This article will discuss world-famous weapons, the development of which marked the beginning of an era in the field of domestic weapons design. The performance characteristics of the Kalashnikov assault rifle improved from one model to another, but the principle of operation remained unchanged. The traditions laid down by the creator himself in his model remained unbreakable: quality, reliability, simplicity and a long service life.
History of creation...
The prerequisites for the development of a new weapon model were the results of a meeting of the technical council at the USSR People’s Commissariat in July 1943, where the captured prototype of the German StG-44 and the American carbine M1 Carbine were disassembled.
About a month later, a new experimental cartridge of 7.62 x 41 mm caliber was created, subsequently the cartridge was adjusted, as a result, the caliber was converted to 7.62 x 39 mm.
Later, a number of design competitions were announced, following which the famous machine was developed.
In 1947, it was decided to start the production of the machine in Izhevsk. And two years later, two samples were adopted: a standard AK with a caliber of 7.62 mm and a model with a folding butt - AKS - of the same caliber.
1959 marked the release of a modernized version of the machine. The flaws identified during operation were corrected, on the basis of the already used TKB-517 submachine gun, new TTXs of the Kalashnikov submachine gun were compiled and the first AKM-based machine gun was produced.
Machine
Kalashnikov assault rifle, TTX and the main parts were finalized from one version of the product to another to increase efficiency, reliability and improve quality. However, the design features remained unchanged.
From the moment the AK (Kalashnikov assault rifle) 74 was put into service , the TTX installed at that time became the starting point for the unstoppable development of design thought. The types and shapes of stocks, the shape of the handle, and the length of the barrel changed. The models of the hundredth series (in addition to the protrusions of the bayonet mount) have a slot for mounting a grenade launcher. The fifth generation assault rifle (for example, the AK-12) has Picattini rails designed for mounting various types of equipment, such as optical or collimator sights, laser target designators or a flashlight. The quality, purpose and performance characteristics of the Kalashnikov assault rifle are constantly improving.
Appointment of the main parts of the product
Now we should dwell directly on each component in order to make out which part serves for what.
Barrel - is intended to set the direction of the bullet’s flight directly when fired.
Receiver - acts as a connector for all parts and mechanisms of the machine, provides for closing the barrel with a bolt and locking the latter.
The cover of the receiver - contributes to the protection of the internal parts of the product (placed in the receiver) from contamination and penetration of foreign objects.
Sight - consists of a front sight and a sight. Designed to aim the barrel of the machine gun at the target for the most effective shooting.
Butt - provides convenient shooting with the handle.
Shutter frame - actuates the shutter and trigger mechanism. The bolt, in turn, sends the cartridge into the chamber, locks the bore, breaks the shell of the capsule, and removes the sleeve.
Return mechanism - brings the slide frame and shutter to its original (front) position.
Gas tube and receiver pad - protect the shooter's hands from burns, and also set the direction of movement of the gas piston.
Trigger mechanism - pulls the trigger in cocked (fighting) position. It strikes the striker, thereby providing automatic fire bursts or single firing. It serves to cease firing, put in fuse mode, and also prevents shots when the shutter is locked.
Handguard - serves for convenient grip of the machine when shooting. Together with a gas pipe protects the palm of the hand from a burn.
Shop - serves for storage and transportation of machine gun cartridges, as well as for feeding into the chamber for firing in different positions.
Bayonet-knife - when attached to the machine, it is used in a bayonet attack or any other form of close contact combat. It can be used as a knife, as a saw and as wire cutter.
TTX Kalashnikov AK-74 and not only
The modern model of the Kalashnikov AK-74M assault rifle has the following characteristics: the product weighs 3.6 kg without cartridges, 3.9 kg is equipped, 5.8 kg without cartridges, but with an installed night vision sight of the NSPUM model, the sight is of the NSPU-type 3 is a little lighter - only 0.1 kg.
An empty magazine weighs 0.23 kg, and a bayonet-knife outside the scabbard weighs only 0.32 kg.
The length of the machine is 940 mm, and with an attached bayonet - 1089 mm. With the butt open, this figure already has a value of 943, and with the folded butt - 704 mm. With the advent of new models of TTX Kalashnikov assault rifle undergo changes.
The barrel length is 415 millimeters together with the installed muzzle compensator torus and only 372 mm without it.
Width is also an integral part of the performance characteristics of the Kalashnikov assault rifle. It is 70 millimeters for a standard product. Height - 195 mm.
The principle of operation for all models is the same - the system of exhaust gases of burnt gunpowder and a rotary shutter - despite the TTX of a Kalashnikov assault rifle changing from one model to another.
5.45 - the caliber of the modern AK-74M.
TTX of the Kalashnikov assault rifle AKS-74U and some interesting things
The folding Kalashnikov assault rifle is shortened - this is how the abbreviation of the name of this weapon is deciphered. It is a shortened version of the standard AK-74, designed for combat missions in a small enclosed space: to equip military transport calculations in peaceful or military conditions (for example, BTR-80), calculations of various weapons, as well as landing units. It is in service in the security structures, has established itself in those due to its compactness and low weight.
It has a weight of about 3 kg with cartridges and 2.7 kg - without them. The weight of the store is 0.21 kg, the installation of the sight NSPUM weighing 2.2 kg is provided.
The length of the product is 730 millimeters with the butt extended, 490 - respectively, with the stock folded. The length of the barrel is 206 mm.
Rate of fire varies from 600 to 700 rounds per second. Sighting range of 500 meters, but effective - only 300.
A bullet fired from the AKS-74U is capable of developing an initial speed of 735 m / s.
Features AKS-74U
In view of the global trend towards the creation of shortened versions of existing assault rifles, the designers of the USSR in the 70s also took care of creating a compact model of an existing machine gun.
Compared to the original version, "drying" (sometimes there are versions with the letter "h" instead of "w") has the following features:
- a significantly shortened barrel with a mounted muzzle, which in turn serves as a flame arrester;
- the gas piston rod is almost halved;
- removed the system of slowing down the rate of fire;
- improved system for stabilizing the flight of a bullet with a shortened barrel.
Advantages
The main feature is the relatively high firing range for this type of weapon. But this is far from the only plus. It should also be mentioned:
- due to its small size, hidden wearing is possible;
- reliable, easy to disassemble, clean and reassemble;
- high penetration.
disadvantages
Despite the high popularity of the AKS-74U, the product has several disadvantages. Some of them lead to the abandonment of the use of this weapon, some require addiction. It all depends on the desire and capabilities of the owner.
- First of all, a significantly lower accuracy is noticeable to the naked eye compared to the original version of the product.
- The aiming range is similarly low, when compared with the classic version of the machine.
- Low percentage of stopping power. This term refers to the parameter of the bullet, which determines the ability of the enemy to take any further action after a bullet. In this case, a low indicator of this parameter is associated with the use of 5.45 caliber.
- The model quickly overheats due to its small size.
Kalashnikov assault rifle in popular culture
In a number of African countries, newborn boys are given the name Kalash. There are many versions of this name.
One theory says it is named after the hero of the film “22 Minutes” - a Somali pirate who helped the protagonist.
According to another version, it is claimed that the name has no semantic link to the Kalashnikov assault rifle, but means something in local dialects.
And there is also a religious interpretation rooted in totemistic religions based on the cult of patron ancestors. Such views hold about 16% of the population of Africa.
According to this interpretation, the Kalashnikov assault rifle is so famous all over the world that it is difficult to name a country that it would not affect. In particular, this weapon was also used in a number of armed conflicts and in Africa.
In the end, it came to the point that a number of African tribes that used the famous Kalash identified this weapon with the spirit of a great ancestor, capable of both harming and protecting. Therefore, when a boy was born, and, therefore, a warrior, he was called "Kalash", implying, thereby, that the future protector, support and hope of the whole family are growing.
But this is just one of the theories.
On the albums of many musical groups of different directions, images of the Kalashnikov assault rifle are used.
In the song “Dragunov” of the Swedish Industrial-group Raubtier, the Kalashnikov assault rifle is mentioned in the following context:
"Dragunov and Stolichnaya
Smirnoff and Kalashnikoff. "
Here is such an unusual application found a Kalashnikov assault rifle. The device, purpose, and performance characteristics are not involved in this.
"Kalashnikov" on the arms of the world
The famous machine gun is present or was present at different times on the arms of a number of countries. For example, it is used on the coat of arms and flag of Mozambique (with a bayonet attached), in the heraldry of the state of Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso from 1987 to 1997.
Since 2007, the outlines of Kalash have been used on the arms of East Timor.
It is also used in the emblem of the "Vanguard of the Red Youth" - a communist Bolshevik organization distributed in the states of the former USSR.
The emblem of the Ukrainian volunteer paramilitary association, formed to eliminate a local conflict in the territory of Donbass, also includes a Kalashnikov assault rifle.