AK-47 is a caliber. AK-47 Kalashnikov assault rifle

In the world of weapons there are not so many samples that have become a legend. The bullet sword was replaced by a Kalashnikov assault rifle. The hand that squeezes AKM became the same symbol of victory as the hand that had been portrayed before, holding the sword.

Caliber and chuck

The era of modern weapons can be counted off from the First World War. The world entered into it with shop rifles of enormous power and range of fire. Military doctrines painted dense chains of infantry, approaching for a bayonet attack and leading a counter fire to defeat. The range of fire depended on the capacity of the cartridge and the length of the barrel. All armies of the world armed with rifles of caliber from 7.5 to 9 millimeters with a long sleeve, containing the necessary charge of gunpowder. Except for the Japanese. The cartridge for the rifle "Arisaki" had a caliber of six millimeters and a smaller powder charge. The combat experience of the First World crossed out previous stereotypes. The need for less powerful small arms became apparent, allowing fire in automatic mode. Soviet designers have relied on the Japanese cartridge, developing several samples of automatic weapons based on it. However, like the use of a pistol cartridge, it turned out to be a half-measure.

Work on a cartridge of lower power and weight was carried out by the military in many countries. But for a radical change in the basic expendable material of the war, there was not enough confidence in the right choice and willingness to take risks. The army leadership preferred balancing between heavy automatic carbines with rifle cartridges and submachine guns, which had modest characteristics. The Germans made a decisive step by putting an intermediate cartridge of 7.92 × 33 mm caliber and creating a model for it in 1943, which laid the foundation for a new class of small arms - automatic weapons.

German test

The Germans themselves called their new product "Sturmgeveer", which meant "assault rifle". The StG-44 did not cause a turning point in the war. He did not even leave vivid impressions in the memories of the participants in the war. But it allowed all interested parties to see the advantages and disadvantages of the new system not on the ground, but on the battlefield. The Soviet machine, created on the basis of the domestic intermediate cartridge, was named AK-47. The caliber remained the same as that of the rest of the small arms.

Development of AK-47

The Soviet intermediate cartridge was created in 1943. At the same time, the design of weapons for him, including the future author of the AK-47, began. The caliber of the bullet allowed us to use the usual standards in production. In addition to Kalashnikov, the work was carried out by several design bureaus. The first Soviet automatic was the AS-44, the design of Sudayev. The military tests revealed its shortcomings and caused the need to consider new samples, one of which was the precursor AK-47 / 7.62 mm.

"Everything is stolen before us!"

In addition to Mikhail Kalashnikov, who represented his group, other designers also proposed the created models. The machines of all domestic developers are close to each other in a general manner and have a similarity with StG-44, which is often accused of AK-47. The caliber of all Soviet automatic machines corresponded to a new intermediate patron, under which they were created. Kalashnikov designed his weapons, drawing not only on the layout created by Schmeisser, but also on the experience of Soviet developers who offered similar options. Despite the closeness of the appearance to the German Sturmgeuver, the mechanism of the machine is built on a different principle and is not a clone or development of Schmeisser's design . The AK-47 was much more successful than its competitors, although it is not without drawbacks. In 1949, it was adopted by the Soviet Army in the infantry and amphibious version. Later on, based on the design of the machine, a line of machine guns was created for use in infantry orders and armored vehicles.

Weapon Features

The main feature of the machine is the balance of its properties. Probably, this is the manifestation of the design talent. Ability to correctly prioritize, as did Kalashnikov. The AK-47 incorporates already known and previously tested solutions. Embodied in his product, they led to the creation of a new quality. The basis of the design solution is a bolt rotating in the receiver under the influence of the energy of the powder gases. This is a rather massive element of the mechanism, made of a single piece of metal. All automation is provided by its reciprocating motion in the receiver, at which the extraction of the spent cartridge case and doses to the barrel of a new cartridge from the magazine takes place. At each point of its trajectory, the shutter rotates by a certain angle defined by the design. And every turn means doing something. Heavy shutter required a solid steel box and a powerful gas removal mechanism. Free sliding and rotation of the shutter allowed to leave large enough tolerances between the parts. All these features led to the appearance of a very simple automatic, durable, reliable, non-contaminating weapons. The parameters of simplicity and reliability inherent in AK have long become the highest standard for weapon designers.

Criticism

The military ministry made many remarks to the new machine. Features of the weapon determined its strengths and weaknesses. The heavy bolt and large power of the gas piston created a significant return, leading the barrel off the line of sight when firing bursts. It is this shortcoming, revealed even in the period of competitive tests, is still being blamed for a well-deserved machine. But it was not possible to overcome it in any of the following modifications, performed according to the classical scheme. The AK-47 machine weighed about four and a half kilograms in the equipped condition. This weight was also regarded as a disadvantage that one should strive to overcome. The problem was solved with the transition to a reduced caliber of the cartridge in the following modifications.

Strengths

The arguments about the merits and demerits are of a somewhat academic nature. Decades of war showed better what the Kalashnikov assault rifle is worth. Combat experience in all climatic and natural areas in the hands of professional military and irregular militia made this weapon a legend. Reliability, firepower, strength and reliability often determined the choice in favor of this weapon. The soldier did not doubt that if he was anywhere in the world with this gun in his hands, his weapons would fire. In the arctic cold and in a tropical swamp. In a dust storm and in a sticky mud trench. A monolithic bolt, thrown by a gas piston, will break through to itself and through the frozen oil, and through the packed sand. A sturdy receiver will retain geometry even when the forehearth lights up from overheating of the barrel. The weapon will not jam and will not warp. The machine will always fire and in all conditions. It is this characteristic of the Kalashnikov assault rifle that leaves its competitors behind the board. The rest depends on the fighter himself. In the hands of the trained arrow, "Kalashnikov" shows excellent results in the accuracy of the fire. In the hands of an inexperienced Irregular, he spews a flurry of lead until the cartridges run out.

World top

The transition to a new type of rifle system coincided with the rearmament of countries of socialist orientation and the collapse of the colonial system. A simple and reliable Kalashnikov assault rifle, the price of which was not inflated, came to court in all situations. Before the appearance of the American M-16 rifle, he practically had no competitors in his class. This ensured its wide spread in the world. During the Vietnam War, the machine was delivered to the armed forces of the Viet Cong. Then he met on the battlefield with an American development. "Kalashnikov" stood comparison with this weapon. It was the reliability, reliability, power of fire that were obvious advantages. The best accuracy, the large aim range of the American rifle did not affect the fighting efficiency of the soldiers so much as its capriciousness, propensity to interrupt the fire due to pollution and exacting care. The highest characteristic of the Kalashnikov assault rifle is confirmed in all forms of military conflicts.

Development of the system

Later, the machine was subjected to improvements, AKM was replaced in the AK-47. The caliber of the modern version of this weapon has already changed. AK-74 uses ammunition of 5.45 mm caliber, which allowed to reduce the weight of the machine. The principle of automation, general layout, legendary reliability and firepower remained unchanged, which distinguishes the Kalashnikov assault rifle. The price on the arms market remains within democratic limits.