is a folding shortened version of the famous Kalash, developed in the USSR in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The need for automatic short weapons arose during the Great Patriotic War: the drivers of armored vehicles, pilots, paratroopers, and gun crews needed to constantly carry reliable and reliable automatic weapons with them. The weapon was made on the basis of the standard AK-74, which used 5.45 mm ammunition. The first prototypes were presented to the units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and demonstrated excellent performance in confined spaces. After the collapse of the USSR, short automatics began to be actively exploited in security structures; they are still used in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, where they are often affectionately called “shortenings” or “Ksyuhs”.
Tactical and technical characteristics of the AKS-74U
The performance characteristics of the automaton for some items do not correspond to the real state of things, although theoretically they are correct:
- The targeting range for group targets is declared up to 800 m, and for single targets up to 400 m;
- Combat rate of fire - 100 rounds per minute bursts and 40 rounds per minute at the rate of firing single shots;
- Caliber 5.45 x 39 mm;
- The length of the machine with the butt drawn out 735 mm;
- Barrel - 210 mm;
- The mass of weapons without ammunition - 2.71 kg;
- Magazine capacity is designed for 30 rounds.
There are criteria for normal accuracy for the AKS-74U: four holes from the bullet must be in a circle with a diameter of 15 cm, and shooting is at a distance of 100 meters in the prone position. It should be understood that the appointment of a short automatic weapon is a battle at minimum distances, and in reality it is not always possible to take a recumbent position for firing.
The main parts of the weapon and its device
Main parts of AKS-74U:
- Barrel with receiver;
- Sights;
- Folding butt;
- Pistol grip, which has a notch;
- Receiver cover;
- Flame arrester;
- Trigger mechanism;
- Gate;
- Gate frame with piston;
- Gas tube with receiver pad;
- Handguard;
- The return mechanism;
- Score;
- Belt.
Standard sighting devices AKS-74U consist of a pillar and a front sight. For night shooting there is a special device: a folding rear sight with a wide slit and a big front sight with luminous dots. The rear sight is not separated during operation, during daylight shooting, it is simply moved downwards and fixed in this position.
Principles of operation of automation
The work of the automatic "shortening" is based on the use of the energy of powder gases discharged from the bore. Parts and mechanisms function by analogy with early models of Kalashnikov assault rifles, and the safety of the system has been tested for decades. Automation actions when fired:
- Powder gases push the bullet;
- The remaining gas is directed to the chamber and pressed against the wall of the piston, which is thrown together with the valve into the rear position;
- The barrel bore opens with a bolt, the cartridge case is removed from the chamber and thrown out;
- The recoil spring is compressed under the action of the bolt, triggering the cocking;
- The return mechanism sends the shutter frame to the forward position, with the new cartridge being sent and the barrel bore locked;
- The sear self-timer is derived from under the platoon due to the movement of the bolt;
- The trigger is on combat platoon and machine gun ready for the next shot.
All modifications of automatic machines lock the bore by turning the bolt to the right around the axis.
Shooting from the AKS-74U is conducted by 5.45 mm cartridges with various types of bullets. They are intended to defeat enemy personnel, located openly or behind minor obstacles. Usually, these are cartridges with a steel jacket, covered with a tombac. The core of steel, between it and the shell is a lead shirt. Simple cartridges have no coloring. Sometimes bullet penetration and armor piercing bullets are used.
Shooting is conducted by tracer bullets, such cartridges are outwardly different in green color of the head part. These bullets are used to adjust the fire and target designation, they can hit the enemy's manpower. There are armor-piercing tracing cartridges, but for short-barreled weapons their use is an unaffordable luxury. In any case, the most effective fire is conducted in short bursts of 3-5 shots.
There are several modifications of this machine:
- The AKS-74UB is a silent version for special forces, often filled with ammunition with a bullet of reduced initial speed. The machine is distinguished by replacing the nozzle on the muzzle of the barrel with a special thread for attaching the muffler. The weapon has the ability to install a BS-1M grenade launcher, turning into the Canaryka grenade launcher;
- The AKS-74UN2 is a night variant, has a bar for attaching a sight for shooting at night.
Subsequently, modified versions of the AKS-74U were made; they had a dovetail-type side plate for attaching sights of different models.
Recently, the engineers of the Central Research Institute of Tochmash have developed a model of a submachine gun based on the AKS-74U, which has the same accuracy, but with a lower firing range. This option is much easier and has the ability to install a collimator rifle sight. In the future it is planned to re-equip the employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but since the AKS-74U has already been produced in abundance, they continue to be used. With new light machine guns, only special forces are arming.
Features of the weapon, its advantages and disadvantages
The differences of the automaton from the standard AK-74 are immediately apparent:
- The barrel is 2 times smaller than that of the ordinary Kalashnikov, which led to high mobility and the ability to fight in the cramped conditions of narrow rooms;
- Gas piston rod shortened;
- A specially designed nadulnik, which at the same time is a flame arrester and serves as an expansion chamber;
- Shooting rate retarder removed;
- The rear sight is installed for shooting at 200 and 400 m. Distances for single and group targets. A real fight from this machine can be fought for single targets at distances of up to 100 meters, for group targets - no more than 200 meters;
- Cover the receiver in the front of the hinge;
- Installed limiter turn.
All other mechanisms AKS-74U completely copy the device of the AK-74. The short modification has several advantages:
- High mobility;
- The possibility of hidden wearing under clothes;
- The penetrating ability of a bullet at short distances is not inferior to AK-74;
- Exposure to infinite tuning. For example, installing a silent grenade launcher allows you to clear obstacles and debris, and a silencer turns an automatic into a compact and silent weapon. The flame arrester can be easily removed and replaced with a modern muzzle brake;
- Possibility of installing a pistol and additional handle.
Over the years of service, a number of weapons flaws have emerged:
- Large weight machine;
- The low aiming range, making the installation of an optical sight meaningless;
- Despite the high slaughter effect of the bullet, the caliber of 5.45 mm does not have an effective stopping effect;
- The machine quickly overheats when firing.
The problem with overheating can be partially solved by replacing the standard AKS forearm with a vented one, but the short barrel will still continue to get very hot.
Partial and complete disassembly of the machine during maintenance
The procedure of incomplete disassembly of the AKS-74U is performed for cleaning, lubricating and inspecting the general condition of the mechanisms of the machine. This operation is performed in a strictly defined order:
- Equipped shop;
- The shutter is twitched to make sure that there is no cartridge in the barrel bore;
- Removed flame arrester;
- The cover of the receiver opens;
- Separated return mechanism, bolt carrier;
- The frame and shutter are disconnected;
- The gas pipe is disconnected from the receiver lining.
This process of incomplete disassembly ends. Disassembling mechanisms AKS-74U is fully recommended only during the repair process or in case of severe contamination. Full disassembly of the machine:
- The shop, a lock, the returnable and shock and trigger mechanism understands;
- The forearm is separated.
The assembly of the machine occurs in the reverse order. After each firing, the machine must be cleaned using rifle grease and a solution for cleaning barrels of carbon. Before long-term storage, AKS-74U is coated with a special liquid solution and wrapped in inhibited and waxed paper.
What is proposed to replace the "shortened"?
In 1994, the new AK-105 was created to replace the AKS-74U. This model is able to conduct more effective fire at long distances by increasing the length of the barrel. AK-105 turned out to be 94 mm longer, but its ballistic characteristics increased. Heating of the barrel decreased, butt and handguard began to be made of black glass-filled polyamide. Shooting devices, thrust rings, gas piston, swivel and some other metal parts are made by precision casting. To protect against corrosion, a special coating is used. The AK 105 Series aiming bar has markings up to 500 m, which corresponds to the NATO standard.
New short automatons are now used:
- Private security;
- FSSP RF;
- Federal State Unitary Enterprise "Protection" of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation.
The Russian army did not purchase AK-105 for its needs. Most of the employees of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs are armed with the AKS-74U, and the ministry does not consider it expedient to carry out large-scale re-equipment.
"Ksyuha" is still the most popular short automatic of law enforcement agencies in Russia and the CIS countries. Over the past decades, weapons have repeatedly proved their effectiveness in urban environments. In the future, the prospect of re-staffing the Ministry of Internal Affairs with pistols and machine guns created on the basis of the AKS-74U is being considered.
