AKM

Soviet assault rifle

The AKM is a Soviet assault rifle that was designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov in the 1950s and adopted in 1959 by the Soviet army to replace the AK-47. The difference between the AK-47 and the AKM is that the AK-47 is short and the AKM is long and the other difference is that the AK-47 has a regular muzzle and the AKM has a sharp muzzle.

AKM
The AKM assault rifle
TypeAssault rifle
Place of origin Soviet Union
Service history
In service1959–present
Used bySee Users
WarsVietnam War
Cambodian Civil War
Cambodian-Vietnamese War
Soviet war in Afghanistan
Iran-Iraq War
Chechen War
War in Afghanistan
Iraq War
Mexican Drug War
and various other conflicts
Production history
DesignerMikhail Kalashnikov
Designed1950s
ManufacturerIzhmash
Tula Arms Plant
others
No. builtMore than 10,278,300
VariantsAKMS
AKMP
AKML
AKMLP
AKMSP
AKMSU
AKMSN
AKMSNP
Specifications (Updated information)
MassAKM: 3.1 kg (6.83 lb) w/unloaded magazine[1]
AKML: 3.80 kg (8.4 lb)
AKMS: 3.3 kg (7.3 lb)
AKMSN: 3.77 kg (8.3 lb)
AKMS: 3.8 kg (8.4 lb)
with full magazine
30-rnd magazine: 0.33 kg (0.73 lb)
6H4 bayonet: 0.32 kg (0.71 lb)
LengthAKM, AKML: 880 mm (34.6 in)[1]
AKMS, AKMSN: 920 mm (36.2 in) stock extended / 655 mm (25.8 in) stock folded
Barrel length415 mm (16.3 in)[1]

Cartridge7.62×39mm M43
ActionGas operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fireCyclic rate of fire:
600 rds/min[1]
Practical rate of fire:
Semi-auto 40 rds/min[1]
Full-auto 100 rds/min[1]
Muzzle velocity715 m/s (2,346 ft/s)[1]
Effective firing range350 m (383 yd)[1]
Feed system10, 20, or 30 round detachable box magazines. Also compatible with 40 round box magazines and 75-round drum magazines from the RPK.
SightsRear sight notch on sliding tangent, front post
100–1,000 m sight adjustments
Sight radius: 378 mm (14.9 in)[1]

References

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  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 https://web.archive.org/web/20110718231355/http://www.izhmash.ru/eng/product/akm.shtml AKM (AK-47) Kalashnikov modernized assault rifle, caliber 7.62mm

Other websites

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  Media related to AKM at Wikimedia Commons