Editing AK-47 (section)

== Design ==
The AK-47 was designed to be a simple, reliable fully automatic rifle that could be manufactured quickly and cheaply, using mass production methods that were state of the art in the Soviet Union during the late 1940s.<ref name="Dunnigan" /> The AK-47 uses a [[Gas-operated reloading#Long-stroke|long-stroke gas system]] generally associated with high reliability in adverse conditions.<ref name="The AR-15 2010" /><ref name="Tilstra" /><ref name="Dockery" /> The large gas piston, generous clearance between moving parts, and tapered cartridge case design allow the gun to endure large amounts of foreign matter and fouling without failing to cycle.

=== Cartridge ===
{{Main|7.62×39mm}}
[[File:RussianWP.jpg|thumb|Wound Profiles of Russian small-arms ammunition compiled by Dr. [[Martin Fackler]] on behalf of the US military]]The AK fires the 7.62×39mm [[cartridge (weaponry)|cartridge]] with a muzzle velocity of {{convert|715|m/s|abbr=on}}.<ref name="izhmash" />
The cartridge weight is {{convert|16.3|g|oz|abbr=on|1}}, and the projectile weight is {{convert|7.9|g|gr|abbr=on|0}}.<ref name="ammoweight" /> The original Soviet M43 bullets are 123-grain [[boat-tail bullet]]s with a copper-plated steel jacket, a large steel core, and some lead between the core and the jacket. The AK has excellent penetration when shooting through heavy foliage, walls, or a common vehicle's metal body and into an opponent attempting to use these things as cover. The 7.62×39mm M43 projectile does not generally fragment when striking an opponent and has an unusual tendency to remain intact even after making contact with bone. The 7.62×39mm round produces significant wounding in cases where the bullet tumbles (yaws) in tissue,<ref name="Bellamy p146-155" /> but produces relatively minor wounds in cases where the bullet exits before beginning to yaw.<ref name="autogenerated7" /><ref name="Roberts-2008" /><ref name="Purdy" /> In the absence of yaw, the M43 round can pencil through tissue with relatively little injury.<ref name="autogenerated7" /><ref name="Bellamy p148" />

Most, if not all, of the 7.62×39mm ammunition found today is of the upgraded M67 variety. This variety deleted the steel insert, shifting the center of gravity rearward, and allowing the projectile to destabilize (or yaw) at about {{convert|3.3|in|cm|abbr=on}}, nearly {{convert|6.7|in|cm|abbr=on}} earlier in tissue than the M43 round.<ref name="uthr.org" /> This change also reduces penetration in ballistic gelatin to ~{{convert|25|in|cm|abbr=on}} for the newer M67 round versus ~{{convert|29|in|cm|abbr=on}} for the older M43 round.<ref name="uthr.org" /><ref name="Fackler" /> However, the wounding potential of M67 is mostly limited to the small permanent wound channel the bullet itself makes, especially when the bullet yaws.<ref name="uthr.org" />

=== Operating mechanism ===
[[File:Chinese type 56 AK47.jpg|thumb|The gas-operated mechanism of a [[Type 56 assault rifle|Norinco AK-47]]]]

To fire, the operator inserts a loaded magazine, pulls back and releases the charging handle, and then pulls the [[Trigger (firearms)|trigger]]. In semi-automatic, the firearm fires only once, requiring the trigger to be released and depressed again for the next shot. In fully automatic, the rifle continues to fire automatically cycling fresh rounds into the chamber until the magazine is exhausted or pressure is released from the trigger. After ignition of the cartridge primer and propellant, rapidly expanding propellant gases are diverted into the gas cylinder above the barrel through a vent near the muzzle. The build-up of gases inside the gas cylinder drives the long-stroke piston and [[Bolt (firearm)|bolt]] carrier rearward and a cam guide machined into the underside of the bolt carrier, along with an ejector spur on the bolt carrier rail guide, rotates the bolt approximately 35° and unlocks it from the barrel extension via a camming pin on the bolt. The moving assembly has about {{convert|5.5|mm|abbr=on|1}} of free travel, which creates a delay between the initial recoil impulse of the piston and the bolt unlocking sequence, allowing gas pressures to drop to a safe level before the seal between the chamber and the bolt is broken. The AK-47 does not have a gas valve; excess gases are ventilated through a series of radial ports in the gas cylinder. Unlike many other rifle platforms, such as the AR-15 platform, the Kalashnikov platform bolt locking lugs are chamfered allowing for [[primary extraction]] upon bolt rotation which aids reliable feeding and extraction, albeit not with that much force due to the short distance the bolt carrier travels before acting on the locking lug. The Kalashnikov platform then uses an extractor claw along with a fin shaped ejector to eject the spent cartridge case.<ref name="army" />

=== Barrel ===
[[File:Ak-47-iraqis.jpg|thumb|AK-47 barrel and its distinctive gas block with a horizontal row of gas relief ports]]

The rifle received a barrel with a [[Chrome plating|chrome-lined]] bore and four right-hand grooves at a 240&nbsp;mm (1 in 9.45 in) or 31.5 calibers [[Rifling#Twist rate|rifling twist rate]]. The gas block contains a gas channel that is installed at a slanted angle with the bore axis. The muzzle is threaded for the installation of various muzzle devices such as a muzzle brake or a [[blank-firing adaptor]].

===Gas block===
The gas block of the AK-47 features a cleaning rod capture or sling loop. Gas relief ports that alleviate gas pressure are placed horizontally in a row on the gas cylinder.

=== Fire selector ===
[[File:Viet Cong soldier DD-ST-99-04298.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Việt Cộng]] soldier armed with an AK-47 with the fire selector in the safe setting]]

The fire selector is a large lever located on the right side of the rifle; it acts as a dust cover and prevents the charging handle from being pulled fully to the rear when it is on safe.<ref name="arsenalinc1" /> It is operated by the shooter's right fore-fingers and has three settings: safe (up), full-auto (center), and semi-auto (down).<ref name="arsenalinc1" /> The reason for this is that a soldier under stress will push the selector lever down with considerable force, bypassing the full-auto stage and setting the rifle to semi-auto.<ref name="arsenalinc1" /> To set the AK-47 to full-auto requires the deliberate action of centering the selector lever.<ref name="arsenalinc1" /> To operate the fire selector lever, right-handed shooters have to briefly remove their right hand from the pistol grip, which is ergonomically sub-optimal. Some AK-type rifles also have a more traditional selector lever on the left side of the receiver, just above the pistol grip.<ref name="arsenalinc1" /> This lever is operated by the shooter's right thumb and has three settings: safe (forward), full-auto (center), and semi-auto (backward).<ref name="arsenalinc1" />

=== Sights ===
[[File:AK47-rear-sight.jpg|thumb|Rear sight of a Chinese Type 56, featuring {{convert|100|to|800|m|yd|0|abbr=on}} settings and omission of a battle zero setting]]

The AK-47 uses a notched rear tangent [[iron sight]] calibrated in {{convert|100|m|yd|0|abbr=on}} increments from {{convert|100|to|800|m|yd|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="scribd1" /> The front sight is a post adjustable for elevation in the field. Horizontal adjustment requires a special drift tool and is done by the armory before the issue or if the need arises by an armorer after the issue. The sight line elements are approximately {{convert|48.5|mm|in|1|abbr=on|lk=on}} over the bore axis. The "[[point-blank range]]" battle zero setting "'''''П'''''" standing for ''постоянная'' (constant) on the 7.62×39mm AK-47 rear tangent sight element corresponds to a {{convert|300|m|yd|0|abbr=on}} zero.<ref name="scribd1" />{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=42}} These settings mirror the Mosin–Nagant and SKS rifles, which the AK-47 replaced. For the AK-47 combined with service cartridges, the 300 m battle zero setting limits the [[External ballistics#Bullet drop|apparent "bullet rise"]] within approximately {{convert|-5|to|+31|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} relative to the line of sight. Soldiers are instructed to fire at any target within this range by simply placing the sights on the center of mass (the belt buckle, according to Russian and former Soviet doctrine) of the enemy target. Any errors in range estimation are tactically irrelevant, as a well-aimed shot will hit the torso of the enemy soldier. Some AK-type rifles have a front sight with a flip-up luminous dot that is calibrated at {{convert|50|m|yd|0|abbr=on}}, for improved night fighting.<ref name="scribd1" />

=== Furniture ===
The AK-47 was originally equipped with a buttstock, handguard, and an upper heat guard made from solid wood. With the introduction of the Type 3 receiver the buttstock, lower handguard, and upper heat guard were manufactured from [[birch]] [[plywood]] [[laminates]].<ref name="browningmgs.com" /> Such engineered woods are stronger and resist warping better than the conventional one-piece patterns, do not require lengthy maturing, and are cheaper. The wooden furniture was finished with the Russian amber shellac finishing process.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thornton |first=Nathan |date= 31 January 2020|title=Rifle 101: Replicating True Soviet/Russian Shellac Finish |url=https://internationalsportsman.com/rifle-101-replicating-true-soviet-russian-shellac-finish/ |access-date=March 31, 2023 |website=International Sportsman}}</ref> AKS and AKMS models featured a downward-folding metal butt-stock similar to that of the German [[MP40|MP40 submachine-gun]], for use in the restricted space in the [[BMP development|BMP infantry combat vehicle]], as well as by paratroops. All 100 series AKs use plastic furniture with side-folding stocks.

=== Magazines ===
[[File:Bakelite AK magazines.jpg|thumb|"Bakelite" rust-colored steel-reinforced 30-round plastic box 7.62×39mm AK magazines. Three magazines have an "arrow in triangle" [[Izhmash]] arsenal mark on the bottom right. The other magazine has a "star" [[Tula Arms Plant|Tula]] arsenal mark on the bottom right]]

The standard magazine capacity is 30 rounds. There are also 10-, 20-, and 40-round box magazines, as well as 75-round [[drum magazine|drum]] magazines.

The AK-47's standard 30-round magazines have a pronounced curve that allows them to smoothly feed ammunition into the chamber. Their heavy steel construction combined with "feed-lips" (the surfaces at the top of the magazine that control the angle at which the cartridge enters the chamber) machined from a single steel billet makes them highly resistant to damage. These magazines are so strong that "Soldiers have been known to use their mags as hammers, and even bottle openers".<ref name="Small Arms Defense Journal" /><ref name="magazine video" /> This contributes to the AK-47 magazine being more reliable but makes it heavier than US and NATO magazines.

The early slab-sided steel AK-47 30-round detachable box magazines had {{convert|1|mm|in|abbr=on}} sheet-metal bodies and weighed {{convert|0.43|kg|lb|abbr=on}} empty.<ref name="Dockery" /> The later steel AKM 30-round magazines had lighter sheet-metal bodies with prominent reinforcing ribs weighing {{convert|0.33|kg|lb|abbr=on}} empty.<ref name="Dockery" /><ref name="scribd2" /> To further reduce weight, a lightweight magazine with an aluminum body with a prominent reinforcing waffle rib pattern weighing {{convert|0.19|kg|lb|abbr=on}} empty was developed for the AKM that proved to be too fragile, and the small issued amount of these magazines were quickly withdrawn from service.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/09/17/guest-post-brief-history-kalashnikov-magazine-part-1-metal-magazines/ |title=A Brief History of the Kalashnikov Magazine Part 1: Metal Magazines |date=17 September 2016 |website=The Firearm Blog |access-date=2020-01-28}}</ref> As a replacement steel-reinforced 30-round plastic 7.62×39mm box magazines were introduced. These [[Rust (color)|rust-colored]] magazines weigh {{convert|0.24|kg|lb|abbr=on}} empty and are often mistakenly identified as being made of [[Bakelite]] (a [[phenolic resin]]), but were fabricated from two parts of AG-S4 molding compound (a [[glass-filled polymer|glass-reinforced]] phenol-[[formaldehyde]] binder impregnated composite), assembled using an [[epoxy resin]] adhesive.<ref name="Kokalis" /><ref name="AG-S4" /><ref name="Kokalis_49" /> Noted for their durability, these magazines did however compromise the rifle's camouflage and lacked the small horizontal reinforcing ribs running down both sides of the magazine body near the front that were added on all later plastic magazine generations.<ref name="Kokalis_49" /> A second-generation steel-reinforced dark-brown (color shades vary from [[maroon]] to [[Plum (color)|plum]] to near [[black]]) 30-round 7.62×39mm magazine was introduced in the early 1980s, fabricated from [[Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene|ABS]] plastic. The third generation steel-reinforced 30-round 7.62×39mm magazine is similar to the second generation, but is darker colored and has a matte non-reflective surface finish. The current issue is a steel-reinforced matte true black non- reflective surface finished 7.62×39mm 30-round magazine, fabricated from ABS plastic weighing {{convert|0.25|kg|lb|abbr=on}} empty.<ref name="izhmash" />

Early steel AK-47 magazines are {{convert|9.75|in|mm|abbr=on}} long; the later ribbed steel AKM and newer plastic 7.62×39mm magazines are about {{convert|1|in|mm|abbr=on}} shorter.<ref name="dtic.mil" /><ref name="tormented" />

The transition from steel to mainly plastic magazines yields a significant weight reduction and allows a soldier to carry more ammunition for the same weight.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="background:#efefef;" | Rifle
! style="background:#efefef;" | Cartridge
! style="background:#efefef;" | Weight of empty magazine
! style="background:#efefef;" | Weight of loaded magazine
! style="background:#efefef;" | Max. {{convert|10.12|kg|lbs|abbr=on}} ammunition load*
|-
| AK-47 (1949)
| rowspan="3" | [[7.62×39mm]]
| slab-sided steel<br />{{convert|430|g|lb|abbr=on}}
| 30-rounds<br />{{convert|916|g|lbs|abbr=on}}<ref name="Dockery" />
| 11 magazines for 330 rounds<br />{{convert|10.08|kg|lbs|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[AKM]] (1959)
| ribbed stamped-steel<br />{{convert|330|g|lbs|abbr=on}}
| 30-rounds<br />{{convert|819|g|lbs|abbr=on}}<ref name="Dockery" /><ref name="scribd2" />
| 12 magazines for 360 rounds<br />{{convert|9.83|kg|lbs|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[AK-103]] (1994)
| steel-reinforced plastic<br />{{convert|250|g|lbs|abbr=on}}
| 30-rounds<br />{{convert|739|g|lbs|abbr=on}}<ref name="Dockery" /><ref name="scribd2" />
| 13 magazines for 390 rounds<br />{{convert|9.61|kg|lbs|abbr=on}}
|}

All 7.62×39mm AK magazines are backward compatible with older AK variants.

10.12&nbsp;kg (22.3&nbsp;lb) is the maximum amount of ammo that the average soldier can comfortably carry. It also allows for the best comparison of the three most common 7.62×39mm AK magazines.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

Most Yugoslavian and some East German AK magazines were made with cartridge followers that hold the bolt open when empty; however, most AK magazine followers allow the bolt to close when the magazine is empty.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

=== Accessories ===
[[File:AK-47 bayonet and scabbard.jpg|thumb|left|AK-47 6H2 bayonet and scabbard]]

[[File:AK47Figure54.jpg|thumb|left|AK-47 with Kalashnikov grenade launcher mounted on the muzzle]]
Accessories supplied with the rifle include a {{convert|387|mm|in|abbr=on}} long 6H3 [[bayonet]] featuring a {{convert|200|mm|in|abbr=on}} long spear point blade. The AK-47 bayonet is installed by slipping the {{convert|17.7|mm|in|abbr=on}} diameter muzzle ring around the muzzle and latching the handle down on the bayonet lug under the front sight base.<ref name="worldbayonets.com" />

All current model AKM rifles can mount under-barrel 40&nbsp;mm grenade launchers such as the [[GP-25]] and its variants, which can fire up to 20 rounds per minute and have an effective range of up to 400 meters.<ref name="Izhmash gp-34" /> The main grenade is the VOG-25 (VOG-25M) fragmentation grenade which has a 6&nbsp;m (9&nbsp;m) (20&nbsp;ft (30&nbsp;ft)) lethality radius. The VOG-25P/VOG-25PM ("jumping") variant explodes {{convert|0.5|–|1|m|ft}} above the ground.<ref name="Russian Close Combat Weapon" />

The AK-47 can also mount a (rarely used) [[Rifle grenade#Cup-type|cup-type grenade launcher]], the Kalashnikov grenade launcher that fires standard [[RGD-5]] Soviet hand grenades. The maximum effective range is approximately 150 meters.<ref name="ar15" /> This launcher can also be used to launch [[tear-gas|tear gas]] and [[riot control]] grenades.

All current AKs (100 series) and some older models have side rails for mounting a variety of scopes and sighting devices, such as the [[PSO-1|PSO-1 Optical Sniper Sight]].<ref name="Izhmash ak103" /> The side rails allow for the removal and remounting of optical accessories without interfering with the zeroing of the optic. However, the 100 series side folding stocks cannot be folded with the optics mounted.