This machine was developed by the famous Soviet designer M. T. Kalashnikov and bears his name. Initially, it was produced only by the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant. Today the Kalashnikov assault rifle is assembled in many countries of the world.
The history of the legendary machine gun
The Kalashnikov assault rifle (AK) was adopted in 1947. It was developed for the 1943 sample bullets. In those days, it was a weapon built on a gas outlet scheme with a long gas piston stroke. The grip and stock were made of wood to reduce weight. The Kalashnikov assault rifle has two fire modes: single and automatic (turn). On the right side of the receiver there was a fuse and a mode switch.
In 1959, the machine was modernized. Its name has changed to AKM. The mass of the weapon decreased by 700 grams, a special fire retardation mechanism appeared for a more accurate hit on the target in automatic mode, as well as a bayonet-knife. A membrane silencer has been developed. The membrane was made of rubber, which provided a better exhaust of gases that appeared during firing. The membrane had to be changed every 200 shots. In 1974, the Kalashnikov assault rifle was modernized to reduce the caliber of the bullet. New models appeared: AK-74 and AKS-74.
Advantages and disadvantages of AK
The Kalashnikov assault rifle was developed in the interests of the Soviet military doctrine, adopted in 1947. It was necessary to create a weapon that was easy to use, as reliable as possible and, moreover, cheap to manufacture. The Kalashnikov assault rifle perfectly matched all these conditions.
It only takes a few lessons to teach recruits to shoot. It practically does not misfire, as every detail has been perfectly matched by the famous designer. The vending machine may not be cleaned for a long time. Even sand trapped inside the barrel will not prevent the bullet from hitting targets with the same ease.
The simplicity of manufacture and the low cost of parts have led to the fact that the Kalashnikov assault rifle is produced all over the world today. True, counterfeits are very common in African countries. The price of a fake machine does not exceed $ 10, which is even cheaper than one chicken. Countries with a socialist system have the right to produce a Kalashnikov assault rifle only with a special license. Quality copies cost around $ 50.
This famous weapon has its drawbacks. A special automation scheme with a massive locking unit is capable of moving at a very high speed during operation, which leads to strong vibrations when firing. Because of this, there is a large dispersion of bullets. It can be quite difficult to hit the target.
