AK Series Rifle

Objective
Actions: Identify the characteristics,
disassemble, and assemble the AK series
Rifle.

Conditions: In a classroom environment,

given an AK series Rifle.

Standards: Identify the characteristics,

clear, disassemble, assemble, and conduct
a functions check for the AK series Rifle
IAW STP-31-18B-34SM-TG and Jane’s
Infantry Weapons.
 Reason

To enable soldiers deploying to

Afghanistan in support of Operation
Enduring Freedom to understand and
become familiar with the characteristics
and operation of the AK Series Rifle in
order to increase the combat effectiveness
of their units.
 Safety Considerations

 Ensure all firearms are cleared.

 Maintain positive control of springs

and spring loaded parts.
 Classroom Conduct

 No Sleeping

 Class Participation

 Latrines At Break
 Agenda
 History
 Characteristics
 General Data
 Variants
 Clearing
 Disassembly
 Assembly
 Functions Check
 Zeroing Procedures
 History
The Kalashnikov Assault Rifle has
become the most widespread weapon in the
world. Starting with the AK47, Kalashnikovs
have been the standard rifles of the Soviet
and most former Warsaw Pact countries
since the early 1950’s.

To these can be added most communist

inspired or sponsored countries elsewhere.
Practically all communist- influenced
guerrilla and nationalist movements of recent
decades seemed to have obtained or been
given stocks of AK47’s.
 History
In general, the AK47 is a simple, robust and
handy weapon of sound design and generally
excellent workmanship.

The basic Kalashnikov action has been

taken from many weapons other than the Soviet
Kalashnikov derivatives such as the AKM,
AK74, and the PKM. Designs outside the
RFAS using the basic Kalashnikov action
include the Israeli Galil series, South African
R4, R5, and R6, the Croatian APS95, the
Finnish Valmet/Sako series, and the Indian
5.56mm Insas Assault Rifle.
 History
The AK47 was accepted into service in
1947. Three basic Soviet-produced AK47
models have been detected. The differences
are mainly the result of the production methods
used.

RFAS production had ceased by the late

1960’s but was continued in other countries.
Production was undertaken by several former
Warsaw pact countries of eastern Europe,
China, and elsewhere.

Since the introduction of the AK design in

1947, between fifty and seventy million
Kalashnikov-type Rifles have been manufactured!
Mikhail Timofeyevich
Kalashnikov
 Characteristics AK-47
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Russia

MILITARY DESIGNATION: AK47/AKM

CARTRIDGE TYPE: 7.62mm X 39mm. M1943

TYPE OF FEED: 30rd. Staggered Box

Magazine

LOCKING SYSTEM: Rotating Bolt

SYSTEM OF OPERATION: Gas Blast, Select Fire

PRACTICAL RANGE: 200m Auto, 300m Semi

APPLIED SAFETY: Blocks Trigger

PPF: Auto Safety Sear

 Characteristics AK-74
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Russia

MILITARY DESIGNATION: AK-74

CARTRIDGE TYPE: 5.45mm X 39mm.

TYPE OF FEED: 30rd. Plastic Staggered

Box Magazine

LOCKING SYSTEM: Rotating Bolt

SYSTEM OF OPERATION: Gas Blast, Select Fire

PRACTICAL RANGE: 200m Auto,

300m Semi

APPLIED SAFETY: Blocks Trigger

PPF: Auto Safety Sear

 General Data

Data AK47 AKM

Weight 9.48lbs 6.93lbs

Weight-Loaded Mag 11.51lbs 8.9lbs
Length W/Stock 34.2 in Same
Folding Stock 25.4 in Same
Barrel Length 16.3 in Same
Barrel Type Chrome Lined Same
Rifling 4 Groove/RH Twist Same
1 Turn/9.25in Same
Muzzle Velocity 2330 FPS 2345 FPS
Cyclic ROF 600-800RPM Same
Sustained ROF 100A/40S RPM Same
AK47 & AKM Series Rifles
Rear Sight
Gas Cylinder
Cover Ch.
Handle Front Sight
Retaining
Lever

Selector
Mag Release
AK47 & AKM Series Rifles

Machined Steel Receiver

AK47

AKM

Indentations

Stamped Sheet Metal Receiver

 AK47 & AKM Variants

AKM: Modernized version of the AK 47

AKMS: AKM with a folding stock

AK47 & AKM Variants
 AK47 & AKM Variants

AKS47: AK47 with a

folding stock
Ammunition 7.62 X 39 M1943
The standard M1943
cartridge case is brass
plated or lacquered for
protection with Berdan
primers.
The most common round
has a steel jacket with a
lead sleeve and a steel core.
The nose on the standard
round is unpainted. (Special
Purpose rounds are
painted)
One great drawback is the
rounds slow velocity which
gives a curved trajectory.
This makes the round
impractical for long range
applications.
 Ammunition
The 7.62 X 39mm M1943
has a 122 grain bullet.

The cartridge is 2.20

inches in length and has
a velocity of 2400 FPS.

The two cartridges on

the left are 7.62 x 39mm
M1943. The one on the
right is 7.62 X 51 mm
NATO.
 Selector

Safe: Lever in the top

position.

Automatic: Lever in the

middle position.

Semi-Automatic: Lever in
the bottom position.
 Clearing
 Place the weapon on “SAFE”.

 Remove the source of feed.

 Place the weapon on “FIRE”; Pull the

Charging Handle to the rear and HOLD it.

 Conduct “three point check”.

 Return the Charging Handle forward.

Disassembly
 Disassembly

 Push in the Retaining

Rod at the rear of the
Cover, lift the Receiver
Cover up and out to
remove it.

 Remove the Action

Spring and Retaining Rod
by pushing them forward
to release, lift up and out
of the Receiver.
 Disassembly

 Ensure the weapon is

not on “SAFE”.

 Remove the Bolt and

Bolt Carrier by pulling the
Charging Handle to the
rear.

 Lift up and out of the

Receiver.
 Disassembly

 Remove the Bolt from

the Bolt Carrier by turning
the Bolt counter-clockwise
and pulling it out of the
front of the Carrier.
 Disassembly

 To remove Gas
Cylinder, rotate the
Locking Lever to the 10
o’clock position.

 Lift up on the Gas

Cylinder to remove it
from the Receiver.

 This completes
disassembly of the AK
Series Rifle.
Disassembly
 Trigger Mechanism
(AK47)
Hammer in fired
position

Auto Safety Sear

Sear

Disconnector

Change Lever (Safety)

 Function of the AK Series
Rifle
 The Extractor is
located in the Bolt
face.

 As the Bolt Carrier

moves forward it
rotates the Bolt. As
the Bolt rotates the
lugs on the head of the
Bolt lock inside the
Chamber.
 Function of the AK Series
Rifle

 As the Bolt Carrier is

forced back the
Extractor grips and pulls
the round from the
Chamber. The Ejector is
in the Receiver, as the
Bolt passes it forces the
round from the weapon.
 Assembly
 Line up the forward
end of the Cylinder
with the Gas Port
behind the Front Sight.

 Rotate the Cylinder

downward to the
Receiver.

 Secure the Gas

Cylinder by turning the
Locking Lever to the
locked position.
 Assembly

 Place the Bolt in the

Bolt Carrier by placing
the rear of the Bolt into
the Bolt Carrier and
turning it clockwise,
ensuring the locking
lug of the Bolt sits in
the cut recess of the
Bolt Carrier.
 Assembly

 Line up the Gas

Piston with the Gas
Cylinder inside the
Receiver.

 Line up the Bolt

Carrier with the rails
inside the Receiver,
when in place push the
Bolt forward.
 Assembly

 Place the Action

Spring into the rear of
the Bolt Carrier.

 Push it forward,
maintaining control,
and secure the Action
Spring in its slot in the
back of the Receiver.

 Install the Cover.

 Functions Check
 Place the weapon on “SAFE” and attempt to fire. (it
should not fire)

 Place the weapon on “SEMI”; squeeze and hold the

Trigger. (it should fire)

 Charge the weapon and release the Trigger; listen for

the Disconnector; squeeze the Trigger. (it should fire)

 Charge then place the weapon on “AUTO”; squeeze

and hold the Trigger.(it should fire)

 Charge the weapon 3 to 4 times and release the Trigger

(it shouldn’t reset or fire).

 Place the weapon back on “SAFE”.

 Sights

 The rear sight is a flat base U

notch.

 The rear sight is indexed 100

to 800 meters in 100 meter
increments.

 The front sight is an

adjustable hooded post sight.
 AK -47 Zero

**Note**: If your front sight has never

been adjusted before, it may be frozen in
place. To reduce the risk of damaging
this tool, start by tapping the sight base
with a hammer and brass pin punch. This
will break the base free and ease the
adjustment.
AK Zero Tool
Windage Adjustments
 Windage Adjustment
• To move the point of impact left or right
(windage), position the C-clamp so that
the round sight base lines up with the threaded
push rod and the relief hole. Failure to line this
up properly can cause damage to the sight tool.
• Turn T-handle clockwise to push the sight base
in the desired direction.
• Pushing the front sight to the right will move the
point of impact to the left. Pushing the front
sight to the left will move the point of impact to
the right.
Elevation Adjustment
 Elevation Adjustment

• To move the point of impact up or down

(elevation), position the slotted portion of the
T-handle through the hole on the top of the
sight housing and onto the sight post.
• Turn the T-handle clockwise to lower the sight
post, counter clockwise to raise it.
• Raising the front sight will lower the point of
impact.
• Lowering the front sight will raise the point of
impact.
 Zeroing Procedures #1
 Set the rear sight to zero (N or D)
setting
 Fire three rounds at 25 meters
 Adjust elevation: CW is up and
CCW is down.
 Adjust Windage: Use C-clamp
adjusting tool on the front sight.
 To move the strike of the bullet
left, move the sight assembly to
the right.
 At 25 meters the strike of the bullet
should be 2.5 in above the point of
aim.
 N or D settings on the rear sight will
allow you to engage targets from 0-
300m.
 Zeroing Procedures #2
 Set the rear sight to 300
 Fire three rounds at 25 meters
 Adjust elevation: CW is up and
CCW is down.
 Adjust Windage: Use C-clamp
adjusting tool on the front sight.
 To move the strike of the bullet
left, move the sight assembly to
the right.
 At 25 meters the strike of the bullet
should be point of aim (POA), point of
impact (POI).
 300m setting on rear sight will allow
you to engage targets from 0-300m.
AK Series Zero Target
 Objective
Actions: Identify the characteristics,
disassemble, and assemble the AK series
Rifle.

Conditions: In a classroom environment,

given an AK series Rifle.

Standards: Identify the characteristics,

clear, disassemble, assemble, and conduct
a functions check for the AK series Rifle
IAW STP-31-18B-34SM-TG and Jane’s
Infantry Weapons.
 Agenda
 History
 Characteristics
 General Data
 Variants
 Clearing
 Disassembly
 Assembly
 Functions Check
 Zeroing Procedures
 Reason

To enable soldiers deploying to

Afghanistan in support of Operation
Enduring Freedom to understand and
become familiar with the characteristics
and operation of the AK Series Rifle in
order to increase the combat effectiveness
of their units.
Never
Never Forgotten
Forgotten