7.62 x 39" AK-47 HANDBOOK for Identification Stripping & Assembly Service & Maintenance Operation & Function Illustrated Parts Lists Accessories & Spares Historical Memoranda Additional Referencesgovernment ordnance, manufacturers and law enforcement ma parts pan tained Goud pede ae aer ore nn ty camel © lan Skennerton 2005, reprinted 2009 All rights reserved. No portion ofthis publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval ‘system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the plas oni National Library of Australia Skennerton, lan D. ISBN 0 949749 80 X Produced by lan D. Skenneron. Arms & Militaria Press, PO Box 80, Labrador 4215, Australia. Pri by Tha Watana Parich ress Co Lid, 919 Moo 4, Bung Pu Industral Estate, Thailand 102807.62 x 39™™ AK-47 IDENTIFICATION STRIPPING & ASSEMBLY SERVICE & MAINTENANCE OPERATION & FUNCTION ILLUSTRATED PARTS LISTS ACCESSORIES & SPARES HISTORICAL MEMORANDA ADDITIONAL REFERENCES 21 23 28 30 33 35GAS CYLINDER TUBE LOCK SLIDE CATCH SELECTOR BAYONET LOCK OPEHATING HANDLE MAGAZINE ‘CATCH TRIGGER WE 64538 AK-47 Type 2 (machined receiver) with integral spike bayonet extended AKMS (fabricated receiver) with metal folding stock, extended MAK-90 (commercial semi-auto Chinese import)IDENTIFICATION ... The 7.62 x 39mm AK-47 has a distinctive profile with its long, curved, detachable magazine and protecting pistol grip, a raised foresight incorporating protector wings, a straight, detachable sheet steel action cover with serrated release button at the rear, long fire selector lever on the right side which doubles as an action cover in the safety position, and a long thin cleaning rod housed under the barrel. Despite the many AK-47 variants made in east, west and third world countries, with folding metal buttstocks, wood, laminated or plastic furniture, forward pistol grip, with integrated spike, blade or detachable bayonet, the action and its primary features remain the same. Designated models are the Russian AK-47 Type 1 with early stamped and fabricated sheet steel receiver, riveted and/welded, until about 1950, and then the Type 2 which has a machined steel receiver with a long wide groove on each side, above and forward of the magazine well, and finally the AKM in 1959." The AKM has a fabricated sheet steel receiver with U-shaped pressing, oval depression guides above the magazine well, two new rivets on each side, just behind the fore-end to hold the bolt-lock recesses, fire reduction mechanism in the trigger group, and an oblique angled muzzle compensator to control barrel climb on full-auto. The AKM also features wood laminated plastic and a wider foregrip with a handgrip recess cut into each side. It is also lighter than the Type 2 which has a machined receiver. Folding stock models incorporate an ‘S’ in the designation, thus the AKS-47 and AKMS have forward folding metal skeleton stocks with pivoting buttplates. AKS was also a designation used for self-loading (semi-auto) commercial rifles imported into the USA. Due to federal import restrictions, other features of Kalashnikov rifles have been changed; magazine capacities, trigger configuration, bayonet fitting and even the characteristic pistol grip being replaced by a thumbhole stock, on the Egyptian made MAK-90 import. China’s Type 56 assault rifle has Chinese characters marked on the receiver for the selector, the Type 56-1 has a folding metal butt while the Type 56-2 has a sideways folding butt. The flatAK-47 FACTORY CODES and SELECTOR MARKINGS FACTORY pee SELL EC WORE os| AGOUNTRG SAFE-UPPER MD LOWER AB O48 i USSR XE aS PRC it, D PRC Le iD PRC | = =r N. KOREA EA BULG. P POL. Ee RUM. Ee E. GERM OA USSR PRC PRC PRC E. GERM PRC PRC OFOHb USSR OFOHb USSR CZECH 1 HUNGARY FINLAND oi YUGOSLAVIA 1 CZECH fo £. GERM f N. KOREA PRC Country abbreviations... PRC People’s Republic of China POL Poland CZECH Czechoslavakia RUM = Rumania 6sides of the folded sheet receiver do not have the same indented guides above the magazine well like their Russian counterparts. Other special features of the Kalashnikov are the double stranded recoil spring and hammer spring, Safe/fire select indicators marked in front of the safety selector are another means of identifying the country of origin, as shown in the table opposite. The three settings are: safe in the upper-most position (covering the opening between the receiver and cover), then automatic, with semi-auto at the lower most position. Russian Type 2 AK-47, fire selector in automatic position at top, set to semi-auto position at right. Selector settings— 1. Automatic 2. Semi-auto From the table at left, the selector indicators show it to be USSR mfg. Bulgaria started its own production of the Kalashnikov during the mid-1960s and Egypt commenced in the late 1960s; these are distinguished by the Arabic markings. The Finnish M60 and M62 are AKM variants, the M62 being made by Sako-Valmet. East Germany’s MPi-K is a standard AK copy without the butt trap of the Soviet arms, the MPi-KM has an unusual plastic stock and MPi- KMS has a side-folding butt. Germany’s re-unification saw Teutonic AK production curtailed.Hungary produced its own version of the AKM from the early 1960s, known as the AK-55, with notable quality metalwork and furniture. This became the AKM-63 in 1963 with integral sheet- steel fore-end and a pistol grip fitted just ahead of the magazine. lraq copied the AKM as the ‘Tabuk’ assault rifle and the RPK as the ‘Al Quds’ light machine gun. North Korea initially received shipments of Chinese Type 56s in the 1960s and produced their own Type 58 assault rifle, a copy of the AK47. Their Type 68 copied the AKM, but quality of both models was questionable. The Korean AKs can be identified by their markings, per page 6. Poland was the largest producer of Kalashnikovs outside the Soviet Union, their AK47 model known as the PMK with the PMK-S as the folding stock model, PMK-M as the AKM equiv- alent and PMK-MS as its folding stock variant. Romania’s copy of the AK-47 was the Al assault rifle, distinguished by its fire selector markings and factory mark. Romania’s version of the AKM, the AIM, however, has an integral fore-end pistol grip. Yugoslavia or Serbia had an amazing range of Kalashnikov copies. Their Model 64 assault rifle is an AK-47 variant, but subsequent models have had many new features, such as longer barrels, bolt hold-open devices, modified gas systems, et cetera. Israel and South Africa were not aligned with the Soviet Union so their development was more removed from the AK design. The Galil or ARM was produced in 1967 to replace the FAL; Valmet M62 receivers were used at first. The fore-end and barrel configuration differ, as does the steel butt, the sight radius is much longer, and a carrying handle is fitted too. South Africa based its Vektor R4 on the Galil, also to replace the FAL (R1). It is slightly larger than the Galil and has fibreglass re- inforced plastic furniture to suit the South African conditions. The RPK is a light machine gun variant of the Kalashnikov which has a longer barrel, strengthened receiver, folding bipod and deep stock, 40-rd box or 75-rd. drum, st el the AKM 30-rd. magazine is interchangeable. While the AK-47’s 5.45mm successor, the AK-74, has a similar silhouette, it is identified by its large port muzzle compensator and less curved magazine. It also weighs about 1.5 Ib. less. 8STRIPPING ... BOLT COVER DRIVING SPRING ASSEMBLY BOLT AND BOLT CARRIER GROUP STOCK REAR ISIGHT (NOTE: DO NOT DISASSEMBLE OTHER THAN U! LUSTRATED) WE 64543 Always check that the rifle is cleared first. This should be done whenever the weapon is handled; it takes only a moment. Remove the magazine after releasing the magazine latch. Always point the muzzle in a safe direction whenever the rifle is handled. With the fire selector lever in the raised position, on safe, open the action by pulling the operating handle fully to the rear, with the right hand. When the bolt is fully open, check that there is no round of ammunition in the breech or the chamber. Pulling the cocking handle to the rear also cocks the hammer. Note that the rifle should be disassembled on a fixture or sheet of canvas or such material and parts should be laid out in their order of stripping. Two stages of stripping are described here... (A). Field stripping, as shown above, essentially for cleaning. (B). Detailed stripping, for changing winter/summer lubricant, replacing damaged parts or if extremely dirty or wet.(A). FIELD STRIPPING... Remove the magazine from the rifle by holding the fore-end in the left hand, rotating the rifle slightly. With right hand pushing forward on the magazine, use the right thumb to release the magazine catch and pull the magazine forward out of the recess. Move the selector lever off safe by pushing it downwards as far as it goes with the right hand. Pull the bolt and operating group to the rear using the operating handle on the right side and check to see that there is no round in the breech or chamber. Depress the buttplate cover with the forefinger of the right hand and remove the accessories case from the butt trap. Remove all of the accessories and tools from the case. With the rifle stock on a fixture or the ground and held by the hand guard and fore-end with the left hand, move the cleaning rod with the fingers of the right hand and, bending it slightly, remove the cleaning rod head from its stop at the base of the foresight assembly. Remove the cleaning rod with the right hand; it is also permitted to use a punch in order to remove the rod. DRIVING SPRING _ GUIDEResting the rifle’s forward end on a fixture (Fig. 1 - opposite page), grasp the small of the butt with the right hand and then depress the serrated button (this is the rear end of the recoil spring guide rod) at the back of the action cover. At the same time, using the left hand, pull the cover back and upwards and remove it from the receiver. Push the recoil mechanism spring assembly forward (Fig. 2) until its rear face leaves the groove in the rear plate of the receiver. Then lift the recoil spring group out of the operating rod channel and place it beside the action cover. Parts should be laid out in order of disassembly, on a table or bench. In the field, a clean canvas or piece of material should be used. We 64548 Note: Direction for removal is outlined arrow, re-assembly is black. Remove the operating rod with bolt attached from the receiver (Fig. 3, overleaf) by holding the rifle’s forward portion of the receiver with the left hand and the cocking handle with the right hand. Bring the operating rod and bolt to the rear as far as it will go, then move the rod forward slightly and raise its rear part, and bringing the rod to the rear, remove it together with the bolt. AtBOLT AND CARRIER GROUP Remove the bolt from the operating rod (Fig. 4) by taking the operating rod in the left hand with the cam surface facing upward, and then rotate the bolt a little with the right hand so that the guide lug leaves the wide part of the groove in the operating rod. WE 64541 if:Then move the bolt to the rear as far as it will go, rotating the bolt and removing its guide lug from the cam groove and remove the bolt by withdrawing it forward. This operation is not as complex as it might sound in the description; on some rifles the bolt can even be rattled or shaken out of the carrier. GAS CYLINDER TUBE LOCK Fig.5 Note: Direction for removal is indicated by the outlined arrow in Figs. 2, 3 & 5; for re-assembly it is shown in black solid. To remove the gas tube and handguard from the barrel hold the receiver with the left hand and rotate the gas cylinder tube locking lever located on the right side of the rearsight base, upwards with the right hand. Then the handguard/piston tube assembly can be removed from the rifle as shown in Fig. 5 by moving it upwards and to the rear. Re-assembly of the groups taken apart for field stripping is done by replacing them in the same order as they were disassembled. Note: Field stripping is also the same procedure as prescribed for inspection as well as cleaning and lubrication. 13(B). DETAILED STRIPPING... The initial stripping is done as prescribed in (A). for field stripping into the essential component groups. The following is additional for a lubricant change, repairs or special thorough cleaning. Disassembly of the return mechanism— Insert the cleaning rod into the guide tube until the cleaning rod head is stopped by the guide rod, then place the cleaning rod against a fixture. Compress the return spring with the left hand, then remove the washer from the rod guide with the right hand. Disassembly of the bolt— Holding the bolt with the left hand with the feed lever facing up, then remove the firing pin’s securing pin from the bolt body using a punch. Remove the firing pin from the bolt. Exerting pressure with the thumb of the left hand, remove the extractor pin using a punch. Then remove the extractor and extractor spring from the recess in the bolt body. AK-47 trigger components illustrated in 1952 Soviet manual. Note the minor differences between the AK-47 trigger mechanism above and AKM components shown on page 15. Disassembly of the firing & trigger mechanism— Remove the stop end of the full automatic sear spring from the trigger pin by using a punch. Drift the trigger pin to the left with a punch, then remove the trigger with disconnector and spring from the receiver. Separate the disconnector from the trigger and remove the semi-automatic sear spring from its recess. 14Rotate the selector indicator lever upwards about 90° until the lug on the lever lines up with the release notch in the wall of the receiver hole. Then withdraw the selector out of the receiver, removing it to the right. With a pin punch or a wooden rod, press in the stop end of the full automatic spring and drift out the hammer pin to the left, using a pin punch. Then remove the hammer and trigger spring from the receiver. Drift out the full automatic sear pin to the left using a pin punch; remove the full/automatic sear and sear spring from the receiver, and then remove the spring from the sear. Should the firing and trigger mechanism become dirty, these parts of the rifle can be cleaned and lubricated without dis- assembling them. Firing and trigger mechanism disassembly of automatic rifles in combat units may be carried out under the supervision of an armorer-artificer for the purpose of changing lubrication. AKM trigger components shown ina 1950 Soviet manual. The AKM trigger mechanism features an extra hammer delay component (K) to reduce the cyclic fire rate from about 750 toa nominal 650 rounds per minute. The automatic fire delay part fits along the right side of the modified trigger. Also note the differences in safety sear component parts (nos. 8 & 9 in both of the drawings) between the 7.92 x 39 mm AK-47 and AKM models. 15AK-47 trigger mechanism (above) with AKM trigger mechanisms at right, all are on full-auto settings. Top right AKM shows the selector arm (2) holding the disconnector back while the AKM at right 1. trigger has the selector arm (2) 2. selector arm out of engagement 3. hammer delay with the disconnector. 4. hammer . 5. auto sear 6. bolt carrier [Soviet manuals, 1952 & 1970] Removing the fore-end from the barrel— Hold the forward part of the handguard with the left hand then with the right hand, rotate the fore-end band lock indicator forward as far as possible using a punch. Move the stop band towards the gas cylinder. Move the fore-end forward with the right hand so its lug on the rear face is disengaged from the recess in the receiver; disengage the fore-end by pulling it down. Removal of the buttstocks & pistol grip— The earlier wooden butt is retained by two vertical screws -_ at the rear of the receiver, : attached through upper and lower tangs. Note that the mode of attachment differs between AK-47 and AKM models, as illustrated at the top of the next page. 16AK-47 Type 2 buttstock above with AKM fixed butt model shown at right Fittings and material for the fixed stocks changed, depending upon the model and the factory or country of production. The metal folding stock of the ‘S’ models differs between AK-47 and AKM rifles although both retain the hinged butt plate. Apart from construction differences, compounded by various makers in east and west over nearly four decades, folding stock models were mainly intended for airborne, armored and vehicular units. AK-47 folding stock above, AKM folding stock shown below and right Above: 1. Rear sling swivel 6. Stamped steel stock bars 7. Shoulder rest 16. Plastic pistol grip AfiThe pistol grip is secured by a single thru-bolt from the underside of the one-piece grip although the early model may be found to have two slab grips secured by a cross bolt and nut through a strap projection underneath the receiver. Early wooden types were then laminated and plastic was later used. Removing the muzzle flash nut— Should removal of the muzzle nut be necessary, depress the plunger and unscrew the nut clockwise as it has a reverse thread. The earlier muzzle nut (left) protects the threads and can be removed to fit a grenade launcher or tube. The AKM 1 muzzle nut at right features a muzzle compensator Removing the front sight— Should the front sight assembly require removal, the foresight base is retained by two crosspins which require punching out. Such removal should only be done if damaged parts require replacement. ASSEMBLY AFTER DETAILED STRIPPING... Attach fore-end to barrel— Hold the rifle by the forward part of the receiver with the left hand then insert the fore-end with the right hand so that its lug on the rear face enters into its receiver recess as far as possible. Mount the band onto the fore-end shoulder as tightly as is practical, then rotate the lock to the rear so that its indicator enters the notch on the band. Should the lock indicator fail to rotate to the rear, the band will need to be moved along the barrel, at the same time pressing upward on the lock indicator. This will align the lock with the recess in the barrel; so then rotate the lock. Re-assemble the firing & trigger mechanism— Attach the full-auto sear spring to the full-auto sear and insert 18the sear with its spring into the receiver so that the stop end of the spring points rearwards. From the right side of the receiver as shown in the illustration at right, guide the end of the punch into the hole for the full-auto sear pin. Mount the hammer and trigger spring on the hammer pins and insert the hammer with hammer and trigger spring into the receiver from the top. When installing the hammer and trigger, ensure that the rear tips of the hammer spring are hooked into the top of the trigger. Insert the end of the punch into the hole for the hammer pins from the right hand side of the receiver. Place the hammer pin into the hole through the left side of the re- ceiver, and press back the stop end of the full-auto sear spring with the pin. While removing the punch, insert the hammer pin as shown at left and place the stop end of the full-auto sear spring into the recess in the pin. During replacement of the pin lock spring, ensure that its small arched area goes underneath the hammer pin and that its rear tip goes under the trigger pin, so as to engage the grooves in the pins. Assemble the selector to the receiver and set it on the semi-auto fire position. Next, install the disconnector and disconnector spring into the trigger groove and insert the trigger and sear into the hole in the receiver. Through the right side of the receiver, insert the punch into the hole for the trigger pin, after raising the stop end of the full automatic sear spring. 19Insert the trigger pin into the hole through the left side of the receiver. When removing the punch, install the trigger pin and set the stop end of the full-auto sear spring in the recess in the pin. Raise the ends of the hammer and trigger spring by means of the punch and place the bent ends of the spring on the rear shoulders of the trigger. Re-assemble the bolt— Insert the extractor and spring into the bolt recess, depress the extractor with the thumb of the left hand to locate it in the recess. Set the extractor pin in the hole with the right hand so that the notch on the upper end of the pin is turned in the direction of the rear cylindrical part of the bolt body. Insert the firing pin into the bolt so that the recess in the firing pin is aligned with the hole for the pin. In order to control the position of the firing pin in the hole for the firing pin retaining pin, it is necessary to insert the punch from the side of the feed lever so that the firing pin can rotate and interfere with the installation of the firing pin retaining pin. When reinstalling the firing pin, note the sloped area near the front and a more vertical step on the other side. The vertical cut nearer the tip must align with the retaining cross pin. Re-assemble the return mechanism— Insert the guide rod into the guide tube. Insert the cleaning rod into the guide tube until the cleaning rod head butts against the guide rod and, pressing the cleaning rod against the table, install the return spring. Compress the return spring with the left hand, and with the right hand install the washer on the guide rod as shown at right, resting the bottom on a table or fixture. Further re-assembly of the rifle is performed in accordance with the group assembly instruc- tions on page 13. 20SERVICE & MAINTENANCE ... CLEANING AND LUBRICATION A After firing ball or blank rounds, cleaning should be done immediately afterwards. It is necessary to apply the alkaline solvent, wipe dry and lubricate the bore, gas cylinder, gas tube, piston and bolt at the firing range. Upon return to barracks, the rifle must be cleaned completely. Cleaning must be repeated for the following three or four days. If the rifle is not used, it should be cleaned not less than every seven days. Alkaline solution must not be left in the bore or on any parts as it will cause rust. For bore cleaning, overall cleaning and lubrication— © alkaline solvent to neutralise powder residues and softening barrel fouling and other parts exposed to powder gases. ¢ rifle oil for \ubricating all metallic parts; this helps components and mechanisms function at temperatures down to +5°C. © winter oil No. 27 for use in winter; this supports functioning of parts and mechanisms at temperatures down to -40° C. This oil is not to be used in summer as it is not sufficient protection from corrosion. At lower temperatures, kerosene must be added. © gun oil to lubricate the rifle prior to extensive storage. ¢ kerosene of good quality, first filtered with calcined table salt, used to remove old lubrication from the rifle, or to thin oil. 1. Field strip the rifle for routine cleaning, detail strip to remove storage lubrication, or when extremely dirty or wet. 2. To clean the bore, the accessory case must be attached to the end of the cleaning rod. Insert the cleaning rod through the large hole in the case so its head passes inside the case and butts up against its wall. Insert the screwdriver into the case above the cleaning rod head. Install the accessory case cap on the cleaning rod, then install the jag or brush on the threaded end of the cleaning rod as shown. In cleaning the bore, form the hemp fibre into a figure ‘8’ and immerse it into the alkaline solution. Install the hemp fibre on the face of the jag in such a manner that its ends do not hang further than the rotating part of the jag. 24,Insert the cleaning rod into the bore at the muzzle end to a depth of about one third the length of the barrel, then insert the accessory case cap on the muzzle part of the barrel. Rest the butt plate against an object, grasp the barrel with the left hand, then grasp the accessory case (cleaning rod handle) with the right hand and move the rod back and forth along the entire length of the bore, from seven to ten times. ~ Then replace the hemp fibre with other hemp fibre saturated with alkaline solution.and repeat the process. Dry the bore thoroughly using a patch, after carefully wiping the cleaning rod, jag and accessory case cap. If there are any traces of fouling or rust on the patch, repeat the process. The same procedure is used to clean the chamber, gas cylinder and muzzle face. After such cleaning, inspect the bore through the muzzle end while rotating the rifle. To improve light, a white piece of paper may be placed into the receiver. After the bore and chamber are cleaned, lubricate with a uniform thin layer of oil, using the brush dipped in rifle lubricating oil. If the brush is unsuitable, the bore may be lubricated using the patch dipped in rifle lubricating oil. The exterior surface of the barrel (areas under the hand guard, fore-end and rear sight base) should be cleaned with a patch soaked in alkaline solution and wrapped around the end of a small wooden stick. If the rifle has been fired, the gas cylinder and gas tube should also be cleaned with a patch soaked in alkaline solution until all carbon deposits are removed, after which the parts should be dried with a patch wrapped around the wooden stick or jag. The gas port should be cleaned with a reamer. After firing, the piston, gas piston rod, bolt and operating rod are cleaned with a patch saturated with alkaline solution. The operating rod channel for the return mechanism must not be cleaned with alkali; it must be wiped dry with a clean patch and lubricated by a patch saturated with rifle lubricating oil. Note: The firing and trigger mechanism and folding metal stock are not disassembled for cleaning and lubrication. Rifles which are exposed to rain or snow must be carefully cleaned; old lubrication must be removed and fresh oil applied. ZeOPERATION & FUNCTION... Hammer Bolt Firing pin Operating rod Return spring Gas piston Gas cylinder Magazine (empty) Magazine catch |. Full-auto sear . Hammer & trigger spring . Trigger NS O©MNDDAWL» Position of parts before loading... The rifle is shown set on safety, an empty magazine (8) placed in the receiver. If the magazine is loaded, the top round presses against the bottom of the operating rod (4). The operating rod and bolt (2) are held in the forward position by the return spring (5) which also holds the gas piston (6) in the gas cylinder (7). The bolt (2) rotates to the right, its locking lugs engaging in the receiver locking lugs. The extractor claw is pressed against the center of the bolthead by the extractor spring. The ejector head is located in the wide rear part of the groove in the bolt. The full-auto disconnector holds the full-auto sear (10) forward and out of engagement with the auto-sear notch in the hammer. The hammer cock notch is disengaged and the hammer spring (11) presses the hammer (1) against the rear face of the bolt. The firing pin (3) is in its forward position with its tip protruding out of the bolt head. The selector is on safe, the uppermost position, which blocks the cocking handle from moving fully to the rear, although the bolt and operating rod assembly can be drawn back enough to check the chamber is clear. Set on ‘safe’, the disconnector and trigger cannot rotate, not hammer notch engage the semi-auto sear. With loaded magazine fitted into the receiver and selector lever down all the way on full-auto, the selector lever lug moves to the rear far enough to release the rear end of the trigger. While the trigger is free to rotate, the selector lever lug still prevents 23the disconnector from rotating. When the selector is set for semi-auto fire, the selector lever moves all the way to the rear, releasing both the trigger and the disconnector. Thus the disconnector is free to rotate with the semi-auto sear when the trigger is pressed. The cocking handle, a fixture on the right side of the carrier and operating rod, reciprocates with the assembly. It is pulled fully to the rear, which compresses the return spring and cocks the hammer (also under tension from its own spring) to the rear. When the cocking handle is released smartly, the return spring begins to move the operating rod and the attached bolt forward. The bolt feed lever picks up the top round from under the magazine lip and feeds it into the chamber, directed by the receiver guides and held by the extractor against the bolt face. As the bolt nears the barrel face, the screw bevel on the left locking lug runs over the receiver cam bevel and it rotates the bolt to the right. The firing pin moves to the rear and its back end protrudes from the rear of the bolt. 7 Then as the bolt reaches its maximum forward position, in the process of chambering the round and closing the breech, the operating rod continues to move forward a little, during which 24time the safety sear is released and control of the hammer returns to the trigger sear. The rifle is now ready to be fired. Semi-auto fire... To fire as a self-loader, set the selector to the bottom-most position and press the trigger with the fore-finger of the right hand. When the trigger is pressed, the semi-auto sear and disconnector rotate. The rear end of the sear raises the ends of the trigger and hammer spring and as the hammer rotates, the semi-auto sear releases the hammer cock notch. The hammer strikes the rear end of the firing pin which ignites the cartridge primer and detonates the round. Propellant gases force the bullet down the bore and some of the gas is diverted through the gas port in the barrel. These diverted gases enter the gas cylinder and force the gas piston and the attached operating rod to the rear. Movement of the operating rod rearward compresses the recoil spring and the bolt rotates to the left, opening the breech. The rear moving operating rod continues to rotate the bolt, extracting the cartridge and pushing back the hammer. This rotates the disconnector and the head of the hammer is held at full cock. Meanwhile, the fired cartridge case hits the fixed ejector formed in the receiver's guide rail, and the fired case is ejected through the action cover port, out to the right. Rearward movement of the operating rod with bolt is stopped by the back wall of the receiver and the compressed recoil spring returns the group forward, picking up the top round from the magazine on the way and chambering it, ready to fire when the trigger is released and pulled back again. Full-auto fire... To fire as an automatic rifle, set the selector to the mid setting, opposite the letters AV (Russian) on the receiver, and press the trigger with the fore-finger of the right hand. With the selector on full-auto, pressing the trigger does not engage the disconnector notch in the hammer and the cartridge is fired. Again, the gasses force the operating rod to the rear, opening the breech, extracting and ejecting the spent case while re-cocking the hammer. 25However, the full auto-sear engages the full-auto sear notch in the hammer, holding it at full cock. The recoil spring returns the operating rod assembly and bolt, stripping the top round from the magazine, carrying it forward to the chamber and sealing the breech. When the operating rod is 3-6mm from the maximum forward position, the full-auto disconnector strikes the upper end of the full-auto sear and rotates the sear, tripping the hammer. Again, hammer strikes the firing pin, ignites the primer and fires the next round, repeating the full operating cycle with the trigger still held to the rear. The rifle will continue to fire in this mode until the last round is fed from the magazine, so long as the trigger remains held, pressed to the rear. Unloading... The rifle is unloaded by releasing the magazine catch with the right thumb and pulling the magazine case forward and down to remove it from the firearm. Move the selector lever to the semi or full-auto setting. Next, the cocking handle is pulled to the rear as far as it will go, and then released. If there was a round in the chamber, it will have been extracted and ejected in the process. To ease the hammer spring and release the hammer, press the trigger. The last action in this sequence is to move the selector lever up to the safe position. In this condition, springs are eased and the rifle can be racked, without magazine attached. MAGAZINE ... To fill the magazine, it is best to hold the magazine case firmly or rest the case on a table or fixture and then load the cartridge cases between the feed lips, pressing each cartridge down into the magazine body. Repeat this action until the magazine is filled (30 rounds). To unload the magazine, strip the rounds out using the thumb or the back end 26of the punch tool. Hold the magazine facing the opposite way to that used for filling, then strip each round out by pushing its base forward and out of the case lips, in the same direction as the round would be loaded in the rifle. Although it may be a common practice, is not advisable to use the base of another cartridge for stripping cartridges out in this manner. To strip the magazine, remove the cover plate from the magazine. Holding the magazine in the left hand, depress the stop plate by means of a punch through the hole in the cover plate, and move the cover plate so that the stop lug is disengaged from the hole in the cover plate. Hold the stop plate with the thumb of the left hand and remove the cover plate with the right hand. Remove the cover plate with spring and follower from the magazine case. Release the stop plate and remove the spring together with the stop plate and follower from the magazine case. Then remove the follower and stop plate from the spring. To assemble the magazine, re-unite the follower and stop plate with the spring. Insert the spring with follower and stop plate in the magazine case. Grasp the magazine with the left hand (cover plate upward, rear groove inward), and with the right hand, insert the spring with follower and stop plate in the magazine. Attach the cover plate to the magazine. Depress the stop plate in the magazine body and, holding it with the thumb of the left hand, move the cover plate onto the flanges of the magazine body with the right hand until the lugs of the cover plate press against the rear wall of the magazine. Comments... As a service issue rifle, some of the criticisms of the Kalashnikov include the absence of a bolt hold-open device to indicate that the magazine is empty, or for holding the bolt to the rear in order to check the breech. The selector lever is also considered a poor design as it is sufficiently noisy to be heard switching from safe to single or auto in a quiet environment, and when wearing gloves, it is not easily moved to its specific positions. 27ILLUSTRATED PARTS LIST 7.62 x 39mm AKS/AK47... (UMRICH) 51 MODEL ILLUSTRATED IS CHINESE 56-S SEMI-AUTO RIFLE 7.62 X 39MM For latest parts catalog call Numrich (845) 679 4867 - (866) 686-7424 www.e-GunParts.com Se AKM FULL AUTO PARTS. AK47 FULL AUTO PARTS ea AKA7-1 AK47-4 AK47-2 | anus 28AKS / AK-47 PARTS LIST... Also see page 9 for groups illustration Rear sight base (7) Barrel pin (2) Handguard bracket, lower (3) Gas block (4) Handguard, lower (6) Front sight base (7) Front sight base pins (x2) (8) Front sight adjustable block (9) Front sight post (70) Barrel bushing lock spring (77) Barrel bushing lock (72) Muzzle brake, nut (73) Cleaning rod (74) Rear sight leaf spring (75) Rear sight leaf (76) Rear sight slide (77) Slide catch spring (78) Slide catch (79) Handguard lock lever, upper (20) Handguard support insert, lower (27) Bolt carrier (22) Piston pin (23) Bolt carrier & piston assembly (24) Firing pin (25) Bolt, stripped (27) Firing pin retaining pin (28) Extractor pin (29) Extractor spring (30) Extractor (37) Action pin fixed spring (32) Trigger (33) Sear spring (34) Sear (35) Hammer spring (36) Hammer (37) Recoil spring cam (38) Recoil spring (39) Guide rod, rear (40) Recoil spring guide, front (47) Hammer pin (42) Trigger pin (43) Safety lever assembly (44) Magazine latch pin (45) Magazine latch spring (46) Magazine latch (47) Grip, pistol (48) Grip, pistol, screw (49) Grip, pistol, screw base (50) Grip escutcheon (57) Grip cap (52) Tang screw (53) Receiver (54) Receiver cover (55) Swivel assembly, rear (56) Swivel screw, rear (x2) (57) Buttplate (58) Buttplate screws (x2) (59) Accessory chamber spring (60) Handguard ferrule, lower (67) Stock, wood (62) Handguard lock, lower (63) Buttplate cover base assembly (64) Magazine, 30-round (65) Magazine, 5-round (66) Trigger guard (68) Trigger guard rivet (x2) (69) Rear sight pin (70) Gas port block pins (x2) (71) Piston, gas (73) Bayonet pivot pin (76) Lower plate (left)... AKM-1 Hammer, full-auto AKM-2 Rate reducer assy. AKM-2A Rate reducer spring AKM-3 Disconnector, full-auto AKM-4 Trigger, full-auto AKM-5 Sear, full-auto AKM-6 Sear pivot pin, full-auto AKM-7 Sear spring, full-auto AKM-8 Safety/Selector, full-auto AK47-1 Hammer, full-auto AK47-2 Disconnect, full-auto AK47-3 Sear, full-auto AK47-4 Sear pivot pin, full-auto AK47-5 Sear spring, full-auto AK47-6 Trigger, full-auto AK47-7 Safety/Selector, full-auto 29)ACCESSORIES ... These will be found to vary considerably due to many countries manufacturing and issuing Kalashnikov rifles. In recent years, new commercially manufactured items have become available along with genuine surplus from eastern Europe and Communist China. Accessories are designed for field stripping and assembly, lubrication and cleaning, and to remedy firing stoppages. Cleaning rod... A principal tool housed under- neath the rifle barrel. Its head has a notch and hole; the other end is threaded for attachingpthe jaggec. mweraetn nuns ever ude nce wire bith: WITH COMBINATION TOOL CLEANING ROD. PREPARED TO CLEAN BORE ACCESSORY CASE c c F Accessory case... @ | Contains tools; - dasa punch, jag, wire * brush and combi- D nation tool, but it also serves as a be seieneneeet handle for the Figves 8 cleaning rod and niclearingrog _E Noten combination tool. Its cap is used as a muzzle guide for cleaning with the rod. This case was stored in the rifle butt. See pages 27 & 22. ombination tool, “leaning rod © Lockiever stot Combination tool... Incorporates a screwdriver, foresight tool, extractor removal pin, port cleaner and key in the side used to attach the jag to the cleaning rod. The thin rod was used in stripping and assembly of the rifle and the magazine. The tool is stored Jin the rifle butt. Combo tool prepared for adjusting foresight (left) and for removing screws (at right).Oil bottle... A double can contains alkaline bore solvent in container marked ‘tu’ while the other containing rifle oil is marked with an ‘H’. Drab olive plastic oil bottles were also used, usually with social- ist or national insignia in the face casting. The oiler was carried in a pocket in the magazine bag. Sling... Rifle carrying slings also vary depending upon the country of issue, in their colour, material and form of fitting. Soviet issue included a webbing type with buckle and a hook at the oner end which attaches to the rifle upper swivel. A later issue for the AKM is a leather type as shown at right. Bayonet... Early bayonets were folding blade types attached to the bottom of the front sight assembly, followed by a spike variant which is predominant on the Chicom Kalashnikovs. A detachable knife bayonet followed in 1951 (upper left) on Russian AK-47s and then a wirecutter type for the AKM in 1959 (left). Blade lengths of the different types vary from 8.7 to 12.25 in. long. Most AK bayonets are not interchangeable on the Russian, Bulgarian, Yugoslav, Chinese, &c. rifle models. Magazine carrier... A webbing style bag was issued for shoulder carriage of five spare magazines and other accessories in side pockets. For the folding stock model, where the accessories case and combo tool could not be stored in the butt trap, they were carried in pockets of this carry bag. Six magazines were issued with the rifle, the five spares carried in this bag although the bag shown here with tool kit pocket carries only three magazines. 31Blank Fire Device... These will be found to vary depending upon the country and period of manufacture. Earlier Russian BFAs are installed by pressing in the muzzle nut locking plunger, unscrewing the muzzle nut, and replacing it with the device. Night Sight Device... . A luminous backsight plate and foresight with luminous dot were used as illustrated. In more recent times, a variety of night vision attachments have beén applied by Communist bloc countries still issued with the Kalashnikov rifles. FRONT DEVICE W/LUMINOUS DOT ——> REAR DEVICE To W/LUMINOUS DOT WE 64551 Accessories case— for use as a tool... . Large hole . Small hole . Long slot . Short slot . Notches Cap 6a. Lugs 6b. Notches for lock 6c. Hole for cleaning rod MAAWNN AKM knife bayonet and scabbard as utilized for cutting wire. The rubber insulation on the scabbard (shown gripped here with the left hand) was protection for cutting live electrical wiring. 32HISTORICAL MEMORANDA ... a OPY XE MOTOCIPENKOROTA SSS TOAPARIENEHMR Soviet training poster of the AKM with RPK inset at lower right Mikhail Timofeyevich Kalashnikov was born Kurya, Kazakhstan in 1919 and worked in the Kazakhstan-Sibera Railways after he graduated from school in 1936. He joined the army in 1938 and trained as an armourer, inventing various arms fittings in the tank corps. Operation Barbarossa in 1941 saw him as a frontline tank commander of a T34; he was seriously wounded in October of the same year. During convalescent leave, he returned to the railway workshops at Matai to construct various prototypes. Posted in 1942 to the Ordnance Directorate at Ensk, Kalashnikov introduced modifications to Goryunov machine guns and he fraternized with Soviet gun designers such as Degtyarev and Simonov, improving his standing in the soviet hierarchy. In 1944 he was given a supply of the new M43 cartridges and focused on automatic rifle design. His first self-loading carbine utilized a rotating block operated by a gas piston below the barrel, in 1944. Simonov produced the SKS for the new cartridge in 1945, so Kalashnikov discarded his carbine designs and sub-machine gun improvements and concentrated upon automatic rifles. Drawings were submitted to the GRAU in 1946; the final AK bolt designs incorporated features of his earlier carbine. The ‘Avtomat Kalashnikova obrazetza 19479’ was adopted in 1949 as the standard Soviet bloc service rifle. Afterwards, it was introduced in Communist Asian countries, produced in China as the Type 56. The AK progeny have since been manufactured in many countries around the world, notably socialist satellites Bulgaria, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Yugoslavia. Variants have also been made in Egypt, Finland, Israel, Iraq, Korea and South Africa, as well as China. 33Kalashnikov’s design embodies simple production principles, a prime reason for its success. Obvious similarities to the German MP44 include a stamped receiver, distinctive magazine, style of pistol grip and raised the foresight. The riveted and welded sheet steel receiver with wood furniture later gave way to lamination and plastic. A folding butt model was nominated as the AKS. In 1951, receiver production switched to more traditional and durable machined steel. This receiver has a distinctive milled slot, above and forward of the magazine. Then the AKM (M= modernized) in 1959 returned to a sheet steel stamped receiver per Kalashnikov’s original design, but with small stamped ‘dimples’ above the magazine, plastic magazines, and improved trigger group... the high point in AK47 design and production. Kalashnikov’s AK design has spawned light machine gun, sniper and modern small calibre variants, a testimony to its success. AK-47 AKM Cartridge: 7.92 x 39 mm M43 7.92 x 39 mm M43 Muzzle velocity: 2,329ft./sec. (710 mps) 2,329ft./sec. (710 mps) Cyclic rates. 775 rpm 650 rpm Magazine: Detachable box Detachable box Mag capacity: 30 rounds 30 rounds Sighted to: 800 metres 1,000 metres Length OA: 32.2 in. / 820 mm 34.6 in. / 878 mm Sight radius: 14.9 in. / 378 mm 14.9 in. / 378 mm Barrel length: 16.3 in. / 415 mm 16.3 in. /415 mm Bayonets: Folding spike or blade _Lug fitted, separate Rifling: 4 groove, RH twist 4 groove, RH twist Front sight: Protected post Protected post Operation: Gas piston Gas piston Action: Closed, rotating bolt Closed, rotating bolt Weights— unloaded: 9 Ib. 6 0z./ 4.3 kg 8 Ib. 14 oz. / 3.85 kg w/ loaded mag.: 10 Ib. 9 0z./ 4.8 kg 9 Ib. 15 oz. / 4.35 kg Trigger pull: circa “7 Ib. circa. 7 Ib. Production: from 1949 from 1959 Manufacturers: USSR & allies USSR & allies China, North Korea China, North Korea Bulgaria, Poland Egypt, Iraq also variants made in Finland (Valmet), Israel (Galil) & South Africa (R4) 34peewee REFERENCES ... Small Arms of the World (12th Edition) - Edward C. Ezell (ed.) The AK-47 Assault Rifle - an ven omnes 1969 The AK47 Story - Edward C. Ezell 1986 Sescreea oreeae AT US Army Weapons Cmd. Weapons of War: The AK47 - Chris McNab No.9 .455 Webley Revolver No.10 .303 Patt. 14 & .30 M1917 es ee ee No.11 9" Sten Mk 1, I*, I & Ill No.23 Lee-Enfield Parts Catalogue No.12 7.62" L1 & C1 Rifles A ‘Collector’ - International Arms & Military Collector magazine. Color, art paper, published & edited by lan Skennerton. N&.1- 19 quarterly, back issues are still available. From Issue N°.20, ‘Collector’ was enlarged to 130+ a page annual _ Subscription rates— Surface Mail: 1 year US$20.50 2 years US$40.50In this series... -30 M1 CARBINE 7.62mm M14 RIFLE 7.62mm F.A.L. RIFLE .303 SMLE RIFLE No.1 .30 M1 GARAND RIFLE .303 BRITISH RIFLE No.4 5.56mm AR15 & M16 RIFLE .22 HIGH STANDARD PISTOLS -30 US KRAG RIFLE & CARBINE CARCANO RIFLES & CARBINES. WINCHESTER MODEL 61 .22 RIFLE -30 MODEL 1903 SPRINGFIELD RIFLE WINCHESTER MODEL 94 RIFLE & CARBINE US .30 MOD. 1917 & .303 BRITISH PATT. 1914 WINCHESTER MODEL 1897 SHOTGUN WINCHESTER MODEL 12 SHOTGUN WINCHESTER MODEL 70 RIFLE -22 RUGER Mk | & Mk Il PISTOLS 7.62 x 54mmR MOISIN-NAGANT. SMITH & WESSON REVOLVER MAUSER MODEL 1896 PISTOL MAUSER RIFLES & CARBINES JAPANESE SERVICE PISTOLS WALTHER PP & PPK PISTOLS 9mm BROWNING HP PISTOL 9mm WALTHER P-38 PISTOL 9mm LUGER P-08 PISTOL 6.5mm TYPE 38 ARISAKA 7.7mm TYPE 99 ARISAKA 9mm MAKAROV PISTOL -45 PISTOL M1911A1 BERETTA PISTOLS 7.62 x 39mm AK47 7.62 x 39mm SKS GLOCK PISTOLS 7.5mm MAS 36