AK-47

The AK-47, is a gas-operated assault rifle designed byMikhail Kalashnikov and released in 1947. It is produced byIzhevsk Mechanical Works. The AK-47 is one of the word's most widely recognized and used assault rifles.

AK-47 stands for Автомат Калашникова образца 1947 года (Automat Kalashnikova, obraztsa 1947 goda), which translates to Kalashnikov's machine gun, model of the year 1947. The official story of the AK-47 says that the Sergeant Mikhail Kalashnikov, being in the hospital after being wounded, began to develop various small arms during World War 2. Circa 1944 he was assigned to the Izhevsk Machinebuilding Plant (IZHMASH), where in 1944 he developed a semi-automatic, gas-operated carbine. Starting with this design based off of the german assault rifle by the name of Sturmgewehr 44 (AKA. StG 44 or MP44/MP43), during 1945 and 1946 he developed an assault rifle that he submitted for official Soviet Army trials in 1946. During the 1946 and early 1947 he redesigned his initial rifle and submitted it to the second trials, held in 1947. The latter design was found superior to the rivals and was consequently adopted in 1949 as the "7,62mm Automat Kalashnikova, obraztsa 1947 goda" (7.62mm Kalashnikov automatic rifle, model of 1947). After extensive field trials it was slightly modified in 1951, but retained the same name. Along with the basic version, a folding butt version had been developed for paratroop forces and was named the AKS. By the 1959 the AK-47 was modified again, this time more extensively, and was consequently adopted (after trials) as the AKM (Avtomat Kalashnikova Modernizirovannyj - Kalashnikov Automatic rifle, Modified). The key changes were the introduction of the stamped receiver instead of the milled one, and improved trigger/hammer unit, that introduced a hammer release delay device (often incorrectly referred as a rate reducer). Other changes were redesigned, slightly raised buttstock and the pistol grip, and the addition of the removable muzzle flip compensator. This spoon-like compensator is screwed onto the muzzle and used the muzzle blast to reduce muzzle climb during the burst fire. The compensator could be replaced by the screw-on "PBS-1 noiseless firing device", generally known as a silencer. This silencer required a special, sub-sonic ammunition with heavier bullets to be used. Another change from AK-47 to AKM was a slightly improved rear sight, with settings from 100 to 1000 (instead of the 800 on AK) meters. Both 800 and 1000 meters, however, are overly optimistic for any practical use, since the effective fire is limited roughly to 300-400 meters, if not less.

The gas operated action has a massive bolt carrier with a permanently attached long stroke gas piston. The gas chamber is located above the barrel. The bolt carrier rides on the two rails, machined in the receiver, with the significant clearances between the moving and stationary parts, which allows the gun to operate even when its interior is severely fouled with sand or mud. The rotating bolt has two massive lugs that lock into the receiver. The bolt is so designed that on the unlocking rotation it also makes a primary extraction movement to the fired case. This results in very positive and reliable extraction even with dirty chamber and cases. The rotation of the bolt is ensured by the curved cam track, machined in the bolt carrier, and by the appropriate stud on the bolt itself. The return spring and spring guide are located behind the gas piston and are partially hidden in its hollow rear part when the bolt is in the battery. The return spring base also serves as a receiver cover lock. The cocking handle is permanently attached to the bolt carrier (in fact, it forms a single machined steel unit with the carrier), and does reciprocate when gun is fired.

As well as being the world's most used assault rifle, popular with militaries and paramilitaries world wide, the weapon has much acclaim for being one of the most reliable firearms on the planet. You could fill the firing chamber with almost anything, shoot it with another gun and do almost anything to it and it would still have the same performance as if it was just off the line (although whether the fact that a destroyed AKM is as effective as a brand new one is debatable).