8/13/2019 35165946 Ak 47 Technical Manual http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/35165946-ak-47-technical-manual 1/23 A K – 47 ASSAULT RIFLE Kalashnikov AK-47 and AKM assault rifles (USSR) Kalashnikov AK (the original AK-47 with combination stamped / milled receiver) Modified AK (1!! man"fact"re)# with machined receiver$ %ote the distinctive machined c"ts above and forward of the maga&ine well$ 1
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he original AK was also known as the AK-47$ .t was a gas-operated# selective-
fire weapon$ ike all 7$0+-mm Kalashnikov assa"lt rifles# it fired the oviet 7$0+ 2-
mm M142 ro"nd and "sed a standard 2,-ro"nd c"rved bo maga&ine$ he AK came
in two versions3 one with a fied wooden stock# and another# the AK# with a folding
metal stock iss"ed primaril' to parach"tist and armor troops$ cept for the
differences in the stock and the lack of a tool kit with the AK# the two version wereidentical$ he earl' AKs had no ba'onet# b"t the version with the fied wooden stock
later mo"nted a detachable knife ba'onet$
he improved model# known as the AKM# is easier to prod"ce and operate$ .t
weighs abo"t one kilogram less than the AK$ he red"ced weight res"lts from "sing
thinner# stamped sheet metal parts rather than machined# forged steel5 laminated wood
rather than solid wood in the hand g"ard# forearm# pistol grip# and b"tt stock5 and new
lightweight al"min"m and plastic maga&ines$ 6ther improvements incl"de a straighter
stock for better control5 an improved gas c'linder5 a rate-of-fire control alongside the
trigger5 a rear sight grad"ated to 1#,,, meters rather than ,, meters5 and a greatl'
improved# detachable ba'onet$
he AKM also has a folding-stock version# designated AKM# intended for "se
b' riflemen in armored infantr' combat vehicles s"ch as the 8M*$ cept for its -
shaped# stamped-metal# folding b"tt stock# the AKM is identical to the AKM$ he
folding-stock model can red"ce its length from 0 to 0 millimeters$ he
Kalashnikov assa"lt rifle# also known as the AK-47 (Avtomat Kalashnikova - 47#
Kalashnikov a"tomatic rifle# model of 147)# and its derivatives# also known "nder
the common name of AK# is the most prolific small arm of the +nd half of the 99
cent"r'$ .t had been and still is (in more or less modified forms) man"fact"red in
do&ens of co"ntries# and "sed in h"ndreds of co"ntries and conflicts since its
introd"ction$ he total n"mber of the AK-t'pe rifles made worldwide d"ring the last
!, 'ears is estimated at ,: millions$
8' the 1! the AK was modified again# this time more etensivel'# and was
conse;"entl' adopted (after trials) as the AKM (Avtomat Kalashnikova
Moderni&irovann'< - Kalashnikov A"tomatic rifle# Modified)$ he ke' changes were
the introd"ction of the stamped receiver instead of the milled one# and improved
trigger/hammer "nit# that introd"ced a hammer release dela' device (often incorrectl'
referred as a rate red"cer)$ 6ther changes were the redesigned# slightl' raised
b"ttstock and the pistol grip# and the addition of the removable m"&&le flip
compensator$ his spoon-like compensator is screwed onto the m"&&le and "sed them"&&le blast to red"ce m"&&le climb d"ring the b"rst fire$ he compensator co"ld be
replaced b' the screw-on =*8-1 noiseless firing device=# generall' known as a
silencer$ his silencer re;"ired special# s"b-sonic amm"nition with heavier b"llets to
be "sed$ Another change from AK to AKM was a slightl' improved rear sight# with
settings from 1,, to 1,,, (instead of the ,, on AK) meters$ 8oth ,, and 1,,,
meters# however# are ecessivel' optimistic for an' practical "se# since the effective
fire is limited ro"ghl' to 2,,-4,, meters# if not less$
"artrid#e: 7$0+ 2 mm $peration: gas# selective fire
Loc%in#: rotating bolt Feed:2,-ro"nd detachable bo
maga&ine
&ei#ht: 4$2 kg Len#th: 0 mm
'arrel: 414 mm Riflin#:4 grooves# rh# 1 t"rn in
+2! mm
Si#hts:fore# post# ad<"stable5 rear# >-
notch# tangent
!((le
)elocit*:71, m/s
Rate of
fire:c'clic# 0,, rds/min
Effecti)e
ran#e:4,, m
he AKM is a gas operated# selective fire assa"lt rifle$ he gas-operated action
has a massive bolt carrier with a permanentl' attached long stroke gas piston$ he gas
chamber is located above the barrel$ he bolt carrier rides on the two rails# machined
in the receiver# with the significant clearances between the moving and stationar' parts# which allows the g"n to operate even when its interior is severel' fo"led with
sand or m"d$ he rotating bolt has two massive l"gs that lock into the receiver$ 8olt is
so designed that on the "nlocking rotation it also makes a primar' etraction
movement to the fired case$ his res"lts in ver' positive and reliable etraction even
with dirt' chamber and cases$ he rotation of the bolt is ens"red b' the c"rved cam
track# machined in the bolt carrier# and b' the appropriate st"d on the bolt itself$ he
ret"rn spring and a spring g"ide are located behind the gas piston and are partiall'
hidden in its hollow rear part when bolt is in batter'$ he ret"rn spring base also
serves as a receiver cover lock$ he cocking handle is permanentl' attached to the
bolt carrier (in fact# it forms a single machined steel "nit with carrier)# and does
reciprocate when g"n is fired$
he receiver of the AKM is made from the stamped sheet steel# with machined
steel inserts riveted into the place where re;"ired$ arliest AK-47 receivers were also
made from the stamped and machined parts# riveted together# b"t this soon proved to
be "nsatisfactor'# and most of the AK (pre-1!) rifles were made with completel'
machined receivers$ he receiver cover is a stamped sheet metal part# with stamped
strengthening ribs fo"nd on the AKM covers$
he relativel' simple trigger/hammer mechanism is loosel' based on the 1,,?s
period 8rowning deigns (m"ch like the most other modern assa"lt rifles)# and feat"res
a hammer with two sears - one main# mo"nted on the trigger etension# and one for
the semi-a"tomatic fire# that intercepts the hammer in the cocking position after the
shot is fired and "ntil the trigger is released$ Additional a"to sear is "sed to release the
hammer in f"ll a"to mode$ he AKM trigger "nit also feat"red a hammer release
dela' device# which is served to dela' the hammer release in the f"ll a"to fire b' few
microseconds$ his does not affect the c'clic rate of fire# b"t allows the bolt gro"p to
settle in the forward most position after ret"rning into the batter'$ he combined
safet' - fire selector switch of distinctive shape is located on the right side of the
receiver$ .n the =afe= position (topmost)# it locks the bolt gro"p and the trigger# and
also served as a d"st cover$ he middle position is for a"tomatic fire# and the bottom
position is for single shots$ he safet' / fire selector switch is considered b' man' asthe main drawback of the whole AK design# which is not c"red in the most of
derivatives "ntil now$ .t is slow# "ncomfortable and sometimes stiff to operate
(especiall' when wearing gloves or mittens)# and# when act"ated# prod"ces a lo"d and
distinctive click$ here is no bolt stop device# and the bolt alwa's goes forward when
the last shot from the maga&ine is fired$
AKM is fed from the 2, ro"nds# stamped steel maga&ines of heav'# b"t rob"stdesign$ arl' AK maga&ines were of slab-sided design# b"t the more common AKM
maga&ines feat"red additional stamped ribs on the sides$ *ositive maga&ine catch is
located <"st ahead of the trigger g"ard and solidl' locks the maga&ine into the place$
.nsertion and the removal of the maga&ine re;"ires slight rotation of the maga&ine
aro"nd its front top corner# which has a solid locking l"g$ .f available and re;"ired# a
4, ro"nd bo maga&ines of similar design# or the 7! ro"nds dr"ms (both from the
@*K light machine g"n) can be "sed$ ate in prod"ction# plastic maga&ines of the
distinctive reddish color were introd"ced$
AKM rifles were iss"ed with wooden stocks and pistol handles$ ate prod"ction
AKM rifles had a plastic pistol grip instead of wooden one$ he wooden b"ttstock hasa steel b"ttplate with mo"setrap cover# which covers the accessor' container in the
b"tt$ he AK b"ttstock are more swept-down than the AKM ones$ he folding stock
version had been developed for the airborne troops and its had an "nderfolding steel
sho"lder stock$ hese modifications of the AK and AKM were designated the AK
and AKM# respectivel'$ AK were iss"ed with the detachable knife-ba'onets# and the
AKM introd"ced a new pattern of the shorter# m"ltip"rpose knife-ba'onet# which can
be "sed in con<"nction with its sheath to form a wire-c"tter$ All AK and AKM rifles
were iss"ed with the canvas carr'ing slings$
he sights of the AKM consist of the hooded front post and the >-notch open
rear$ ights are grad"ated from 1,, to 1,,, (,, on AK) meters# with an additional
=fied= battle setting that can be "sed for all ranges "p to 2,, meters$
AKM rifles also can be fitted with the 4,mm *-+! grenade la"nchers# which
are mo"nted "nder the forend and the barrel$ renade la"nchers had its own sights on
the left side of the "nit$
"apa+ilities:
All 7$0+-mm Kalashnikov assa"lt rifles fire in either semia"tomatic or a"tomatic
mode and have an effective range of abo"t 2,, meters$ At f"ll c'clic rate# the' canfire abo"t 0,, ro"nds per min"te ("p to 04, ro"nds per min"te for the AKM)# with a
practical rate of abo"t 1,, ro"nds per min"te f"ll' a"tomatic or 4, ro"nds per min"te
semia"tomatic$ 8oth the AK and AKM can mo"nt a grenade la"ncher$ 8oth can have
passive image intensifier night sights$ 8oth can f"nction normall' after total
immersion in m"d and water$ he f"ll' chromed barrel ens"res effective operation
even at ver' low temperat"res$ he m"&&le of either weapon fits into the swiveling
firing points of the 8M*$ h"s# the infantr'man can fire the weapon while the vehicle
ome models incl"de a gas valve on the forward gas port (above the barrel) to
permit firing grenades$ ometimes the valve is controlled b' flipping a special
=grenade sight= "p into position$
ome makes of removable ba'onets can attach to their scabbards to form a
scissors-st'e barbed-wire c"tter$
he barrel and chamber are chromi"m-plated# to resist corrosion# b"t cleaning
after ever' firing is recommended$ Most militar' amm"nition "ses corrosive primers$
A cleaning rod is "nder the barrel$ .t bends slightl' for removal$ .n standard
AKs# cleaning patches and a metal bottle of oil and solvent are in compartments in
the sho"lder-pad of the stock$
o field strip# release the maga&ine catch# remove the maga&ine# and cock therifle# holding the left hand read' over the receiver to catch an' e<ected cartridge$
@elease the catch on the right side of the rear sight$ *"sh the piston assembl' cover
forward# detaching it from the rear receiver$ ift it and then p"ll it backwards$
@emove the piston assembl' and bolt$ Blean as needed# with special attention to the
barrel# gas hole and gas piston$ 6il slightl' and reassemble$ 8efore inserting the
maga&ine# press the trigger to release the spring tension$
'allistics
he standard AK-47 or AKM fires a 7$0+2mm ro"nd with a m"&&le velocit'
of 71, m/s$ M"&&le energ' is +#7, <o"les$ Bartridge length is 2$0mm# weight is
1$+1g$ *ro<ectile weight is 7$1g$
he new model AK-74 fires a !$4!2mm ro"nd with a m"&&le velocit' of ,,
m/s$ M"&&le energ' is 1#2! <o"les$ he cartridge weight is 1,$7!g$ *ro<ectile weight
is 2$4+g$
8oth b"llets are f"ll metal <acket designs$ he o"ter plating is copper and &inc$
he shell is steel$ here?s an inner la'er of soft lead# with a core that?s a steel
penetrator$ here is a b"bble in the nose$
Dhen shot into 1,E ballistic gelatin at 4B# the b"llets alwa's t"mble$ 9-ra'
eaminations of ten b"llets showed that the lead invariabl' shifts into the b"bble in
the nose# possibl' "nbalancing the b"llet$
Dith the !$4!mm b"llet# the t"mbling prod"ced a maim"m wo"nd epansion
twice at 1, and 4,cm of depth$ Dith the 7$0+mm b"llet# the maim"m wo"nd
epansion occ"rred at approimatel' 2, and 4, cm$ 4,cm is the average thickness of
ome people have said that the @"ssians were concerned abo"t the lower
energies of the assa"lt-rifle b"llets and designed them to ca"se more damage than
might otherwise occ"r$
@ate of fire is between 2,, and 0,, ro"nds per min"te$ ater models have
modifications to the trigger assembl' and bolt to fire more slowl'$ his helps to makethe weapon more controllable and waste less amm"nition$ his ma' help red"ce
./ Re,o)e the ,a#a(ine fro, the #!n and c*cle the action ,a%in# s!re the
firear, is e,pt*/
+$ *"sh in the retaining lever (the little b"tton at the end of the receiver closest to the
stock) on the rear of the receiver# then lift the receiver cover off and back to remove it
eposing the action$
2$ ake o"t the action spring F retaining rod b' p"shing them forward to release them#then lift them "p slightl' and back them o"t of the receiver$
4$ @emove the bolt and bolt carrier (which will also have the gas piston attached to it)
8' p"lling them back and o"t$
!$ ake the bolt o"t of the carrier b' twisting the bolt co"nterclockwise and p"lling it
o"t of the front of the carrier$
0$ @emove the gas c'linder b' p"lling it backward and lifting it o"t$
7$ he etractor and etractor spring are held in place be the large pin (which ma' be
a solid or roll pin depending on the rifle located on the side of the bolt near the locking l"gs$
8efore tr'ing to drift o"t this pin check to be s"re one side isn?t staked if it is go o"t the other
side opposite the staked spot in the bolt$ rift the pin o"t with a drift p"nch or small nail to
free the etractor$ 8e caref"l since the spring is "nder tension$ $ he smaller pin located on the side of the bolt near the locking l"gs retain the firing
pin (and its spring on models with a firing pin spring) note whether the pin is staked in place$
rifting the pin o"t frees the firing pin take care since this spring is also "nder press"re$
$ he gas piston is held to the bolt carrier etension arm b' a roll pin$ his pin
sho"ld be sho"ld be drifted o"t onl' if the piston needs to be repaired or replaced since
damage to the piston can occ"r d"ring this process$
1,$ Clash hiders or m"&&le n"ts are sometimes held in place b' a pin b"t "s"all' are
screwed onto the barrel some AK?s lack them entirel'$
11$ he gas port block is generall' held in place b' cross pins don?t remove it "nless its
absol"tel' necessar'# this can be a tedio"s process on some rifles and it ma' be hard to
replace it so it sta's in place$
1+$ he fore grip ma' be attached to the rifle in a variet' of wa's the method for
removal is best determined b' st"d'ing the rifle$
12$ he trigger gro"ps pins are released b' removing the looped retaining spring on the
left inside of the receiver on semi-a"to rifles# or the long leg of the disconector spring on
select-fire g"ns$ 8efore freeing the spring or leg place the selector in the fire position and
while restraining the hammer p"ll the trigger$ Gold the hammer and caref"ll' lower it "ntil it
is f"ll' forward# facedown$ his is done the retaining spring can be p"lled forward and o"t
b' grasping its loop with a pair of needle nosed pliers and p"lling forward and o"t$ 6n select
fire rifles the long leg of the disconnection spring sho"ld be p"lled "p to free the
disconnection pin remove the pin o"t the left side of the receiver and then take o"t thedisconnection and its spring to free the other parts of the trigger gro"p$
14$ 6nce the retaining spring is removed the trigger gro"p is freed b' sliding the
hammer and trigger pins o"t the left side of the receiver$ his will free the hammer and its
spring which can be removed b' t"rning them slightl' and lifting them o"t$ %et the trigger
and sear can be removed along with the rate red"cer and its sear (takes care not to lose the
sear spring which sits between the sear and trigger$)
1!$ .f the safet'/selector needs to be removed rotate its forward end "pward so that it
can be p"lled o"t the right side of the receiver$
10$ Most stocks are held in place b' screws or with man' folding stocks pins$ o not
remove the stock "nless absol"tel' necessar' for repair or replacement$
17$ he maga&ine release and its spring are held in place with a rivet$ o not remove"nless absol"tel' necessar'$
1$ *istol grips are generall' held in place b' a bolt which can be "nscrewed thro"gh
the open base of the grip$
1$ he front sight post generall' screws into its base$ he sight assembl' can be
removed b' drifting a set screw or screws ma' need to be loosened first$ he front sight
sho"ld not be removed "nless absol"tel' necessar' since the tight fit keeps it &eroed$
+,$ he rear sight is generall' pinned or screwed into place with its base welded ontothe rifle$ %ote the leaf springs alignment so that it ma' be properl' realigned$
he bolt delivers the cartridge into the chamber# closes the barrel bore# dents the primer# andetracts the case from the chamber$ he bolt consists of bod'# firing pin# etractor with
spring and pin# and firing pin retaining pin$
he bolt bod' has on the front faced- two c'lindrical recesses for
the case bottom and for the etractor5 two locking l"gs that engage
in the receiver?s locking recesses to lock the bolt5 on top a g"ide
l"g for rotating the bolt d"ring locking5 on the left side a
longit"dinal slot for passage of the receiver?s e<ector l"g ( the slot
widens at the end to facilitate the bolt?s rotation d"ring locking$)
in the slimmer portion of the bolt bod' are holes for the etractor
pin and firing pin retainer pin$ he firing pin has a striker and arecess for the retaining pin$ he etractor with spring etracts the
case from the chamber and holds it "ntil it enco"nters the receiver?s e<ector l"g$ he
etractor has a claw for capt"re of the case# a pocket for the spring# and a notch for the pin$
he retaining pin sec"res the firing pin$
1isasse,+l* - Dith the drift or p"nch set# drive o"t the pin that retains the firing pin and
etractor pin# and remove the etractor with spring from the bolt$
1isasse,+l* of F!ll A!to tri##er ,echanis,/ - Golding the rifle with the left hand atthe receiver# press on the a"to sear and disengage the a"to sear from the hammer with the right
hand and "sing the drift$ @elease the hammer from the sear$ @aise the left end of the hammer
spring with the tapered end of the drift and g"ide it past the hammer?s sear notch with the
fingers$ "ide the long end of the a"to sear spring o"t of the circ"lar channel of the trigger pin
with the screwdriver$ ap the trigger pin to the left with the drift and remove it$ rad"all'
p"lling the drift o"t# etract the semi-a"tomatic fire sear from the receiver along with its spring#
spring retarder# and hammer retarder with the fingers of the left hand$ *ressing back in the
trigger piece with the left inde finger# lift the trigger "pward and remove it from the receiver
with the right hand$ @emove the hammer b' pressing with the screwdriver on the long end of the
a"to sear spring# remove it from the circ"lar channel of the hammer pin$ ap the hammer pin to
the left with the drift$ Golding the hammer with the right hand# remove the hammer pin with theleft hand$ @otate the hammer so the left tr"nnion is toward the chamber and remove the hammer
form the receiver$ @emove the hammer spring from the hammer$ @emove the a"to sear$ ap
the a"to sear pin to the left with the he drift and remove it$ @emove the a"to sear with spring
thro"gh the maga&ine well$ @emove the spring from the a"to sear$ @emove the selector b'
rotating the selector "pward to the vertical position# move it to the right# and remove it from the
he gas t"be directs the movement of the gas piston d"ring
shooting$ .t has g"ide ribs which direct the piston$ he
front end of the gas t"be fits on the gas chamber$ he
hand g"ard protects the rifleman?s hands from b"rns when
firing$ .t has a channel in which it sec"res the metal semi-
circ"lar spacer that presses the hand g"ard awa' from the
gas t"be$ he hand g"ard is sec"red on the gas t"be b'
front and rear <oining collars5 the rear collar has a l"g in which the gas t"be lock engages$
1isasse,+l* of the fore end - rasp the rifle at the for end in the left hand $ Dith the right hand"sing a screwdriver rotate the fore end lock on half t"rn forward$ isplace the connecting collar
with fore end toward the gas chamber with the th"mbs of both hands$ *ress forward on the fore
end and remove it from the barrel$
AK-47 a#a(ine 1isasse,+l*
he maga&ine bod' <oins all of the maga&ine?s components together$ .ts lateral walls have
lips to prevent the cartridges from falling o"t and l"gs that limit the "pward motion of thefollower$ 6n the front wall is the catch and on the rear wall stop l"g# which together hold the
maga&ine in the receiver$ 6n the bottom of the rear wall of the maga&ine?s bod' is an inspection
hold for determining if the maga&ine if f"ll' loaded$ he walls of the maga&ine are ribbed for
strength$ he bottom of the maga&ine is closed with a floor plate$ he floor plate has a hole for
the l"g of the stop leaf$ .nside the maga&ine bod' are a follower and spring with stop leaf$ he
follower is fastened to the "pper end of the spring b' an internal flange on the right wall of the
follower$ he follower has a l"g that ens"res the staggered positioning of the cartridges in themaga&ine$ he stop leaf is permanentl' attached to the bottom end of the follower spring and
holds the maga&ine floor plate from displacement with its l"g$ ome rifles have plastic
maga&ines that are the same in constr"ction as the metal maga&ines$
1isasse,+l* epress the small metal notch at the end of the maga&ine on the floor plate$ lide
the floor plate backwards towards the rear or primer area of the maga&ine$ 8e caref"l the spring
will shoot o"t with some force and co"ld ca"se in<"r' if not done slowl'$ @emove the spring
and follower and the maga&ine is now disassembled$ o reassemble <"st reverse the order of
operation$
AK-47 Recoil Sprin# 1isasse,+l*
1isasse,+l* rasp the recoil mechanism in the left hand$ *osition the g"iderod verticall' with the heel down on the table or rest$ Bompress the recoil
spring downward# and with the right hand separate the send of the movable rod
and remove the collar$ @emove the spring from the g"ide rod$ @emove the