Purpose of the receiver cover of the AK 74m assault rifle. All Kalashnikov assault rifles and their tactical and technical characteristics
WEAPONS DEVICE
The 5.45 mm Kalashnikov assault rifle is an individual weapon. It is designed to destroy manpower and destroy enemy fire weapons. To defeat the enemy in hand-to-hand combat A bayonet is attached to the machine gun. For shooting and observation in natural night light conditions, the AK74N and AKS74N assault rifles are equipped with a universal night rifle sight (NSPU).
For firing from a machine gun, cartridges with ordinary (steel core) and tracer bullets are used.
Automatic or single fire is fired from the machine gun. Automatic fire is the main type of fire: it is fired in short (up to 5 shots) and long (from a machine gun - up to 10 shots) bursts and continuously. When firing, cartridges are supplied from a box magazine with a capacity of 30 rounds.
Sighting range firing range for a machine gun is 1000 m. The most effective fire is against ground targets: for an assault rifle - at a range of up to 500 m, and for airplanes, helicopters and parachutists - at a range of up to 500 m. Concentrated fire from machine guns against ground group targets is carried out at a range of up to 1000 m .
Direct shot range:
The machine gun has a chest figure of 440 m,
According to the running figure - 625 m;
The rate of fire is about 600 rounds per minute.
Combat rate of fire: when firing in bursts from a machine gun - up to 100; when firing single shots from a machine gun - up to 40,
Weight of the machine gun without a bayonet with a plastic magazine loaded with cartridges: AK74 - 3.6 kg; AK74N - 5.9 kg; AKS74 - 3.5 kg; AKS74N - 5.8 kg. The weight of the bayonet with scabbard is 490 g.
Receiver covers;
Shutter;
Return mechanism;
Store.
The machine kit includes: accessories, belt and bag for magazines; The set of the machine gun with a folding butt also includes a case for the machine gun with a pocket for the magazine, and the set of the machine gun with a night sight also includes a universal night rifle sight.
The principle of operation of automation.
The automatic operation of the machine is based on the use of the energy of powder gases diverted from the barrel bore into the gas chamber.
Order incomplete disassembly machine gun (machine gun):
1) Separate the store.
2) Remove the accessory case from the stock socket.
3) Separate the cleaning rod.
4) Separate the muzzle brake-compensator from the machine gun.
5) Separate the receiver cover.
6) Separate the return mechanism.
7) Separate the bolt carrier with the bolt.
8) Separate the bolt from the bolt frame.
9) Separate the gas tube from the barrel lining.
Assembly is carried out in reverse order.
AK74: parts and mechanisms of the machine gun, their purpose; delays during shooting, their causes and solutions.
The machine consists of the following main parts and mechanisms:
Barrel with receiver, sighting device, butt and pistol grip;
Receiver covers;
Bolt frame with gas piston;
Shutter;
Return mechanism;
Gas tube with receiver lining;
trigger mechanism;
Store.
In addition, the machine gun has a muzzle brake-compensator and a bayonet-knife.
The barrel serves to direct the flight of the bullet.
The receiver serves to connect the parts and mechanisms of the machine gun, to ensure that the barrel bore is closed by the bolt and the bolt is locked. The trigger mechanism is placed in the receiver. The top of the box is closed with a lid.
The receiver cover protects the parts and mechanisms placed in the receiver from contamination.
The sighting device is used to aim the machine gun when firing at targets at various ranges. It consists of a sight and a front sight.
The butt and pistol grip serve for ease of operation of the machine gun when shooting.
The bolt frame with a gas piston serves to activate the bolt and trigger mechanism.
The bolt serves to send the cartridge into the chamber, close the barrel bore, break the primer and remove the cartridge case (cartridge) from the chamber.
The return mechanism serves to return the bolt frame with the bolt to the forward position.
The gas tube serves to guide the movement of the gas piston.
The barrel guard serves to protect the hands of the machine gunner (machine gunner) from burns when shooting.
The trigger mechanism is used to release the hammer from cocking or from the self-timer cocking, striking the firing pin, ensuring automatic or single fire, stopping firing, preventing shots when the bolt is unlocked, and putting the safety on the machine gun (machine gun).
The forend serves for ease of operation and to protect the hands of the machine gunner (machine gunner) from burns.
The magazine is used to place cartridges and feed them into the receiver.
The muzzle brake-compensator of the machine gun serves to increase combat accuracy and reduce recoil energy.
A bayonet is attached to a machine gun to defeat an enemy in battle. In addition, it is used as a knife, saw (for cutting metal) and scissors (for cutting wire).
Delays during shooting, their causes and solutions.
Parts and mechanisms of an assault rifle (machine gun), with proper handling and proper care, work reliably and without failure for a long time. However, as a result of contamination of the mechanisms, wear of parts and careless handling of the machine gun (machine gun), as well as malfunction of the cartridges, delays in firing may occur.
The delay that occurs during shooting should be tried to be eliminated by reloading, to do this, quickly pull the bolt frame back by the handle until it stops, release it and continue shooting. If the delay has not been resolved, then it is necessary to find out the cause of its occurrence and eliminate the delay as indicated below.
| Delays and their characteristics | Reasons for delays | Remedy | |
| Failure to feed cartridge The bolt is in the forward position, but the shot did not occur - there is no cartridge in the chamber | 1. The magazine is dirty or malfunctioning 2. The magazine latch is faulty | Reload the machine gun (machine gun) and continue shooting. If the delay recurs, replace the magazine. If the magazine latch is faulty, send the machine gun (machine gun) to a repair shop | |
| Sticking a cartridge The bullet cartridge hit the breech end of the barrel, the moving parts stopped in the middle position | Magazine malfunction | While holding the bolt handle, remove the stuck cartridge and continue shooting. If the delay occurs again, replace the magazine. | |
| Misfire The bolt is in the forward position, the cartridge is in the chamber, the trigger is pulled - no shot fired | 1. Malfunction of the cartridge 2. Malfunction of the firing pin or firing mechanism; contamination or hardening of the lubricant (missing or small pinhole on the primer) / 3. Jamming of the firing pin in the bolt | Reload the machine gun (machine gun) and continue firing. When the delay is repeated, inspect and clean the firing pin and trigger mechanism; If the trigger mechanism breaks or wears out, send the machine gun (machine gun) to a repair shop Separate the firing pin from the bolt and clean the hole in the bolt under the firing pin | |
| Failure to remove the cartridge case The cartridge case is in the chamber, the next cartridge rests against it with a bullet, the moving parts have stopped in the middle position | 1. Dirty cartridge or contaminated chamber 2. Contaminated or malfunctioning ejector or its spring | Pull the bolt handle back and, holding it in the rear position, separate the magazine and remove the loaded cartridge. Using a bolt or cleaning rod, remove the cartridge case from the chamber. Continue shooting. If the delay is repeated, clean the chamber and cartridges. Inspect and clean the ejector from dirt and continue shooting. If the ejector malfunctions, send the machine gun (machine gun) to a repair shop | |
| Sticking or not reflecting the sleeve The cartridge case was not thrown out of the receiver, but remained in it in front of the bolt or was sent back into the chamber by the bolt | 1. Contamination of rubbing parts, gas paths or chamber 2. Contamination or malfunction of the ejector | Pull the bolt handle back, eject the cartridge case and continue shooting. If the delay repeats, clean the gas paths, rubbing parts and chamber; Lubricate rubbing parts. If the ejector malfunctions, send the machine gun (machine gun) to a repair shop | |
| Lack of movement of the bolt frame to the forward position | Return spring failure | Replace the spring (in a combat situation, turn the front part of the spring with the tucked end back and continue shooting | |
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- To form in students an understanding of the purpose, combat properties of the AK-74, the structure of its parts and mechanisms, as well as the ability and skills when handling weapons.
Lesson objectives:
Educational
- To acquaint students with the purpose, combat properties of the AK-74 and the design of its parts and mechanisms.
- Form ideas about the automatic action of the AK-74 assault rifle.
- Teach how to perform partial disassembly and reassembly after partial disassembly of an AK-74 assault rifle.
Developmental
- To develop the intellectual qualities of students, cognitive interest and competencies in the field of military training.
- To develop students’ strong-willed qualities, independence, and the ability to overcome difficulties, using problematic situations for this purpose, creative tasks, discussions.
Educational
- To instill in students patriotic qualities, a positive attitude towards military service, instill a value-based attitude towards the Fatherland.
Study questions:
- Purpose, combat properties, general device AK-74.
- The procedure for partial disassembly and reassembly after partial disassembly of the AK-74.
- The order of operation of parts and mechanisms of the AK-74
Time: 45 minutes.
Place: Life Safety and Basics of Military Training office.
Method: Formation of new knowledge and skills.
Material support:
- Guide to the 5.45 mm Kalashnikov assault rifle. - M.: Military Publishing House, 1976
- Audiovisual information in the form of slides, video fragments.
- Multimedia console, computer.
- Handout. - 20 pcs.
- Training weapon AK - 74 - 20 pcs.
During the classes
I. Introductory part
Organizing time.
Homework survey.
During what events in Rus' did the first mention of firearms appear?
Who invented the best three-line rifle in the world and in what year and what was it called?
Name the most famous designers of the Russian and Soviet school who created first-class designs automatic weapons?
What are the most famous automatic weapons in the world?
Inform the topic of the lesson, educational goals, educational questions to be studied.
II. Main part.
Message: "Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov is an outstanding designer of small arms" Suvorov veteran of Crete. AND
1st study question
Purpose, combat properties, general structure of the AK-74.
The 5.45 mm Kalashnikov assault rifle is an individual weapon. It is designed to destroy manpower and destroy enemy fire weapons. To defeat the enemy in hand-to-hand combat, a bayonet-knife is attached to the machine gun. For shooting and observation in natural night light conditions, the AK 74N assault rifles are equipped with a universal NSPU night shooting sight.
For firing from an assault rifle (machine gun), cartridges with ordinary (steel core) and tracer bullets are used.
An ordinary bullet consists of a jacket, a steel core and a lead jacket; tracer - from a shell, a lead core, a cup and a tracer composition; armor-piercing incendiary - from a shell, a tip, a steel core, a lead jacket, a zinc pan and an incendiary composition.
The sleeve serves to connect all parts of the cartridge, protect the powder charge from external influences and eliminate the breakthrough of powder gases towards the bolt. It consists of a body, a barrel and a bottom.
The powder charge serves to impart forward motion to the bullet. It consists of pyroxylin powder.
Automatic or single fire is fired from the machine gun. Automatic fire is the main type of fire: it is fired in short (up to 5 shots) and long (up to 10 shots) bursts and continuously. When firing, cartridges are supplied from a box magazine with a capacity of 30 rounds.
The ability of the AK-74 to hit enemy targets is determined by its combat properties.
Combat properties of AK-74
1. Caliber AK-74 -5.45 mm
2. Sighting range (Distance from the departure point to the intersection of the trajectory with the aiming line) shooting from a machine gun - 1000 meters.
3. The most effective fire (degree of correspondence of firing results to the assigned fire mission):
For ground targets - up to 500 meters
For air targets (airplanes, helicopters, parachutists) - up to 500 m.
4. Focused fire (fire from several machine guns, as well as fire from one or more units, directed at one target or part of the enemy’s battle formation) against ground group targets is carried out at a range of up to 1000 meters.
5. Direct shot range (a shot in which the trajectory does not rise above the aiming line above the target along its entire length)
According to the chest figure - 440 m.,
According to the running figure - 625 m.
6. Rate of fire is about 600 rounds per minute.
7. Combat rate of fire (the number of shots that can be fired per unit of time with precise execution of shooting techniques and rules, taking into account the time required to reload the weapon, adjust and transfer fire from one target to another)
When firing in bursts - up to 100 rpm,
When firing single shots - up to 40 rpm.
8. The weight of the machine gun without a bayonet - knife with a loaded plastic magazine is 3.6 kg, the weight of a bayonet - knife with a sheath is 490 g.
General structure of the AK-74 assault rifle
The machine consists of the following main parts and mechanisms:
1 - barrel with receiver, with trigger mechanism, sighting device, butt and pistol grip; 2 - muzzle brake-compensator; 3 - receiver cover; 4 - bolt frame with gas piston; 5 - shutter; 6 - return mechanism; 7 - gas tube with receiver lining; 8 - handguard; 9 - store; 10 - bayonet; 11 - cleaning rod; 12 - pencil case accessories.
Purpose of parts and mechanisms of AK-74:
The barrel serves to direct the flight of the bullet.
The receiver serves to connect the parts and mechanisms of the machine gun, ensure the closure of the barrel bore with the bolt and lock the bolt.
The receiver cover protects the parts and mechanisms of the machine gun placed in the receiver from contamination.
The sighting device is used to aim the machine gun when shooting at targets at various distances and consists of a sight and a front sight.
The stock and pistol grip ensure comfortable shooting from the machine gun.
The bolt carrier with a gas piston is designed to operate the bolt and firing mechanism.
The bolt serves to send the cartridge into the chamber, close the barrel bore, break the primer and remove the cartridge case (cartridge) from the chamber.
The return mechanism is designed to return the bolt frame with the bolt to the forward position.
A gas tube with a barrel guard serves to direct the movement of the gas piston and protect hands from burns when shooting.
The trigger mechanism is designed to release the hammer from the combat cocking or from the self-timer cocking, striking the firing pin, ensuring automatic or single fire, stopping firing, preventing shots when the bolt is unlocked, and for putting the machine gun on safety.
The handguard is used for ease of operation with the machine gun and to protect your hands from burns.
The magazine is designed to place cartridges and feed them into the receiver.
The bayonet is attached to the machine gun before an attack and serves to defeat the enemy in hand-to-hand combat, and can also be used as a knife, saw (for sawing metal) and scissors (for cutting wire).
Question 1: What is the Kalashnikov assault rifle intended for?
Question 2: List the combat properties of the AK-74.
Question 3: What main parts and mechanisms does the machine consist of?
Question 4: What cartridges are used for shooting from a machine gun?
Question 5: What is the machine’s accessory intended for and what does it relate to?
2nd study question
The procedure for partial disassembly and reassembly after partial disassembly of the AK-74.
Disassembly of the machine can be incomplete or complete:
Incomplete - for cleaning, lubricating and inspecting the machine;
Complete - for cleaning when the machine is heavily soiled, after it has been exposed to rain or snow, and during repairs.
To disassemble and reassemble the machine:
On a table or clean mat or special table;
Place parts and mechanisms in the order of disassembly, handle them carefully, do not place one part on top of another and do not use excessive force or sharp blows.
Partial disassembly of the AK-74 assault rifle
1. Separate the store.
2. Check if there are any cartridges in the chamber and release the trigger.
3. Remove the accessory case from the stock socket.
4. Separate the cleaning rod.
5. Separate the muzzle brake-compensator.
6. Separate the receiver cover.
7. Separate the return mechanism.
8. Separate the bolt frame with the bolt.
9. Separate the bolt from the bolt frame.
10. Separate the gas tube from the barrel lining.
Assembly after partial disassembly of the AK-74 assault rifle
1. Attach the gas tube to the barrel lining.
2. Attach the bolt to the bolt carrier.
3. Attach the bolt carrier to the bolt.
4. Attach the return mechanism.
5. Attach the receiver cover.
6. Release the trigger and put the safety on.
7. Attach the muzzle brake-compensator.
8. Attach the cleaning rod.
9. Place the accessory case into the stock socket.
10. Attach the magazine to the machine.
Question 1: What types of AK-74 disassembly exist, and where are they produced?
Question 2: In what sequence is the partial disassembly of the AK-74 assault rifle carried out?
Question 3: What is the procedure for incomplete assembly of the AK-74 after incomplete disassembly.
3rd study question
The order of operation of parts and mechanisms of the AK-74.
The principle of operation of the AK-74 automatic is based on the removal of powder gases through a hole in the barrel with their subsequent impact on the piston of the bolt frame, which, under the influence of these gases, moves away, turning the bolt itself around its axis (the lugs come out of their corresponding grooves), thereby unlocking it and takes him with him. Moving backwards, the bolt deflects the cartridge case, and the frame cocks the hammer. Then, under the action of the return spring, the frame with the bolt moves back and forth, pulling out the next cartridge from the magazine and sending it into the barrel, the bolt stops (rests against the barrel). Further movement of the frame leads to rotation of the bolt stem around its axis, while the lugs enter into the reciprocal grooves in the bolt box, as a rule (the hammer is still cocked under the frame). The shutter is locked. The frame stops. If the trigger is released, then the hammer rests on the sear; if not, then the hammer, under the action of the mainspring, hits the firing pin - a shot occurs and everything starts from the beginning...
Question 1: What is the principle of operation of the parts and mechanisms of the Kalashnikov assault rifle based on?
III. Final part
Assessing students' activities in the lesson, giving grades with comments.
Homework
Learn the purpose, combat properties, general structure, procedure for partial disassembly and reassembly after partial disassembly, and the operation of parts and mechanisms of the AK-74.
Purpose, combat properties (performance characteristics) and device.
The Kalashnikov assault rifle - 5.45 mm is an individual weapon and is designed to destroy enemy personnel. To defeat an enemy in hand-to-hand combat, a bayonet - a knife - is attached to the machine gun.
Tactico - specifications
Caliber 5.45 mm
Cartridge 5.45x39 mm
Sighting range 1000 m.
starting speed bullet flight 900m/s
Combat rate of fire
when firing in bursts of 100 rounds/min.
when firing single shots 40 rounds/min.
The range of a direct shot at the chest figure is 440 m.
The range of a direct shot at a running figure is 625 m.
The range to which the bullet retains its lethal effect is 1350 m.
The range of the most effective fire is up to 500 m.
Rate of fire 600 rounds/min.
The number of rifling in the barrel is 4 pcs.
Barrel length 415 mm.
The length of the machine gun without bayonet knife is 940 mm.
The length of the machine gun with a bayonet attached is 1089 mm.
The weight of the machine gun without a bayonet knife with a loaded magazine is 3.6 kg.
The weight of the machine gun without a bayonet knife and an empty magazine is 3.3 kg.
Cartridge weight 10.2 g.
Bullet weight 3.5 g.
The weight of the bayonet - knife with sheath is 0.49 kg.
Magazine capacity 30 rounds
Kalashnikov assault rifle - 5.45 mm. consists of 9 (nine) main parts:
1st main part:Barrel with receiver, sighting device, butt and pistol grip.
Trunk- serves to direct the flight of the bullet.
Sighting device– serves for aiming the machine gun when firing at targets at various ranges, consists of a rear sight and a front sight.
Receiver– serves to connect the parts and mechanisms of the machine gun, to ensure that the barrel bore is closed by the bolt and the bolt is locked.
Pistol grip– serves to make it easier to hold the machine in your hand.
Butt– designed for ease of operation with a machine gun
2nd main part:Receiver cover.
Receiver cover– serves to protect the trigger mechanism from mechanical damage and contamination.
3rd main part:Return mechanism
Return mechanism - serves to return the bolt frame with the bolt to the extreme forward position. It consists of a return spring, a guide rod, a movable rod and a coupling.
4th main part:Bolt carrier with gas piston.
Bolt carrier with gas piston– serves to activate the shutter and trigger mechanism.
5th main part:Bolt with striker. ejector and cutout for the bottom of the sleeve.
Gate– serves to send a cartridge into the chamber, close the barrel bore, break the primer and remove the cartridge case (cartridge) from the chamber.
6th main part:Gas tube with barrel lining.
Gas tube with barrel lining– serves to direct the movement of the gas piston and protect hands from burns during shooting.
7th main part:Handguard.
Handguard– serves for convenience and to protect hands from burns.
8th main part:Shop.
Shop– serves for placing and feeding cartridges into the chamber. Includes: body, feeder, spring, locking bar, cover.
 |
9th main part:Shock trigger mechanism.
Trigger mechanism– serves to release the trigger from the combat cocking or from the self-timer cocking. striking the firing pin, ensuring automatic or single fire, stopping firing, preventing shots when the bolt is unlocked and setting the safety. USM consists of:
Trigger with mainspring– serves to strike the striker.
Single fire sear with spring– serves to hold the trigger in the rearmost position after firing, if the trigger was not released when firing a single shot.
Trigger – serves to keep the hammer cocked and to release the hammer.
Self-timer with spring– serves to automatically release the trigger from cocking the self-timer when firing in bursts, as well as to prevent the trigger from being released when the barrel is open and the bolt is unlocked.
Translator– serves to set the machine gun to automatic or single fire mode, as well as to put the safety on.
Trigger retarder with spring– serves to slow down the forward movement of the trigger in order to improve the accuracy of the battle when conducting automatic fire from stable positions.
 |  |
Parts of the machine not included in the main part:
Compensator - serves to increase the accuracy of combat when firing in bursts from unstable positions (on the move, standing, kneeling).
Front sight base- has a stop for the ramrod and the handle of the bayonet - knife, a hole for the front sight slide, a front sight safety device and a retainer with a spring.
Gas chamber - serves to direct powder gases from the barrel to the gas piston of the bolt frame.
Bayonet knife- attaches to the machine gun before an attack and serves to defeat the enemy in hand-to-hand combat.
Scabbard - serve for carrying a bayonet - knife on the waist belt. In addition, they are used in conjunction with a bayonet knife for cutting wire.
The AK-74 assault rifle kit includes:
1. store bag;
2. belt;
3. store.
Affiliation - serves for disassembling, assembling, cleaning and lubricating the machine.
Accessories include: cleaning rod, cleaning rod, brush, screwdriver, drift, pin, pencil case and oiler.
The 5.45 mm Kalashnikov assault rifle (Fig. 1) is an individual weapon, and the 5.45 mm Kalashnikov light machine gun (Fig. 2) is a rifle squad weapon. They are designed to destroy manpower and destroy enemy fire weapons. To defeat the enemy in hand-to-hand combat, a bayonet-knife is attached to the machine gun. For shooting and observation in natural night light conditions, a universal night rifle sight (NSPU) is attached to the AK74N, AKS74N assault rifles and RPK74N, RPKS74N* machine guns.
For firing from an assault rifle (machine gun), cartridges with ordinary (steel core) and tracer bullets are used.
Fig.21
Fig.22. General view of the 5.45 mm light machine gun Kalashnikov: a-c constant butt (RPK74); b-with folding stock (RPKS74): at night sight (RPK74N); on RPKS74N the belt is attached in the same way as on RPKS74
Automatic or single fire is fired from an assault rifle (machine gun). Automatic fire is the main type of fire: it is fired in short (up to 5 shots) and long (from a machine gun - up to 10 shots, from a machine gun - up to 15 shots) bursts and continuously. When firing, cartridges are supplied from a box magazine with a capacity of 30 rounds for an assault rifle and 45 rounds for a machine gun. Automatic and machine gun magazines are interchangeable.
The target firing range of an assault rifle (machine gun) is 1000 m. The most effective fire on ground targets is: for an assault rifle - at a range of up to 500 m, for a machine gun - at a range of up to 600 m, and against airplanes, helicopters and paratroopers for an assault rifle and machine gun - at a range of up to 500 m. Concentrated fire from machine guns and machine guns at ground group targets is carried out at a distance of up to 1000 m. Direct shot range: for a machine gun at the chest figure - 440 m, at a running figure - 625 m; at the machine gun By chest figure - 460 m, running figure - 640 m.
The rate of fire is about 600 rounds per minute.
Combat rate of fire: when firing in bursts from a machine gun - up to 100, from a machine gun - up to 150 rounds per minute; when firing, single shots from a machine gun - up to 40, from a machine gun - up to 50 rounds per minute.
Weight of the machine gun without a bayonet with a plastic magazine loaded with cartridges:
AK.74-3.6 kg; AK74N-5.9 kg; AKS74-3.5kg;
AKS74N - 5.8 kg. The weight of the bayonet with scabbard is 490g.
Weight machine gun with a plastic magazine loaded with cartridges: RPK74-5.46 kg;
RPK74N-7.76 kg; RPKS74-5.61 kg; RPKS74N-7.91 kg.
Let's compare some ballistic and design data of our 5.45 AK-74 assault rifle and the M16A1 rifle, which is in service with the US Army, as well as the M16A2 rifle.
The difference between the M-16A1 and A2 is that the latter can fire fixed bursts of 2-3 rounds, is shorter and lighter. The SS109 cartridge, strengthened compared to the usual 5.56. In the M-16A2, the rifling pitch was also reduced from 305 to 178 mm (as an adaptation to the SS109 itself). CAR-15 is exactly a carbine, and it’s been called that somewhere since the late 70s civil modification, which does not have an automatic fire mode and was previously intended for sale to the public. And the CAR-15A3 with a 16-inch (rifling pitch 229 mm) barrel is really practically no different in size from the AKM. If we are talking about army weapons, then we need to talk about the M4 carbine, which is in service with units special purpose, airborne troops, as well as crews of combat and special vehicles. The M4 is actually based specifically on the M-16A2, and not on the AR-15 rifle in one of its guises. However, the AR-15/M-16 family is so diverse in the variety of its modifications that you will have to compare it with the AK family. It already includes:
M635- submachine gun;
M655- carabiner;
M703- assault rifle;
M711- assault rifle;
M723- carabiner;
M731- automatic;
M733- small-sized automatic machine;
M741- light machine gun;
Pros: shooting accuracy, ease of aiming, ease of changing magazines, etc. Safe to use, cheap ammunition and its variety. Minus - it is afraid of dirt, unlike the AK, it cannot withstand strong blows.
If we compare the AK-74 with the M16A1, then the AK is practically not inferior to the American assault rifle, and even surpasses it in some respects. But the M16A2 is distinguished by increased shooting accuracy due to the weighting and lengthening of the rifle barrel to 510 mm. The rifle is available in two versions: single/continuous fire, or single/fixed bursts of three shots. The rifle is equipped with an 800 m sight, adjustable in two planes. Here, of course, it is necessary to remember that the M16A2 was created as a counterweight to our AK-74 and the difference in the time of their creation is as much as 10 years.
St. Petersburg Cadet Corps of the Russian Defense Ministry
Methodological development
Topic: “KALASHNIKOV AUTOMATIC AK-74M”
Position: teacher
St. Petersburg 2011
1. KALASHNIKOV AUTOMATIC AUTOMATIC AK-74M
2. INCOMPLETE DISASSEMBLY, PURPOSE OF PARTS AND MECHANISMS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE KALASHNIKOV AUTOMATIC AK-74
3. APPLICATION IN THE WORLD
Literature
Introduction
Brief biographical information about the Soviet designer M.T. Kalashnikov
went down in history small arms not only as the creator of the best machine gun in the world, but also as a designer who, for the first time in the world, developed and widely introduced into the troops a number of standardized models of automatic small arms, identical in automation scheme, structure and principle of operation.
In 1950-1970 based on AK for service Soviet army a whole series of unified models of small automatic weapons, developed by M.T., was adopted. Kalashnikov: AKM, AKMS, AK74, AKS74, AK74U, RPK, RPKS, RPK74, RPKS74, PK, PKS, PKM, PKSM, PKT, PKMT, PKB, PKMB.
Automatic weapons of the M.T. system Kalashnikov is widely used in the world. Automata system M.T. Kalashnikov of various modifications, according to information available in the literature, by mid-1990, about 70 million pieces were manufactured in total.
1. KALASHNIKOV AUTOMATIC AUTOMATIC AK-74M
The Ak-74M assault rifle is an individual weapon and is designed to destroy manpower and destroy enemy fire weapons.
For shooting in natural night light conditions, the NSPUM sight is attached.
The machine gun can be used in conjunction with the GP-25 under-barrel grenade launcher.
To defeat the enemy in hand-to-hand combat, a bayonet-knife is attached to the machine gun. 
Performance characteristics
| Caliber: | 5.45 mm |
| Chuck type: | 5.45x39 |
| Weight of unloaded machine gun: | 3.07 kg |
| Weight with loaded magazine: | 3.8 kg |
| Weight with loaded magazine and bayonet: | 4.1 kg |
| Length: | 940 mm |
| Length with bayonet: | 1089 mm |
| Barrel length: | 415 mm |
| Right-hand rifling: | 4 pcs, pitch - 200 mm |
| Initial bullet speed: | 900 m/s |
| Muzzle energy: | 1377 J |
| Fire mode: | single/continuous |
| Rate of fire: | 600 shots/min |
| Combat rate of fire (single): | 40 shots/min |
| Combat rate of fire (bursts): | 100 shots/min |
| Sighting range: | 1000 m |
| Direct shot range at a tall figure: | 625 m |
| Direct shot range at the chest: | 440 m |
| The range to which the lethal effect of the bullet remains: | 1350 m |
| Maximum bullet range: | 3000 m |
| Magazine capacity: | 30 rounds |
| Effective firing range: | 650 m |
Purpose, arrangement of parts and mechanisms of the machine
trunk serves to direct the flight of the bullet.
muzzle brake compensator serves to increase combat accuracy and reduce recoil energy.
gas chamber serves to direct powder gases from the barrel to the gas piston of the bolt frame.
coupling serves to attach the forend to the machine gun.
receiver serves to connect the parts and mechanisms of the machine gun, to ensure that the barrel bore is closed by the bolt and the bolt is locked.
sighting device serves to aim the machine gun at the target.
The receiver cover protects parts and mechanisms placed in the receiver from contamination.
butt and pistol grip serve for the convenience of operating the machine gun when shooting.
bolt carrier with gas piston serves to activate the bolt and trigger mechanism.
gate serves to send the cartridge into the chamber, close the barrel bore, break the primer and remove the cartridge case from the chamber.
return mechanism serves to return the bolt frame with the bolt to the forward position.
gas tube with barrel lining serves to direct the movement of the gas piston and protect the machine gunner’s hands from burns when shooting.
firing mechanism serves to release the hammer from the combat cocking or from the self-timer cocking, striking the firing pin, ensuring automatic or single fire, stopping firing and putting the safety on.
handguard serves for convenience of operation and to protect hands from burns.
shop serves to place cartridges and feed them into the receiver.
bayonet knife serves to defeat the enemy in battle.
2.
INCOMPLETE DISASSEMBLY, PURPOSE OF PARTS AND MECHANISMS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE KALASHNIKOV AUTOMATIC AK-74
Disassembly of the machine can be incomplete or complete. Incomplete - intended for cleaning, lubricating and inspecting the machine. Full - for cleaning when the machine is heavily soiled, after being in the rain or snow, when switching to a new lubricant and during repairs. Excessively frequent disassembly of the machine is harmful, as it accelerates the wear of parts and mechanisms. Disassemble and assemble the machine on a table or clean mat; Place parts and mechanisms in the order of disassembly, handle them carefully, do not place one part on top of another and do not use excessive force or sharp blows. When assembling the machine, compare the numbers on its parts.
The procedure for partial disassembly of the machine.
Initial position: the machine gun lies on the table with the barrel to the left, the bolt handle up, the participant stands a step away from the table.
At the command of the judge, the competition participant must carry out partial disassembly in the established order (except: the muzzle brake-compensator is not separated, accessories are not removed from the pencil case):
1. Separate the store- holding the machine gun with your left hand by the neck of the butt or fore-end, right hand grab the store; Pressing the latch with your thumb, push the bottom of the magazine forward and separate it.
2. Perform a control descent- lower the translator down, move the bolt handle back, inspect the chamber, release the bolt handle and release the hammer.
3. Take out the pencil case with the accessory- press the cover of the butt socket with the finger of your right hand so that the pencil case comes out of the socket under the action of a spring; Open the pencil case and take out the cleaning cloth, brush, screwdriver, drift and pin.
4. Remove the ramrod- pull the end of the cleaning rod away from the barrel so that its head comes out from under the stop on the base of the front sight, and pull the cleaning rod upward.
5. Separate the muzzle brake-compensator- Use a screwdriver to press in the muzzle brake-compensator clamp. Unscrew the muzzle brake-compensator from the threaded projection of the front sight base, rotating it counterclockwise. In case of excessively tight rotation of the muzzle brake-compensator, it is allowed to unscrew it using a ramrod inserted into the windows of the muzzle brake-compensator.
6.Remove the receiver cover.- with your left hand grab the neck (front part) of the butt, with the thumb of this hand press the protrusion of the guide rod of the return mechanism, with your right hand lift up the rear part of the receiver cover and separate the cover (turn the lid rotation angle limiters until they stop into the support pads of the base for attaching the gas tubes and receiver covers).
7. Separate the return mechanism- holding the machine gun with your left hand by the neck of the butt, with your right hand push forward the guide rod of the return mechanism until its heel comes out of the longitudinal groove of the receiver; lift the rear end of the guide rod and remove the return mechanism from the bolt frame channel.
8. Separate the bolt carrier from the bolt- while continuing to hold the machine gun with your left hand, with your right hand, pull the bolt frame back as far as it will go, lift it along with the bolt and separate it from the receiver.
9. Separate the bolt from the bolt carrier- take the bolt frame into left hand shutter up; With your right hand, pull the bolt back, turn it so that the leading lug of the bolt comes out of the figured cutout of the bolt frame, and move the bolt forward.
10. Separate the gas tube from the barrel lining- holding the machine with your left hand, with your right hand put the accessory case with a rectangular hole onto the protrusion of the gas tube contactor, turn the contactor away from you to a vertical position and remove the gas tube from the gas chamber pipe.
After completing the partial disassembly of the machine, the participant takes a step back and reports: “I have completed the partial disassembly of the machine.” The judge records the time spent on incomplete disassembly of the machine from the moment the judge gives the command until the moment when the participant, having completed all the actions, takes a step back.
Gross errors include:
retracting the bolt handle back when the magazine is not unlocked;
control descent from combat platoon was not performed.
Initial position: the machine parts are lying on the table in the position in which they found themselves after partial disassembly of the machine.
At the command of the judge, the competition participant must assemble the machine gun in accordance with the regulations (except: the muzzle brake-compensator is not attached):
1. Attach the gas tube to the barrel lining.
2. Attach the bolt to the bolt carrier.
3. Attach the bolt carrier with the bolt to the receiver.
4. Attach the return mechanism.
5. Attach the receiver cover.
6. Release the trigger and put the safety on.
7. Attach the muzzle brake-compensator
8. Attach the cleaning rod.
9. Place the pencil case into the butt socket.
10. Attach the magazine to the machine.
Upon completion of assembling the machine, the participant takes a step back and reports: “I have finished assembling the machine.” The judge records the time spent on assembling the machine from the moment the judge gives the command until the moment when the participant, having completed all the actions, takes a step back.
If serious mistakes are made, the result will be canceled! The participant receives credit for the worst time shown in the competition.
Gross errors include:
attaching the magazine before performing a control descent;
attaching a magazine to a machine that is not fused;
performing a control descent if the barrel is directed at an angle of less than 45 degrees from the horizontal plane;
lack of fixation of the gas tube;
the presence of extra parts after assembling the machine or loss of machine parts.
If the established procedure for disassembling or assembling a machine gun is violated, or if parts fall on the floor or on top of each other, the judge assigns a penalty time for each error.
Note: removal of the ramrod is allowed in any (injury-safe) way. If a participant receives an injury, the doctor records this in the protocol, and the participant receives a penalty time.
3. APPLICATION IN THE WORLD
Geography of distribution of Kalashnikov assault rifles: AK operators, operators only modernized machines countries that produce/produced their own variants based on AK
AK is so cheap to produce and widespread throughout the world that in some countries it costs less than live chicken. It can be seen in reports from almost any hot spot peace. The AK is in service with the regular armies of more than fifty countries around the world, as well as countless terrorist groups and just gangs. AK was and remains the most deadly weapon on Earth: a quarter of a million people die from its bullets every year. In the years cold war The USA and the USSR competed for spheres of influence around the world, including through arms supplies. The AK was noticeably superior to the American M1 Garand and M14 rifles in terms of reliability and ease of maintenance, making it much more suitable for poor countries that did not have a developed weapons infrastructure.
In addition, licenses for the production of AKs were received free of charge by “brotherly countries”, for example, Bulgaria, Hungary, East Germany, China, Poland, North Korea and Yugoslavia. It doesn’t take long to learn how to use an AK (the full army training course in using an assault rifle is only 10 hours), which explains why the assault rifle is so widespread among partisans, rebels and terrorists.
First combat use
The first case of mass combat use AK on the world stage occurred on November 1, 1956, during the suppression of the uprising in Hungary. Until this moment, the machine gun was hidden from prying eyes in every possible way: the soldiers carried it in special cases that concealed the outlines, and after the shooting, all the cartridges were carefully collected. The AK has proven itself well in urban combat.Vietnam War
AK also became one of the symbols Vietnam War, during which it was widely used by soldiers of the North Vietnamese army and partisans of the NLF. In the unfavorable conditions of the jungle, the M16 “black rifles”, due to the command’s economy on the quality of gunpowder, quickly broke down, and their repair was difficult, as a result of which American soldiers sometimes replaced them with captured AKs.Afghanistan
In Afghanistan, 56th Air Assault Brigade, 1987
The war in Afghanistan has accelerated the spread of AKs throughout the world. Now rebels and terrorists were armed with it. The CIA generously provided the Mujahideen with Kalashnikov assault rifles, mostly Chinese-made (in the PRC, AKs under the designation Type 56 were produced in huge quantities under license), through Pakistan. The AK was a cheap and reliable weapon, which is why the US preferred it.
Even before the withdrawal of Soviet troops, Western media paid attention to a large number of AK in the region, and the concept of “Kalashnikov Culture” entered the lexicon. After the last Soviet units left Afghanistan on February 15, 1989, the developed weapons infrastructure of the Mujahideen did not disappear anywhere, but, on the contrary, was integrated into the economy and culture of the region. For example, almost the entire shadow economy of Pakistan (groups of robbers and kidnappers, drug barons, village arms dealers) was directly dependent on the AK. It should be noted that the leader of the Afghan Mujahideen and sworn enemy of the Soviet troops, Ahmad Shah Masud, when asked: “What weapon do you prefer? ", answered: "Kalashnikov, of course."
After the entry of NATO troops into Afghanistan, the Americans were forced to face the same AKs that the CIA purchased for the Mujahideen. According to the Washington Post, Sergeant 1st Class Nathan Ross Chapman, who was shot with a Kalashnikov assault rifle by an Afghan teenager, became the first American to die in this war from enemy fire (according to the independent Internet site iCasualties.org, the first American to die in Afghanistan from enemy fire, was Johnny Spann
Iraq War
To the surprise of the coalition forces, the soldiers of the newly created Iraqi army refused the American M16 and M4, demanding AKs. According to Walter B. Slocombe, a senior adviser to the Coalition Provisional Authority, "anyone in Iraq over the age of 12 can take it apart and put it back together with their eyes closed and shoot it pretty well."
Marine USA with MPi-KMS-72, the East German analogue of AKMS
After the collapse of the USSR
After the collapse of the USSR, many ATS countries began to sell off their arsenals, but this did not lead to a collapse in AK prices. A noticeable decrease in the cost of a machine gun from approximately $1,100 to $800 at the turn of the 1980s-1990s occurred only in the Middle East; in Asia and America prices even increased (from approximately $500 to $700), and in Eastern Europe and Africa they remained virtually unchanged ( about 200-300 $)Venezuela
In 2005, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez decided to sign a contract with Russia for the supply of 100 thousand AK-103 assault rifles. The contract was completed in 2006, but Hugo Chavez is already talking about his readiness to purchase another 920 thousand assault rifles and is negotiating the establishment of licensed production of the AK-103 in the country. Hugo Chavez calls the main reason for increasing arms purchases “the threat of an American military invasion.”Estimates and prospects
The Kalashnikov assault rifle has received a wide variety of evaluations throughout its long service.At the time of its birth, the AK was effective weapon, far surpassing in all the main indicators the models of submachine guns chambered for pistol cartridges available at that time in the armies of the world, and at the same time being little inferior to automatic rifles chambered for rifle-machine-gun ammunition, having an advantage over them in compactness, weight and efficiency of automatic fire.
Fyodor Tokarev at one time described the AK as distinguished by “reliability in operation, high accuracy and shooting accuracy, and relatively low weight.”
The high combat effectiveness of the weapon was confirmed during local conflicts of the post-war decades, including the Vietnam War.
The reliability and reliability of the weapon, due to the whole complex of technical solutions adopted in it, are almost the standard for its class. It has been suggested that the AK is the most reliable military weapon since the Mauser 98 rifle. Moreover, it is ensured even with the most careless and unskilled care, in the most difficult conditions.
However, as the weapon became obsolete, its shortcomings began to become increasingly apparent, both those that were characteristic of it initially and those that were revealed over time due to changes in the requirements for small arms and the nature of combat operations.
At the present time, first of all, it should be noted that even the latest modifications of the AK are generally outdated weapons that have practically no reserves for significant modernization.
The general obsolescence of the weapon also determines many of its specific significant shortcomings.
First of all, there is a significant mass of weapons by modern standards, due to the widespread use of steel parts in their design. At the same time, the AK itself cannot be called overly heavy, however, any attempts to significantly modernize it - for example, lengthening and weighting the barrel to increase shooting accuracy, not to mention the installation of additional sighting devices - inevitably take its weight beyond the limits acceptable for military weapons, which is well demonstrated by the experience of creating and operating the Saiga and Vepr hunting carbines, as well as RPK machine guns. Attempts to lighten the weapon while maintaining an all-steel structure (that is, the existing production technology) also lead to an unacceptable reduction in its service strength, which is partly proven by the negative operating experience of early batches of the AK74, the rigidity of the receivers of which turned out to be insufficient and required strengthening of the structure - that is, here the limit has already been reached and there are no reserves for modernization. In addition, on an AK, the bolt is locked using the cutouts of the receiver liner, and not the barrel extension, as in more modern models, which does not allow the receiver to be made from lighter and more technologically advanced ones in production, although less durable materials. Two lugs are also simple, but not optimal solution, - even the bolt of the SVD rifle has three lugs, providing more uniform locking and a smaller angle of rotation of the bolt, not to mention modern Western models, for which we are usually talking about at least six lugs.
A significant drawback in modern conditions is the weapon’s collapsible receiver with a detachable lid. This design makes it impossible to mount modern types of sights (collimator, optical, night) using Weaver or Piccatini rails: placing a heavy sight on a removable receiver cover is useless due to the presence of significant structural play. As a result, most AK-like weapons allow the installation of only a limited number of sight models that use a very outdated side bracket, which also shifts the center of gravity of the weapon to the left and does not allow the butt to be folded on those models where this is provided for by the design.
The only exceptions are rare variants such as the Polish “Beryl” assault rifle, which has a separate pedestal for the aiming bar, fixedly attached to the lower part of the receiver, or the South African “bullpup” design. assault rifle» Vector CR21, in which the collimator sight is located on a bar attached to the standard AK sight base - with this arrangement it ends up right in the area of the shooter’s eyes. The first solution is quite palliative, it significantly complicates the assembly and disassembly of the weapon, and also increases its bulkiness and weight; the second is suitable only for weapons made according to the bullpup design.
On the other hand, it is thanks to the presence of a removable receiver cover that the assembly and disassembly of the AK is quick and convenient, which also provides excellent access to the parts of the weapon when cleaning it.
All parts of the trigger mechanism are compactly assembled inside the receiver, thus playing the role of both the bolt box and the body of the firing mechanism (trigger box). By modern standards, this is a disadvantage of weapons, since more modern systems(and even for the relatively old Soviet SVD and American M16) the trigger is usually made in the form of a separate, easily removable unit, allowing quick replacement to obtain various modifications (self-loading, with the ability to fire bursts of a fixed length, and so on), and in the case of the M16 platform - and modernization of weapons by installing a new receiver unit on the existing trigger unit (for example, to switch to a new caliber of ammunition), which is a very economical solution.
There is even less need to talk about the deeper degree of modularity characteristic of many modern small arms systems, for example the use of quick-change barrels of various lengths, in relation to the AK.
The high reliability of the AK family, or more precisely, the methods used in its design to achieve it, is at the same time the reason for the significant shortcomings characteristic of it. The increased impulse of the gas venting mechanism, coupled with a gas piston fixedly attached to the bolt frame and large gaps between all parts, on the one hand, leads to the fact that the automatic weapon operates flawlessly even with heavy contamination (contamination is literally “blown out” from the receiver when fired), - but at the same time, the bolt frame comes to the extreme rear position at a speed of about 5 m/s (for comparison, in systems with “softer” automatic operation, even at the initial stage of the bolt moving back, this speed usually does not exceed 4 m/s), guarantees a strong shock to the weapon when firing, which significantly reduces the effectiveness of automatic fire. According to some of the available estimates, weapons of the AK family are not at all suitable for conducting effective aimed fire in bursts. This is also the reason for the relatively large bolt overhang, and therefore the longer receiver length, to the detriment of the barrel length while maintaining the overall dimensions of the weapon. On the other hand, the AK bolt runs out completely inside the receiver, without involving the cavity of the butt, which makes it possible to make the latter foldable, reducing the dimensions of the weapon when carried.
In fact, the shortcomings described above are quite sufficient to come to the conclusion that in order to radically improve the tactical and technical characteristics of the AK, it essentially needs to be designed anew, with fundamental changes in all key components and manufacturing technology.
Other shortcomings are less radical in nature and can be characterized more as individual characteristics of the sample.
One of the shortcomings of the AK, related to the design of its trigger, is often cited as the inconvenient location of the translator-safety (on the right side of the receiver, under the cutout for the cocking handle) and a clear click when removing the weapon from safety, supposedly unmasking the shooter before opening fire. However, it is noted that in combat conditions, if there is at least some probability of opening fire, there is no need to put the weapon on safety at all - even in the cocked state, the probability of an accidental shot, for example when the weapon is dropped, is practically zero. Many foreign versions (Tantal, Valmet, Galil) have an additional safety switch conveniently located on the left, which can significantly improve the ergonomics of the weapon. The trigger of an AK is considered to be quite tight, but it is noted that this can be easily corrected with simple skill.
The cocking handle located on the right is often considered a disadvantage of the AK family; it is necessary, however, to note that this arrangement was at one time adopted based on very practical considerations: the handle located on the left, when carrying the weapon “on the chest” and moving it crawling, would rest against the shooter’s body, causing him significant discomfort. This was just typical, for example, for German submachine gun MP40. The experimental Kalashnikov assault rifle of 1946 also had a handle located on the left, but the Military Commission considered it necessary to move it, like the fire safety switch, to the right.
An AK magazine receiver without a developed neck has also often become the object of criticism as not being ergonomic - sometimes there are claims that it increases the time it takes to change a magazine by almost 2-3 times compared to a system with a neck. However, it is noted that the AK magazine is attached, although not in the most convenient way, but in any conditions, unlike, for example, the M16 rifle, the receiving neck of which in extreme conditions often gets filled with dirt, after which installing the magazine in it becomes very problematic. In addition, in combat conditions, the practical rate of fire of a weapon is determined to a greater extent by the design of the magazine pouch than by the speed of its change.
The ergonomics of all AK variants have often been the subject of criticism. The AK stock is considered too short, and the handguard is considered too “elegant”, but one must keep in mind that this weapon was created for the relatively short soldiers of the 1940s, as well as taking into account its use in winter clothes and gloves. The situation could be partially corrected by a removable rubber butt pad, versions of which are widely offered on the civilian market. IN Russian units for special purposes and in the civilian market, it is very common to use non-serial versions of stocks, pistol grips, and so on on various AKs, which increases the ease of use of weapons, although it does not solve the problem in itself and leads to a significant increase in its cost.
Regular sights From a modern point of view, AKs should be considered quite crude, and the short sighting line (the distance between the front sight and the rear sight slot) does not contribute to high shooting accuracy. Most of the significantly redesigned foreign variants based on the AK first of all received just more advanced sighting devices, and in most cases - with a completely diopter type located close to the shooter's eye (for example, see photo of the sight of the Finnish Valmet assault rifle). On the other hand, compared to the diopter, which has real advantages only when shooting at medium-long ranges, the “open” AK sight provides faster transfer of fire from one target to another and is more convenient when conducting automatic fire, since it covers the target less.
The accuracy of the weapon's fire was not his strong point from the very adoption, and, despite constant increase this characteristic during modernization remained at a lower level than that of similar foreign models. However, in general it can be considered acceptable for military weapons chambered for this cartridge. For example, according to data obtained abroad, AKs with a milled receiver (that is, an early 7.62 mm modification) regularly produced groups of hits with a diameter of 2-3-3.5 inches (~5-9 cm) at 100 yards with single shots ( 90 m). The effective range in the hands of an experienced shooter was up to 400 yards (approximately 350 m), and at this distance the dispersion diameter was approximately 7 inches (~18 cm), that is, a quite acceptable value for hitting a single person. Weapons chambered for low-pulse cartridges also have best characteristics.
In general and in general, although AK certainly has numerous positive traits and will be suitable for a long time to arm the armies of countries in which they are accustomed to it, the need to replace it with more modern models, moreover, with radical differences in design that would make it possible not to repeat the above-described fundamental shortcomings of the outdated system, is obvious.
Literature
1. Lovi A.A., Minin R.A. Organization of fire training classes. M., DOSAAF Publishing House, 1970, pp. 51-64.
2. Manuals on shooting (extracts). M., Voenizdat, 1973, pp. 98-115, 124-131.
3. A manual for training young soldiers. M., Military Publishing House, pp. 109-130.
4. Tutorial according to initial military training. Ed. 8th, rev. And additional M., DOSAAF Publishing House, 1977, p. 215-225.
5. Materials from the site ru.wikipedia.org
