Hobbies And Interests
History
The AK-47 was intended to provide the durability required by the wet, dirty and cold conditions of the Russian front lines. This was achieved by modifying the design of weapons such as the German Mauser and American M1 Garand with an emphasis on quick-fire, short-range capability. By focusing on close-range combat, the gun could be made lighter and manufactured cheaply. This lightweight, affordable design would later see the gun adopted by paramilitary groups such as the Nicaraguan Sandanistas and gangs such as Los Angeles&' Bloods and Crips.
Description
The AK-47 is 870 mm long, with 415 mm taken up by the barrel. The weapon is constructed of gunmetal parts with a hardwood stock, pistol grip and muzzle guard. A folding metal stock can also be fitted, originally used by paratroopers who required a collapsible weapon. The gun&'s iconic shape comes from the curved semi-circular magazine, which fits into the barrel in front of the trigger and boosts the weapon&'s weight from 4.3 kilograms unloaded to 4.876 kilograms fully loaded.
Operation
To prepare the AK-47, load the magazine into the slot below the barrel, then select automatic or semi-automatic fire from the selector switch on the side of the weapon. Prime the gun by pulling and releasing the charging handle, located immediately forward of the stock, then aim and fire. In semi-automatic mode, one bullet is fired each time the trigger is pulled, whereas in full-automatic mode, bullets will continue firing at a rate of 10 rounds per second until the trigger is released or the magazine is exhausted.
Worldwide Use
In the late 1970s, Russian incursions into Afghanistan saw the AK-47 used heavily in the Middle Eastern theater of war. When the Russians withdrew from that conflict in the late 1980s, many AK-47s were left behind on battlefields and in arms caches. These were later used by insurgents like the Taliban. Illegal arms trading has seen the weapon used by smaller armies in the Congo, Rwanda and Asia. Mikhail Kalashnikov expressed regret at the weapon&'s adoption by "terrorists and thugs" in a 2006 address to the United Nations.
Limitations
The AK-47 is designed for quick, short-range battles. The weapon is inaccurate at distances of more than 300 meters, and will overheat quickly in automatic-firing mode. This can sometimes cause rounds to explode in the chamber, harming the user. The most vulnerable part of the gun is the gas cylinder, which is exposed on the gun&'s top side. If the cylinder is dented or punctured, the gun may not fire.