The Avtomat Kalashnikova Model 47, more simply put, the AK47, is considered one of the most widely used weapons in the world to this date. There is no doubt that it is also one of the most widely known, iconic, "bad guy" guns of the second half of the 20th century. The combination of status, reliability, and power offered in an AK-type rifle is unmatched; even its closest competitor, the American M-16(and its multitude of international variants and civilian models). And, although the AK47 platform is only accurate out to 400 or so yards(making the AR/m16/m4 variants superior in accuracy), the weapon is built to handle just about everything that can be thrown at it.

In the 60+ years the AK47 has existed, its been copied by several countries(for example, the Chinese Type 56) and reproduced, mostly by former Soviet Bloc countries.

Receivers

Before discussing differences in ak variants, there are two common differences in ak builds: milled and stamped receivers. Milled receivers are made from a single piece of steel. This often results in wasted metal scrap and a slower manufacturing time, but equals a receiver that can handle a bit more brutality than a stamped receiver. In addition, there are rectangular sections that are milled off of the sides, and they are fairly noticeable. This additional step in the milling process is in short, weight reduction. Milled receivers are heavier than stamped receivers, even with the additional weight reduction, and tend to heat up faster than stamped receivers.

--A milled receiver---



Stamped receivers always sound cheaper when you talk about their manufacturing though. A stamped receiver is made from a single sheet of thin metal. It is stamped out of the sheet, bent into shape, and riveted together with a center spacer. In addition, instead of being pinned/threaded directly onto the receiver(milled), stamped receivers' barrels are pinned into a "barrel trunion". This contains the carrier top and bolt locking surfaces. This trunion, in turn, is riveted into the front of the receiver. A rear trunion is riveted into the receiver's rear, which forms the stock tang, buttstock socket, and carrier return spring mounting slot. The interesting thing to keep in mind about either, is that they are both ak's. Regardless of which might wear out faster(my research points to the stamped receivers lasting longer), they will surely outlast their user with proper maintenence, although, you can put an AK47 through hell and it will still serve you well. One final note regarding Stamped receivers: It is best to examine any stamped receiver ak you intend to purchase. Some models are poorly reassembled(some Century Arms builds, for example), and there are other issues you have to look at. What I think is the most important to look for is the magazine well. Ak Mag. wells have some wobble due to loose tolerances, but they should not wobble excessively, for this can cause a feeding issue(I will address variant issues later on).

--A stamped receiver--


Calibers

AK-platform rifles come in a variety of flavors nowadays. The variety of ammunition allows for someone who prefers a specific round to have an AK-type rifle, and if someone prefers an AK, they can choose from a variety of different calibers.

7.62 x 39mm -- The original round the AK47 was designed for. The caliber is approximately equal in power to that of a .30-30, and packs a decent amount of knockdown power. The disadvantages to this round are like many rifle rounds: weight. A more powerful cartridge often weighs more than a less powerful cartridge. It is common sense. On average, you can find this ammunition in FMJ, hollow point, or soft point, each having its respective purposes.

.223/5.56mm -- Originally classified as a varmint round, i.e. something you'd hunt prairie dogs with, the .223 Remington(or the higher pressure 5.56NATO) is an option in ammunition selection. Most commonly thought of as the ammunition in an m-16 or mini-14, this round has the advantage of high velocity and accuracy at longer ranges than the 7.62 x 39. However, this comes at a price. 5.56 is considerably smaller, and does not have that knockdown power that a real rifle round has. More common than imported Russian calibers, the 5.56 is an American made round that would be rather common in the post apocalyptic wastes. 5.56 comes in as many flavors as you can name, everything from hollow point to frangible ammunition is generally available, though sometimes tends to cost more than 7.62 x 39.

5.45 x 39 -- a longer round than the 5.56, though in about the same class, the 5.45 was the round of the ak74, when it was introduced in the 70's. A considerably stranger looking round, the 5.45 is rumored to be the "poison bullet" or wars. Whereas the 7.62 x 39 is a heavy knockdown round(aka you're dead) and the 5.56 is somketimes laughed at as the wounding round, the 5.45 kills/mames/wounds its victims in a far more gruesome way. The long length of the round, as well as the design of the bullet itself was the creation of Russian Arms developers looking to outperform the 5.56. According to first hand experiences, it does its job. Effectively. AK74 type rifles use this round, and when the target is hit, it is said that the bullet tumbles through its target causing a larger cavity of carnage. There is much speculation about its usefulness however, for it is otherwise unobtainable except by surplus import or current production import. Most ammunition for sale is corrosive, but does come in 1080 round tins for about 11 cents a round, depending on the vendor.

7.62 x 54r -- Commonly fired out of three weapons(mosin nagants, Dragunov style rifles, and the PKM), this round is one of the oldest rifle rounds still in use today. Though fired from a Dragunov rifle(which may have external similarities with the AK47 but has several internal differences), Dragunov copies such as the ROMAK III, PSL-54c, and FPK use this round. These rifles will be discussed later on. 7.62 x 54r is arguably more powerful than a .308 round, but just below that of a .30-06 Springfield's power. Surplus ammunition is, obviously corrosive, but there are some commercial ammunition brands that have non-corrosive ammunition, such as Wolf or Brown Bear. However, due to the many-a-time poor quality that AK-style rifles chambered for this are put together, only standard ammunition should be used. Any higher pressure ammunition has been rumored to cause weapon failure, though this is due to poorly constructed weapons kits.

.308 -- Another common American round, the military designation being 7.62 x 51mm NATO. Some specialty rifles are built with this caliber. Saiga rifles and others, such as the Polish TIGR .308 fire this, but these rifles are far more rare than their 7.62 x 54r counterparts.

12 gauge, 20 gauge, and .410 -- Saiga shotguns are notorious for being the most popular magazine fed shotguns legal for civilian use in the U.S. Even more so, they are built on an ak style action! The Saiga shotgun comes in 3 flavors, The Saiga12 being the most powerful. Behind that, the lower powered Saiga20, and then the underpowered saiga .410. The caliber reflects the name, in case you didn't recognize that.




The Many Variants

AKS-47 -- The original, Type 3 AK47, but with a modified rear trunion, incorporating a swiveling mechanism, for the underfolding stock. This was created specifically for Soviet troops in the BMP infantry combat vehicle, as well as for paratrooper units.



AKM/AKMS -- AKM stands for Automatic rifle kalashnikov modernized. The AKM is different from the AK47 in regards to manufacturing, weight, stock, internals, and sights. Simpler manufacturing methods, including the change from a milled receiver to a stamped receiver, cut the weight by as much as 2.2 lbs, in comparison to the previous AK47. The stock was hollowed out as well, to reduce weight, and can also(in modern variants) store the rifle's cleaning kit. The additional modifications to the stock(lengthening, a straighter stock) allowed for better shoulder contact, thus increasing accuracy, especially on fully automatic fire. The internals were modified to further decrease weight, increase reliability, and simplify the design further. The sights were adjusted from a maximum of 800m to the 1000m mark. The AKMS serves the same purpose as the AKS47.





RPK -- The RPK was part of a program to standardize the small arms of the Soviet Military. The AKM was also part of this program. The RPK replaced the RPD light machine gun, and continues to be used by former Soviet Bloc countries, as well as African and Asian nations.

Chambered in 7.62 x 39 (later 5.45 x 39, as part of the introduction of the ak-74 in 1974), the RPK implements a 23.2 inch barrel, far longer than that of the AKM(16.3 inches). This is to increase accuracy at farther ranges. Other differences from the AKM include a 1.5mm stamped receiver cover(whereas the AKM used 1mm sheet metal). The RPK also uses a different recoil mechanism, which includes a rear spring guide rod from the AK, with a new forward flat guide rod and coil spring.

The RPK took the place of an automatic rifle for the squad, and could use either 30 or 40 round AKM magazines, or a 75 round drum magazine. The RPK also came with a bipod, due to its purpose in the squad.




TYPE-56 -- I assume the next variant to talk about is the Chinese Type-56, a direct copy of the Russian AK47, and later AKM. As suggested by its number designation, the rifle was put into production in 1956, by the Chinese government. Later, in 1973, the Chinese company Norinco took over production. The type-56 Assault Rifle is not to be confused with the Type-56 Carbine, which is a direct copy of the russian SKS.

The type 56-I and type 56-II are modern versions, the 56-I having an underfolder and stamped receiver, mimicking the AKMS, the 56-II having a sidefolding stock and was built strictly for export only. The Iranians have reverse engineered the Type-56 to use in their military. Designated the KL-7.62, it is the most modern version of the Type-56 rifle.



Later, the Type-84 was produced, firing the 5.56 x 45mm NATO cartridge. There are similar versions of the rifles as with all AKM variant weapons.

Vz.58 -- Designed to replace the Czechoslovakian arsenal at the time, namely the Vz. 52 self loading rifle. the Vz. 58 somewhat resembles the AK47 styling, but it internally completely different, as it utilizes a short stroke gas piston.
Note: Vz. 58 Rifles take their own proprietary magazines! They are not interchangeable with AKM magazines.




Pistol Mitralieră model 1963/1965 --Known as the Md.63, and later Md.65, is a romanian AKM copy, chambered in 7.62 x 39. The Md.63 has a standard fixed stock, whereas the Md.65 has the underfolding stock feature. Both weapons are almost identical to the AKM, and thus were easy to manufacture. Exported as the AIM(Md.63) and AIMS(Md.65) to other countries.

The rifle has also been exported as a semi automatic, civilian legal(in the U.S.) version, popularly known as the WASR-10. An Identifying feature of some of these rifles is the forward pointing front handgrip, molded into the lower guard.

The Md.86 is a 5.45 x 39 caliber rifle currently in use by Romanian Armed Forces, and the Md.90 was a 7.62 x 39 "brother" to it. The krinkov/carbine version is better known. The Md.90 features a wire stock.



WASR series -- WASR rifles are stamped receivered rifles, originally designed to accomdate only single stack magazines. After the 1994 assault weapons ban in the United States ended in 2004, Century Arms International began importing WASR rifles and dremeling/filing out the magazine wells to accomodate double stack magazines. They are further modified by adding U.S. made parts so that they are compliant with the 922r compliance law(In my opinion an obstacle law based entirely on stupidity).

There are 4 different WASR variants. The WASR-10 is chambered for 7.62 x39. The WASR-2 is chambered in 5.45 x 39, the WASR-3 is chambered in 5.56 x 45 NATO, and the WASR-22 is the .22LR version.

note: the WASR series of rifles is the semi-automatic version of the Md. 63.



AMD 65 -- A hungarian entry into the AK47 variants, the AMD 65 was designed in 1965 and put into service in 1967. It sports a rather unusual look for an AK type rifle, having absolutely no wooden feautures. It incorporated a front handguard made of perforated sheet metal, as well as a plastic vertical foregrip. The foregrip is canted forward to allow for easier magazine changes, and is in place to better control the weapon on fully automatic fire. In addition, the AMD 65 sports a 12.6 inch barrel, far shorter than other rifles. Its likeness is to that of an AKS-74U. The weapon also sports a sidefolding wirestock and specially designed muzzle break.

The AMD 65 has since been replaced in Hungary by the AK-63, which began production in 1977. The AMD 65 is only available in the United States through a kit or through a rebuilt rifle using an AMD 65 parts kit.





Zastava M70 -- Developed in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (hance the nickname "Yugo M70"), the Zastava M70 was designed in 1968 and put into service in 1970. The M70 differs from other Kalashnikov variants and copies in that it sports three cooling slots on the foregrip, grenade launching sight on the gas block, a 1.5mm thick receiver and a barrel that is not chrome lined.

(note: While chroming a barrel gives it more resistance against corrosive ammunition, a nonchromed barrel makes a gun more accurate, but at the loss of that resistance to corrosion. Idealy, a properly cared for weapon will not suffer from any pitting or barrel damage associated with lack of cleaning a firearm)






AK74 -- During the Vietnam war, The United States field tested, and later deployed troops with M16 rifles as a replacement for the M14 and other WW2/Korean War era weapons. Despite the early failures of that rifle due to a variety of factors, they had begun the use of the 5.56 x 45mm NATO cartridge, a round based off of the Remington .223 caliber varmint round.

This became a beckoning for the Soviet Union to develop its own round to compete. The 5.45 x 39mm cartridge was designed in 1972 and put into service with the AK74 in 1974. Despite having been developed and manufactured before the Vietnam War ended, it did not see service until the Soviet-Afghan War, in late december of 1979.

Anywho, on to the AK74..

The use of a smaller caliber showed an increase in accuracy, while maintaining a 50% interchangeability between the AK74 and AKM. From a quick glance, the only definable features of the AK74 from an AKM is the magazine and the muzzle brake. However, due to the market for firearms in the United States, AK74 style muzzle brakes for AK47 type weapons have been produced.

There are several variants of the AK74. Similar to previous AK47 variants, there is a folding stock verison(AKS-74), a shortbarreled carbine(AKS-74U), a modernized version (AK74M), a general purpose machine gun (RPK74 and the RPKS74), and several 5.45 caliber rifles that are more modern.

(note: for advising purposes, both firearms can be around the same price. However, companies in the United States tend to vary in their prices. For example, the Price of an AK platform from Arsenal Inc. can go from 700 to 1200 bucks, whereas custom builds from Red Jacket Firearms [Sons of Guns] can exceed that price easily. On another note, 5.45 x 39 ammunition is generally cheaper than 7.62 x 39, at least with surplus boxes. Companies like Wolf Ammunition tend to charge relatively the same prices)








MAK90 -- I decided to cover this separate from the Type-56 Assault Rifle. The MAK90 stands for "Modified AK-1990". It was built in China by the firearms manufacturer Norinco. What makes this rifle stand out from other AK47 platforms is that it was produced strictly for export, as a sporting rifle. Due to the rifle features that were banned in the 90's in the United States, the MAK90 is most often seen with a wooden thumbhole style of stock. In addition, the receiver is 1.6mm thick. PolyTech was another company that exported them, in addition to Norinco. The MAK90 has been compared to the Bulgarian SLR95 in terms of quality..




SLR95 -- Out of all of my scouring of the internet, I could find next to no information about these, except for relatively high prices.. However, I did gather it to be a "self loading rifle"(DUH), model 1995 perhaps. It was made in Bulgaria, and is rumored to be the best damn AK you can get.. Well, thats an understatement, considering The emergence of the company Arsenal Inc.



AK103 -- A modern, Russian designed version of the AKM, sporting redesigned inners such as a 90 degree gas block and new front and rear trunions. It also sports AK74 style muzzle brake. The AK104 is a more compact variant, owing design attributes to the older AKS74U. These Two Rifles are part of the modern lineup produced by Russia.




AK101 is the 5.56x45NATO variant, its carbine version being the AK102.



AK105 and AK107 are further modernized versions of the AK74M rifle. They feature a "balanced" operating system, utilized from the design of the AEK971(standing for Alexandrov/Kalashnikov). It incorporates a new gas system.











AN94 -- Standing for "Avtomat Nikonova Model 1994", the AN94 is a distant cousin of the AK47. To avoid boring you with the complicated method in which it works, I will simply say that it is VERY complicated, and it very expensive to produce. It has a delayed recoil system that allows a second shot to be fired before the recoil of the first is felt. This is at roughly 1800 rounds per minute. However, this is only offered in the two-shot burst mode.






Saiga -- Saiga is a brand of firearms produces from the Izhmash factory in Russia. Saiga rifles and shotguns are AK pattern weapons, however, they are built for sport/hunting purposes. Rifles are chambered in 7.62 x 39, .308, 5.56x45NATO, and 5.45x39. Shotguns are chambered in 12 Gauge, 20 Gauge, and .410.

There are import restrictions in the United States which doesn't allow the import of military style weapons. However, considering that Saigas are simply sporterized versions of say, the AK103, U.S. companies, more specifically, Arsenal Inc.(upheld by the firearms community as the best producer of AK47 pattern weapons to date) imports these Saiga weapons, modifies and refits them with hardware that brings the rifles and shotguns to military standards, and resells them as an American Made firearm.







A before and after of a Saiga Rifle becoming an Arsenal SGL21.





Another comparison: an imported Saiga12 turned into what some scared politicians would call an "assault shotgun".


SVD Dragunov, PSL-54c, ROMAK III, and the FPK -- Before I conclude, a final part on the names that title this. First and foremost, the SVD is NOT based on an AK47. However, popular culture(games and movies) depict otherwise due to the exterior looks. The other 3, the PSL-54c, ROMAK III, and the FPK are actual AK47 style weapons, but chambered in the 100+ year old 7.62 x54r. This is the only true similarity between these and the SVD. Oh, and the price.. good luck getting an SVD into the country.. six to ten thousand dollars.. if you're lucky. You can pick up a PSL-54c for 650 bucks.






Differences in price, quality, and position of the magazine well. Nuff said.


Conclusion

The AK47 and its many many children have persuaded the world in many ways. A simple, yet ingenious design has brought forth pain, carnage, destruction, and become a favorite weapon among many. Its iconic looks, sound, and history have made it one of the most important weapons in history. To close, I present two pictures, one of a bullpup kit designed in 1975, and another of a gunsmithed 9mm ak build. Truly states that "anything is possible"





Written, researched, and fantasized about by:

SovietPrince


Long Live the Kalashnikov.