The AKS-74 is an assault rifle designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov in the early 1970s. The design of the AKS-74 is based on the earlier AKM and is chambered for the 5.45x39mm round.

The AKS-74 was designed for use by air assault infantry and thus features a side-folding metal stock to reduce size. The stock is made from stamped steel assembled using welding and thus is very robust.

On the minus side, the AKS-74 has a large muzzle flash which is a drawback. In addition, the fully-automatic fire is also somewhat random. However at close quarters, the rifle is very effective.

Several variants have been developed on the basis of the AKS-74. One such variant is the AKS-74U. This rifle is a shorted versions designed primarily for use by Special Forces. The rifle’s small dimensions were achieved by making modifications to both the barrel and also the gas-receiver system.

The AKS-74U is set to be replaced by newer members of the Kalashnikov family namely the AK-105. Other variants in the series i.e. AK-101, AK-102, AK-103 and AK-104 are also based on the AK-74.

The AKM is an upgraded version of the AK-47. It was designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov in the 1950s and was adopted by the Red Army in 1959. The AKM is one of most widely used assault rifles. Many Warsaw Pact countries and other countries in Asia and Africa field the AKM rifle. The rifle is manufactured at Izhevsk Mechanical Works and Tula Arsenal.

When compared with the AK-47, the AKM has several enhancements. The AK-47 has a stamped steel receiver which makes it very cheap to manufacture. However, this creates reliability problems. To answer this problem, prototypes were created with machined received. However this made production costs higher and so it was decided to switch back to stamped steel receivers albeit with higher quality requirements. This resulted in the AKM.

In addition, the AKM also had a redesigned muzzle that acts a crude muzzle brake. Some of the escaping gas is deflected upwards which stabilizes the gun during fire. The AKM is designed to fire the same round as the AK-47—the 7.62x39mm.

The AKM can be distinguished easily from the AK-47 by a recess above the magazine housing.

Several versions and variants of the AKM have been designed. These include AKMP, AKML, AKMLP, AKMSP, AKMSN and the AKMSNP.

When it comes to durability, cost of production, and simplicity of use, the AK-47 is undoubtedly the king of assault rifles. Ever since its design and inception into the Soviet Army, it has seen action in several wars in countries across continents. Even today, it remains the most widely used rifle in the world. In fact, more AK-47 rifles have been manufactures than all other rifles in the category combined together. In addition, the AK-47 has also inspired the designs of many other assault rifles in use in different countries and has many variants.

The AK-47 was designed by a design team led by Mikhail Kalashnikov and stands for “Avtomat Kalashnikov”. “Avtomat” in Russian means “automatic”. The design of the rifle borrows heavily from the German StG 44, but features several improvements. The rifle is primarily designed with reliability as the main criterion. When it comes to accuracy, the AK-47 lacks, but this it compensates with its other advantages which make it the king of assault rifles.

The main advantage of the AK-47 is its simple and straight forward design, small form factor, and ease of mass production. It is very cheap to manufacture and easy to maintain. The AK-47 was designed to be used in the cold Russian weather and the designers ensured that it would be reliable and fully functional even after taking-in large amounts of dust and fouling. However, on the minus side the AK-47 is much less accurate. The AK-47 was designed to have a functional life-span of over 40 years depending on the conditions of use and maintenance.

The standard AK-47 uses the 7.62x39mm cartridge. It has a muzzle velocity of about 2300 feet per second (i.e. 710 meters per second). Its effective range is about 1300 feet (i.e. 400 meters).

Some quick facts about the AK-47

--> Name of the Inventor: Mikhail Kalashnikov (Russia).

--> Year of design: 1944-46

--> Year of induction into the Army: 1947

--> Cartridge type: 7.62x39mm

--> Muzzle velocity: 2300 feet per second

--> Effective range: 1300 feet

--> Dimensions: 870 (but variable depending on the variant)

--> Weight: 4.3 Kg without the magazine

--> Firing rate: 600 rounds per minute

Variants of the AK-47

--> AK-47 1948 Model (Very rare to find now)

--> AK-47 1952 Model

--> AKS-47

--> RPK

--> AKM

--> AKMS

--> AK-74

--> AK-101

--> AK-103

--> AK-104

--> AK-107

--> AK-108

“I'm proud of my invention, but I'm sad that it is used by terrorists.”

Mikhail Kalashnikov

“I tried a dozen different modifications that were rejected. But they all served as a path to the final design.”

Mikhail Kalashnikov

“I would prefer to have invented a machine that people could use and that would help farmers with their work - for example a lawnmower.”

Mikhail Kalashnikov