Valmet M76

Last Updated on Tuesday, 21 July 2009 15:33 Written by Administrator Thursday, 02 July 2009 16:32

The Valmet M76 is an assault rifle designed in Finland. It was manufactured from 1976 to 1986 and came in two calibres: 7.62x39mm and 5.56x45mm NATO. A semi-automatic version of the M76 was also developed for use by civilians. The M76 is also designated as RK 62 76.

Finland was one of the first countries to develop AK-47 derived assault rifles. The Valmet M76 was based on the AK-47 and was designed for use in cold Arctic conditions. Though the M76 uses the same gas-mechanism of the AK-47, its construction differs significantly in terms of the materials and the technique used.

The Valmet M76 is available in different butt configurations. Versions with a foldable and fixed stock are also available. Fixed stock versions come with either a conventional solid stock or with a steel pipe stock.

The rifle feeds from 15, 20 or 30-round detachable box magazines. The trigger guard of the rifle can also be easily removed to enable firing with a gloved finger in the cold Artic conditions. Like all other derivatives of its parent rifle i.e. the AK-47, the Valmet is very rugged and reliable even in the most extreme conditions.

Some versions and variants of the Valmet M76 have also been developed. Most notable of these is the M78. This rifle is designed as a squad support weapon and has a comparatively heavier barrel and a bipod mounting. Other than these differences, it is very much similar to the M76.

The Valmet M76 is currently being used by Finland, Qatar and Indonesia.

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