SECTION I. GENERAL
The AK-47 (fig 3) is a short, compact, selective-fired weapon designed by the Soviets in 1946 which fires a cartridge intermediate in power between submachine gun and rifle cartridges. It has a mild recoil which gives it the capability of delivering effective full automatic fire up to 300 meters.
In addition to the Soviet Union, the People’s Republic of China, East Germany, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, North Korea, Hungary, and Yugoslavia have manufactured the AK-47. The selector markings on the right side of the receiver provide a ready means of identifying the country of origin (fig 4).
The AK-47 is produced in two different basic models - one with a conventional fixed wooden stock (fig 5) and the other with a folding metal stock (fig 6). The folding stock is used mostly by airborne and armor units.
SECTION II. TECHNICAL DATA
| Cartridge | 7.62x39mm |
| Feed | Magazine (fig 7) |
| Magazine capacity | 30 rds |
| Gas operated | |
| Weight | 9.5 lb |
| Length | 34.2 in |
| Length w/folded stock | 27.5 in |
| Rate of fire semiautomatic | 40 rpm |
| Rate of fire automatic | 100 rpm |
| Rate of fire cyclic | 600-800 rpm |
| Maximum effective range | 400 meters |
FIGURE 3. AK-47
