The Kalashnikov assault rifle received its 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 with a lot of unexplained origins. According to some experts, the machine was not designed at all by a Soviet weapons designer, but by his German colleague Hugo Schmeiser and was called the "Schmeiser Stg 44". Kalashnikov also created a successful copy of this model. The description of two samples, their tactical and technical characteristics, contained in the article, will make it possible to compare the Stg 44 and AK-47.
About the Soviet "Kalash"
AK-47 is the most reliable weapon for its class. Experts note its remarkable lethal force. The machine is quite unpretentious and is considered suitable for effectiveuse in African conditions, as well as in Vietnam and other eastern countries. AK-47 is absolutely not afraid of sand and dust. In addition, it can be used in swampy areas. Due to the simple design of the weapon, the production of the machine is not expensive, which made it possible to produce large batches of this model at the end of the forties. Despite the fact that today the armies of many states have re-equipped personnel with improved models of Kalashnikov assault rifles, the old models are still in working order.
Question about plagiarism
The reason for the rumors about plagiarism was the fact that 50 samples of German Stg 44 assault rifles were brought to Izhevsk, where the AK-47 was designed. They were accompanied by technical documentation on 10 thousand pages. This suggested to the critics of the Soviet designer that Kalashnikov did not develop his assault rifle himself, but only copied and slightly modified the German Stg 44 assault rifle. In 1946, Hugo Schmeiser visited some Ural factories as a consultant. In addition, the fact is known that in the German anti-Hitler coalition occupied by the allied forces, the Stg 44 machine gun was no longer produced. 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 prompted some experts to question the authorship of the Kalashnikov designer in creating the legendary weapon and compare the Stg 44 and AK -47.
Conclusions
Weaponsexperts 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. On accusations of plagiarism by critics and those who doubt the design abilities of Kalashnikov, the researchers delivered 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 achievements of the Holek company. Back in 1920, this manufacturer produced a large batch of the first ZH-29 self-loading rifles.
Description of AK-47
The model consists of the following elements:
- Receiver and barrel. The stock and sights are mounted on the box.
- Removable lid.
- Camera and gas piston.
- Shutter.
- Return mechanism.
- The gas tube for which the handguard is designed.
- Trigger.
- Handguard.
- A store that contains ammo.
- Bayonet.
All parts and mechanisms of the assault rifle 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 assault rifle from dirt and dust. The inside of the receiver is equipped with four guide rails. They set the movement of the bolt group. The front of the receiver is equipped with special cutouts that are used aslugs during the closing of the barrel channel. With the help of the right combat stop, the direction of movement of the ammunition supplied from the right row of the automatic magazine is carried out. The left stop is designed for a cartridge from the left magazine row.
Operation principle
The machine uses the energy of powder gases in its work, the output of which is carried out 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 carrier back. This procedure is called "jumping the shutter". Having passed the full length free play, the frame interacts with the bolt ledge with its curly groove. She turns it counterclockwise. After the protrusions leave the lugs located on the receiver, the receiver channel will be unlocked. Then the frame and bolt begin to move together.
USM in a 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. The trigger of the Kalashnikov assault rifle has a U-shaped mainspring. For its manufacture, triple twisted wire is used. The trigger mechanism allows both single firing and continuous burst firing. The fire mode is switched using a special rotary part (switch). The double-acting safety lever is designed to lock the trigger and sear. As a result of overlapping of the longitudinal groove between the receiver and the detachable coverthe movement of the bolt frame back is blocked. However, this does not exclude the movement of the moving parts necessary for checking the chamber back. However, in order to send the next ammunition there, this move is not enough.
Trigger mechanism in Hugo Schmeiser's model: similarity with AK-47
The German rifle also uses a trigger type trigger. The weapon is designed for firing single and bursts. The trigger box is equipped with a translator that regulates the conduct of single and automatic fire. The ends of the translator come out from both 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 the “E” position. Automatic fire is possible if the translator stands on the designation "D". In order to make the operation of the German rifle safe, a special safety lever was developed by the designer for the weapon. It is located below the translator. To lock the trigger lever, this safety must be moved to the “F” position.
Differences
The difference between the Stg 44 and AK-47 lies in the location of their return springs. In the German rifle, the inside of the butt became the place for the spring. This completely eliminates the possibility of creating a modernized sample with a folding stock.
Due to the design differences of the receivers, different assembly and disassembly procedures are provided for the models. The design of the German rifle during its disassembly allows you to make“breaking” the weapon into two parts. In one of them there will be a trigger mechanism and a butt, and in the second - a receiver, chamber, barrel, forearm and gas venting mechanism. American designers decided to implement a similar scheme in various modifications of their M16 assault rifle, 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 detaching the stock.
About ammunition supply
Stg 44 detachable sector double-row magazine is designed for 30 ammunition. Since the stores were equipped with weak springs, the German soldiers had to load their rifles with 25 rounds. Only in this way was it possible to ensure the normal supply of ammunition. Since 1945, new magazines have been developed for this model, designed for 25 ammunition. They were produced in small batches. In the same year, a new magazine was created, equipped with a special stopper, limiting the supply to 25 rounds.
In the AK-47, ammunition is supplied from a box-shaped, sector two-row magazine, the capacity of which is 30 rounds. The store itself is presented in the form of a housing, which has a locking bar, a cover, a spring and a 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 magazines are characterized by such qualities as reliability when feeding ammunition andhigh "survivability", even with rough operation. The design used in the AK has been copied by a number of foreign gun manufacturers.
About sights
The German rifle is equipped with a sector sight that allows effective shooting at a distance of up to 800 meters. The device is represented by a special aiming bar with divisions printed on it.
Each of them is designed for a range of 50 meters. A triangular shape is provided for the slot and the 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 a sighting device, which belongs to the sector type. The gradation on the aiming bar is designed up to 800 meters. Unlike the German rifle, the "step" 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 set to a direct shot. The distance for conducting such a fire is 350 meters. The grivko of the sight became the 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 installed on a massive triangular base. In an effort to determine the middle point of impact, the shooter can screw in or unscrew the front sight. To adjust the weapon in a horizontal plane, the front sight must be moved in the right direction. For some modifications, special brackets have been developed,which allow you to install optical and night sights on weapons.
About accessories
Military equipment, not provided with a reliable cover of manpower, became very vulnerable to enemy infantry. She disabled 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 completely unreachable from the enemy's standard small arms and cannon weapons. Hugo Schmeiser's shooting model has been designed with a special attachment that allows you to use weapons from cover.
This device was a special curved nozzle. Initially, it was planned to use a 7.92x57 mm cartridge for it. However, for a curved trunk, it turned out to be too powerful. As a result, this ammunition was replaced with a cartridge of 7, 92x33 mm. The curvature of the trunk is made at an angle of 90 degrees. The nozzle has an operational resource of up to 2 thousand shots. Later, similar devices were made with a curvature of 30 degrees.
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 fuller was 20 cm. Later, the size was reduced to 15 cm. The blade was also used for household purposes.
TTX "Kalash"
The Kalashnikov assault rifle has the following parameters:
- Caliber - 7, 62 mm. Ammunition 7, 62x39 mm was developed for the weapon.
- The length of the weapon is 87 cm. Depending on the modification, the dimensions of the AK-47 also differ. AKC is 868 mm long.
- The barrel length of the original AK-47 is 415 mm.
- Weight without ammunition - 4, 3 kg. Weight of AK-47 with full ammunition - 4, 876 kg.
- Effective firing range - no more than 800 m.
- You can fire up to 600 shots and 400 bursts within one minute.
- In AK-47 single-fire mode, 90 to 100 shots are fired per minute.
- The bullet has a muzzle velocity of 715 m/s.
About the performance characteristics of Stg 44
- The weapon weighs 5.2 kg.
- The length of the rifle is 94 cm.
- Barrel size - 419 mm.
- The caliber used is 7.92mm.
- Ammunition length - 7, 92x33 mm.
- The rifle works on the principle of the removal of powder gases with locking due to the distortion of the shutter.
- Stg 44 can fire up to 600 shots within one minute.
- The aiming range is 600 m.
- Burst shooting is effective from a distance of 300 m, single shot - from 600.
- The rifle comes with a sector sight.
In closing
Among fans of small arms, there is often a debate about the similarities and differences between the Soviet AK-47 and the German assault rifle. The reason for the discussion was their distant external similarity. It is on this fact that they focus their attentionfirearms experts. During the production of assault rifles, the Germans observed the maximum savings in materials. In addition, the manufacture was carried out using stamped metal parts. German rifles are very comfortable to hold in your hands. However, not a single copy of Stg 44 was created anywhere. Unsuccessful attempts were made in Spain and Latin America. A different situation developed with the Soviet AK-47.
This assault rifle, unlike the assault rifle, has better ergonomics. Copies of the Kalashnikov assault rifle are being created almost all over the world today.
