5 Pertanyaan Penguji Dimilikinya Karakter Unggul
Siapakah jatidiri Anda?
Anda tidak akan pernah memiliki karakter unggul jika Anda tidak dapat menjawab pertanyaan itu dengan tegas, clear, dan lantang. Seseorang yang sangat menghormati dirinya, akan bangga dengan jatidirinya. Jika dia seorang yang dilahirkan di Indonesia, dia tidak akan ragu untuk menyatakan “I am Indonesian” di mana pun dia berada, siapa pun yang bertanya. Kekurangan negaranya dan stereotip buruk yang melekat pada bangsanya tidak akan pernah melunturkan kebanggaan akan jatidirinya sebagai bagian dari bangsa itu. Dia tidak akan pernah menyatakan “Saya mencintai negara Anda, dengan segala kelebihan dan kekurangannya”. Dengan tegas dia akan mengatakan “Apa pun pendapat Anda tentang negara saya, Saya bangga menjadi Bangsa Indonesia!”. Jika Anda muslim, nyatakan dengan tegas jatidiri muslim Anda. Jika Anda karyawan, nyatakan dengan tegas jatidiri Anda sebagai karyawan. Jika Anda pengusaha, nyatakan dengan tegas jatidiri Anda sebagai pengusaha. Jatidiri adalah identitas Anda setelah nama Anda.
Apa yang benar-benar Anda yakini?
Keyakinan adalah elemen sangat penting dalam pribadi manusia. Seperangkat keyakinanlah yang menuntun dan bahkan menjadikan seperti apa Anda akan dikenali oleh lingkungan Anda. Semua pribadi bergerak dipandu oleh keyakinan-keyakinan yang ada dalam hatinya. Betapa dahsyatnya peran keyakinan hingga banyak pribadi bersedia mengorbankan nyawanya untuk sebuah keyakinan yang dipegangnya. Dalam sejarah kelam Amerika Serikat, ratusan nyawa melayang pada ritual bunuh diri massal hanya karena pemimpin sektenya berhasil meyakinkan mereka bahwa hari kiamat akan segera tiba! Sebagai pembuka, mungkin pertanyaan-pertanyaan ini membantu Anda menemukan keyakinan-keyakinan Anda yang belum tersentuh. Apakah Anda benar-benar percaya bahwa Tuhan itu ada? Apakah Anda benar-benar yakin bahwa Tuhan itu menjamin rezeki Anda dan keluarga? Apakah Anda benar-benar yakin bahwa esok hari Anda masih hidup? Apakah Anda yakin bahwa tidak ada hari esok yang lebih baik?
Apa yang benar-benar Anda perjuangkan?
What are you fighting for! Bila Anda harus menukar nyawa Anda dengannya dan ternyata Anda rela, itulah sesuatu yang sedang Anda perjuangkan! Nah, dalam dunia saat ini yang setiap kemenangan diperoleh melalui kompetisi, maka daya dorong sesungguhnya ada dalam seberapa keras Anda memperjuangkannya. Banyak keinginan yang akan menjadi sesuatu yang Anda perjuangkan. Tapi jika Anda cermat meneliti, sangat sedikit keinginan yang benar-benar pantas untuk Anda perjuangkan. Hanya keinginan yang memiliki value tinggi, besar, mulia, dan berdampak jangka sangat panjanglah yang pantas diperjuangkan. Bukan tidak mungkin jika perjuangan itu, untuk sesuatu di luar diri Anda! Misalnya, Anda berjuang untuk kebahagiaan atau kebaikan orang lain. Pribadi-pribadi yang berkarakter kuat selalu memiliki perjuangan yang besar dan mulia!
Kompetensi apa yang benar-benar sedang Anda bangun?
Kita semua telah dan sedang membangun kompetensi kita, disadari atau tidak, direncanakan atau tidak. Banyak sekali pribadi yang tidak sadar bahwa dirinya sedang membangun kompetensi yang merusak dirinya. Misalnya, seseorang yang membiasakan diri menunda, sesungguhnya sedang membangun kompetensi penunda. Seseorang yang membiasakan dirinya malas, sesungguhnya dia sedang membangun kompetensi pemalas. Seseorang yang korupsi, sesungguhnya dia sedang membangun kompetensi koruptor dalam dirinya dan nanti akan merasa bangga melakukannya (hanya ada di Indonesia, tersangka koruptor melambai-lambaikan tangannya di depan kamera). Mohon diingat, kompetensi dibangun melalui proses belajar, bergaul, dan pengalaman yang panjang.
Siapakah pemimpin yang Anda pilih?
Banyak bawahan merasa ditakdirkan memiliki atasan. Itu sangat benar. Tapi atasan Anda berbeda dengan pemimpin Anda. Atasan hanyalah orang yang menduduki jabatan struktural di atas Anda. Dia tidak berwenang sedikitpun untuk mendikte Anda, jika Anda tidak mengizinkannya. Orang yang akan menuntun Anda, menjadi inpirator Anda, menjadi mentor Anda, menjadi motivator Anda, atau orang yang akan menjadi pemimpin Anda haruslah orang yang sudah Anda seleksi. Anda lah yang memilih pemimpin Anda! Untuk itu, pastikan Anda melakukan seleksi bahkan kalau memungkinkan melakukan audisi dahulu sebelum memilihnya. Anda tidak bisa menjadi pemberani jika pemimpin yang Anda pilih bersifat penakut dan peragu. Mungkinkah bangsa ini akan memiliki kebanggaan berbangsa dan berkarakter pemberani jika pemimpinnya peragu, safety player, atau tidak tegas? Entahlah. Pencitraan diri yang tegas dan pemberani hanya efektif jika dibuktikan dalam tindakan, bukan oleh pidato pembelaan diri tentunya.
Sumber:syarifniskala.com)
Kamis, 21 Oktober 2010
Selasa, 14 September 2010
W A R N A dan K A R A K T E R
WARNA dapat merubah segalanya, itulah kata yang tepat untuk menggambarkan bahwa WARNA mempunyai daya tarik terhadap kehidupan di sekitar kita. Tidak hanya untuk terapi, tapi WARNA juga dapat menggambarkan kepribadian seseorang, hanya dilihat dari sesukaannya terhadap WARNA. Berikut ini adalah beberapa contoh dari arti kepribadian seseorang menurut WARNA:
- MERAH
Perfeksionis, Energik, lebih cenderung mengikuti kata hati dan akan mengejar sesuatu yang disukainya, ambisius, terbuka, berani tapi amat sensitif dan mudah tersinggung. Selalu ingin didengarkan dan menjadi pusat perhatian dan sedikit agak egois. Mempunyai fantasi erostik yang tinggi dan suka berpetualang dalam hal seks. Amat posesif dan mencintai dengan sangat. - MERAH BATA
Menyukai keintiman dan kasih sayang, amat peka dan cengeng, lebih memuja keindahan fisik. - [color=dark red]MERAH KEHITAMAN[/color]
Cenderung tertutup, mampu menjaga rahasia karena sifatnya pencuriga, sangat cemburu dan menyukai pasangan yang tenang dan matang dan tidak terlalu memuja seks. - MERAH MUDA
Cenderung tak tegas, sangat mementingkan urusan orang lain sampai urusan sendiri terlupakan. Cenderung kekanakan dengan kepribadian lemah dan selalu mebutuhkan dukungan. Sangat telaten dan mengagumi keindahan. - PUTIH
Terbuka, optimis, memandang hidup dengan riang, realistis, dan mampu mengendalikan emosi. Dengan kepercayaan diri yang tinggi dan menonjolkan diri sehingga suka bekerja sendiri dibandingkan dalam kelompok. Tak suka berkhayal, pemikiran rasional, matematis dan materialistis. Ia tak pandai memuji dan memanjaukan pasangan dan tidak terlalu cemburu. Setia, amat hemat, modis, pembersih dan agak pesolek. Cocok dengan penyuka warna merah dan biru. - BIRU
Romantis dan sensitif, terbuka dan bisa menjaga rahasia. Mudah tersentuh hatinya dan setia kawan, setia dan rela berkorban. Penganalisa dengan kesimpulan yang cukup kuat. Erotik dengan daya khayal luar biasa. - [color=royal blue]BIRU MUDA[/color]
Lebih sensitif, gampang tersentuh, gemar mengalah, agak penyendiri, setia, posesif dan agak sulit bergaul. - BIRU TUA
Keras, gampang tersentuh.gampang melanggar janji / komitmen. - KUNING
Menyenangkan, menarik, amat perhatian, penuh rasa ingin tahu dan melibatkan diri dengan masalah. Menyukai tantangan, tak bisa berdiam diri, menyukai pemikiran yang rumit, dan serius. Naluri kuat dan berspekulasi. Agak otoriter, tapi mempunyai banyak kawan, berpetualang sehingga kurang setia, dengan daya khayal seks yang tinggi. Cocok dengan penyuka warna putih. - HITAM
Kokoh dalam pendirian, kukuh dalam janji, setia dan keras dalam kemauan. Dengan kharisma yang kuat mempengaruhi orang sekitar, dan penuh dengan ide - ide kreatif. Gampang mengaku salah dan memuji lawan. Lebih mementingkan hubungan yang lama, matang, hangat dan tak mengebu-gebu. - ORANGE
Praktis, serba cepat, tak pernah diam, luar biasa kreatif dan jarang fokus. Tak sabar, rasa curiga yang berlebihan, tak bisa melupakan persoalan dengan mudah dan pengkhayal. Watak petualang yang tinggi, pemuji yang hebat malah terkesan penjilat. Sedikit romantis, jarang mau mengalah. Cocok dengan penyuka warna hitam, merah dan biru terang. - HIJAU
Misterius, susah ditebak dan amat pandai menyimpan rahasia dan kejutan. Tak mudah percaya atau mempercayakan sesuatu kepada orang lain, pemimpin dan motivator. Senang dengan kegiatan sosial, pengamat gaya yang baik, kreatif tapi agak sensitif. Menyukai pasangan pria yang pandai memuji dan mengutamakan keromantisan (penyuka warna hitam dan biru). Untuk pria cocok dengan penyuka warna putih.
Psikologi : Warna & Kepribadian
Pilih sebuah bentuk dibawah ini yang paling kamu senangi lalu baca kepribadianmu dibawahnya
Seorang psikologis mengembangkan bentuk-bentuk ini, yang telah diuji secara luas di dunia selama beberapa tahun. Warna warnanya telah mengalami perbaikan dan diuji lagi sampai didapatkan satu set bentuk yang terbaik. Bentuk-bentuk ini mewakili sembilan tipe kepribadian dasar.
1. Introspektif, Sensitif , Reflective
Kamu lebih sering dan fokus terhadap diri dan lingkungan sendiri daripada berinteraksi dengan orang lain. Kamu membenci kedangkalan, lebih senang menyendiri daripada terluka karena bisikan orang. Tapi hubunganmu dengan teman-temanmu sangat intensif, yang memberikanmu ketenangan dan keserasian yang kamu butuhkan untuk merasa baik. Bagaimanapun itu bukan masalah bagimu untuk menyendiri untuk beberapa waktu tanpa menjadi bosan.
2. Mandiri ,Tidak biasa (tidak konvensional) ,Tak tertekang
Kamu menginginkan kebebasan dan ketidakterikatan hidup yang membiarkanmu menentukan jalan kamu sendiri. Kamu memiliki bakat artistik dalam kerjaanmu dan aktifitas luangmu. Desakan untuk bebas kadang menyebabkan kamu melakukan perbuatan yang sangat berlawanan dengan apa yang kamu inginkan.
Gaya hidupmu sangat individual. Kamu tidak akan meniru secara buta apa yang sedang "in", disisi lain kamu mencari kehidupan yang sesuai dengan cita cita dan dan pendirianmu, bahkan bila harus berenang melawan pasang.
3. Dinamis ,Aktif ,Mementingkan hal-hal lahir
Kamu sungguh berkeinginan untuk menerima beberapa resiko dan berkomitmen kuat dalam menukar ketertarikan dan pekerjaan yang bervariasi. Rutin, berlawanan, cenderung berefek melumpuhkanmu. Apa yang paling kamu sukai adalah bisa memainkan peran dalam banyak bidang.Dalam melakukannya, inisiatifmu lebih kuat.
4. Bersahaja,Sangat teguh pendirian ,harmonis
Kamu menghargai gaya dan cinta alami yang tidak rumit. Orang mengagumimu karena kamu memiliki kemampuan bertanan kuat dan mereka bergantung padamu. Kamu memberikannya pada orang yang dekat perlindungan dan jarak. Kamu merasa hangat dan manusiawi. Kamu menolak segala sesuatu yang mencolok dan usang. Kamu cenderung ragu pada tingkah/perubahan trend mode. Bagimu pakaian harus praktis dan bagus yang tidak menonjol.
5. Professional ,Pragmatis ,Percaya diri
Kamu bertanggung jawab pada hidupmu, meletakkan lebih kecil keberuntunganmu dan lebih kepada perbuatanmu sendiri.Kamu memecahkan masalah dengan tindakan yang praktis dan tidak rumit. Kamu memandang secara realistis sesuatu dalam hidupmu dan menanganinya dengan baik. Kamu diberi tanggung jawab yang besar dalam pekerjaan, karena orang tahu bahwa kamu dapat diandalkan. Kekuatan tegasmu terhadap kemauan akan memproyeksikan keyakinanmu terhadap orang lain. Kamu tidak akan pernah benar-benar merasa puas sampai semua cita-citamu
6. Tenang/Damai ,Bijaksana,Tidak Agresif
Kamu menanggap hidup mudah karena bijaksana. Kamu mendapatkan teman tanpa kesukaran karena menikmati keprifasianmu dan kemandirianmu. Kamu sering menjauh darinya dan menyendiri dari waktu ke waktu untuk merenungi arti kehidupan dan menikmati sendiri. Kamu membutuhkan tempat untuk persembunyian yang indah, tapi kamu tidak seoarang penyendiri. Kamu tenang terhadap diri sendiri dan dunia, dan menghargai hidup dan apa yang dunia tawarkan.
7.Riang,Suka bermain/melucu,menyenangkan
Kamu menyukai kehidupan yang bebas dan spontan. Dan kamu berusaha menikmatinya secara penuh karena memegang moto " KAmu hanya hidup sekali.Keingin tahuanmu besar dan terbuka trhadp segala sesuatu yang baru, kamu berkembang dengan perubahan. Kamu menganggap lingkunganmu serbaguna dan selalau memberikan kejutan.
8. Romantis,Pemimpi ,Emosional
Kamu sangat sensitif. Kamu menolak melihat sesuatu dari sudut pandang kesederhanaan dan tasionalitas. Apa yang perasaanmu katakan sangat penting untukmu. Kenyataanya, Kamu merasa penting untuk memiliki mimpi-mimpi dalam hidup. Kamu menolak orang yang mencemoohkan romantisme dan hanya dikendalikan oleh rasionalitas. Kamu menolak utnuk membiarkan sesuatu membatasi keragaman kekayaan mood dan emosimu.
9. Analitis,Terpercaya ,Percaya diri
Senstifitas sebentarmu mewakili kualitas dan ketahanan yang tinggi.Konsekuensinya, kamu suka menyelimuti dirimu dengan " mutiara kecil " yang kamu temukan dimanapun orang lain mengabaikannya. Lalu, Budaya sangat mempengaruhi kehidupanmu. Kamu telah temukan kehidupanmu sendiri, yaitu elegan/luwes dan eksklusif, bebas dari pengaru mode. Idealmu, kamu mendasarkan kehidupanmu, adalah dibudayakan kesenangan.Kamu menilai tingkatan budaya seseorang pada siapa kamu berbicara.
Sumber:http://fkgunpad.forumotion.com/the-lounge-f6/psikologi-warna-kepribadian-t9.htm
Seorang psikologis mengembangkan bentuk-bentuk ini, yang telah diuji secara luas di dunia selama beberapa tahun. Warna warnanya telah mengalami perbaikan dan diuji lagi sampai didapatkan satu set bentuk yang terbaik. Bentuk-bentuk ini mewakili sembilan tipe kepribadian dasar.
1. Introspektif, Sensitif , Reflective
Kamu lebih sering dan fokus terhadap diri dan lingkungan sendiri daripada berinteraksi dengan orang lain. Kamu membenci kedangkalan, lebih senang menyendiri daripada terluka karena bisikan orang. Tapi hubunganmu dengan teman-temanmu sangat intensif, yang memberikanmu ketenangan dan keserasian yang kamu butuhkan untuk merasa baik. Bagaimanapun itu bukan masalah bagimu untuk menyendiri untuk beberapa waktu tanpa menjadi bosan.
2. Mandiri ,Tidak biasa (tidak konvensional) ,Tak tertekang
Kamu menginginkan kebebasan dan ketidakterikatan hidup yang membiarkanmu menentukan jalan kamu sendiri. Kamu memiliki bakat artistik dalam kerjaanmu dan aktifitas luangmu. Desakan untuk bebas kadang menyebabkan kamu melakukan perbuatan yang sangat berlawanan dengan apa yang kamu inginkan.
Gaya hidupmu sangat individual. Kamu tidak akan meniru secara buta apa yang sedang "in", disisi lain kamu mencari kehidupan yang sesuai dengan cita cita dan dan pendirianmu, bahkan bila harus berenang melawan pasang.
3. Dinamis ,Aktif ,Mementingkan hal-hal lahir
Kamu sungguh berkeinginan untuk menerima beberapa resiko dan berkomitmen kuat dalam menukar ketertarikan dan pekerjaan yang bervariasi. Rutin, berlawanan, cenderung berefek melumpuhkanmu. Apa yang paling kamu sukai adalah bisa memainkan peran dalam banyak bidang.Dalam melakukannya, inisiatifmu lebih kuat.
4. Bersahaja,Sangat teguh pendirian ,harmonis
Kamu menghargai gaya dan cinta alami yang tidak rumit. Orang mengagumimu karena kamu memiliki kemampuan bertanan kuat dan mereka bergantung padamu. Kamu memberikannya pada orang yang dekat perlindungan dan jarak. Kamu merasa hangat dan manusiawi. Kamu menolak segala sesuatu yang mencolok dan usang. Kamu cenderung ragu pada tingkah/perubahan trend mode. Bagimu pakaian harus praktis dan bagus yang tidak menonjol.
5. Professional ,Pragmatis ,Percaya diri
Kamu bertanggung jawab pada hidupmu, meletakkan lebih kecil keberuntunganmu dan lebih kepada perbuatanmu sendiri.Kamu memecahkan masalah dengan tindakan yang praktis dan tidak rumit. Kamu memandang secara realistis sesuatu dalam hidupmu dan menanganinya dengan baik. Kamu diberi tanggung jawab yang besar dalam pekerjaan, karena orang tahu bahwa kamu dapat diandalkan. Kekuatan tegasmu terhadap kemauan akan memproyeksikan keyakinanmu terhadap orang lain. Kamu tidak akan pernah benar-benar merasa puas sampai semua cita-citamu
6. Tenang/Damai ,Bijaksana,Tidak Agresif
Kamu menanggap hidup mudah karena bijaksana. Kamu mendapatkan teman tanpa kesukaran karena menikmati keprifasianmu dan kemandirianmu. Kamu sering menjauh darinya dan menyendiri dari waktu ke waktu untuk merenungi arti kehidupan dan menikmati sendiri. Kamu membutuhkan tempat untuk persembunyian yang indah, tapi kamu tidak seoarang penyendiri. Kamu tenang terhadap diri sendiri dan dunia, dan menghargai hidup dan apa yang dunia tawarkan.
7.Riang,Suka bermain/melucu,menyenangkan
Kamu menyukai kehidupan yang bebas dan spontan. Dan kamu berusaha menikmatinya secara penuh karena memegang moto " KAmu hanya hidup sekali.Keingin tahuanmu besar dan terbuka trhadp segala sesuatu yang baru, kamu berkembang dengan perubahan. Kamu menganggap lingkunganmu serbaguna dan selalau memberikan kejutan.
8. Romantis,Pemimpi ,Emosional
Kamu sangat sensitif. Kamu menolak melihat sesuatu dari sudut pandang kesederhanaan dan tasionalitas. Apa yang perasaanmu katakan sangat penting untukmu. Kenyataanya, Kamu merasa penting untuk memiliki mimpi-mimpi dalam hidup. Kamu menolak orang yang mencemoohkan romantisme dan hanya dikendalikan oleh rasionalitas. Kamu menolak utnuk membiarkan sesuatu membatasi keragaman kekayaan mood dan emosimu.
9. Analitis,Terpercaya ,Percaya diri
Senstifitas sebentarmu mewakili kualitas dan ketahanan yang tinggi.Konsekuensinya, kamu suka menyelimuti dirimu dengan " mutiara kecil " yang kamu temukan dimanapun orang lain mengabaikannya. Lalu, Budaya sangat mempengaruhi kehidupanmu. Kamu telah temukan kehidupanmu sendiri, yaitu elegan/luwes dan eksklusif, bebas dari pengaru mode. Idealmu, kamu mendasarkan kehidupanmu, adalah dibudayakan kesenangan.Kamu menilai tingkatan budaya seseorang pada siapa kamu berbicara.
Sumber:http://fkgunpad.forumotion.com/the-lounge-f6/psikologi-warna-kepribadian-t9.htm
Rabu, 04 Agustus 2010
"Groza" OC-14 / OTs-14 assault rifle (Russia)
"Groza" OC-14 / OTs-14 assault rifle (Russia)
"Groza" OC-14 / OTs-14 Assault Rifle in "assault" configuration
"Groza" OC-14 / OTs-14 Assault Rifle in "Grenadier" configuration
"Groza" OC-14 / OTs-14 Assault Rifle with silencer and telescope sight
Caliber, mm: 9x39 SP-6, 7.62x39 M43
Action: Gas operated, rotating bolt with 2 lugs
Length: 610 mm (with grenade launcher installed)
Barrel length: 240 mm
Weigth: 2.7 kg in basic configuration; 4.0 kg with attached grenade launcher
Magazine: 20rds (9mm), 30rds AK-47 type (7.62mm)
Rate of fire: 700 rounds per minute
The OTs-14 “Groza” (“thunder”) modular assault rifle was developed during the early 1990s by V. Telesh and Ju. Lebedev at the TSKIB SOO (Central Design Bureau for Sporting and Hunting Arms, located in the city of Tula). It was intended for various Special Forces in the Russian army and Internal Affairs Ministry as an dedicated CQB / Urban warfare weapon. It was briefly manufactured in small numbers at the Tula Arms factory during the mid-1990s. OTs-14 rifles saw some action during the first anti-terrorist campaign in Chechnya in 1999, but soon felt out of favor and are no longer made.
The OTs-14 is based on the familiar AKS-74U receiver and action, modified for the larger 9 x 39 subsonic ammunition favored by various SpetsNaz troops. It is fitted into a bullpup layout, with removable trigger / pistol grip unit which could be replaced with an alternative unit integral with 40 mm grenade launcher. In the grenade-launching configuration, a single trigger controls both the 40 mm GL and the rifle itself, with a separate barrel selector. The safety / fire mode selector of AK pattern is retained and in bullpup configuration is especially uncomfortable to operate. The barrel can be fitted with a quick-detachable silencer. Standard open sights are built into the carrying handle, which results in relatively short sight base. The carrying handle also has mounting points for telescope, red dot or night sights.SR-3 / SR-3M "Vikhr" compact assault rifle (Russia)
SR-3 / SR-3M "Vikhr" compact assault rifle (Russia)
SR-3 Vikhr compact assault rifle, shoulder stock folded
SR-3 Vikhr compact assault rifle, shoulder stock extended
SR-3M Vikhr compact assault rifle, early model, with 'old pattern' 20-round magazine; shoulder stock and forward grip extended
SR-3M Vikhr compact assault rifle, current issue model, with 'old pattern' 20-round magazine, quick-mounted silencer and telescope sight
SR-3M Vikhr compact assault rifle, current issue model, with 'new pattern' 30-round magazine
| SR-3 | SR-3M | |
| Caliber: | 9x39 SP-5, SP-6 | |
| Action | Gas operated, rotating bolt | |
| Overall length (butt folded / open) | 396 / 640 mm | 410 / 675 mm 700 / 970 mm with silencer |
| Barrel length | 156 mm | 156 mm |
| Weight: | 2.0 kg less magazine | 2.2 kg less magazine 3.2 kg with empty 30-rd magazine and silencer |
| Rate of fire | 900 rounds per minute | 900 rounds per minute |
| Magazine capacity | 10 or 20 rounds | 10, 20 or 30 rounds |
The SR-3 "Vikhr" ("Whirlwind") compact assault rifle was developed in TSNIITOCHMASH by A. Borisov and V. Levchenko during early 1990s. Initially known as "MA" (Malogabaritnyj Avtomat = small-size assault rifle), it was based on the silenced 9 mm AS "Val" assault rifle, and intended for concealed carry by special VIP protection teams and State security operatives. The SR-3 is widely used by various FSO (Federal Protection Service, a VIP protection organization, which guards the President and the government of the Russian Federation) and FSB (Federal Security Service) operatives, elite Russian counter-terror teams and other specialized users in the MVD and Russian police. In terms of size and weight, the SR-3 is similar to many submachine guns, but it fires much more powerful 9x39mm ammunition, available in armor piercing (SP-6) and ball (SP-5) loadings. Thus, SR-3 is considered to be an assault rifle rather than a submachine gun.
Following the demand from users, the TSNIITOCHMASH recently developed an improved version of the SR-3, with intent to produce a more versatile weapon for Law Enforcement use. The new SR-3M (Modified) compact assault rifle features more convenient fire controls and charging handle, integral forward grip (folding), and, most important, specially developed quick-detachable silencer (sound moderator) and a standard side rail for mounting day or night optics on the left side of the receiver. Another useful accessory for the SR-3M is a new magazine with enlarged capacity (30 rounds), which also provides more reliable feeding during automatic fire.
The SR-3 features the receiver, machined from a bar of steel, and gas-operated action with long stroke piston, plus the same rotating bolt group from the AS. However, the SR-3 has no integral silencer, nor provision to mount one, and thus is much shorter than the AS. Other changes included a more compact, top-folding butt and simplified flip-up rear sight. The redesigned charging handle, made in the form of dual sliders above the forearm, must be grasped by thumb and index finger and then retracted to load the weapon. The trigger unit is generally the same as in the AS, but the AK-type safety is replaced by ambidextrous lever above the pistol grip. The fire mode selector is of cross-bolt, push button type and located behind the trigger, inside the trigger guard. SR-3 uses same polymer magazines for 10 or 20 rounds, as the parent AS and VSS rifles. Open sights consist of a protected front post nd a flip-up rear sight with U-notch, with settings for 100 and 200 meters range.
The SR-3M differs by having AS-style controls (safety lever, semi / auto selector switch inside the trigger guard, charging handle), improved polymer furniture, AS-style side-folding shoulder stock, quick-detach mount for proprietary silencer at the muzzle, and a side-rail for mounting of various optical equipment (Red-dot or telescope day sights, night sights)
Kalashnikov AK-102, AK-104, AK-105 assault rifles (Russia)
Kalashnikov AK-102, AK-104, AK-105 assault rifles (Russia)
5.56mm Kalashnikov AK-102 assault rifle (AK-105 looks exactly the same)
7.62mm Kalashnikov AK-104 assault rifle
Caliber: AK-102 5.56x45 mm NATO; AK-104 7.62x39 M43; AK-105 5.45x39 M74
Action: Gas operated, rotating bolt with 2 lugs
Length, mm: overall: 824; w/folded butt 586
Barrel Length, mm: 314
Weight, 3.0 kg empty
Magazine capacity: 30 rounds
Rate of fire: 600 rounds per minute
The AK-102, AK-104 and AK-105 rifles are essentially similar to one another, being different only in the caliber and type of magazine used. All three are 'compact' versions of the 5.56mm AK-101, 7.62mm AK-103 and 5.45mm AK-74M, respectively. The main visible differences between those 'Hundredth series compact assault rifles' and earlier 5.45mm AKS-74U compact assault rifle are that 'Hundred series' rifles use somewhat longer barrels and full length gas pistons, as opposed to shorter AKS-74U, and solid, side-folding polymer stocks. In fact, other than shorter barrels with special muzzle devices (flash / blast reducers) those compact rifles are similar in details to their respective full-size variants.
Kalashnikov AKS-74U (Krinkov) short assault rifle (Russia - USSR)
Kalashnikov AKS-74U (Krinkov) short assault rifle (Russia - USSR)
AKS-74U short assault rifle
AKS-74U-UBN with the BS-1 "Tishina" 30mm suppressed grenade launcher (shown detached, along with special blank launcher cartridge and 30mm HE-DP grenade)
Caliber: 5,45x39 mm
Action: Gas operated, rotating bolt with 2 lugs
Overall length: 735 mm (490 mm with folded buttstock)
Barrel length: 210 mm
Magazine capacity, 30 rounds standard
Weight empty: 2,71 kg
Effective range: about 200 meters
Rate of fire: 650-735 rounds per minute
The AKS-74U short assault rifle (the "U" suffix means "Ukorochennyj" in Russian = "Shortened" in English) has been developed in the late 1970s from the AKS-74 assault rifle. The AKS-74U was intended as a personal defense weapon for tank, gun, helicopter and other vehicle crews, and for the special operations forces, which required compact but relatively powerful individual automatic weapon. The AKS-74U has the size and effective range of a typical submachine gun, but has advantage of the general issue, assault rifle ammunition and magazines, as well as the parts interchangeability with the general issue assault rifle, the AK-74. Since its introduction the AKS-74U, unofficially known as a "Ksyukha" (variation of a Russian woman name) or "okurok" (cigarette stub), also had been issued to various Police and other Law Enforcement forces acres the USSR and the Post-USSR countries, including Russia. Interestingly, the AKS-74U is known in the USA as the "Krinkov" - a name, apparently devised by Afghani Mujaheddins during Soviet invasion to the Afghanistan in 1980s. The AKS-74U is somewhat popular among its users due to its compact size, which allows it to be carried in the cars and even concealed under the clothes. On the other side, its effective range of fire is greatly limited by the poor accuracy at ranges beyond 150-200 meters, while the bullet itself remains lethal at much greater ranges. The AKS-74U also known for its tendency for rapid overheating when firing in bursts. A special version of the AKS-74U had been developed for the Special Forces (Spetsnaz), which could be fitted with quickly detachable silencer and a special 30mm silenced grenade launcher model BS-1 "Tishina" ("silence"). The launcher uses special HE-DP grenades, which are launched using special blank cartridges, stored in the box magazine, contained in the launcher pistol grip.
The AKS-74U has only minor differences from the basic AKS-74 assault rifle, which I will describe below. For the technical description of the AK-74 and AKS-74, please refer to the appropriate article at this site.
AKS-74U has a severely shortened barrel, with the gas chamber moved back and appropriately cut down gas piston rod. Since the portion of the barrel after the gas port is very short, a special muzzle device was designed, which is used as a flash hider and the gas expansion chamber (to achieve reliable gas operated action). The front sight base is lowered, and the standard adjustable rear sight is replaced by the flip-up rear (marked for 200 and 400 meters distance), mounted on the receiver cover. The receiver cover is hinged to the receiver at the front and flips up when opened (original AK-74 receiver cover is detachable). Otherwise the AKS-74U is similar to the AKS-74, it has same controls, folding buttstock, and uses same magazines. AKS-74U cannot be fitted with bayonet. Some versions had a standard side-mounted rail for the night or red-dot scopes, and are known as AKS-74UN.
Heckler-Koch HK417 assault rifle (Germany)
Heckler-Koch HK417 assault rifle (Germany)
2006 prototype of HK417 rifle with 20" barrel; note that it used HK G3-compatible magazines
Image: Heckler & Koch
current (2008) version of HK417 rifle with 12" / 30cm barrel, basic version
Image: Heckler & Koch
current (2008) version of HK417 rifle with 12" / 30cm barrel, fitted with telescope sight with night vision adapter, folding bipod and a sound moderator (silencer)
Image: Heckler & Koch
current (2008) version of HK417 rifle with 16" / 40cm barrel
Image: Heckler & Koch
current (2008) version of HK417 rifle with 20" / 50cm barrel, with telescope sight and detachable bipod
Image: Heckler & Koch
Caliber: 7,62x51mm NATO
Action: Gas operated, rotating bolt
Overall length: 905 - 985 mm with 406 mm barrel / 35.6" - 38.8" with 16" barrel
Barrel length: 305 mm / 12", 406 mm / 16" or 508 mm / 20"
Weight: 4.36 kg - 4.96 kg, depending on barrel length
Rate of fire: 600 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity: 10 or 20 rounds
HK417 assault rifle was recently developed by famous German arms-making company Heckler und Koch, as a "big brother" to the 5.56mm HK416 assault rifle. Information on this weapon first surfaced in 2005, on the wave of new interest for the 7.62mm NATO caliber military rifles. This interest came in from experience of international forces gained in Afghanistan and Iraq, where increased range and penetration of the 7.62mm NATO bullets was (and still is) quite useful. Several companies developed new or updated versions of 7.62mm weapons, with intent to sell to military, law enforcement and in certain cases - to civilian shooters as well. The HK417 is one of such weapons. It is primarily oriented toward US market, as it mimics the popular 5.56mm AR-15 / M16 rifles in external appearance, controls, and many design features. However, there are more than few new and original features in HK417, including Heckler-Koch's patented piston-operated gas system, user-changeable barrels etc. Like most other competitors, HK417 rifles are available in several barrel lengths, suitable for full scale of military operations, from close combat in urban or forest areas and up to long-range accurate shooting.
HK417 rifle is a gas operated, selective fired weapon of modular design. It uses short-stroke gas piston located above the barrel, that operates the 7-lug rotating bolt. Barrels are cold hammer forged, and could be replaced by end user in several minutes using simple tools. There are four basic patterns of barrels available for HK417 as of now (2008):305 mm / 12" and 406 mm / 16" standard barrels and 406 mm / 16" and 508 mm / 20" accurized barrels. Accurized barrels provide 1 MOA accuracy (with proper ammunition). Receiver is made from high grade aluminum alloy and consists of two parts (upper and lower), connected by two cross-pins a-la AR-15 / M16 rifles. Combination-type safety / fire selector allows for single shots and full automatic mode. HK417 retains all M16-style controls, including last round bolt hold-open device, bolt closure device, rear-based charging handle and magazine release button on the right side of the magazine well. HK417 is fitted with four Picatinny rails on free-float handguard as standard, and will accept any type of sighting devices on STANAG-1913 compliant mounts. It also can accept modified HK AG36/AG-C 40mm grenade launcher, which is clamped directly to bottom rail. Buttstock is of modified M4 design, multi-position telescoped. Production HK417 rifles use proprietary 10- or 20-round box magazines, made of translucent polymer (early prototypes used HK G3 magazines).
Khaybar KH2002 assault rifle (Iran)
Khaybar KH2002 assault rifle (Iran)
Khaybar KH 2002 assault rifle
Caliber: 5.56x45 mm
Action: Gas operated, rotating bolt
Overall length: 730 mm (with "medium" barrel)
Barrel length: n/a
Weight: 3.7 kg with empty magazine
Rate of fire: 800-850 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity: 30 rounds
Khaybar KH 2002 assault rifle is a recent development of the Iranian Defense Industry Organization; this rifle was first shown in 2004 and is intended to replace the obsolete 7.62x51 HK G3 rifles of German origin, which are license-built in Iran since the Shah times. Khaybar KH 2002 assault rifle can be best described as a bullpup conversion of the Iranian S-5.56 rifle, which is a direct copy of the Chinese CQ assault rifle.
Khaybar KH 2002 assault rifle is gas operated, selectively fired rifle of bullpup layout. It uses M16-type direct gas system with multi-lug rotary bolt locking. Polymer pistol grip with enlarged trigger guard is attached below the tubular barrel shroud. Safety / fire selector lever is located at the left side of the receiver, behind magazine housing and away from the pistol grip. Ejection is to the right side only. Feeding system uses M16-compatible magazines, with M16-style magazine release button located on the right side of the magazine housing. Sights are of open type, with rear sight being installed within a carrying handle. Additional equipment includes lightweight folding detachable bipods and knife-bayonet. According to the manufacturer, rifle is available with three styles of barrels: short (carbine), medium (standard rifle) and long (designated marksman rifle).
Pindad SS2 assault rifle (Indonesia)
Pindad SS2 assault rifle (Indonesia)
Pindad SS2-V1 assault rifle
Pindad SS2-V2 assault rifle with Pindad-made 40mm grenade launcher
Pindad SS2-V4 assault / para-sniper rifle
Pindad SS2-V5 assault rifle
| SS2-V1 | SS2-V2 | SS2-V4 | SS2-V5 | |
| Caliber | 5.56x45 mm NATO | |||
| Action | Gas operated, rotating bolt | |||
| Overall length (butt open / folded) | 990 / 740 mm | 920 / 670 mm | 990 / 740 mm | 770 / 520 mm |
| Barrel length | 460 mm | 403 mm | 460 mm | 252 mm |
| Weight | 3.4 kg | 3.2 kg | 4.2 kg | 3.2 kg |
| Rate of fire | ~ 700 rounds per minute | |||
| Magazine capacity | 30 rounds | |||
The SS2 family of rifles (from Indonesian "Senapan Serbu 2" - Assault Rifle 2) is manufactured in Indonesia by PT Pindad factory and is based on SS1 (FN FNC) rifle, made by the same factory under license from Belgian company FN Herstal. SS2 rifles are in use by Indonesian army since 2005, and also are offered for export. Initially available in three basic versions (standard rifle SS2-V1, carbine SS2-V2 and para-sniper SS2-V4) it is now also available in subcompact SS2-V5 version, first shown in 2008.
All SS2 rifles share same basic design and same two-part upper / lower receiver construction. Both upper and lower receiver parts are made from aluminum alloy and connected one to another using two cross-pins. Gas-operated action uses long-stroke gas piston, located above the barrel, and a multi-lug rotary bolt that locks into the barrel extension. Charging handle is attached to the bolt carrier on the right side and moves with the bolt group when gun is fired. Fire mode / safety lever is located on the left side of the gun, and permits for single shots and full automatic fire. All versions are fitted with side-folding skeletonized buttstock, and all variants have integral Picatinny type rail on the top of the receiver. In all versions other than SS2-V4 this rail is fitted with removable carrying handle with diopter-type rear sight. Front sight is attached to the gas block, leaving the muzzle part of the barrel unobstructed, so rifle can be used to fire rifle grenades. The SS2-V4 version is issued less front sight base or carrying handle, being fitted with telescope sight and optional cheek rest on the buttstock. SS2-V4 also features heavier barrel for more accurate long-range fire. SS2-V1 and SS2-V2 variants can be fitted with 40mm under-barrel grenade launcher, also made by Pindad.
IMI Galil assault rifle (Israel)
IMI Galil assault rifle (Israel)
Galil ARM 5.56mm. The only differences from the Galil AR are the folding bipod and carrying handle
same rifle, with bipods unfolded. Insert shows the left-side fire selector / safety switch with Hebrew markings.
Galil AR 7.62mm. Note the longer barrel and deeper magazine
Galil SAR 5.56mm with shorter barrel (with older type brownish color wooden forearm)
Galil MAR 5.56mm, or Micro-Galil. The most modern Galil derivative.
| Galil AR / ARM | Galil AR / ARM | Galil SAR | Galil MAR | |
| Caliber | 7.62x51mm NATO | 5.56x45mm NATO | ||
| Overall length (stock open / folded) | 1050 / 810 mm | 979 / 742 mm | 840 / 614 mm | 690 / 445 mm |
| Barrel length | 535 mm | 460 mm | 332 mm | 195 mm |
| Weight, empty | 4 kg (without bipod an carrying handle) | 3.95 kg (4.35 kg ARM) | 3.75 kg | 2.95 kg |
| Magazine capacity | 25 rounds | 35 or 50 rounds | 35 rounds | |
| Rate of fire | 650 rounds per minute | 650 rounds per minute | 650 rounds per minute | 600 - 750 rounds per minute |
| Effective range of fire | 500 - 600 meters | 450 meters | 300 meters | 150-200 meters |
The experience, gained by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) during the Six-days war of 1967, showed the deficiencies of the FN FAL rifles, which were the main armament of the IDF infantry. The FAL rifles were too sensitive to fine sand and dust of Arab deserts, and too long and bulky to carry and maneuver. On the other hand, the same war showed the advantages of the Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifles, used by Arab infantry with great success. After the end of this war IDF decided to develop a new assault rifle, which will eventually replace the FN FAL battle rifles and some of the UZI submachine guns. It was also decided that the new assault rifle should be built around the new American low-impulse cartridge, known as 5.56x45mm. During the late 1960s the IDF tested two rival designs, one of the Uziel Gal, and the other of the Israel Galili. The latter design, based on the Finnish Valmet Rk.62 assault rifle (a license-built AK-47 clone), eventually won the competition and was selected as a new IDF assault rifle in the 1973, but its actual adoption was delayed by the next Israeli-Arab Yom Kippur war of the 1973. The machinery and documentation package was bought from Valmet and transferred to the state owned Israel Military Industries (IMI) company. There are some rumors that the first production Galil rifles were built on the Valmet-made receivers. The basic Galil rifle later evolved into several configurations, including the full-size 5.56mm AR and ARM assault rifles, compact 5.56mm SAR rifle for the tank and vehicle crews, 7.62mm NATO AR selective fire and 7.62mm NATO semi-automatic Galatz sniper rifle, 5.56mm MAR subcompact assault rifle, also known as Micro-Galil, and some other modifications, like the unsuccessful .30 Carbine Magal police rifle.
While being a successful weapon, the Galil was not widely issued to the IDF during its lifetime, because during the late 1960s and early 1970s Israel received large shipments of the US M16 and CAR-15 assault rifles at the very low prices. M16 rifles became the major armament of the IDF, with the Galils mostly issued to the Armored corps, Artillery corps and some units of the Israeli Air Forces. The Galil rifles were exported to the various South American, African and Asian countries. Estonia also received some Galil rifles in the early 2000s. The slightly modified Galil rifle is manufactured by the South African Vektor company, a division of the DENEL. Those models included the R-4 (Galil AR), R-5 (Galil SAR) and R-6 (Galil MAR) assault rifles, and are used by the South African Military. Another offspring of the Galil is the Croatian APS-95 assault rifle. The semi-automatic only versions of the both 5.56mm and 7.62mm Galil AR rifles were widely sold to both domestic and foreign civilian and law enforcement markets.
In general, the Galil rifles are fine weapons, but somewhat heavy and expensive to manufacture.
Technical description.
Basically, the Galil assault rifle can be described as a modified Kalashnikov AK-47 design, and a detailed description of its functioning can be found in respective article at this site. The key differences between the Galil and the AK-47 are as follows. The Galil featured a machined steel receivers of the original AK-47 rifles, but of slightly different shape. The AK-47-style safety - selector switch at the right side of the gun is complemented by the additional smaller switch at the left side of the receiver, above the pistol handle. The cocking handle is bent upward, so it can be operated with either hand. The sights of the Galil featured a front hooded post, mounted on the gas block, with the rear diopter sight, mounted on the receiver top cover. Rear sight is of the flip-up type, with settings for 300 and 500 meters. Additional folding night sights with luminous inserts can be raised into position, which allows to aim the gun in the low light conditions at the ranges of up to 100 meters. The barrel and the flash hider can be used to launch the rifle grenades from the barrel, using the blanc or live cartridges (depending on the rifle grenade type). The Galil ARM also features a folding detachable bipods and a carrying handle. The bipod base incorporates a bottle opener and a wire cutter. The standard folding buttstock is patterned after FN FAL Para, folds to the right to save the space. Some of the late production Micro-Galil (MAR) rifles also are fitted with the Picatinny-type rail, which allows to mount various sighting devices. Standard AR and ARM rifles can be fitted with scope mounting rail on the left side of the receiver. All 5.56mm Galil rifles are fed using proprietary 35 or 50 rounds curved box magazines with AK-47 style locking. M16-type magazines can be used via the special adapter. 7.62mm Galil rifles are fed using proprietary 25 rounds box magazines. Civilian semi-automatic Galil variants sometimes are fitted with 10 rounds magazines to comply with local firearms laws.
the "Sturmgewehr" - Haenel / Schmeisser MP 43 MP 44 Stg. 44 assault rifle (Germany)
the "Sturmgewehr" - Haenel / Schmeisser MP 43 MP 44 Stg. 44 assault rifle (Germany)
MP 43 assault rifle, the first production variant of the Sturmgewehr, left side
MP 43 assault rifle, the first production variant of the Sturmgewehr, right side
MP 43 assault rifle partially disassembled
Stg.44 assault rifle with the Krummlauf Vorsatz J (curved barrel) attachment, which was designed to be fired "around the corner" or from inside the armored vehicle
Caliber: 7.92x33 mm (7.92mm Kurz)
Action: Gas operated, tilting bolt
Overall length: 940 mm
Barrel length: 419 mm
Weigth: 5.22 kg
Rate of fire: 500 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity: 30 rounds
Germany began to develop intermediate cartridges during the mid-1930s. There were some developments in 7 mm and 7.75 mm calibre, but Heereswaffenamt (HWaA, or department of armaments), decided to retain the existing rifle calibre of 7.92 mm, to save money on new machinery that would otherwise be required to produce bullets and barrels of a non-standard calibre. The new 7.92 mm "short infantry cartridge" (Infanteriepatrone Kurz), developed by the Polte Werke in 1938, was officially designated the 7.92 mm PP Kurz. It had metric dimensions of 7.92 x 33, considerably shorter and less powerful than the standard 7.92 x 57 rifle / MG cartridge, and propelled a 8.1 g (125 grain) bullet to roughly 680 meters per second.
In 1939 HWaA issued a contract for the development of a "Maschinenkarabiner", or machine carbine (MKb for short), chambered for the new Kurz cartridge, to the company C. G. Haenel Waffen und Fahrradfabrik. Initial development took place under the designation of MKb.42 - Maschinenkarabiner, 1942. The new weapon was intended as a replacement for submachine guns, bolt action rifles and, partly, light machineguns for front troops and was intended to have an effective range of 600 meters or so.
The famous designer Hugo Schmeisser led the Haenel development team, which produced the first working prototypes of new weapon by 1942, known as MKb.42(H). After extensive combat tests of the MKb.42(H), HWaA asked Haenel for several significant improvements over their initial design. Most notable was the request to replace the submachine-gun like open-bolt firing system with more convenient closed-bolt system, to improve single-shot accuracy. Schmeisser redesigned the weapon accordingly, and by 1943 submitted the improved version to the HWaA. But by this time Hitler had ordered that only existing types should be developed and manufactured, and the Maschinenkarabiner was not on this list. To avoid this nuisance, the Germans decided simply to rename the MKb to the MP, or Machinenpistole (submachine gun), which was on the “approved” list. So, the new and improved weapon received the designation MP-43, and went into limited production and field trials at the front. During the following year, the MP-43 experienced several minor modifications, leading to MP-43/1 and MP-43/2 designations, but these differed only in details such as front sight bases and grenade launcher interfaces.
In April 1944 the designation of all MP-43s was changed to MP-44, with no actual changes made to the design. At this time there were plenty of glowing reports from the German troops fighting with MP-43s and MP-44s at the Eastern front. Seeing these reports, Hitler finally approved the mass production and issue of the new “wunderwaffe”, and in December 1944 officially christened it the Sturmgewehr, or Assault Rifle, 1944 (StG.44) This was a pure act of propaganda, but the name stuck not only to that gun, but also to the whole new class of automatic weapons designed to fire intermediate cartridges.
The total number of MP-43s, MP-44s and StG.44s produced was about 450,000, and these guns proved very effective, but not without some flaws. After the end of the war the direct development of the Stg.44 was stopped, but the East German police used some remaining guns. Another major post-war user of Stg.44 was Yugoslavia; their paratroopers used it under the designation "Automat, padobranski, 7.9 mm M44, nemacki" until the early 1980s, when the Kalashnikov-type M64 and M70 rifles finally replaced it. Yugoslavia also produced 7.92 x 33 Kurz ammunition until the late 1970s.
The StG.44 (like its earlier versions MP.43 and MP.44) is a gas operated, selective fire weapon. The receiver and trigger housing with pistol grip are made from steel stampings, with machined steel inserts. The trigger housing with pistol grip is hinged to the receiver and folds down for disassembly. The gas drive utilizes a long-stroke piston, and the bolt is tipped down to lock into the receiver. The gun is fired from a closed bolt. The MP-43 and subsequent versions all were hammer-fired, while the MKb.42(H) was striker-fired. The safety lever is located at the left side of the pistol grip unit, and a separate cross-bolt type of fire mode selector allows for single-shot and full auto fire. The charging handle is attached to the gas piston rod, and the ejection port has a dust cover. The recoil spring is located inside the wooden butt. At the top of the butt there is container for a cleaning kit, closed by the spring-loaded steel cover. The Stg.44 was provided with open, leaf-type sights, and could be fitted with telescope sights or a specially developed active infrared sighting unit, called “Vampir” (vampire).
The muzzle of the Stg.44 was threaded to accept a cup-like grenade launcher; a special muzzle nut usually covered the threads. The Stg.44 also could be fitted with a special curved barrel attachment (“Krummlauf”), which allowed the gun to be fired “around the corner” or from inside a tank, without exposing the shooter to the enemy fire. Several types of these attachments were developed, but only one type, the 30-degree “Krummlauf Vorsatz J”, was apparently manufactured in any significant numbers. This device had a special mirror sighting adapter and reduced the bullet velocity down to mere 300 meters per second due to the high friction in the curved barrel extension. This apparently did not bother the German Army, since these curved barrel adapters were intended for short-range encounters only.
Walther MKb.42(W) machine carbine / assault rifle (Germany)
Walther MKb.42(W) machine carbine / assault rifle (Germany)
Caliber: 7.92 x 33 (7.92 mm Kurz)
Action: Gas operated, rotating bolt
Overall length: 931 mm
Barrel length: 401 mm
Weigth: 4.4 kg empty
Rate of fire: 600 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity: 30 rounds
In 1939 HWaA (Hitler's army Weapons command) issued a contract for the development of a "Maschinenkarabiner", or machine carbine (MKb for short), chambered for the new 7.92x33 Kurz cartridge, to the company C. G. Haenel Waffen und Fahrradfabrik. In 1940 another company joined in the development of this new type of small arm; the famous German arms manufacturing company Carl Walther, known for its fine and popular pistols. Walther had already been engaged in the development of intermediate-cartridge firearms since 1936, when it produced self-loading carbines for an experimental 7 x 39 cartridge. Later, Walther developed several automatic designs in "full-size" 7.92 x 57, and one of these experimental prototypes, the 7.92 mm A-115, served as a starting point for its 7.92 mm Kurz rifle. Walther began to develop its own Maschinenkarabiner as a private venture, but in 1941 received official approval from HWaA for further development in competition with Haenel, the first MKb.42(W) rifles being delivered to the army in the second half of 1942.
In late 1942, the first small batches of both Haenel and Walther weapons, designated MKb.42(H) and MKb.42(W) respectively, were sent to the Eastern front, for trials against Soviet troops. Initial results were promising, with the Haenel rifles being generally preferred due to their better reliability. The Walther design, which showed better single-shot accuracy, was rejected as unsuitable on the grounds of its questionable annular gas piston system. No further development in this field was apparently taken by the Walther organization, which was already very busy delivering its P.38 pistols to the German army.
The MKb.42(W) is a gas-operated, magazine fed weapon. The gas system has an annular gas piston, located around the barrel, inside the stamped annular handguards. A rotating bolt of somewhat complicated design locks to the barrel via two lugs. The hammer-fired trigger unit allows single shots or fully automatic fire, and the MKb.42(W) is fed using the same 30-round magazines as its rival, the MKb.42(H). The MKb.42(W) fires from a closed bolt.
Haenel / Schmeiiser MKb.42(H) machine carbine / assault rifle (Germany)
Haenel / Schmeiiser MKb.42(H) machine carbine / assault rifle (Germany)
Caliber: 7.92 x 33 (7.92 mm Kurz)
Action: Gas operated, tilting bolt
Overall length: 940 mm
Barrel length: 364 mm
Weigth: 4.9 kg empty
Rate of fire: 500 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity: 30 rounds
In 1939 HWaA (Hitler's army Weapons command) issued a contract for the development of a "Maschinenkarabiner", or machine carbine (MKb for short), chambered for the new 7.92x33 Kurz cartridge, to the company C. G. Haenel Waffen und Fahrradfabrik. Initial development took place under the designation of MKb.42 - Maschinenkarabiner, 1942. The new weapon was intended as a replacement for submachine guns, bolt action rifles and, partly, light machineguns for front troops and was intended to have an effective range of 600 meters or so.
The famous designer Hugo Schmeisser led the Haenel development team, which produced the first working prototypes of new weapon by 1942. In accordance with the specification, the new weapon inherited several features from MP-40 submachine gun, such as the left-side charging handle with slot safety and magazine housing with button release. Because the new weapon had to be made with the maximum usage of stamping and welding, Haenel was joined by the Merz Werke, a company with no knowledge in firearms but a great deal of experience in steel stamping and forming. The first weapons were issued to front line units on the Eastern front by the mid-1942, and the low-rate mass production began in late 1942. A total of about 10,000 MKb.42(H) were produced for the German Army before its production was ceased in favour of an improved design, the MP-43 / Stg.44.
The MKb.42(H) is a gas operated, selective-fire weapon. It uses a long-stroke gas piston, located above the barrel in a long gas tube. The barrel locking is achieved by tipping the rear part of the bolt down into the locking recess, cut in the machined steel insert in the stamped steel receiver. The gun fires from an open bolt at all times, and the only safety is the MP-40-type slot, cut at the rear of the charging handle slot, in which the charging handle can be hooked when the bolt is open. The cross-bolt type fire mode selector is located above the trigger guard. The MKb.42(H) could be fitted with standard bayonet, and has a wooden butt.
Heckler & Koch G3 rifle (Germany)
Heckler & Koch G3 rifle (Germany)
Earliest variant of G3 rifle with flip-up rear sight and metallic ventilated handguards
G3A3 with drum type rear sight, plastic ventilated handguards and fixed stock
G3A3 with attached bayonet and plain plastic handguards of more modern appearance
G3A4 - retractable butt version of the G3
G3KA4 - the shortest G3 variant with retractable buttstock and most modern integral pistol grip / trigger unit made entirely of plastic
Click here to see exploded view of the G3 (50 Kb JPEG)
Click here to see cut-out view of the G3 (50 Kb JPEG)
Click here to see cut-out view of the G3 blowback action (35 Kb JPEG)
Buy HK rifles at Impact Guns online store
Caliber: 7.62mm NATO (.308 win)
Action: Roller-delayed blowback
Weight: 4.5kg
Overall length: 1023 mm
Barrel length: 450 mm (315 mm on G3KA4 model)
Magazine capacity: 20 rounds
During the early- to mid-1950s West Germany, like the other NATO countries, faced the need for rearming its army for the newest common 7.62x51mm NATO caliber small arms. Initially Germans preferred the Belgian FN FAL rifle, and adopted it circa 1956 under the designation of G1. Due to obvious reasons Germany wanted to manufacture its military rifles, and attempted to buy a manufacturing license for FAL, but Belgium rejected the deal. So, Germany turned to the another design, available from Spanish company CETME, and known as the CETME mod. A rifle. Germany bought the manufacturing license for CETME rifle and transferred it to the Heckler und Koch (HK) company, located in Oberndorf. HK slightly modified the CETME design, and in 1959 the Bundeswehr (W.Germany Army) finally adopted the CETME / Heckler - Koch rifle as G3 (Gewehr 3 - Rifle, [model] 3). Since that time and until the 1995 the G3 in various modifications served as a general issue shoulder weapon not only for German Armed forces, but also for many other countries. Those include Greece, Iran, Mexico, Norway, Pakistan, Portugal, Sweden, Turkey and many other countries. Total of more than 50 countries during the last 40 years issued the G3 to its forces. The G3 was or still is manufactured in countries like the Greece, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Portugal and others. The key reason of high popularity of the G3 is that it is much simpler and cheaper to manufacture, than its major contemporary rivals - Belgian FN FAL and US M14. To the best of my knowledge, the HK itself continued to produce and offer the G3 until the year 2000 or 2001, when it finally disappeared from HK catalogs and web-sites. However, the HK still manufactures a wide variety of firearms, based on the G3 design but of different purposes and calibers, like 9mm MP-5 submachine guns, 5.56mm HK 33 assault rifles, 5.56mm and 7.62mm HK 23 and HK 21 machine guns, PSG1 sniper rifles etc. In general, the HK G3 rifle can be described as one of the best 7.62mm NATO battle / assault rifles - reliable, versatile, controllable, non-expensive and, finally, very popular. For the civilian markets, HK produced the semi-automatic only versions of the G3, initially known as HK 41 and later - as HK 91.
The G3 rifle is a selective fire, magazine fed rifle, built using delayed blowback action, developed by German engineers at Mauser Werke late in the 2nd World War and refined in Spain, at the CETME company. Initial models of the G3 rifle were quite similar to CETME rifles, and even had "CETME" markings on the receivers (until 1961 or so). The roller-delayed blowback action is described under the CETME Rifles, so I will not repeat it here. The G3 is built using as many stamped parts as possible. The receiver is stamped from sheet steel. The trigger unit housing along with pistol handle frame, also are stamped from steel and hinged to the receiver using the cross-pin in the front of the trigger unit, just behind the magazine housing. Earliest G3 rifles also featured stamped handguards and CETME-type flip-up rear diopter sights. In the mid-1960s the initial design was upgraded to the G3A3 and G3A4 configurations. These rifles had ventilated plastic handguards and a drum-type rear diopter sights, marked from 100 to 400 meters. The G3A3 was a fixed butt version, with buttstock made from plastic, and the G3A4 was a telescope butt version, with retractable metallic buttstock with rubber buttplate. Late German production G3A3 and G3A4 models were built using new trigger units, integral with restyled pistol grip and triggerguard, made from plastic. The shortest version of the G3 was the G3KA4, similar to G3A4 but with shortened barrel. Every G3 rifle can be equipped with detachable bipods, claw-type detachable scope mounts. Long-barreled versions can be fitted with bayonet or used to launch rifle grenades from the barrel. Folding cocking handle is located on the special tube above the barrel, at the left side, and does not reciprocate when gun is fired. The safety / fire selector is located above the triggerguard on the left side of the trigger group housing and usually is marked "S - E - F" (Safe - Single shots - Full auto). Latest models could have selectors marked with colored icons.
Sumber:http://world.guns.ru
Type 81 assault rifle (People Republic of China)
7.62x39 Type 81-1 assault rifle, folding butt version, left side
5.8x42 Type 87-1 experimental assault rifle, used to develop and test 5.8mm DBP87 cartridge for QBZ-95 rifle
Type 81S (late production export version with fixed butt) assault rifle (top) and Type 81MGS light machine gun (bottom)
Caliber: 7.62x39 mm M43
Action: Gas operated, rotating bolt
Overall length: 955 mm (730 mm with butt folded for Type 81-1)
Barrel length: 445 mm
Weight: 3.5 kg
Rate of fire: 650 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity: 30 rounds
The Type 81 is a gas operated, magazine fed, automatic rifle. It uses a short-stroke gas piston, located above the barrel, and a two-position gas regulator, along with a gas cut-off valve for launching rifle grenades. The gas system, as well as the bolt group with the AK-47 type rotating bolt, is reminiscent of those of Type 63rifles. Type 81 rifles also retain the bolt hold-open device, which catches the bolt in the open position after the last round has been fired from magazine. The fire selector – safety switch is located at the left side of the receiver, just above the pistol grip, and can be easily operated with the right hand thumb. The late production Type 81S rifles have a separate SKS-type safety switch just behind the trigger. The open sights are marked from 100 to 500 metres, with the front sight being mounted just ahead of the gas block, leaving the front portion of the barrel free for the rifle grenade launcher. Ammunition is fed from Type 56 (Kalashnikov) 30-round magazines, or from 75-round drums intended for the Type 81 light machine gun.
At the first glance, the Type 81 assault rifle looks much like the Kalashnikov AKM, but, on closer inspection, there are some significant external differences, most notably in the receiver cover shape and front sight location. There is also a significant gap between the trigger guard and the magazine on Type 81 rifles, while on AK-47 type rifles the magazine is adjacent to the front of the trigger guard. On Type 81 rifles the obsolete spike-shaped non-detachable bayonet, preferred by the PLA before, is also replaced with the more "modern" detachable knife-bayonet. Most probably this was required to leave the significant portion of the muzzle area of the barrel unobstructed, which is required for launching of rifle grenades.
Sumber:http://world.guns.ru
Type 56 assault rifle (PR China)
Type 56 assault rifle (PR China)
Type 56 assault rifle with machined (milled) receiver
Type 56 assault rifle with stamped steel receiver
Type 56-1 assault rifle with bottom-folding stock and bayonet in opened (combat) position
Type 56-2 assault rifle with side-folding stock; note that bayonet is discarded along with its integral mounting
Type 56-1S semi-automatic rifle in 5,56x45 / .223 Remington caliber (export-only "civilian" version)
Type 56C compact assault rifle, with side-folding stock, short barrel and 20-round magazine
Caliber: 7.62x39 mm
Action: Gas operated, rotating bolt
Overall length: 874 mm
Barrel length: 414 mm
Weight: 3.80 kg
Magazine capacity: 30 rounds
Rate of fire: 650 rounds per minute
During the early post-WW2 period, the newly established Peoples Republic of China was a close "friend" to the Soviet Union, so it was natural for the much less advanced country to adopt the weapons of a more advanced ally. In 1956, the Chinese military adopted two Soviet designs, both carrying the same Type 56 designation, and both being chambered for Soviet 7.62 x 39 ammunition. One was the semi-automatic Simonov SKS carbine, the other was the Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifle. Both weapons were made in large numbers and used by the PLA (Peoples Liberation Army of China), as well as exported into various countries. The original Type 56 assault rifle was an almost exact copy of the Soviet AK-47, with its milled receiver. Later on, Chinese designers switched to AKM-type stamped receivers, under the same Type 56 designation. The only notable differences were the markings in Chinese instead of Russian, and the folding non-detachable spike-shaped bayonets, which replaced the original detachable knife-bayonets of Soviet origin.
During early 1980s PLA adopted a new assault rifle of domestic origin, known as Type 81, which gradually replaced Type 56 rifles in front-line service. Despite of that fact, Type 56 rifles are still manufactured by Chinese state arms factories in a variety of versions, for export purposes. NORINCO corporation also sells "civilian" versions of the Type 56 rifles, semi-automatic only and in several calibers, including 7,62x39 M43 and 5.56x45 / .223 Remington.
Another interesting note is that Chinese designers produced a compact version of the Type 56 rifle, known as Type 56C. It is apparently still in service with PLA, despite the fact that its full-size "brothers" have long been retired from general PLA service.
Type 56 is a gas operated, selective fire weapon. The receiver is machined from steel in early versions, the two lugged bolt locks into receiver walls. Later models, however, were made with stamped-steel AKM-type receivers, but retained the same Type 56 designation. The Type 56 has AK-47-style controls with a reciprocating charging handle and a massive safety / fire selector lever on the right side of the receiver. The furniture is made from wood, and a compact version with an underfolding metal buttstock is also available (designation is Type 56-1). Alternatively, a version with side-folding buttsock is produced as Type 56-2. The only visible difference from the Soviet AK-47 is a permanently attached spike bayonet, which folds under the barrel when not in use.
Some sources said that quality of those guns was worse than of Soviet original ones. Most notably, at least some Type 56 rifles lacked the chrome plating in the barrel and gas system area, and thus were much less resistant to corrosion.
Kalashnikov AK (AK-47) AKS, AKM and AKMS assault rifles (USSR)
Kalashnikov AK (AK-47) AKS, AKM and AKMS assault rifles (USSR)
The first Soviet 'true' intermediate cartridge (7.62x41 M43) assault rifle, Sudaev AS-44, as tested in 1944. Unfortunately, Sudaev fell severely ill in 1945 and died next year before finalizing his design.
Tokarev 7.62x41 experimental assault rifle, as tested in late 1945
The first Kalashnikov assault rifle prototype of 1946, also known as AK-46. Note that it had numerous internal and external differences from the later models, including separate safety and fire mode selector switches, as well as non-reciprocating charging handle, all located on the left side of the weapon
AK-46 prototype disassembled
The Bulkin AB-46 experimental assault rifle, which greatly influenced the AK-47
The experimental Kalashnikov assault rifle of 1947, also known as AK-47, first model
Bulkin AB-46 experimental assault rifle, partially disassembled.
The experimental Kalashnikov assault rifle of 1947, also known as AK-47, first model, disassembled
The experimental Kalashnikov assault rifle of 1947, also known as AK-47, second model (note that it has a small muzzle brake / compensator)
Early production / issue Kalashnikov AK rifle, as manufactured between 1949 and 1951, with stamped receiver and early type slab-sided magazine
Post-1951 production Kalashnikov AK rifle with milled receiver and bayonet attached, right side
Post-1951 production Kalashnikov AK rifle with milled receiver and bayonet, left side
Kalashnikov AK rifle with PBS silencer, as used by Soviet Spetsnaz
Kalashnikov AKM (modernized) rifle, with stamped receiver and new type of knife / bayonet
Kalashnikov AKMS - AKM with folding buttstock
Kalashnikov AKMN rifle (Modernized, with Night sight mounting bracket on the left side of receiver), with muzzle compensator installed
AKM with GP-25 40mm underbarrel grenade launcher
Click here to see AKM cutout view (JPEG, 69 Kb)
Caliber 7.62x39 mm
Action: Gas operated, rotating bolt with 2 lugs
Overall length: 870 mm
Barrel length: 415 mm
Weight, with empty magazine: AK 4,3 kg; AKM 3,14 kg
Magazine capacity 30 rounds (40 rounds box magazines and 75 rounds drums from RPK also may be used)
Cyclic rate of fire 600 rounds per minute
The Kalashnikov assault rifle, also known to the West as the AK-47 (Avtomat Kalashnikova - 47, Kalashnikov automatic rifle, model of 1947), and its derivatives, also known under the common name of AK, is the most prolific small arm of the 2nd half of the XX century. It had been and still is (in more or less modified form) manufactured in dozens of countries, and used in hundreds of countries and conflicts since its introduction. The total number of the AK-type rifles made worldwide during the last 60 years is estimated at 90+ millions. This is a true legendary weapon, known for its extreme ruggedness, simplicity of operation and maintenance, and unsurpassed reliability even in worst conditions possible. It is used not only as a military weapon, but also as a platform for numerous sporting civilian rifles and shotguns (see Saiga semiautomatic shotguns, for example). The AK is an amalgam of previously known features and solutions, combined in the most effective way. The effectiveness, however, depends on the criteria used to measure it, and the key criteria for any and every Soviet and Russian military arm are: Reliability, Simplicity of operation and maintenance, Suitability for mass production. There never was any significant demand for good ergonomics or superb accuracy, though.
The true story of AK began late in 1942, when Soviet troops captured several specimen of the very new German MKb.42(H) machine carbine (assault rifle), along with some 7.92 Kurz ammunition. By mid-1943 the MKb.42(H) along with US-supplied M1 carbine were evaluated by Soviet experts, and it was decided on top level that similar weapons, firing the intermediate power cartridge, must be developed for Soviet army as soon as possible. The task of initial development of new ammunition was accomplished in rather short time. By November 1943 technical specifications for the 7.62x41mm cartridge, having bottlenecked, rimless case and firing 8-gram pointed bullet, were sent out to all Soviet small arms design bureaus and organizations. By the spring of 1944, there were at least ten designs of automatic weapons in the works (not counting semi-automatic carbines that resulted in adoption of SKS and bolt-action carbines that went nowhere). In mid-1944, trials commission selected the AS-44 assault rifle, designed by Sudaev, as the overall best, and ordered a limited production run for troops trials. Some AS-44 rifles were manufactured in spring of 1945, and these were evaluated by troops in summer of 1945, just after the Victory in Europe. Troops generally liked the AS-44, as it has longer effective range compared to PPSh-41 submachine gun, and provided better accuracy in semi-automatic fire. The problem was that AS-44 was overly heavy (more than 5 kg empty), and trials commission ordered next round of development and trials, which started early in 1946.
Enter Mikhail Kalashnikov, the young sergeant of Soviet tank forces, who, after being wounded in combat in 1942, designed a prototype submachine gun while on medical leave. His first weapon was rejected on the grounds of complexity, but the designer himself was assigned to the Red Army's Small Arms and Mortar Research & Proving ground (NIPSMVO) near the Moscow to continue his education and work on other weapons. Here Kalashnikov designed a semi-automatic carbine, heavily influenced by American M1 Garand rifle. This carbine, while not successful by itself, served as a starting point for the first Kalashnikov's assault rifle, provisionally known as AK No.1 or AK-46. In November of 1946 the AK-46 project was chosen for prototype manufacture along with 5 other projects (out of 16 submitted to commission), and Kalashnikov was sent to the city of Kovrov (also not far from the Moscow), to manufacture his weapon at the small arms factory there. The AK-46 was gas operated, rotary bolt weapon that utilized short-stroke gas piston above the barrel, and two-part receiver with separate trigger unit housing and dual controls (separate safety and fire selector switches on the left side of the trigger unit).
In December 1946 new assault rifles were tested at NIPSMVO range, with AS-44 being used as a control (its development has ceased earlier in 1946 due to untimely death of the Sudaev, who was severely ill by the 1945). As an initial result of these tests, the AK-46 was selected for further development by trials commission, with two more weapons selected for further evolution being rifles from designers Dementiev and Bulkin. The second round of trials, which included three weapons (AK-46 by Kalashnikov, AB-46 by Bulkin and AD by Dementiev), resulted in rejection of the improved AK-46, which was inferior to other rivals in many aspects. Despite that failure, Kalashnikov, using his contacts and support from some member of trials commission (whom he knew from his earlier work at NIPSMVO in 1943-46) pursued the head of the trials commission to review the results, and finally got a green light to continue his development for next round of trials. Following the technical failure of the AK-46, Kalashnikov and his companion designer Zaitsev (who was a staff weapons designer at Kovrov plant) decided to completely rework the design, using successful technical solutions borrowed from various weapons, including direct competitors. For example, the long-stroke gas piston, attached to the bolt carrier, along with captive return spring assembly and receiver cover were apparently inspired by Bulkin's AB-46 rifle; the idea of large clearances between bolt group and receiver walls, with minimum friction surfaces, was inspired by the Sudaev's AS-44, the safety / dust cover lever was copied from Browning designed Remington model 8 hunting rifle etc.
It must be noted here, that such copying and borrowing of ideas was actually encouraged by the trials commission (and the whole Soviet ideology), as all intellectual property in USSR was considered to be property of 'the people', or the state. Thus, any state-owned intellectual property could (and must) have been used to the benefit of the people / the state by anyone. And creating a new, most effective assault rifle for the victorious Soviet army was certainly on the top of the list of things, beneficial for the Soviet state at the time.
After extensive tests, conducted in December 1947 - January 1948, which included slightly improved Dementiev KB-P-410, Bulkin TKB-415 and all-new Kalashnikov AK-47 rifles, results were somewhat inconclusive. The AK-47 was found to be most durable and reliable out of three contestants, but it also dragged behind the other two in the accuracy department, especially in full automatic (which was, and still is considered the primary mode of fire for assault rifle in Russia). In fact, the only weapon that fulfilled accuracy requirements was the Bulkin AB-47 / TKB-415, but it had certain problems with parts durability. After lengthy discussion, trials commission finally decided that the better is the enemy of the good, and it is advisable to have not-so accurate but reliable weapon now, rather than to wait indefinitely for accurate-and -reliable weapon in the future. This decision ultimately lead commission to recommend AK-47 for troops trials in November, 1947. It was decided that the production of the new weapon must be commenced at Izhevsk arms plant (now Izhevsk Machine building Plant or IzhMash in short). Kalashnikov has moved from Kovrov to Izhevsk to help with production of the new weapon, which commenced in mid-1948. Official adoption followed late in 1949, with standard nomenclature being '7.62mm avtomat Kalashnikova AK' (7.62mm automatic carbine Kalashnikov). At the same time, a folding buttstock version was adopted for airborne units use, as '7.62mm avtomat Kalashnikova skladnoy AKS' (7.62mm automatic carbine Kalashnikov, folding).
It must be noted that the original design of the receiver, which was assembled from stamped steel 'box' with large machined steel insert pinned at the front, caused a lot of troubles at factory. The technology (equipment and labor) level of the time resulted in extremely high percentage of rejected receivers due to misformed walls, improper pinning of parts, bad geometry etc. After critical revision of the process at the factory it was calculated that it will be more economically feasible to return to the 'old-school' machined receivers. New, machined receiver was designed by one of factory's staff designers, and after approval by military, it was put into production at IzhMash in 1951, under the same basic designation.
Through the following years, design of AK incorporated many minor changes and updates, but it was the experimental Korobov TKB-517 assault rifle (tested by Soviet army in mid-fifties) that spurred further development of AK. The Korobov TKB-517 assault rifle was a great deal lighter than AK, about 1/3 cheaper to manufacture, and significantly more accurate in full automatic fire. This lead the Soviet army to issue new requirements for a lighter and more effective assault rifle, which were formulated in 1955. These requirements were also complemented by requirement for a companion squad automatic / light support weapon (light machine gun in Russian nomenclature). Trials for new weapons were held in 1957-58. Kalashnikov team from Izhevsk submitted an improved AK with new type of stamped receiver and other minor improvements, which competed against a number of weapons from other design teams from the Kovrov and Tula. In technical terms, the Kalashnikov entry fared about average in these trials, with certain rival weapons proving to be more combat-effective and less expensive to make. The trials commission, however, decided again that the better is the enemy of the good, and recommended the improved AK for adoption due to its proven performance and familiarity to the industry and troops. It was officially adopted in 1959 as the AKM ( Avtomat Kalashnikova Modernizirovannyj - Kalashnikov Automatic rifle, Modified) along with companion RPK squad automatic weapon / light machine gun.
The key changes in AKM, as compared to AK, were the introduction of the stamped steel receiver instead of the milled one, and improved trigger/hammer unit, with added hammer release delay device (often incorrectly referred as a rate reducer). Other changes were the redesigned, slightly raised buttstock and the pistol grip, and the addition of the removable muzzle flip compensator. This spoon-like compensator is screwed onto the muzzle and utilized the muzzle blast to reduce muzzle climb during the automatic fire. The compensator could be replaced by the screw-on "PBS-1 noiseless firing device", generally known as a silencer. This silencer requires a special, sub-sonic ammunition with heavier bullets to be used. Another change from AK to AKM was a slightly improved rear sight, with settings from 100 to 1000 (instead of the 800 on AK) meters. Both 800 and 1000 meters, however, are way too optimistic for any practical use, since the effective fire is limited roughly to 300-400 meters, if not less.
In the 1974, Soviet Army officially adopted the 5.45mm ammunition and the appropriately chambered AK-74 assault rifle as its new standard shoulder arm. The AKM, however, was never officially declared obsolete and removed from service, and is still in Russian army stocks. Some non-infantry units of the Russian Army are still armed with 1960s vintage AKM assault rifles. There's also an increasing interest in the 7.62mm weapons since many troops were disappointed by the effectiveness of the 5.45mm ammo during the local conflicts in the 1990s. Some Russian special forces troops (mostly police and Internal Affairs Ministry), currently operating in Chechnya, are using the venerable 7.62mm AKM rifles.
The AK and AKM rifles were widely exported to the pro-Soviet countries and regimes all around the world. Manufacturing licenses along with all necessary technical data packages were transferred (for free or at nominal fee) to many Warsaw Pact countries (Albania, Bulgaria, China, East Germany, Hungary, North Korea, Poland, Romania, Yugoslavia). Certain 'non-communist', but friendly countries, such as Egypt, Finland and Iraq, also received manufacturing licenses.
At the present time, despite the world-wide proliferation of the small-bore (5.56 / 5.45mm) weapons, many companies still manufacture 7.62mm assault rifles for military or police use (for example, there's an AK-103, made in limited numbers by the IZHMASH in Russia). Also, production of the semi-automatic only civilian AK derivatives is continued in many countries, including Russia, Bulgaria, Romania, China and others.
Technical description for the AKM assault rifle:
The AKM is a gas operated, selective fire assault rifle.
The gas operated action has a massive bolt carrier with a permanently attached long stroke gas piston. The gas chamber is located above the barrel. The bolt carrier rides on the two rails, formed on the receiver walls, with the significant clearances between the moving and stationary parts, which allows the gun to operate even when its interior is severely fouled with sand or mud. The rotating bolt has two massive lugs that lock into the receiver. Bolt is so designed that on the unlocking rotation it also makes a primary extraction movement to the fired case. This results in very positive and reliable extraction even with dirty chamber and cases. The rotation of the bolt is ensured by the curved cam track, machined in the bolt carrier, and by the appropriate stud on the bolt itself. The return spring and a spring guide are located behind the gas piston and are partially hidden in its hollow rear part when bolt is in battery. The return spring base also serves as a receiver cover lock. The cocking handle is permanently attached to the bolt carrier (in fact, it forms a single machined steel unit with carrier), and does reciprocate when gun is fired.
The receiver of the AKM is made from the stamped sheet steel, with machined steel inserts riveted into the place where required. Earliest AK-47 receivers were also made from the stamped and machined parts, riveted together, but this soon proved to be unsatisfactory, and most of the AK (made between 1951 and 1959) rifles were made with completely machined receivers. The receiver cover is a stamped sheet metal part, with stamped strengthening ribs found on the AKM covers.
The relatively simple trigger/hammer mechanism is loosely based on the 1900's period Browning deigns (much like the most other modern assault rifles), and features a hammer with two sears - one main, mounted on the trigger extension, and one for the semi-automatic fire, that intercepts the hammer in the cocking position after the shot is fired and until the trigger is released. Additional auto sear is used to release the hammer in full auto mode. The AKM trigger unit also featured a hammer release delay device, which is served to delay the hammer release in the full auto fire by few microseconds. This does not affects the cyclic rate of fire, but allows the bolt group to settle in the forwardmost position after returning into the battery. The combined safety - fire selector switch of distinctive shape is located on the right side of the receiver. In the "Safe" position (topmost) it locks the bolt group and the trigger, and also served as a dust cover. The middle position is for automatic fire, and the bottom position is for single shots. The safety / fire selector switch is considered by many as the main drawback of the whole AK design, which is not cured in the most of derivatives until now. It is slow, uncomfortable and sometimes stiff to operate (especially when wearing gloves or mittens), and, when actuated, produces a loud and distinctive click. There's no bolt stop device, and the bolt always goes forward when the last shot from the magazine is fired.
AKM is fed from the 30 rounds, stamped steel magazines of heavy, but robust design. Early AK magazines were of slab-sided design, but the more common AKM magazines featured additional stamped ribs on the sides. Positive magazine catch is located just ahead of the trigger guard and solidly locks the magazine into the place. Insertion and the removal of the magazine requires slight rotation of the magazine around its front top corner, that has a solid locking lug. If available and required, a 40 round box magazines of similar design, or the 75 rounds drums (both from the RPK light machine gun) can be used. Late in production plastic magazines of the distinctive reddish color were introduced.
AKM rifles were issued with wooden stocks and pistol handles. Late production AKM rifles had a plastic pistol grip instead of wooden one. The wooden buttstock has a steel buttplate with mousetrap cover, that covers the accessory container in the butt. The AK buttstock are more swept-down than the AKM ones. The folding stock version had been developed for the airborne troops and its had an underfolding steel shoulder stock. These modifications of the AK and AKM were designated the AKS and AKMS, respectively. AK were issued with the detachable knife-bayonets, and the AKM introduced a new pattern of the shorter, multipurpose knife-bayonet, which can be used in conjunction with its sheath to form a wire-cutter. All AK and AKM rifles were issued with the canvas carrying slings.
The sights of the AKM consist of the hooded front post and the U-notch open rear. Sights are graduated from 100 to 1000 (800 on AK) meters, with an additional "fixed" battle setting that can be used for all ranges up to 300 meters.
AKM rifles also can be fitted with the 40mm GP-25 grenade launchers, that are mounted under the forend and the barrel. Grenade launchers had its own sights on the left side of the unit.
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