The Kalashnikov assault rifle gained world fame thanks to its high tactical and technical characteristics. Since 1949, it has been used in many armed conflicts. The Kalashnikov assault rifle, or AK-47, is a weapon in the question of whose origin there is a lot of unexplained. According to some experts, the machine was not designed at all by the Soviet weapons designer, but by his German counterpart, Hugo Schmeiser, and was called the "Schmeiser Stg 44". Kalashnikov created a successful copy of this model. The description of the two samples, their performance characteristics, contained in the article, will allow a comparison of Stg 44 and AK-47.
About the Soviet "Kalash"
AK-47 is the most reliable weapon for its class. Experts note his remarkable lethal force. The machine is quite unpretentious and is considered suitable for effective use in Africa, as well as in Vietnam and other eastern countries. AK-47 is completely not afraid of sand and dust. In addition, it can be used in marshy areas. Due to the simple design of weapons, the production of the machine is not expensive, which made it possible in the late forties to produce large batches of this model. Despite the fact that today in the armies of many states the personnel were re-equipped with improved models of Kalashnikovs, the old models are still in working condition.
Question about plagiarism
The reason for the rumors of plagiarism was the fact that 50 samples of German Stg 44 assault rifles were brought to Izhevsk, where the AK-47 was being designed. Technical documentation on 10 thousand pages was attached to them. Critics of the Soviet designer made it possible to assume that Kalashnikov did not develop his machine gun himself, but only copied and slightly modified the German machine gun Stg 44. In 1946, Hugo Schmeiser, as a consultant, visited some Ural factories. In addition, it is known that in the German anti-Hitler coalition occupied by the allied forces, the Stg 44 was no longer manufactured. Despite the fact that the German weapons designer and his family lived in the Soviet Union for a short time, his presence at the Izhevsk factories created many legends and led some experts to question the authorship of the designer Kalashnikov in creating the legendary weapons and compare the Stg 44 and AK -47.
conclusions
Weapons experts, after comparing the Stg 44 and AK-47, came to the following conclusion: the appearance and trigger mechanism in both models have much in common. The accusations of plagiarism by critics and those who doubt Kalashnikov’s design abilities have reached a verdict: all the weapons used in the world, one way or another, are copied from each other. The German designer himself, while designing the trigger mechanism for his Schmeiser Stg 44, used the work of the Holeka company. This manufacturer in 1920 released a large batch of the first self-loading rifles ZH-29.
Description AK-47
The model consists of the following elements:
- Receiver and barrel. The butt and sights are mounted on the box.
- Detachable cover.
- Shutter frame and gas piston.
- Shutter.
- Return mechanism.
- The gas pipe for which the barrel pad is designed.
- Trigger mechanism.
- Forearm.
- An ammunition store.
- Bayonet.
All parts and mechanisms of the machine are contained in the receiver, which consists of two parts: the body and a special removable cover on top, the task of which is to protect the internal mechanisms of the machine from dirt and dust. The inside of the receiver is equipped with four guide rails. They set the movement for the bolt group. The front of the receiver is equipped with special cutouts that are used as combat stops during the closure of the receiver channel. With the help of the right combat emphasis, the direction of movement of the ammunition supplied from the right row of the machine gun is carried out. The left emphasis is intended for the cartridge from the left magazine row.
Operating principle
The machine uses the energy of powder gases, the output of which is through a special upper hole in the barrel. Before firing, the ammunition is fed into the barrel chamber. The shooter, using a special handle, pulls the bolt frame back. This procedure is called “shutter jerking.” Having passed the free stroke to the full length, the frame interacts with the bolt protrusion with its curly groove. She turns it counterclockwise. After the protrusions leave the combat stops located on the receiver, the barrel channel will unlock. Then the frame and shutter begin to move together.
USM in the Kalashnikov assault rifle
Comparing the Stg 44 and AK-47, we can conclude that both models of small arms are equipped with a trigger type trigger mechanism. There is a U-shaped combat spring in the trigger system of the Kalashnikov assault rifle. For its manufacture, triple twisted wire is used. The trigger mechanism allows both single firing and continuous firing. The fire mode is switched using a special rotary part (switch). Double action fuse designed to lock the trigger and sear. As a result of overlapping the longitudinal groove between the receiver and the detachable lid, the movement of the bolt frame back is blocked. Nevertheless, this does not exclude the movement of the moving parts back necessary when checking the chamber. However, in order to send the next ammunition there, this move is not enough.
Trigger mechanism in the model of Hugo Schmeiser: on similarities with the AK-47
The German rifle also uses the trigger type trigger. The weapon is designed for firing single and bursts. The trigger box is equipped with an interpreter that regulates the conduct of single and automatic fire. The ends of the translator come out on two sides of the case in the form of two buttons. For convenient use, they have a corrugated surface. To make a single shot, the translator must be moved to the right to position "E". Automatic fire is possible if the translator stands on the designation "D". In order to make the operation of the German rifle safe, the designer for the weapon developed a special flag fuse. It is located below the translator. To lock the trigger, this fuse should be moved to position “F”.
Differences
The difference between Stg 44 and AK-47 is the location of their return springs. In a German rifle, the inside of the butt was the place for the spring. This completely eliminates the possibility of creating a modernized model with a folding butt.
Due to the structural differences of the receiver for the models, different assembly-disassembly procedures are provided. The design of the German rifle during its dismantling allows you to "break" the weapon into two parts. In one of them there will be a trigger mechanism and a butt, and in the second - a receiver, a chamber, a barrel, a forend and a gas vent. A similar scheme was decided to implement American designers in various versions of their assault rifle M16 - the main small arms of the United States Army. Kalashnikov assault rifles are equipped with integral trigger mechanisms. You can disassemble the AK-47 without disconnecting the butt.
About ammunition
The detachable sector double-row store Stg 44 is designed for 30 ammunition. Since the stores were equipped with weak springs, the German soldiers had to load rifles with 25 rounds. Only in this way was it possible to ensure a normal supply of ammunition. Since 1945, new stores have been developed for this model, designed for 25 ammunition. They were produced in small batches. In the same year, a new store was created, equipped with a special stopper, limiting the supply of 25 rounds.
In the AK-47, ammunition is supplied from a box-shaped, sectorial double-row magazine, the capacity of which is 30 rounds. The store itself is presented in the form of a housing in which there is a locking bar, cover, spring and feeder. Initially, a store with a stamped steel case was intended for the Kalashnikov assault rifle. Over time, plastic products were created from polycarbonate and glass-filled polyamide. Kalashnikov assault rifle shops are characterized by such qualities as reliability when delivering ammunition and high “survivability”, even during rough operation. The design used in the AK was copied by a number of foreign arms manufacturers.
About Sights
The German rifle is equipped with a sector sight, which allows for effective shooting at a distance of up to 800 meters. The device is represented by a special aiming strip, with the marks applied on it.
Each of them is designed for a range of 50 meters. A triangular shape is provided for the slot and front sight. Additionally, the German rifle can be equipped with an optical and infrared sight. The use of low-power ammunition ensures the safe operation of optical devices.
The Kalashnikov assault rifle also uses an aiming device, which refers to the sector type. Graduation on the aiming bar is designed up to 800 meters. Unlike a German rifle, the “pitch” of one division corresponds to 100 meters. Additionally, the bar has a special division, which is indicated by the letter "P", indicating that the weapon is mounted on a direct shot. The distance for such a fire is 350 meters. Grivko sight has become a place for the location of the rear sight with a rectangular slot. The muzzle of the barrel is equipped with a front sight. It is mounted on a massive triangular base. In an effort to determine the midpoint of the hit, the shooter can screw in or out the front sight. To establish weapons in a horizontal plane, the front sight needs to be moved in the necessary direction. For some modifications, special brackets have been developed that allow you to install optical and night sights on your weapon.
About accessories
Military equipment, not provided with reliable cover for manpower, became very vulnerable to enemy infantry. She incapacitated military equipment with the help of magnetic mines and hand grenades. The use of tanks and self-propelled guns during the battle creates a significant "dead zone" - a space that is not at all shot from the enemy’s standard small arms and cannons. For the shooting model of Hugo Schmeiser, a special device was designed that allows the use of weapons from shelter.
This device was a special curvilinear nozzle. Initially, it was planned to use a cartridge of 7.92x57 mm for it. However, for a curved trunk, he was too powerful. As a result, this ammunition was replaced with a cartridge of 7.92x33 mm. The curvature of the barrel is made at an angle of 90 degrees. The nozzle has an operational resource of up to 2 thousand shots. Later similar devices with a 30 degree curvature were made.
The Kalashnikov assault rifle does not have such nozzles. The AK-47 is equipped with a bayonet knife, which makes it possible to use it effectively in hand-to-hand combat. The product is mounted on the barrel with a special latch. Initially, the length of a double-edged blade, equipped with a dol, was 20 cm. Later, the size was reduced to 15 cm. The blade was also used for household purposes.
TTX "Kalash"
Kalashnikov assault rifle has the following parameters:
- Caliber - 7.62 mm. For weapons developed ammunition 7.62x39 mm.
- The length of the weapon is 87 cm. The dimensions of the AK-47 vary depending on the modification. AKS has a length of 868 mm.
- The barrel length of the original AK-47 is 415 mm.
- Weight without ammunition - 4.3 kg. The mass of the AK-47 with a full ammunition load is 4.876 kg.
- Effective firing range - not more than 800 m.
- Within one minute, up to 600 rounds can be fired and 400 rounds can be fired.
- In single-shot mode, the AK-47 fires 90 to 100 rounds per minute.
- The bullet has an initial speed of 715 m / s.
About the performance characteristics of Stg 44
- Weapon weighs 5.2 kg.
- The length of the rifle is 94 cm.
- The size of the barrel is 419 mm.
- The caliber used is 7.92 mm.
- The length of the ammunition is 7.92x33 mm.
- The rifle works on the principle of removal of powder gases with locking due to the distortion of the shutter.
- Up to 600 shots can be fired in one minute with the Stg 44.
- The aiming range is 600 m.
- Burst shooting is effective from a distance of 300 m, single - from 600.
- The rifle is equipped with a sector sight.
