This article is about the assault rifle. For other uses, see AK-47 (disambiguation).
This article is about the rifle used from 1949-1959. For for the upgraded version used from 1959-present, see AKM.
| AK-47[N 1] | |
|---|---|
 A Type 2 AK-47, the first machined receiver variation | |
| Type | Assault rifle |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1949–present |
| Used by | See Users |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Mikhail Kalashnikov |
| Designed | 1947–1948[1] |
| Manufacturer | Izhmash |
| Produced | 1949–1959[2] |
| Number built | ≈ 75 million AK-47s, 100 million Kalashnikov-family weapons[3][4] |
| Variants | See Variants |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | Without magazine: 3.47 kg (7.7 lb) AK[5] 2.93 kg (6.5 lb) AKM[6][N 2] Magazine, empty: 0.43 kg (0.95 lb) (early issue)[5] 0.33 kg (0.73 lb) (steel)[6] 0.25 kg (0.55 lb) (plastic)[7] 0.17 kg (0.37 lb) (light alloy)[6] Ammo weight: 16.3 g × 30 = 0.49 kg (1.1 lb)[8] |
| Length | 880 mm (35 in) fixed wooden stock[citation needed] 875 mm (34.4 in) folding stock extended[citation needed] 645 mm (25.4 in) stock folded[5] |
| Barrel length | 415 mm (16.3 in) total[5] 369 mm (14.5 in) rifled[5] |
| Cartridge | 7.62×39mm M43/M67 |
| Action | Gas-operated, rotating bolt |
| Rate of fire | Cyclic 600 rounds/min,[5] practical 40 rounds/min semi-automatic[5] 100 rounds/min fully automatic[5] |
| Muzzle velocity | 715 m/s (2,350 ft/s)[5] |
| Effective range | 400 metres (440 yd) semi-auto[9] 300 metres (330 yd) full auto[9] |
| Feed system | Standard magazine capacity is 30 rounds;[5] there are also 10-, 20- and 40-round box and 75- and 100-rounddrum magazines |
| Sights | Adjustable iron sights with a 378 mm (14.9 in) sight radius:[5] 100–800 m adjustments (AK)[5] 100–1000 m adjustments (AKM)[7] |
The AK-47 is a selective-fire, gas-
Design work on the AK-47 began in the last year of World War II (1945). After the war in 1946, the AK-46 was presented for official military trials. In 1948 the fixed-stock version was introduced into active service with selected units of the Soviet Army. An early development of the design was theAKS (S—Skladnoy or "folding"), which was equipped with an underfolding metal shoulder stock. In 1949, the AK-47 was officially accepted by the Soviet Armed Forces[10] and used by the majority of the member states of the Warsaw Pact.
The original AK-47 was one of the first assault rifles of 2nd generation, after the German StG 44.[11]Even after six decades the model and its variants remain the most widely used and popular assault rifles in the world because of their durability, low production cost, and ease of use. It has been manufactured in many countries and has seen service with armed forces as well as irregular forcesworldwide. The AK-47 was the basis for developing many other types of individual and crew-served firearms. More AK-type rifles have been produced than all other assault rifles combined.[3]
