AK 47

The AK-47 is a selective-fire, gas-operated 7.62×39mm assault rifle, first developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is officially known as Avtomat Kalashnikova (Автомат Калашникова). It is also known as a Kalashnikov, an "AK", or in Russian slang, Kalash.

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 1947 the fixed-stock version was introduced into service with select units of the Soviet Army. An early development of the design was the AKS (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 and used by the majority of the member states of the Warsaw Pact.

The original AK-47 was one of the first true "assault rifles" to be manufactured, after the original Sturmgewehr 44.^[7][8] 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.^[2]

Firing the 7.62x39mm cartridge, the AK-47 produces significant wounding effects if the projectile tumbles and fragments in tissue;^[9] but it produces relatively minor wounds when the projectile exits the body before beginning to yaw or does not yaw or fragment.^[10][11]

Standard AK-47
Type	Assault rifle
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Service history
In service	1949–present
Used by	See Users
Production history
Designer	Mikhail Kalashnikov
Designed	1944–1947
Manufacturer	Izhmash
Number built	approximately 75 million AK-47 100 million AK-type rifles[2][3]
Variants	See Variants
Specifications
Weight	5.21 kg (11.5 lb) with loaded magazine[4]
Length	870 mm (34 in) fixed wooden stock 875 mm (34.4 in) folding stock extended 645 mm (25.4 in) stock folded
Barrel length	415 mm (16.3 in)
Cartridge	7.62×39mm M43/M67
Action	Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire	600 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	715 m/s[5]
Effective range	400 metres (440 yd) semi-automatic[6] 300 metres (330 yd) full automatic[6]
Feed system	10, 20 , 30 , 40, 75, or 100-round detachable box and drum stylemagazine
Sights	Adjustable iron sights, 100–800 metre adjustments, 378 mm (14.9 in) sight radius