The AKM (Kalashnikov Improved Assault Rifle) is the second version of the AK-47. It was adopted in 1959 by the Russian Army. Built with a receiver stamped on a hydraulic press, it is lighter, more reliable and cheaper to manufacture, but a little less rigid than the AK-47 receiver.

History

The history of the AK-47 is quite well known, and it is inseparable from the birth of the at the time new multi-purpose Soviet cartridge, the 7.62x39mm M43. This caliber was imagined almost at the same time as the German 7.92x33mm ammunition, which the Russians tested after seizing the Sturmgewehr 42 on the battlefield. They also officially tried the USM1 US carbine chambered in .30 carbine (7.62x33mm).

The concept appealed to the Russians, and they set to work as early as 1942 to define their own intermediate rifle caliber adapted to an assault rifle—less power and speed but more capacity and compactness to make the weapon-ammunition package more effective in combat. It took a long time before arriving at the perfect caliber and at the concept of the assault rifle. A 7.92x41mm cartridge was designed and tested in a dozen different weapons. The results were not ideal; the weapons were too heavy so studies resumed. New tests were scheduled for the beginning of 1946 with the appearance of Mikhail Kalashnikov and the presentation of his work. He made a prototype submachine gun which was rejected by the evaluation commission. Then he designed a semi-automatic rifle, inspired by the M1 Garand rifle, called the AK-46 or AK N ° 1. The commission studied three rifles made by Bulkin, Dementiev and Kalashnikov. The latter was evolving his assault rifle, cleverly using the best solutions designed by the weapons engineers of his time. He finally won the official tests with his weapon that offered the best compromise between reliability, lightness, endurance and precision.

Production began in Izhevsk in the Urals during 1947 with press-formed receivers Type I that posed many manufacturing and quality problems. This led to mass producing machined frames Type II before being able to switch to stamped receivers from 1951 on.

The AKM Loses a Kilo

The AKM (Improved Kalashnikov Assault Rifle) was adopted in 1959 after studying numerous evolutions and having multiple tests. Despite the competition from other rifle prototypes, sometimes well designed and cheaper to produce, the Russian Army chose the AKM. The main evolution came from its press-formed receiver—lighter, cheaper to manufacture but a little less rigid. It was stamped from a 1mm-thick steel sheet and reinforced by front and rear blocks riveted to the receiver. The front block supported the barrel held in place by a transverse pin, unlike the AK-47 which had a barrel screwed into its machined frame. The cost and time required for manufacturing were also considerably reduced. Indeed, the machining of the steel blocks of the AK-47 to make receivers required more time, skilled workers and more raw materials.

Kalashnikov’s stock and grip were redrawn and lightened. Stock and handguards were made of birch plywood, which were lightweight and inexpensive. A compensator was added on the thread to reduce muzzle rise in automatic fire. The thread also allowed you to install a suppressor. The rear sight measured 800 to 1000 meters maximum, which was very optimistic. It was adjustable in height while the front sight was adjustable in height with the tool provided in the cleaning kit, but also in drift by a gunsmith with a hammer.

The main improvement concerned the weight, which was reduced by 1kg, being lowered from 4.3kg to 3.3kg by the lighter receiver being manufactured from sheet metal, by the slightly less heavy bolt, and by the modified wood. The AKM was black matte parkerized while the AK-47 was blued. Improvements were also made to the barrel and to the gas ports to increase reliability.

A new bayonet was designed to be attached to its rigid sheath, forming a cutting tool for barbed wire. The AKM could be equipped with many accessories; for example, the PBS silencer and the NSPU night-time scope. The 6G15, an adaptable grenade launcher under the barrel, was also developed for the AKM which launched front-loading 40mm VOG-25 grenades.

Auto-Sear also for Semi-Automatic Fire

The operation of the AKM is well known and often copied, with its bolt that locks in the steel block in front of the receiver, called the trunnion, by two lugs. This steel reinforcement is riveted into the housing and supports the barrel. Some manufacturers prefer the screwed in barrel. The front sight and the gas block are also each fixed on the barrel by two transverse pins.

When the bolt carrier approaches the chamber, the bolt rotates about 30 degrees to the right to lock into the receiver, with its two lateral lugs. The front of the bolt is thus in contact with the end of the barrel, and the cartridge is chambered. When you press the trigger, expanding propellant gases activate the piston / bolt carrier. The carrier moves back a little, which causes the unlocking of the bolt (by the action of the milled rail in the carrier that rotates the bolt to the left) and then the rearward motion of the bolt-carrier assembly ensures case ejection.

The trigger mechanism is equipped with an auto sear. This auto sear locks the hammer in the armed position when the bolt moves back, in addition to the hammer lock by the trigger. When the bolt advances, it hooks the auto sear, which unlocks the hammer. This allows hammer activation of the firing pin once the bolt is in the front most position, against the chamber. This operation is valid for semi-automatic shooting and for automatic shooting. Hence the importance of the presence of this trigger on all Kalashnikovs. This type of system also exists on the military M16 or M4, but in the full-auto mode only.

An Izhmash AKM Dated 1962

The AKM has a three-position selector that has the particularity, like the other rifles derived from the AK, to place the automatic fire position in the middle of its movement, just after the safety position. The safety selector closes the receiver and does not allow dirt to enter. It blocks the carrier from retracting, and the hammer and all the trigger mechanism from operating, cartridge chambered or not. When the magazine is empty, the bolt remains closed; it has no last round locking stop to keep it open. The trigger is well designed with its hook on the top of the hammer, far from its axis, which allows it to obtain a nice and functional release weight, around 2.0kg to 2.2kg, while the military rifles generally have heavier detents.

Disassembling the AKM is very easy for routine maintenance but also for the replacement of the barrel, a stock or a handguard. Pin punches and a gunsmith’s hammer are sufficient to disassemble most of the parts including the trigger, plus a screwdriver for the bakelite grip screw.

We had the opportunity to test a Russian military version of the AKM from l962, in its original configuration with all its parts and old wood. It bears its manufacture date next to its serial number, the EY42xx, and next to the triangle with arrow inside logo of the manufacturer Izhmash. Its sling also has its period markings; it is therefore the sling put into service in the Russian Army with the AKM. A weapon 56 years old still in excellent mechanical form. Its condition was not perfect at the time of purchase so its owner has made the choice to give it a facelift by polishing the wood (stock, handguards), which has removed the protective varnish but has given back the wood their original coloring.

Installation of Anti-Rise Muzzle Brake

After severe use over the years, the metal parts looked like new after a good cleaning, polishing and two coats of black paint (housing, guide rod gas borrowing, top housing cover). Successive cleaning and retouching had made the receiver look very worn; it was necessary to remove the painted fittings to obtain a uniform surface and color.

This AKM is chambered in the original caliber, the 7.62x39mm Kalashnikov, and it has the famous muzzle brake bevel cut intended to thwart the rise during automatic fire. A Russian pouch for AK or AKM for three magazines, a cleaning kit in the stock, plus the maintenance rod in place under the barrel, completed the set. A proper bayonet remains to be found.

We made our tests at 100 and 200 meters, using the metal sights, followed by the Aimpoint M4 sight and then the Aimpoint T2 sight, mounted lower. These two Aimpoints are made with 2 MOA red dot diameters. All our tests took place without any negative shooting incidents, 100% reliable chambering and ejections. We used a Millett brand firing support to stabilize our AKM. For our tests, we fired factory ammunition but also reloaded ammunition in order to be able to use powerful and quality cartridges with powder and non-corrosive primers— a bit aggressive for the barrel and the bolt. We had the opportunity to fire ammunition with brass cases from PPU Serbian FMJ ball 123 grain, then Wolf steel cases, green cartridges of former East Germany and Russian military cartridges also with steel cases.

.311 and .308 Bullets on Lapua Cases

To continue our tests, we proceeded with reloads on this cartridge with the use of Lapua cases using boxer primers, known for their quality. The die sets come with two calibration rods. It is necessary to install the rod for .30 caliber bullets beforehand to remove primers and full sizing. We chose to reload ammunitions so that we could test several types of bullets—123 grains in .311 caliber and 125 grains, 150, 168 and 200 grains in .308 caliber. For the .311, we used Sellier & Bellot bullets n ° 2907 standard Kalashnikov, then the Hornady .308 in 125 grains, IMI .308 in 150 grains FMJ, Lapua Scenar .308 in 167 grains and Sierra HPBT. 308 in 200 grains. All our reloads were made with Vihtavuori N120 powder; the manufacturer gave several loads depending on the bullet weight. As soon as it was decided to increase the bullet weight, it is imperative to lower the powder load to remain in admissible pressures. The capacity of cases does not allow exceeding certain limits for reasons of volume, the bullets above 125 grains coming easily in contact with the powder.

The results were correct with the factory ammunition as with the reloaded ammunition. Even if the AKM was not at the level of that of the M16, they were very accurate with match ammo. We obtained scores on targets with five cartridges at 100 meters from 85 to 97mm (3.34 to 3.81 inches), then from 113 to 158mm (4.44 to 6.22 inches) at a distance of 200 meters. These scores are honest with respect to some with surplus ammunition or with poorly prepared rifles, but they are not really at the level required for NATO assault rifles.

In automatic fire, the rifle is very lively and moves a lot, so it must be properly controlled. The bolt requires a powerful movement backwards to overcome the hammer resistance to put it in a cocked position.

Present-Day Kalashnikov Group

The latest versions of Kalashnikov rifles can be seen on the Kalashnikov Group website, with an interesting 9mm Parabellum model built on an AK receiver, or a Saïga rifle chambered for a new caliber, the 366 TKM, consisting of a 37mm (on the basis of the 7.62×39 M43 case) and a 9.55mm bullet of 168, 201 or 231 grains. This ammunition was introduced by a Russian manufacturer named Techkrim (a company specializing in sports ammunition and non-lethal ammunition). The other models are still produced, such as the AK-74, still in service in the Russian Army, as well as the Saiga civil versions, now very widespread.

All these AKs are produced on the historic site of Izhevsk, capital of Udmurtia, located in the Urals, which is a major industrial, commercial and scientific center. The history of the city dates back to the spring of 1760, when a dam on the Ij River was built simultaneously with the adjacent metallurgical plant. The development of Izhevsk was due to the installation of the armaments factory which began its activity in 1807. The city had developed its specialization in the field of defense, metallurgy, war weapons and hunting rifles. The first production for war was destined for the Napoleonic Wars of 1812. Izhevsk was a major strategic problem at all times, especially during the Russian Revolution. At the time of the First Five-Year Plan, the city grew rapidly thanks to new industries, such as motorcycles, machine tools and chemistry. In December 1934, Izhevsk was proclaimed capital of the Udmurt Republic.

Important Production Capacities

During the Second World War, the importance of the city as a weapons production center was considerable. The Izhevsk factories could equip an aviation division and an artillery division in one day. The post-war period is characterized by the development of the industrial base with a significant production of arms, motorcycles, automobiles and machine tools, renowned worldwide. Mikhail Kalashnikov is one of the architects of these successes, alongside other engineers. Izhevsk has always been a city of mechanical industries, famous for the arms factory established in 1807. It is, of course, in this factory that the Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifle was developed and manufactured as its later versions. The Izhmash group also produced cars, IJ brand, as well as motorcycles. The concentration of defense factories in Izhevsk made it a very closed city during Soviet times, and foreigners were not allowed to enter it.

The Kalashnikov Armament Group took its name in 2013 in tribute to its engineer Mikhail Kalashnikov, who died that year. The first private investors arrived in the group suffered heavy losses. Kalashnikov was able to rectify its accounts by proposing new models, but especially by diversifying in particular sectors like clothing and knives. The group is developing its equipment and presents many new products: electric motorcycles, observation drones, non-lethal weapons and robotic destructive tanks. This initiative was taken by CEO, Alexeï Krivorouchko, who arrived during this first wave of privatization. In January 2017, Kalashnikov Group announced that it wanted to increase its workforce by 30%, with the creation of 1,700 additional jobs.

The Israeli Micro Assault Rifle (MAR) arrived on the assault rifle market at the end of the 90s. Halfway between a submachine gun and a rifle, its compactness and powerful ammunition make it a very effective weapon of defense and a very special combat gun for tank crews, pilots or special forces.

The MAR or Micro Galil is the ultimate evolution of the Galil range. Compact with its 460mm (18 inches) long folded stock, powerful with its 5.56mm NATO ammunition, it belongs to the category of short assault weapons in the same way as the Swiss SIG 553 rifle (5.56mm or 7.62×39), the Russian AKSU in 5.45×39, the Zastava M92 in 7.62×39 or the American M4 in “Commando” version equipped with a 270mm barrel (10.5 inches). Not to mention the newest B&T APC556 PDW or the H & K G36K or G36C. These weapons are designed for easy and discreet carry, but their ammunition is intended for war or defense operations. They are still very dangerous at 200 and 300 meters, with excellent precision for the best of them, like the Swiss SIG or the MAR from Israel Military Industries (IMI) Ltd., now known as Israel Weapon Industries (IWI).

Fascinating for the military as well as for sport shooters or collectors, the Galils are mainly used by specialized groups such as the C.O.S. soldiers in France, the RAID, the GIGN or the marine commandos. They effectively equip pilots of airplanes and helicopters, tank and other machine operators, mountaineers, special services and special service officers.

Throughout its history, Israel has been able to develop the weapons necessary for its survival; first by copying and improving the armament available from its allies, then by designing and manufacturing in its own factories original weapons that meet its specific needs. Strength, reliability and resistance to external elements such as sand and seawater are part of the weapons specifications machined in Israel.

Receiver Machining

Starting from the base design of the AK-47 and its Finnish descendant the RK62, Israeli engineer Yisrael Galili worked on the westernization of the Russian rifle, so reliable and so effective in the hands of Israel’s enemies.

As Jani Kotnik explained in his article on the Magal Micro Galil in .30 Carbine, an extrapolation of the MAR 5.56mm as a police version, Galili visualized a hybrid Kalashnikov rifle equipped with a barrel, a bolt head and a Stoner 63 magazine in 5.56mm. He also worked on the basis of the Valmet RK62, the Finnish rifle in 7.62×39, built with a receiver milled from a steel block for his design on the Galil. In 1959, the AKM had changed to a sheet metal (Steel) receiver formed and reinforced by steel blocks at the front for mounting the barrel, at the back for attaching the stock. IMI kept this machining technique for all of its Galils.

Thus were born the Galil rifles, modeled on the Kalashnikov, but chambered for western ammunition, as standardization requires. The Galil family of assault rifles began serving in the IDF (Israeli Defence Forces) in 1973 in an attempt to replace the FN FAL which had proved unreliable in the desert sands during the Six-Day War. (Editor’s note: This was due to lack of maintenance by the conscript Israeli soldiers, and Israeli leadership noted that the same lack of maintenance on AK variants by the conscript soldiers they faced did not affect reliability very much.) The Galat, a sniper version of the Galil came out in 1983, and it is still produced.

The 7.62×39 ammunition will continue to be used by some Israeli forces for its destructive power with its .30 caliber bullets, despite energy similar to that of the 5.56mm caliber, about 3500 Joules. The useful range of the MAR is about 300 meters; it is still very accurate to 200 meters despite the size of the barrel which measures only 195mm (216mm on the ACE). The best scores are from 60 to 80mm to 200 meters, which is very honorable, in open sight or with optics—the same performance as the 552 and 553 GIS.

The Same Qualities as the AK-47

At 100 meters, using fixed sights we fired a grouping of 24x15mm and at 200 meters with a 3x32mm optic, a score of 72mm. The firing is nice, easily controllable, very enjoyable; in fact, very similar to the impressions felt with the AK-47. The rifle is precise, and always very reliable; it feeds all ammunition, steel cases as well as brass cases. It’s not like the Famas F1 that prefers only steel or the M4 which prefers brass. It has all the qualities of the Kalashnikov without using the same caliber, at least in this version.

In short bursts, it is easy to fire bursts of three shots, which are well-controlled. The barrel rises a little but not enough to really deflect the trajectory. In full auto, the rate is fairly high, the noise is also, with a rate of almost 900 rounds / minute, depending on the ammunition used. The trigger is supple and clean, with a weight of about 2.2kg. The model tested has a number beginning with 99xxxxxx, followed by six digits. Its year of manufacturing was apparently 1999.

The MAR or Micro Galil is a very compact assault rifle. It measures 460mm with the stock folded and 710mm open stock. It is light for an assault rifle since it weighs only 2.980kg. The largest Galil, the ARM with bipod and 460mm barrel, weighs 4.350kg. The model without bipod, the AR, weighs 3.950kg. And the old, short model (still in the catalog) 332mm SAR gun still weighs 3.750kg. To get the weight under three kilos is a decisive advantage. It is easy to handle, put in or remove a magazine and to open and close the stock; there is no heaviness as with a longer weapon. It is as manageable as a submachine gun. It can be worn in a thigh holster or on a chest sling/rig.

Two Different but Solidary Selectors

IMI has installed specific sighting devices: an ambidextrous selector, a light buttstock, a handguard and a grip made of composite material and an optional Galil standard optical mounting quick release (left side of the receiver). The Galil has no adjustable rear sight but a tilting sight in “L” configuration that we switch for shooting at 300 meters or 500 meters. It has adjustable drift. The front sight is adjustable in height.

The barrel of the MAR is chrome hardened. The operation system is from the Kalashnikov with a rotating bolt, blocked by locking the two lugs of the bolt head into the receiver, machined from a block of steel. Unlocking is activated by a gas piston mechanism operated by a short piston secured to the carrier. The very wide extractor is placed in the front of the bolt face, as on the Kalashnikov.

The selector is ambidextrous with a lever on the right at the AK standard, three positions (S-Safe, A- Automatic, R-Repetition- semi-automatic) and a thumb selector on the left side above the grip. The position S blocks the carrier and the trigger, cartridge chambered or not, hammer cocked or not. It does not have an open bolt hold-open. The handguard is designed with care because it is short, needing a good grip for the shooter’s protection so close to the muzzle of the barrel. On the latest models, it can accept accessories such as a high-power light or a laser designator.

Galil magazines also fit in the Micro Galil. They are well designed. They look a lot like Kalashnikov magazines but are for 5.56 NATO cartridges so the curve is different. Capacity varies from 5 to 50 rounds, though the most common version is 35 rounds. A special IMI adapter allows the use of M16 magazines, with the aim of making weapons used by the same army as compatible as possible between them. 30-round composite magazines are now available from Tapco USA.

High Modularity, Quick and Easy Disassembly

The charging handle is designed to be operated by either right-handed or left-handed shooters with a button that rises above the bolt cover for easy grip. The right-handed shooter can arm his bolt with his left hand without releasing the grip.

The MAR disassembly is very simple, just like with other Galils. After removing the magazine, checking that the chamber is empty, the top cover is removed from the receiver pushing a button at the rear of the weapon. Then remove the action spring and its guide rod. The bolt carrier assembly is retracted, then lifted upwards from the receiver. The rotating bolt itself disassembles from the carrier by pulling it forward in a rotating motion (after the gas piston cylinder slides backwards).

The installation of an optic is possible once the IMI military mount is placed on the left side of the receiver. With this standard mount, Israeli standard optics are mounted to the left, which is very difficult for left-handed shooters. The Picatinny rails installed on recent versions are preferable—one on the top cover, the other on the gas tube. These rails can be used, among other things, to place an Israeli-made red dot sight without battery, called a Mepor 21. Our version is not equipped with rails, but the European distributor could install these on request by welding in place.

All Galils can be delivered with Black-T finish. It is a unique, special coating that protects guns against rust and external aggressions such as seawater, humidity and heat. This coating is made from several polymers but is applied in thin layers on the weapon, which does not alter its operation. Friction between moving parts is reduced which makes lubrication redundant. It protects shock and temperatures up to 163 °C, which does not spoil anything. This Black-T finish gives weapons a solid and aesthetic finish. It can be had in black or green NATO. Mini-Uzis treated like this are used by some French combat swimmers.

2008: Presentation of the New Galil or ACE

Everything has been designed so that the Micro Galil is practical and effective from the moment of purchase: the weapon itself by its design plus its small size, its contained weight, its light-weight stock with simplified opening and its high capacity magazines. The manufacturing qualities, the marksmanship results, the flawless operation (no problems in our test), the ease of disassembly, the reliability, and the weather resistance make IMI products professional weapons. Valuable feedback from end users has led to the development of this comprehensive, reliable and proven weapon system renowned around the world.

The Galil is in service in many countries, such as Portugal, Italy, Estonia, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Peru, Paraguay, Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico City, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, India, Nepal, Indonesia, Mongolia, Burma, Philippines, Sudan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago. They are also manufactured under license by the following brands: Famae in Chile, Indumil in Colombia, RPC Fort in Ukraine, Z111 Factory in Vietnam and Vektor in South Africa with the R4, R5 and R6.

The Galil and Micro Galil are now offered (since 2008) by Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) under the name Galil ACE, in 5.56 NATO, 7.62×39 and 7.62 NATO, to meet multiple armies’ needs. The weight of the ACE has been reduced compared to the first Galil, but for the MAR, the weight remains the same with 3.0kg. They are based on the Galil design, but they are more modern and have accessories designed to make shooting more instinctive and more precise. They retain their reliability in combat conditions, with their strength and ease of maintenance. They now have a bolt stop at the end of the magazine.

ACEs have a six-position M4 buttstock, so they can receive all accessories made for this stock type. They accept a rail on the rear cover, as well as a rail on the front gas piston tube, which was lacking in the Micro Galil. The Belgian distributor for Europe, Samson Europe, had prepared gas tubes with a welded Picatinny rail for the assembly of Aimpoint or other scopes.

Surprisingly, the MAR has not been very successful among Israeli Special Forces. The compactness of the Galil has resulted in it being used as a personal defense weapon (PDW) by armored units or by artillery, because its small size facilitates its handling. Israel receives a lot of American equipment and has adapted well by manufacturing multiple accessories and spare parts for the M16 and M4.