AK-47 - How this rifle works! (Animation)

Thomas Schwenke
30 Sept 201806:01
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe AK-47, invented by Russian designer Kalashnikov in the 1940s, is renowned as the world's most iconic and widely used assault rifle. This script delves into its functionality, including its rear and front sights for aiming, adjustable for 800 and 1000 meters, with a maximum effective range of 300-400 meters. It features a 30-round curved magazine and a safety lever for semi-automatic and fully automatic firing modes. The script also explains the rotating bolt locking mechanism, gas-operated reloading, and the role of the auto sear in fully automatic mode, highlighting the AKM's muzzle brake for better control.

Takeaways
  • 🔫 The AK-47 was invented by Russian designer Kalashnikov in the 1940s and is an iconic and widely used assault rifle globally.
  • 🎯 The shooter aims using a rear sight leaf available in 800 and 1000 meter versions, with an effective range of 300 to 400 meters.
  • 🗝️ The AK-47 has a 30-round curved magazine that can be removed using the magazine catch.
  • 🚫 The safety lever is used to make the firearm safe and prevents loading in this position.
  • 🔁 The safety lever allows for a choice between semi-automatic and fully automatic firing modes.
  • 🔫 In semi-automatic mode, the trigger and disconnector move freely, enabling single shots.
  • 🔫 In fully automatic mode, the hammer can move freely until the trigger is released, allowing continuous fire.
  • 🔩 The AK-47 and AKM feature a rotating bolt locking mechanism with two locking lugs.
  • 🔧 The firing pin slides back and forth within the bolt, with a retaining pin to prevent excessive backward movement.
  • 🔨 The front trunnion connects the barrel and receiver, providing recesses for the bolt's locking lugs.
  • 🔧 The bolt carrier moves via the cam guide, causing the bolt to rotate, unlock, and slide back and forth.
  • 🔥 Gas-operated reloading is driven by gas pressure pushing the gas piston back, which is connected to the bolt carrier.
  • 🔫 The auto sear in fully automatic mode ensures the breach is locked before the firing pin is depressed.
Q & A

  • Who invented the AK-47 and in which decade was it invented?

    -The AK-47 was invented by Russian weapon designer Mikhail Kalashnikov in the 1940s.

  • What is the AK-47 known as and why is it so widely used?

    -The AK-47 is known as the most iconic and widely used assault rifle in the world due to its reliability, durability, and ease of use.

  • How does the shooter aim with an AK-47?

    -The shooter aims with the help of the rear sight leaf and front sight on the AK-47.

  • What are the available versions for the sight leaf of the AK-47?

    -The sight leaf, which represents the rear sight, is available in 800 and 1000 meter versions.

  • What is the maximum effective range of the AK-47?

    -The maximum effective range of the AK-47 is between 300 and 400 meters.

  • How many rounds does the standard magazine of the AK-47 hold and what is its shape?

    -The standard magazine of the AK-47 holds 30 rounds and is curved.

  • What type of cartridges did the original AK-47 use?

    -The original AK-47 used M43 cartridges equipped with berdan primers.

  • What is the purpose of the safety lever on the AK-47?

    -The safety lever is used to make the firearm safe and prevents loading the weapon in this position.

  • How does the safety lever affect the firing mode of the AK-47?

    -The safety lever allows the shooter to choose between semi-automatic and fully automatic firing modes.

  • What is the function of the auto sear in fully automatic mode of the AK-47?

    -In fully automatic mode, the auto sear ensures that the breach is locked before the hammer depresses the firing pin.

  • What was the significant feature added to the AKM compared to the AK-47?

    -The AKM was equipped with a muzzle brake, which helps to prevent unwanted rising of the barrel by pushing the weapon down to the left due to gas pressure from the barrel.

Outlines
00:00
🔫 AK-47 Design and Operation

The AK-47, invented by Russian designer Kalashnikov in the 1940s, is renowned as the world's most iconic and widely used assault rifle. It features a rear and front sight for aiming, with the sight leaf available in 800 and 1000 meter versions, and an effective range of 300 to 400 meters. The standard 30-round curved magazine can be removed using the magazine catch. Initially, it used M43 cartridges with primers, and the safety lever prevents loading and allows the shooter to select between semi-automatic and fully automatic firing modes. The AK-47 and its variant, the AKM, both employ a rotating bolt locking mechanism with two locking lugs and a firing pin that can slide within the bolt. The front trunnion connects the barrel and receiver, and the bolt is rotated and unlocked via a cam guide in the bolt carrier. The gas-operated reloading system is activated by the gas piston, which is connected to the bolt carrier, facilitating the extraction and ejection of the spent case and the feeding of a new cartridge into the chamber.

05:01
🎯 AKM Automatic Firing and Muzzle Brake

The AKM, an evolution of the AK-47, includes an automatic sear that ensures the breach is locked before the firing pin is depressed by the hammer, enhancing the reliability of fully automatic firing. Additionally, the AKM is equipped with a muzzle brake that helps manage the recoil by directing the gas pressure from the barrel downwards and to the left, preventing the barrel from rising unintentionally. This feature improves the control and accuracy of the weapon during rapid fire.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡AK-47
The AK-47 is a type of assault rifle that was invented by the Russian designer Mikhail Kalashnikov in the 1940s. It is one of the most iconic and widely used firearms globally, known for its reliability and ease of use. In the video, the AK-47 is the central theme, with its design, operation, and functionality being the focus of the script.
💡Assault Rifle
An assault rifle is a selective-fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge and a detachable magazine. It is designed for rapid fire and is capable of switching between semi-automatic and fully automatic modes. The AK-47, as mentioned in the script, is a prime example of an assault rifle, highlighting its versatility and widespread use in various military and paramilitary forces.
💡Rear Sight
The rear sight is a part of the firearm's sighting system used in conjunction with the front sight to aim at a target. In the script, it is mentioned that the AK-47's sight leaf, which represents the rear sight, is available in 800 and 1000 meter versions, indicating the rifle's range and precision capabilities.
💡Front Sight
The front sight is another component of the firearm's sighting mechanism, typically located at the muzzle end of the barrel. It works with the rear sight to provide a clear aiming point for the shooter. The script mentions the AK-47's front sight in the context of aiming assistance.
💡Maximum Effective Range
The maximum effective range of a firearm is the distance at which it can consistently hit a target with reasonable accuracy. The script specifies that the AK-47's maximum effective range is between 300 and 400 meters, emphasizing its capabilities within that distance.
💡Magazine
A magazine is an ammunition storage and feeding device within or attached to a firearm. The script describes the AK-47's standard magazine as having 30 rounds and being curved, which is a distinctive feature of the rifle that facilitates easier feeding of rounds into the chamber.
💡Safety Lever
The safety lever is a mechanism on a firearm that prevents accidental discharge by blocking the movement of the trigger or other components. The video script explains that the AK-47's safety lever can be used to make the firearm safe and to select between semi-automatic and fully automatic firing modes.
💡Semi-Automatic
Semi-automatic refers to a type of firearm that, after a round is fired, automatically reloads the next round into the chamber and cocks the firearm, but requires the shooter to pull the trigger for each shot. The script mentions that the AK-47 can be set to semi-automatic mode using the safety lever.
💡Fully Automatic
Fully automatic, or automatic, is a mode of operation for a firearm where one pull of the trigger will cause the weapon to fire continuously until the trigger is released or the ammunition is depleted. The script explains that the AK-47 can be set to fully automatic mode, allowing for rapid fire.
💡Rotating Bolt Locking Mechanism
A rotating bolt locking mechanism is a type of firearm action where the bolt rotates to lock and unlock via lugs engaging with corresponding surfaces in the receiver. The script describes this mechanism in the context of the AK-47 and AKM, indicating how the bolt locks and unlocks during the firing process.
💡Gas Operated Reloading
Gas operated reloading is a system where the pressure from the fired cartridge propels a piston that in turn moves the bolt carrier group to the rear, unlocking the bolt and ejecting the spent case, and then moves it forward to chamber a new round. The script explains this process in the context of the AK-47's operation, illustrating how the rifle is reloaded after each shot.
Highlights

The AK-47 was invented by Russian weapon designer Kalishnikov in the 1940s.

It is the most iconic and widely used assault rifle in the world.

The shooter aims with the help of rear and front sight.

The sight leaf, representing the rear sight, is available in 800 and 1000 meter versions.

The maximum effective range is between 300 and 400 meters.

The standard magazine has 30 rounds and is curved.

The magazine can be removed via the magazine catch.

Originally, the AK-47 used M43 cartridges with burden primers.

The safety lever is used to make the firearm safe and prevent loading.

The safety lever allows the shooter to choose between semi-automatic and fully automatic firing modes.

In fully automatic firing mode, the hammer can move freely until the trigger is released.

The AK-47 and AKM have a rotating bolt locking mechanism with two locking lugs.

The firing pin can slide back and forth within the bolt.

The front trunnion connects the barrel and receiver and has recesses for the bolt's locking lugs.

The gas piston is pushed back by gas pressure, enabling gas-operated reloading.

The gas piston is connected to the bolt carrier, allowing the bolt to unlock and move backward.

The auto sear ensures the breach is locked before the firing pin is depressed in fully automatic mode.

The AKM was equipped with a muzzle brake to prevent unwanted rising of the barrel.

Transcripts

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AK-47Firearm DesignWeapon MechanicsAssault RifleGas OperatedKalishnikovSemi-AutoFull-AutoMilitary HistoryCartridge PrimerMuzzle Brake