AK-47 is 60 years old now.

Just kinda noticed it a moment ago. 60 years and still in service. This is my favourite weapon by far, and definately is one of the worlds greatest.

The AK-47 was developed in the year 47 by Mikhael Kalashnikov. The 7.62 calliber ammo (and the design of the rifle) give the AK devestating fire power. This rifle can send a bullet clean through a train track without any problems, and penetrates almost all body armor. At 200 meters it can incapacitate a person. Although the heavy recoil makes it inacurate on long range, when fired in single shot it is very accurate for it's size, and the bullet has little deviation. Speaking of it's size - it's ideal for close quarters combat. Even though there is quiet a bit of debate about the AK-47 accuracy one thing is certain, it is just about the most reliable rifle a soldier can have. It will almost never jam, even in some of the harshest conditions. The AK-47 has become a symbol of revolution, and has even found it's way into military awards and some countries flags. It is used world wide and has been used in many conflicts. It has a very simple design, easy and quick to disasemble and clean. Takes very little time to learn to use, and is very cheap to manufacture. Mind you - cheap to manyfacture doesn't mean it's cheap crap quality. To give it a quick summary - the AK-47 is simple, reliable, and deadly. I'd say it's one of the most important weapons in history.

Three cheers for the AK-47

Regards,
Maestro

You were almost correct on that one all but the age. The AK-47 is 58 years old the design was made in 47 not the weapon, two years later it was manufactured.

Not to forget the more advanced TKB-517 which was more accurate, cheap, easy to produce/maintain.

And could still use AK Mags/Drums.

Kalashnikov, still selling weapons at 86!

I had a thread/poll on my website, Military Power, about assault rifles, and so far Kalashnikovs are still on top. They are very good guns.

remembet that it is also the weapon of choice by extremist grupes, and terrorists, so it aint as great as you think.

Originally posted by Phillyfan1234
remembet that it is also the weapon of choice by extremist grupes, and terrorists, so it aint as great as you think.

... and Panzers were used by the Nazis. Who uses an item has no relevance to how good it is or how effective it is at doing what it does.

I guess if they decided to switch to the M-16 then it would be a horrible gun too.

remembet that it is also the weapon of choice by extremist grupes, and terrorists, so it aint as great as you think

Well that's probably because it's an amazing weapon that stands the test. Just because someone bad has a weapon does not make the weapon horrible.

This weapon may have killed many people, but look at how many good people it protected. Imagine if we were still using mussell loaders and terrorist were using AK-47's, are you thankful for the gun now?

Originally posted by Phillyfan1234
remembet that it is also the weapon of choice by extremist grupes, and terrorists, so it aint as great as you think.

Ok, I expected 1 or two people to come and take a stab at the AK when I made this thread...I never saw this one comming though. I mean this isn't even reasonable, come on. Weapon of choice by extremist groups lol. So to you the quality of the weapon is determined by the ideology of the man firing it?

Regards,
Maestro

EDIT: Oh and what the hell does this mean? "Dying can kill you" lol.

[edit on 12-5-2007 by maestro46]

Originally posted by government_lies2000
You were almost correct on that one all but the age. The AK-47 is 58 years old the design was made in 47 not the weapon, two years later it was manufactured.

The I shall change the title of this thread to "AK-47 blueprints are 60 years old" and reactivate this thread in two years lol.

Thanks for the info gov, I didn't know about that. Oh well lol, AKs own.

Regards,
Maestro

every one says that the ak47 is simpler than the ar-15/m16 platform, byt its completely the opposite. Eugene stoner tried to make the simplest and most reliable action by ommitting the gas piston used in the ak47

I have to agree that the AK is a very good weapon, very accurate and very cheap to manufacture.
I have never had an actual AK47 but I did have a Chinese made SKS. I bought it brand new for 100 bucks, sometime in the early to mid 90's.
It was probably the most accurate weapon that I've ever fired but in my opinion the 7.62 round is somewhat underpowered for its caliber
This is only my opinion that comes from my personal experiences, so please dont start asking for links etc... to qualify my statement.
If I were to go to war tomorrow and had my choice, between the M16 and AK, i would definitely choose the AK.

AK-47 is one of the best guns ever. period. The only rifle I like more is the FN-P90. It never jams, its easy to use, and it's powerful. The long-range innaccuracy is nearly irrelavent. it's an assault rifle, not a sniper rifle. its meant for short-medium range combat. I wouldn't be surprised if we say another 50-60 years of this weapon.

I don't know what's the deal with it being "inacurate". It's damn accurate for it's size, and if you fire it in single shot you're fine. 400 meters is plenty in combat is it not? I mean it's hard enough to distinguish a target at that range with your eyes alone.

Regards,
Maestro

Stoner was an idiot with his system that forces all carbon residues into the most delicate parts of a gun. So it's simplicity over reliability.

And AK design is accurate if done properly, finnish RK-95s shoot 50mm groups out to 300m, accurate enough?

I have had my MAK-90 for many years. Same as the AK, except for the stock and bayonet mount, I believe. Looks mean, shoots great, gets a lot of attention, and you can really lay down a spray of bullets with it.

The AK-47 socres 10/10 for what it is meant to be, cheap, easy to mass produce, reliable, and simplicity. But it is too innacurate i would not give my soldiers this gun. Another thing is if you are fighting people that have the same gun it is not intimidating if you had something as futuristic in appearance as an SA80 Steyr AUG or M16 it would maybe not 100% be intimidating.

The AK series is a damn good weapon period. Not a lot of people that will argue that.

The Kalashnikova is a true landmark in assault rifle engineering and even its future is shining with pure gold since the battlegrounds are moving towards the urban enviroment then the distances off battle decreases making this rifle even more potent.

This gun allowd the third world nations to make a stance against the "imperialistic" Europeans and Americans.

This weapon is the best gun ever constructed.

This weapon was made into so many variants that they are unnameable without creating a massive pointless list. for example, the M-82 Velmet, which was a bullpop variant, the design was used in the FNC too. companies all over the world produce the AK series into their own weapon.

the reliability is far supreme to most if not all weapons of similar category, but not only all that but its adaptation to a JAM (joint ammo and magazine) system used throughout the Soviet arsenal. the magazines could be used on various other assault rifles or light machine guns which gave it a massive amount of flexibility.

long live the AK i say, i belive that it will be an icon in many years to come, if not the 47 spacifically then the shape at least. i mean the AKM, AK-74/101-108 all look the same, even the new AN-94 is basically a changed AK.

Originally posted by donotdoit
The AK-47 socres 10/10 for what it is meant to be, cheap, easy to mass produce, reliable, and simplicity. But it is too innacurate i would not give my soldiers this gun. Another thing is if you are fighting people that have the same gun it is not intimidating if you had something as futuristic in appearance as an SA80 Steyr AUG or M16 it would maybe not 100% be intimidating.

You have obviously never been under gunfire. The first time you are fired upon no matter the weapon, you will not only be intimidated, you will most likely be terrified. If you manage to be a really unlucky SOB, the shock will eventually wear off, and it will get annoying, in a "if I get shot I am gonna be really pissed off" sick humor kind of way.

[edit on 3-7-2007 by TheStarMan]