AK-47#Cartridge

During World War II, the Sturmgewehr 44 rifle used by German forces made a deep impression on their Soviet counterparts. The select-fire rifle was chambered for a new intermediate cartridge, the 7.92×33mm Kurz, and combined the firepower of a submachine gun with the range and accuracy of a rifle.{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=9}} On 15 July 1943, an earlier model of the Sturmgewehr was demonstrated before the People's Commissariat of Arms of the USSR. The Soviets were impressed with the weapon and immediately set about developing an intermediate caliber fully automatic rifle of their own, to replace the PPSh-41 submachine guns and outdated Mosin–Nagant bolt-action rifles that armed most of the Soviet Army.

The Soviets soon developed the 7.62×39mm M43 cartridge, used in the semi-automatic SKS carbine and the RPD light machine gun. Shortly after World War II, the Soviets developed the AK-47 rifle, which quickly replaced the SKS in Soviet service. Introduced in 1959, the AKM is a lighter stamped steel version and the most ubiquitous variant of the entire AK series of firearms. In the 1960s, the Soviets introduced the RPK light machine gun, an AK-type weapon with a stronger receiver, a longer heavy barrel, and a bipod, that eventually replaced the RPD light machine gun.

Mikhail Kalashnikov began his career as a weapon designer in 1941 while recuperating from a shoulder wound that he received during the Battle of Bryansk.{{sfn|Bolotin|1995|pp=123–124}} Kalashnikov himself stated..."I was in the hospital, and a soldier in the bed beside me asked: 'Why do our soldiers have only one rifle for two or three of our men when the Germans have automatics?' So I designed one. I was a soldier, and I created a machine gun for a soldier. It was called an Avtomat Kalashnikova, the automatic weapon of Kalashnikov—AK—and it carried the year of its first manufacture, 1947."{{cite news |url=http://www.worldpress.org/cover5.htm |title=For Patriotism and Profit: An interview with Mikhail Kalashnikov |first=Robert |last=Fisk |author-link=Robert Fisk |newspaper=The Independent |location=London, England |date=22 April 2001 |via=World Press Review (Vol.48, No.7) |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001104001/http://www.worldpress.org/cover5.htm |archive-date=1 October 2016}}

The AK-47 is best described as a hybrid of previous rifle technology innovations. "Kalashnikov decided to design an automatic rifle combining the best features of the American M1 Garand and the German StG 44." Kalashnikov's team had access to these weapons and did not need to "reinvent the wheel". Kalashnikov himself observed: "A lot of Russian Army soldiers ask me how one can become a constructor, and how new weaponry is designed. These are very difficult questions. Each designer seems to have his own paths, his own successes and failures. But one thing is clear: before attempting to create something new, it is vital to have a good appreciation of everything that already exists in this field. I myself have had many experiences confirming this to be so."{{sfn|Bolotin|1995|pp=123–124}}

Some claimed that Kalashnikov copied designs like Bulkin's TKB-415 or Simonov's AVS-31.

Kalashnikov started work on a submachine gun design in 1942{{sfn|Bolotin|1995|p=123}} and a light machine gun design in 1943.{{sfn|Monetchikov|2005|p=38}} Early in 1944, Kalashnikov was given some 7.62×39mm M43 cartridges and informed that other designers were working on weapons for this new Soviet small-arms cartridge. It was suggested that a new weapon might well lead to greater things. He then undertook work on the new rifle. In 1944, he entered a design competition with this new 7.62×39mm, semi-automatic, gas-operated, long-stroke piston carbine, strongly influenced by the American M1 Garand. The new rifle was in the same class as the SKS-45 carbine, with a fixed magazine and gas tube above the barrel. However, the new Kalashnikov design lost out to a Simonov design.

In 1946, a new design competition was initiated to develop a new rifle.{{sfn|Monetchikov|2005|p=36}} Kalashnikov submitted a gas-operated rifle with a short-stroke gas piston above the barrel, a breechblock mechanism similar to his 1944 carbine, and a curved 30-round magazine. Kalashnikov's rifles, the AK-1 (with a milled receiver) and AK-2 (with a stamped receiver) proved to be reliable weapons and were accepted to a second round of competition along with other designs.

These prototypes (also known as the AK-46) had a rotary bolt, a two-part receiver with separate trigger unit housing, dual controls (separate safety and fire selector switches), and a non-reciprocating charging handle located on the left side of the weapon. This design had many similarities to the StG 44.{{cite web |url=https://www.forgottenweapons.com/ak-and-stg-kissing-cousins/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230315212642/https://www.forgottenweapons.com/ak-and-stg-kissing-cousins/|archive-date=March 15, 2023 |title=AK and StG – Kissing Cousins |date=12 December 2012 |first=Ian |last=McCollum |website=Forgotten Weapons}} In late 1946, as the rifles were being tested, one of Kalashnikov's assistants, Aleksandr Zaitsev, suggested a major redesign to improve reliability. At first, Kalashnikov was reluctant, given that their rifle had already fared better than its competitors. Eventually, however, Zaitsev managed to persuade Kalashnikov.

File:AK-47 experimental vs3.jpg

In November 1947, the new prototypes (AK-47s) were completed. The rifle used a long-stroke gas piston above the barrel. The upper and lower receivers were combined into a single receiver. The selector and safety were combined into a single control lever/dust cover on the right side of the rifle and the bolt handle was attached to the bolt carrier. This simplified the design and production of the rifle. The first army trial series began in early 1948.{{sfn|Monetchikov|2005|p=64}} The new rifle proved to be reliable under a wide range of conditions and possessed convenient handling characteristics. In 1949, it was adopted by the Soviet Army as the "7.62 mm Kalashnikov rifle (AK)".{{sfnm|Monetchikov|2005|1p=67|Bolotin|1995|2p=129}}

File:AKMS and AK-47 DD-ST-85-01270.jpg

There were many difficulties during the initial phase of production. The first production models had stamped sheet metal receivers with a milled trunnion and butt stock insert and a stamped body. Difficulties were encountered in welding the guide and ejector rails, causing high rejection rates.{{sfn|Poyer|2006|pp=8–11}} Instead of halting production, a heavy2.6 lb milled from 6 lb stock. This was about 2.2 lb heavier than the stamped receiver. machined receiver was substituted for the sheet metal receiver. Even though production of these milled rifles started in 1951, they were officially referred to as AK-49, based on the date their development started, but they are widely known in the collectors' and current commercial market as "Type 2 AK-47". This was a more costly process, but the use of machined receivers accelerated production as tooling and labor for the earlier Mosin–Nagant rifle's machined receiver were easily adapted. Partly because of these problems, the Soviets were not able to distribute large numbers of the new rifles to soldiers until 1956. During this time, production of the interim SKS rifle continued.{{sfn|Poyer|2006|pp=8–11}}

Once the manufacturing difficulties of non-milled receivers had been overcome, a redesigned version designated the AKM (M for "modernized" or "upgraded"; in Russian: {{Lang|ru|Автомат Калашникова Модернизированный|italic=no}} [{{Lang|ru-latn|Avtomat Kalashnikova Modernizirovanniy}}]) was introduced in 1959. This new model used a stamped sheet metal receiver and featured a slanted muzzle brake on the end of the barrel to compensate for muzzle rise under recoil. In addition, a hammer retarder was added to prevent the weapon from firing out of battery (without the bolt being fully closed), during rapid or fully automatic fire.{{sfn|Poyer|2006|pp=8–11}} This is also sometimes referred to as a "cyclic rate reducer", or simply "rate reducer", as it also has the effect of reducing the number of rounds fired per minute during fully automatic fire. The rifle was also roughly one-third lighter than the previous model.

Most licensed and unlicensed productions of the Kalashnikov assault rifle abroad were of the AKM variant, partially due to the much easier production of the stamped receiver. This model is the most commonly encountered, having been produced in much greater quantities. All rifles based on the Kalashnikov design are often colloquially referred to as "AK-47s" in the West and some parts of Asia, although this is only correct when applied to rifles based on the original three receiver types.{{sfn|Poyer|2006|p=2}} In most former Eastern Bloc countries, the weapon is known simply as the "Kalashnikov" or "AK". The differences between the milled and stamped receivers includes the use of rivets rather than welds on the stamped receiver, as well as the placement of a small dimple above the magazine well for stabilization of the magazine.

In 1974, the Soviets began replacing their AK-47 and AKM rifles with a newer design, the AK-74, which uses 5.45×39mm ammunition. This new rifle and cartridge had only started to be manufactured in Eastern European nations when the Soviet Union collapsed, drastically slowing the production of the AK-74 and other weapons of the former Soviet bloc.

The AK-47 was designed to be a simple, reliable fully automatic rifle that could be manufactured quickly and cheaply, using mass production methods that were state of the art in the Soviet Union during the late 1940s. The AK-47 uses a long-stroke gas system generally associated with high reliability in adverse conditions. The large gas piston, generous clearance between moving parts, and tapered cartridge case design allow the gun to endure large amounts of foreign matter and fouling without failing to cycle.

{{Main|7.62×39mm}}

File:RussianWP.jpg on behalf of the US military]]The AK fires the 7.62×39mm cartridge with a muzzle velocity of {{convert|715|m/s|abbr=on}}.

The cartridge weight is {{convert|16.3|g|oz|abbr=on|1}}, and the projectile weight is {{convert|7.9|g|gr|abbr=on|0}}. The original Soviet M43 bullets are 123-grain boat-tail bullets with a copper-plated steel jacket, a large steel core, and some lead between the core and the jacket. The AK has excellent penetration when shooting through heavy foliage, walls, or a common vehicle's metal body and into an opponent attempting to use these things as cover. The 7.62×39mm M43 projectile does not generally fragment when striking an opponent and has an unusual tendency to remain intact even after making contact with bone. The 7.62×39mm round produces significant wounding in cases where the bullet tumbles (yaws) in tissue, but produces relatively minor wounds in cases where the bullet exits before beginning to yaw. In the absence of yaw, the M43 round can pencil through tissue with relatively little injury.

Most, if not all, of the 7.62×39mm ammunition found today is of the upgraded M67 variety. This variety deleted the steel insert, shifting the center of gravity rearward, and allowing the projectile to destabilize (or yaw) at about {{convert|3.3|in|cm|abbr=on}}, nearly {{convert|6.7|in|cm|abbr=on}} earlier in tissue than the M43 round. This change also reduces penetration in ballistic gelatin to ~{{convert|25|in|cm|abbr=on}} for the newer M67 round versus ~{{convert|29|in|cm|abbr=on}} for the older M43 round. However, the wounding potential of M67 is mostly limited to the small permanent wound channel the bullet itself makes, especially when the bullet yaws.

File:Chinese type 56 AK47.jpg]]

To fire, the operator inserts a loaded magazine, pulls back and releases the charging handle, and then pulls the trigger. In semi-automatic, the firearm fires only once, requiring the trigger to be released and depressed again for the next shot. In fully automatic, the rifle continues to fire automatically cycling fresh rounds into the chamber until the magazine is exhausted or pressure is released from the trigger. After ignition of the cartridge primer and propellant, rapidly expanding propellant gases are diverted into the gas cylinder above the barrel through a vent near the muzzle. The build-up of gases inside the gas cylinder drives the long-stroke piston and bolt carrier rearward and a cam guide machined into the underside of the bolt carrier, along with an ejector spur on the bolt carrier rail guide, rotates the bolt approximately 35° and unlocks it from the barrel extension via a camming pin on the bolt. The moving assembly has about {{convert|5.5|mm|abbr=on|1}} of free travel, which creates a delay between the initial recoil impulse of the piston and the bolt unlocking sequence, allowing gas pressures to drop to a safe level before the seal between the chamber and the bolt is broken. The AK-47 does not have a gas valve; excess gases are ventilated through a series of radial ports in the gas cylinder. Unlike many other rifle platforms, such as the AR-15 platform, the Kalashnikov platform bolt locking lugs are chamfered allowing for primary extraction upon bolt rotation which aids reliable feeding and extraction, albeit not with that much force due to the short distance the bolt carrier travels before acting on the locking lug. The Kalashnikov platform then uses an extractor claw along with a fin shaped ejector to eject the spent cartridge case.

File:Ak-47-iraqis.jpg

The rifle received a barrel with a chrome-lined bore and four right-hand grooves at a 240 mm (1 in 9.45 in) or 31.5 calibers rifling twist rate. The gas block contains a gas channel that is installed at a slanted angle with the bore axis. The muzzle is threaded for the installation of various muzzle devices such as a muzzle brake or a blank-firing adaptor.

The gas block of the AK-47 features a cleaning rod capture or sling loop. Gas relief ports that alleviate gas pressure are placed horizontally in a row on the gas cylinder.

File:Viet Cong soldier DD-ST-99-04298.jpg soldier armed with an AK-47 with the fire selector in the safe setting]]

The fire selector is a large lever located on the right side of the rifle; it acts as a dust cover and prevents the charging handle from being pulled fully to the rear when it is on safe. It is operated by the shooter's right fore-fingers and has three settings: safe (up), full-auto (center), and semi-auto (down). The reason for this is that a soldier under stress will push the selector lever down with considerable force, bypassing the full-auto stage and setting the rifle to semi-auto. To set the AK-47 to full-auto requires the deliberate action of centering the selector lever. To operate the fire selector lever, right-handed shooters have to briefly remove their right hand from the pistol grip, which is ergonomically sub-optimal. Some AK-type rifles also have a more traditional selector lever on the left side of the receiver, just above the pistol grip. This lever is operated by the shooter's right thumb and has three settings: safe (forward), full-auto (center), and semi-auto (backward).

File:AK47-rear-sight.jpg

The AK-47 uses a notched rear tangent iron sight calibrated in {{convert|100|m|yd|0|abbr=on}} increments from {{convert|100|to|800|m|yd|0|abbr=on}}. The front sight is a post adjustable for elevation in the field. Horizontal adjustment requires a special drift tool and is done by the armory before the issue or if the need arises by an armorer after the issue. The sight line elements are approximately {{convert|48.5|mm|in|1|abbr=on|lk=on}} over the bore axis. The "point-blank range" battle zero setting "П" standing for постоянная (constant) on the 7.62×39mm AK-47 rear tangent sight element corresponds to a {{convert|300|m|yd|0|abbr=on}} zero.{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=42}} These settings mirror the Mosin–Nagant and SKS rifles, which the AK-47 replaced. For the AK-47 combined with service cartridges, the 300 m battle zero setting limits the apparent "bullet rise" within approximately {{convert|-5|to|+31|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} relative to the line of sight. Soldiers are instructed to fire at any target within this range by simply placing the sights on the center of mass (the belt buckle, according to Russian and former Soviet doctrine) of the enemy target. Any errors in range estimation are tactically irrelevant, as a well-aimed shot will hit the torso of the enemy soldier. Some AK-type rifles have a front sight with a flip-up luminous dot that is calibrated at {{convert|50|m|yd|0|abbr=on}}, for improved night fighting.

The AK-47 was originally equipped with a buttstock, handguard, and an upper heat guard made from solid wood. With the introduction of the Type 3 receiver the buttstock, lower handguard, and upper heat guard were manufactured from birch plywood laminates. Such engineered woods are stronger and resist warping better than the conventional one-piece patterns, do not require lengthy maturing, and are cheaper. The wooden furniture was finished with the Russian amber shellac finishing process.{{Cite web |last=Thornton |first=Nathan |date= 31 January 2020|title=Rifle 101: Replicating True Soviet/Russian Shellac Finish |url=https://internationalsportsman.com/rifle-101-replicating-true-soviet-russian-shellac-finish/ |access-date=March 31, 2023 |website=International Sportsman}} AKS and AKMS models featured a downward-folding metal butt-stock similar to that of the German MP40 submachine-gun, for use in the restricted space in the BMP infantry combat vehicle, as well as by paratroops. All 100 series AKs use plastic furniture with side-folding stocks.

File:Bakelite AK magazines.jpg arsenal mark on the bottom right. The other magazine has a "star" Tula arsenal mark on the bottom right]]

The standard magazine capacity is 30 rounds. There are also 10-, 20-, and 40-round box magazines, as well as 75-round drum magazines.

The AK-47's standard 30-round magazines have a pronounced curve that allows them to smoothly feed ammunition into the chamber. Their heavy steel construction combined with "feed-lips" (the surfaces at the top of the magazine that control the angle at which the cartridge enters the chamber) machined from a single steel billet makes them highly resistant to damage. These magazines are so strong that "Soldiers have been known to use their mags as hammers, and even bottle openers". This contributes to the AK-47 magazine being more reliable but makes it heavier than US and NATO magazines.

The early slab-sided steel AK-47 30-round detachable box magazines had {{convert|1|mm|in|abbr=on}} sheet-metal bodies and weighed {{convert|0.43|kg|lb|abbr=on}} empty. The later steel AKM 30-round magazines had lighter sheet-metal bodies with prominent reinforcing ribs weighing {{convert|0.33|kg|lb|abbr=on}} empty. To further reduce weight, a lightweight magazine with an aluminum body with a prominent reinforcing waffle rib pattern weighing {{convert|0.19|kg|lb|abbr=on}} empty was developed for the AKM that proved to be too fragile, and the small issued amount of these magazines were quickly withdrawn from service.{{cite web |url=https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/09/17/guest-post-brief-history-kalashnikov-magazine-part-1-metal-magazines/ |title=A Brief History of the Kalashnikov Magazine Part 1: Metal Magazines |date=17 September 2016 |website=The Firearm Blog |access-date=2020-01-28}} As a replacement steel-reinforced 30-round plastic 7.62×39mm box magazines were introduced. These rust-colored magazines weigh {{convert|0.24|kg|lb|abbr=on}} empty and are often mistakenly identified as being made of Bakelite (a phenolic resin), but were fabricated from two parts of AG-S4 molding compound (a glass-reinforced phenol-formaldehyde binder impregnated composite), assembled using an epoxy resin adhesive. Noted for their durability, these magazines did however compromise the rifle's camouflage and lacked the small horizontal reinforcing ribs running down both sides of the magazine body near the front that were added on all later plastic magazine generations. A second-generation steel-reinforced dark-brown (color shades vary from maroon to plum to near black) 30-round 7.62×39mm magazine was introduced in the early 1980s, fabricated from ABS plastic. The third generation steel-reinforced 30-round 7.62×39mm magazine is similar to the second generation, but is darker colored and has a matte non-reflective surface finish. The current issue is a steel-reinforced matte true black non- reflective surface finished 7.62×39mm 30-round magazine, fabricated from ABS plastic weighing {{convert|0.25|kg|lb|abbr=on}} empty.

Early steel AK-47 magazines are {{convert|9.75|in|mm|abbr=on}} long; the later ribbed steel AKM and newer plastic 7.62×39mm magazines are about {{convert|1|in|mm|abbr=on}} shorter.

The transition from steel to mainly plastic magazines yields a significant weight reduction and allows a soldier to carry more ammunition for the same weight.

All 7.62×39mm AK magazines are backward compatible with older AK variants.

10.12 kg (22.3 lb) is the maximum amount of ammo that the average soldier can comfortably carry. It also allows for the best comparison of the three most common 7.62×39mm AK magazines.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

Most Yugoslavian and some East German AK magazines were made with cartridge followers that hold the bolt open when empty; however, most AK magazine followers allow the bolt to close when the magazine is empty.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

File:AK-47 bayonet and scabbard.jpg

File:AK47Figure54.jpg

Accessories supplied with the rifle include a {{convert|387|mm|in|abbr=on}} long 6H3 bayonet featuring a {{convert|200|mm|in|abbr=on}} long spear point blade. The AK-47 bayonet is installed by slipping the {{convert|17.7|mm|in|abbr=on}} diameter muzzle ring around the muzzle and latching the handle down on the bayonet lug under the front sight base.

All current model AKM rifles can mount under-barrel 40 mm grenade launchers such as the GP-25 and its variants, which can fire up to 20 rounds per minute and have an effective range of up to 400 meters. The main grenade is the VOG-25 (VOG-25M) fragmentation grenade which has a 6 m (9 m) (20 ft (30 ft)) lethality radius. The VOG-25P/VOG-25PM ("jumping") variant explodes {{convert|0.5|–|1|m|ft}} above the ground.

The AK-47 can also mount a (rarely used) cup-type grenade launcher, the Kalashnikov grenade launcher that fires standard RGD-5 Soviet hand grenades. The maximum effective range is approximately 150 meters. This launcher can also be used to launch tear gas and riot control grenades.

All current AKs (100 series) and some older models have side rails for mounting a variety of scopes and sighting devices, such as the PSO-1 Optical Sniper Sight. The side rails allow for the removal and remounting of optical accessories without interfering with the zeroing of the optic. However, the 100 series side folding stocks cannot be folded with the optics mounted.

The AK-47 and its variants have been and are made in dozens of countries, with "quality ranging from finely engineered weapons to pieces of questionable workmanship."{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=39}} As a result, the AK-47 has a service/system life of approximately 6,000,{{cite web |url=http://www.mouseguns.com/mak90web/mak90man.pdf |author=Norinco |title=Instruction Manual Model MAK-90 Semi-Automatic Rifle |website=Mouseguns.com |access-date=12 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304080152/http://www.mouseguns.com/mak90web/mak90man.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=live}} to 10,000, to 15,000 rounds. The AK-47 was designed to be a cheap, simple, easy-to-manufacture rifle, perfectly matching Soviet military doctrine that treats equipment and weapons as disposable items. As units are often deployed without adequate logistical support and dependent on "battlefield cannibalization" for resupply, it is more cost-effective to replace rather than repair weapons.

The AK-47 has small parts and springs that need to be replaced every few thousand rounds. However, "Every time it is disassembled beyond the field stripping stage, it will take some time for some parts to regain their fit, and some parts may tend to shake loose and fall out when firing the weapon. Some parts of the AK-47 line are riveted together. Repairing these can be quite a hassle since the end of the rivet has to be ground off and a new one set after the part is replaced."

File:AK-47 bullets from China, Pakistan and Russia.jpg

; Early variants (7.62×39mm)

• Issue of 1948/49: Type 1: The very earliest models, stamped sheet metal receivers, are now very rare.
• Issue of 1951: Type 2: Has a milled receiver. The barrel and chamber are chrome-plated to resist corrosion.
• Issue of 1954/55: Type 3: Lightened, milled receiver variant. Rifle weight is {{convert|3.47|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.{{sfn|НСД. 7,62-мм автомат АК|1967|pp=161–162}}
• AKS (AKS-47): Type 1, 2, or 3 receivers: Featured a downward under folding metal stock similar to that of the MP 40, for use in the restricted space of the BMP infantry combat vehicle, as well as for airborne troops.
• AKN (AKSN): Night sight rail.{{sfn|Monetchikov|2005|p=76}}

; Modernized (7.62×39mm)

• AKM: A simplified, lighter version of the AK-47; the Type 4 receiver is made from stamped and riveted sheet metal. A slanted muzzle device was added to reduce muzzle rise in automatic fire. The rifle weight is {{convert|3.1|kg|lb|abbr=on}} due to the lighter receiver. This is the most ubiquitous variant of the AK-47.
• AKMS: Under-folding stock version of the AKM intended for airborne troops.
• AKMN (AKMSN): Night scope rail.
• AKML (AKMSL): Slotted flash suppressor and night scope rail.
• RPK: Hand-held machine gun version with longer barrel and bipod. The variants—RPKS, RPKN (RPKSN), RPKL (RPKSL)—mirror AKM variants. The "S" variants have a side-folding wooden stock.

;Foreign Variants (7.62×39mm)

• Type 56: Chinese assault rifle based on the {{nowrap|AK-47 Type 3}}.{{cite book |last=Miller |first=David |date=2001 |title=The Illustrated Directory of 20th Century Guns |publisher=Salamander Books Ltd |isbn=1-84065-245-4}} Still in production primarily for export markets.

For the further developed AK models, see Kalashnikov rifles.

{{more citations needed|section |date=July 2018}}

Manufacturing countries of AK-47 and its variants in alphabetical order.

A private company Kalashnikov Concern (formerly Izhmash) from Russia has repeatedly claimed that the majority of foreign manufacturers are producing AK-type rifles without proper licensing.

The AK-47's accuracy is generally sufficient to hit an adult male torso out to about {{convert|300|m|yd|0|abbr=on}}, though even experts firing from prone or bench rest positions at this range were observed to have difficulty placing ten consecutive rounds on target. Later designs did not significantly improve the rifle's accuracy. An AK can fire a 10-shot group of {{convert|5.9|in|cm|abbr=on}} at {{convert|100|m|yd|0|abbr=on}}, and {{convert|17.5|in|cm|abbr=on}} at {{convert|300|m|yd|0|abbr=on}} The newer stamped-steel receiver AKM models, while more rugged and less prone to metal fatigue, are less accurate than the forged/milled receivers of their predecessors: the milled AK-47s are capable of shooting {{convert|3|to|5|in|cm|0|abbr=on}} groups at {{convert|100|yd|m|0|abbr=on}}, whereas the stamped AKMs are capable of shooting {{convert|4|to|6|in|cm|0|abbr=on}} groups at {{convert|100|yd|m|0|abbr=on}}.

The best shooters can hit a man-sized target at {{convert|800|m|yd|0|abbr=on}} within five shots (firing from a prone or bench rest position) or ten shots (standing).{{harvnb|НСД. 7,62-мм автомат АКМ (АКМС)|1983|p=155}}: (under the default conditions of no wind and sea level atmospheric pressure, {{convert|15|C|F|0}}).

The single-shot hit-probability on the NATO E-type Silhouette Target (a human upper body half and head silhouette) of the AK-47 and the later developed AK-74, M16A1, and M16A2 rifles were measured by the US military under ideal proving ground conditions in the 1980s as follows:

File:NATO E-type Silhouette Target.PNG

Under worst field exercise circumstances, the hit probabilities for all the tested rifles were drastically reduced, from 34% at 50m down to 3–4% at 600m with no significant differences between weapons at each range.

The following table represents the Russian circular error probable method for determining accuracy, which involves drawing two circles on the target, one for the maximum vertical dispersion of hits and one for the maximum horizontal dispersion of hits. They then disregard the hits on the outer part of the target and only count half of the hits (50% or R₅₀) on the inner part of the circles. This significantly reduces the overall diameter of the groups. They then use both the vertical and horizontal measurements of the reduced groups to measure accuracy. When the R₅₀ results are doubled, the hit probability increases to 93.7%.

File:Circular error probable - example.png

• R₅₀ means the closest 50 percent of the shot group will all be within a circle of the mentioned diameter.

The vertical and horizontal mean (R₅₀) deviations with service ammunition at {{convert|800|m|yd|0|abbr=on}} for AK platforms are.

File:AK47map.svg

{{Div col|colwidth=18em}}

• {{Flagcountry|Afghanistan}}
• {{Flagcountry|Albania}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Algeria}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Angola}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Armenia}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Azerbaijan}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Bangladesh}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Belarus}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Benin}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Bosnia and Herzegovina}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Botswana}}{{Cite book|last=Dale|first=Richard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8bg8jQxkSTcC&pg=PA53|title=Botswana's Search for Autonomy in Southern Africa|date=1995|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|page=85|isbn=978-0-313-29571-3|language=en}}
• {{Flagcountry|Bulgaria}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Burkina Faso}}
• {{Flagcountry|Burundi}}
• {{Flagcountry|Cambodia}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Cape Verde}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Central African Republic}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Chad}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Chile}}
• {{Flagcountry|China}} − Type 56 variant.
• {{Flagcountry|Comoros}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Congo}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Cuba}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Democratic Republic of the Congo}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Djibouti}}
• {{Flagcountry|Egypt}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Equatorial Guinea}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Eritrea}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Ethiopia}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Finland}}{{cite book |title=Kevytasekäsikirja 2019 |url=https://puolustusvoimat.fi/documents/1948673/2258487/PEVIESTOS_Kevytasekäsikirja_2019.pdf |publisher=Finnish Defence Forces |access-date=23 March 2019 |language=fi |date=2019 |isbn=978-951-25-3060-1 |trans-title=Small Arms Manual 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190323123437/https://puolustusvoimat.fi/documents/1948673/2258487/PEVIESTOS_Kevytasek%C3%A4sikirja_2019.pdf/f80efe96-3d7a-9ce0-0a21-74c10c13cd1c/PEVIESTOS_Kevytasek%C3%A4sikirja_2019.pdf.pdf |archive-date=23 March 2019 |url-status=live}}
• {{Flagcountry|Gabon}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Georgia}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Greece}} − EKAM: The counter-terrorist unit of the Hellenic Police
• {{Flagcountry|Guinea}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Guinea-Bissau}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Guyana}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Hungary}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|India}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Indonesia}}{{cite web |url=https://www.shadowspear.com/2009/01/kopassus/ |title=Komando Pasukan Khusus (Kopassus) |date=January 28, 2009 |website=Shadowspear.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202003917/https://www.shadowspear.com/2009/01/kopassus/ |archive-date=2 December 2020}}
• {{Flagcountry|Iran}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Iraq}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Israel}}{{cite book |editor1-last=Jones |editor1-first=Richard D. |editor2-last=Ness |editor2-first=Leland S. |title=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009–2010 |year= 2009 |edition=35th |publisher=Jane's Information Group |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A5ngPgAACAAJ |isbn=978-0-7106-2869-5}}
• {{Flagcountry|Kazakhstan}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Kyrgyzstan}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Laos}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Lebanon}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Lesotho}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Liberia}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Libya}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Madagascar}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Mali}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Moldova}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Mongolia}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Morocco}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Mozambique}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Namibia}}{{Cite news |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200212180202.html |title=Namibia: Soldier Claims Ignorance About AK-47 Used to Murder Farmer |last=Menges |first=Werner |date=2002-12-18 |newspaper=The Namibian |location=Windhoek |access-date=2017-07-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030101220927/http://allafrica.com/stories/200212180202.html |archive-date=1 January 2003 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}
• {{Flagcountry|Nicaragua}}{{cite book |first=Carlos Caballero |last=Jurado |title=Central American Wars 1959–89 |series=Men-at-Arms 221 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |place=London |year=1990 |isbn=978-0-85045-945-6 |pages=20, 45}}
• {{Flagcountry|North Korea}} − Type 58 variant{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|North Macedonia}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Pakistan}} – Locally made as well as being in service with the Army{{cite web |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2019/2/4/darra-adam-khel-pakistans-dying-gun-bazaar |title=Darra Adam Khel: Pakistan's dying gun bazaar |first=Asad |last=Hashim |date=4 February 2019 |website=Al Jazeera|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230501065051/https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/features/2019/2/4/darra-adam-khel-pakistans-dying-gun-bazaar|archive-date=May 1, 2023}}
• {{Flagcountry|Peru}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Qatar}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Romania}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|São Tomé and Príncipe}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Saudi Arabia}}{{Cite web |url=https://syrianobserver.com/EN/news/47016/uae-saudi-arabia-dispatch-troops-to-syria.html |title=UAE, Saudi Arabia Dispatch Troops to Syria |date=22 November 2018 |website=Syrian Observer |access-date=28 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122120242/https://syrianobserver.com/EN/news/47016/uae-saudi-arabia-dispatch-troops-to-syria.html |archive-date=22 November 2018 |url-status=live}}
• {{Flagcountry|Serbia}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Seychelles}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Sierra Leone}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Somalia}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Sudan}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Suriname}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Syria|variant=1932}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Tajikistan}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Tanzania}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Thailand}} − Used by Thahan Phran{{Cite web |url=https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/newly-recruited-rangers-practice-with-their-ak-47-rifles-news-photo/87890633|title=Newly recruited Rangers practice with their AK-47 rifles during a training session at a military camp in Thailand's restive southern Narathiwat province.|date=May 21, 2009|website=Getty Images}}
• {{Flagcountry|Togo}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Turkey}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Turkmenistan}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Ukraine}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{flag|United States}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/04/12/aks-among-u-s-police-departments/ |title=AKs among U.S. Police Departments |date=12 April 2016 |website=The Firearm Blog|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423025314/https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/04/12/aks-among-u-s-police-departments/|archive-date=April 23, 2023}}{{Cite web |url=https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/why-us-commandos-loved-ak-47-rifle-44872 |title=Why U.S. Commandos Loved the AK-47 Rifle |date=18 February 2019 |website=The National Interest|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813092107/https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/why-us-commandos-loved-ak-47-rifle-44872|archive-date=August 13, 2020}}
• {{Flagcountry|Uzbekistan}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Vietnam}}
• {{Flagcountry|Yemen}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Zambia}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}
• {{Flagcountry|Zimbabwe}}{{sfn|Rottman|2011|p=78}}

{{div col end}}

• {{flagicon image|Flag of ELN.svg}} ELN{{cite web |title=Violence, Crime And Illegal Arms Trafficking In Colombia |url=https://www.unodc.org/pdf/Colombia_Dec06_en.pdf |publisher=United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime |access-date=13 October 2024 |page=26 |date=November 2006}}
• {{flagicon image|Flag of the FARC-EP.svg}} FARC dissidents{{cite news |last1=Acosta |first1=Luis Jaime |title=Meet the secretive Colombian guerrillas who could deal final blow to peace plan |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/meet-secretive-colombian-guerrillas-who-could-deal-final-blow-peace-plan-2024-08-21/ |access-date=13 October 2024 |work=Reuters |date=21 August 2024}}
• {{flag|Hamas}}{{cite news |last1=Biesecker |first1=Michael |title=Hamas fights with a patchwork of weapons built by Iran, China, Russia and North Korea |url=https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-guns-weapons-missiles-smuggling-adae9dae4c48059d2a3c8e5d565daa30 |access-date=13 October 2024 |work=AP News |date=15 January 2024 |language=en}}
• {{flag|Hezbollah}}{{sfn|Zagdanski|2007|page=32}}
• {{flaglist|Islamic State}} − Captured from the Syrian Army{{cite web |title=Islamic State Captures Masses of Iranian-supplied Weaponry Near Khanasir |url=https://www.bellingcat.com/news/mena/2016/04/16/islamic-state-captures-masses-of-iranian-supplied-weaponry-near-khanasir/ |website=bellingcat |access-date=13 October 2024 |date=16 April 2016}}
• {{flagicon image|Flag of the Karen National Defence Organisation.svg}} Karen National Defence Organisation{{cite news |title=Myanmar's Anti-Junta Protesters Turning to Rebel Armies for Military Training |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/east-asia-pacific_myanmars-anti-junta-protesters-turning-rebel-armies-military-training/6205108.html |access-date=13 October 2024 |work=Voice of America |date=27 April 2021 |language=en}}
• {{flagicon image|Flag of the KNLA.svg}} Karen National Liberation Army{{cite news |last1=Tan |first1=Rebecca |title=In the jungle with Myanmar's oldest rebel group amid new threat to junta |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/11/21/myanmar-military-karen-knu-rebels/ |access-date=13 October 2024 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=24 November 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240211185529/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/11/21/myanmar-military-karen-knu-rebels/ |archive-date=11 February 2024 |language=en}}
• {{flagicon image|Flag of Kurdistan Workers' Party.svg}} Kurdistan Workers Party{{cite news |last1=Reynolds |first1=James |last2=Erdim |first2=Zeynep |title=PKK fighters face life after Turkey withdrawal |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-22304002 |access-date=13 October 2024 |work=BBC News |date=25 April 2013}}
• {{flagicon image|MNLA flag.svg}} National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad{{cite news |last1=Diallo |first1=Tiemoko |last2=Diarra |first2=Adama |title=Mali fights rebels in north as army officers protest in south |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/world/mali-fights-rebels-in-north-as-army-officers-protest-in-south-idUSJOE99000Q/ |access-date=13 October 2024 |work=Reuters |date=1 October 2013}}
• {{flagicon image|Infoboxnpa.png}} New People's Army{{cite news |last1=Meniano |first1=Sarwell |title=Another NPA arms cache unearthed in Samar |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1232776 |access-date=13 October 2024 |work=Philippine News Agency |date=6 September 2024}}
• {{flag|Palestine Liberation Organization}}{{sfn|Tucker-Jones|2012|page=237}}
• {{flagicon|Syrian opposition}} Syrian opposition{{cite news |last1=Bender |first1=Jeremy |title=Here's a look at the weapons the US is sending to Syrian rebels |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/weapons-us-sends-to-syrian-rebels-2016-4#dshk-and-rpg-7-10 |access-date=13 October 2024 |work=Business Insider |date=11 April 2016}}
• {{flagicon image|Flag of the Ta'ang National Liberation Army.svg}} Ta'ang National Liberation Army{{cite news |last1=Watson |first1=Ivan |last2=Iqbal |first2=Javed |last3=Maung |first3=Manny |title=Myanmar's hidden war |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2015/11/11/asia/myanmar-shan-rebels-civil-war/index.html |access-date=13 October 2024 |work=CNN |date=11 November 2015 |language=en}}

• {{Flagcountry|East Germany}} − MPi-K (AK-47) and MPi-KM (AKM){{sfn|Tucker-Jones|2012|page=131}}
• {{GRN}}{{sfn|Florence|1983|page=31}}
• {{Flag|North Vietnam}}{{sfn|Tucker-Jones|2012|page=75}} − Passed on to the unified Vietnamese state{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=917}}
• {{PAN}} − Used by the Panama Defense Forces{{sfn|Hasenauer|1990|page=51}}
• {{Flagcountry|Rhodesia}}
• {{Flagcountry|Soviet Union}} − Replaced by the AKM and AK-74{{cite book |first=D. M. O. |last=Miller |title=Illustrated Directory of Twentieth Century Guns |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GgpRPgAACAAJ |year= 2001 |publisher=Salamander |isbn=978-1-84065-245-1}}
• {{flag|South Vietnam}} − Captured rifles were issued to ARVN irregular units{{sfn|Lanning|2011|page=125}}

• {{flagicon image|Flag of the Afghan interim government-in-exile (1988–1992).svg}} Afghan mujahideen − CIA supplied Egyptian and Chinese variants{{sfn|Tucker-Jones|2012|pages=78−79}}
• {{flag|Chechen Republic of Ichkeria}}{{sfn|German|2003|page=58}}
• {{flagicon image|Bandera Resistencia Nicaragüense..jpg}} Contras{{sfn|Binder|1987|page=25}}{{sfn|Bracamonte|Spencer|1995|page=182}}
• {{flag|Donetsk People's Republic}}{{cite news | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-22/foreign-fighters-join-pro-russian-rebels-in-eastern-ukraine/6792696 | title=Hundreds of foreign fighters join pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine | newspaper=ABC News | date=21 September 2015 }}
• {{flagicon image|Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front former flag.svg}} Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front{{sfn|Bracamonte|Spencer|1995|page=180}}
• {{flagicon|Iraq|1991}} Iraqi insurgents{{sfn|Tucker-Jones|2012|pages=186,193,210}}
• {{flagicon|Democratic Kampuchea}} Khmer Rouge{{cite web |title=Violations Of The Laws Of War By The Khmer Rouge |url=https://www.hrw.org/reports/pdfs/c/cambodia/cambodia904.pdf |website=Human Rights Watch |access-date=14 October 2024 |pages=7−8, 10 |date=April 1990}}
• {{flagicon image|Tamil Eelam Flag.svg}} Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam{{cite magazine |last1=Desmond |first1=Edward W. |title=Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers |url=https://time.com/archive/6718578/sri-lankas-tamil-tigers/ |access-date=14 October 2024 |magazine=TIME |date=16 September 1991 |language=en}}
• {{flag|Luhansk People's Republic}}
• {{flagicon image|Flag of the Malayan National Liberation Army.svg}} Malayan National Liberation Army{{sfn|Tucker-Jones|2012|page=21}}
• {{flagicon image|MNLF flag.svg}} Moro National Liberation Front{{sfn|Morea|2008|page=42}}
• {{flagicon|Afghanistan|1992}} Northern Alliance{{sfn|Tucker-Jones|2012|page=161}}
• {{flagicon image|Provisional Irish Republican Army Badge.svg}} Provisional Irish Republican Army − Supplied by Libya{{sfn|Horgan|Braddock|2012|page=179}}
• {{flagicon image|Flag of RENAMO.svg}} RENAMO{{sfn|Moorcraft|1987|pages=43,45}}
• {{flagicon image|Flag of the FARC-EP.svg}} Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia{{sfn|Felbab-Brown|2009|page=82}}
• {{flagicon image|FNL Flag.svg}} Viet Cong{{sfn|Tucker-Jones|2012|page=75}}
• {{flagicon image|Flag of the VBSW.png}} Vigorous Burmese Student Warriors{{cite web |title=Vigorous Burmese Student Warriors |url=https://irp.fas.org/world/para/vbsw.htm |website=Federation of American Scientists |date=24 January 2000|access-date=13 October 2024}}

{{see also|Crime in Russia#Arms trafficking}}

File:Somalimerirosvojen rynnäkkökiväärejä Maneesi.JPG, photographed in Manege Military Museum. The stocks are missing on the top three AKs.]]

Throughout the world, the AK and its variants are commonly used by governments, revolutionaries, terrorists, criminals, and civilians alike. In some countries, such as Somalia, Rwanda, Mozambique, Congo, and Tanzania, the prices for Black Market AKs are between $30 and $125 per weapon and prices have fallen in the last few decades due to mass counterfeiting. In Kenya, "an AK-47 fetches five head of cattle (about 10,000 Kenya shillings or 100 US dollars) when offered for barter, but costs almost half that price when cash is paid". There are places around the world where AK-type weapons can be purchased on the black market "for as little as $6, or traded for a chicken or a sack of grain".

The AK-47 has also spawned a cottage industry of sorts and has been copied and manufactured (one gun at a time) in small shops around the world (see Khyber Pass Copy). The estimated numbers of AK-type weapons vary greatly. The Small Arms Survey suggests that "between 70 and 100 million of these weapons have been produced since 1947". The World Bank estimates that out of the 500 million total firearms available worldwide, 100 million are of the Kalashnikov family, and 75 million are AK-47s. Because AK-type weapons have been made in many countries, often illicitly, it is impossible to know how many exist.

{{More citations needed section|date=May 2024}}

The AK-47 has been used in the following conflicts:

;1940s

• Malayan Emergency (1948−1960){{sfn|Tucker-Jones|2012|page=21}}

;1950s

• Hungarian Revolution (1956){{cite magazine |url=http://www.nybooks.com/articles/2011/02/10/most-influential-weapon-our-time/ |title=The Most Influential Weapon of Our Time |magazine=The New York Review of Books |first=Max |last=Hastings |author-link=Max Hastings |date=10 February 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811010810/http://www.nybooks.com/articles/2011/02/10/most-influential-weapon-our-time/ |archive-date=11 August 2017 |quote=József Tibor Fejes, a young Hungarian identified by C. J. Chivers in 'The Gun' as 'the first known insurgent to carry an AK-47.' According to Chivers, 'Fejes obtained his prize after Soviet soldiers dropped their rifles during their attack on revolutionaries in Budapest in 1956…. The Hungarian Revolution marked the AK-47's true battlefield debut.}}
• Vietnam War (1955–1975){{sfn|Lanning|2011|page=125}}
• Laotian Civil War (1959–1975)

;1960s

• Congo Crisis (1960–1965){{Cite web |url=https://www.akg-images.co.uk/CS.aspx?VP3=SearchResult&VBID=2UMESQJAHUPQB7&POPUPPN=7&POPUPIID=2UMDHU858585|title=Simba uprising 1964–1965; mercenary with captured AK-47, December 1964 |website=AKG Images}}
• Portuguese Colonial War (1961–1974)
• Rhodesian Bush War (1964–1979){{cite book |title=Modern African Wars (1): Rhodesia 1965–80 |url=https://archive.org/details/modernafricanwar00abbo_940 |url-access=limited |series=Men-at-Arms 183 |first1=Peter |last1=Abbott |first2=Philip |last2=Botham |date= 1986 |isbn=978-0-85045-728-5 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |page=[https://archive.org/details/modernafricanwar00abbo_940/page/n10 10]}}
• The Troubles (late 1960s–1998){{sfn|Horgan|Braddock|2012|page=179}}
• Communist insurgency in Thailand (1965–1983)
• South African Border War (1966–1990)
• India-China clashes (1967)
• Cambodian Civil War (1968–1975)
• Communist insurgency in Malaysia (1968–1989)
• Moro conflict (1968−2019){{sfn|Morea|2008|page=42}}

;1970s

• Yom Kippur War (1973)
• Ethiopian Civil War (1974–1991){{cite magazine |title=Ethiopian Military Rifle Cartridges: Part 2: from Mauser to Kalashnikov |last=Scarlata |first=Paul |magazine=Shotgun News |date=1 March 2009 |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Ethiopian+military+rifle+cartridges%3A+Part+2%3A+from+Mauser+to...-a0195134991 |access-date=24 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124055029/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Ethiopian+military+rifle+cartridges%3A+Part+2%3A+from+Mauser+to...-a0195134991 |archive-date=24 November 2018 |url-status=live}}
• Western Sahara War (1975–1991)
• Cambodian–Vietnamese War (1978–1989)
• Chadian–Libyan War (1978–1987)
• Soviet–Afghan War (1979–1989)

;1980s

• 1979 Kurdish rebellion in Iran
• Iran–Iraq War (1980–1988){{sfn|Tucker-Jones|2012|page=105}}
• Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir (1988–present){{Cite journal |last=Kanwal |first=Gurmeet |date=April 1999 |title=Proxy War in Kashmir: Jehad or State-Sponsored Terrorism? |url=https://ciaotest.cc.columbia.edu/olj/sa/sa_99kag02.html |journal=Strategic Analysis: A Monthly Journal of the IDSA |volume=XXIII| issue = 1 |page=4 |via=Proxy War in Kashmir: Jehad or State-Sponsored Terrorism?}}
• Sri Lankan Civil War (1983–2009)
• United States invasion of Grenada (1983){{sfn|Florence|1983|page=31}}{{Cite web |url=https://nara.getarchive.net/media/soviet-made-ak-47-assault-rifles-seized-during-operation-urgent-fury-on-the-a52b7b |title=Soviet made AK-47 assault rifles seized during Operation Urgent Fury. On the top of the pile of weapons is the barrel attachment to a 7.62 mm machine gun |date=25 October 1983 |website=The U.S. National Archives }}{{Dead link|date=March 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• South Lebanon conflict (1985–2000){{sfn|Zagdanski|2007|page=32}}
• Lord's Resistance Army insurgency (1987–present){{cite book |url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2007.html |chapter-url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2007/en/full/Small-Arms-Survey-2007-Chapter-10-EN.pdf |chapter=Persistent Instability: Armed Violence and Insecurity in South Sudan |title=The Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2007 |author=Small Arms Survey |page=325 |isbn=978-0-521-88039-8 |access-date=29 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180827001033/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2007.html |archive-date=27 August 2018 |url-status=live |author-link=Small Arms Survey}}
• United States invasion of Panama (1989){{sfn|Hasenauer|1990|page=51}}

;1990s

• KDPI insurgency (1989–1996)
• Tuareg rebellion (1990–1995){{cite book |url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2005.html |chapter-url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2005/en/Small-Arms-Survey-2005-Chapter-06-EN.pdf |chapter=Sourcing the Tools of War: Small Arms Supplies to Conflict Zones |title=Small Arms Survey 2005: Weapons at War |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2005 |author=Small Arms Survey |page=166 |isbn=978-0-19-928085-8 |access-date=29 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830004838/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2005.html |archive-date=30 August 2018 |url-status=dead |author-link=Small Arms Survey}}
• Gulf War (1990–1991){{sfn|Tucker-Jones|2012|page=105}}
• Somali Civil War (1991–present)
• Yugoslav Wars (1991–2001)
• Burundian Civil War (1993–2005){{cite book |url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2007.html |chapter-url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2007/en/full/Small-Arms-Survey-2007-Chapter-06-EN.pdf |chapter=Armed Violence in Burundi: Conflict and Post-Conflict Bujumbura |title=The Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2007 |author=Small Arms Survey |page=204 |isbn=978-0-521-88039-8 |access-date=29 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180827001033/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2007.html |archive-date=27 August 2018 |url-status=live |author-link=Small Arms Survey}}
• First Chechen War (1994−1996){{sfn|German|2003|page=58}}
• Republic of the Congo Civil War (1997–1999){{cite book |url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2003.html |chapter-url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2003/en/Small-Arms-Survey-2003-Chapter-08-EN.pdf |chapter=Making the Difference?: Weapon Collection and Small Arms Availability in the Republic of Congo |title=Small Arms Survey 2003: Development Denied |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2003 |author=Small Arms Survey |pages=268 |isbn=0199251754 |access-date=29 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829175229/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2003.html |archive-date=29 August 2018 |url-status=dead |author-link=Small Arms Survey}}
• Kargil War (1999)

;2000s

• War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
• Iraq War (2003–2011){{sfn|Tucker-Jones|2012|page=105}}
• South Thailand insurgency (2004–present)
• Mexican drug war (2006–present)

;2010s

• Libyan Civil War (2011)
• Syrian civil war (2011–present)
• Iraqi insurgency (2011–2013){{sfn|Tucker-Jones|2012|pages=186,193,210}}
• Central African Republic Civil War (2012–present){{cite news |title=Centrafrique : le Soudan a-t-il armé les ex-Séléka ? |language=fr |work=Jeune Afrique |date=17 December 2013 |url=https://www.jeuneafrique.com/166718/politique/centrafrique-le-soudan-a-t-il-arm-les-ex-s-l-ka/ |first=Laurent |last=Touchard |access-date=29 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190130111716/https://www.jeuneafrique.com/166718/politique/centrafrique-le-soudan-a-t-il-arm-les-ex-s-l-ka/ |archive-date=30 January 2019 |url-status=live}}
• Mali War (2012–present)
• Russo-Ukrainian War (2014–present)
• Western Iran clashes (2016–present)

;2020s

• Second Nagorno-Karabakh War (2020)
• Tigray War (2020–2022)
• Myanmar civil war (2021–present)
• Russian invasion of Ukraine (2022–present)
• September–October 2022 attacks on Iraqi Kurdistan
• Gaza war (2023–present)

File:Flag of Mozambique.svg]]

File:Coat of arms of Burkina Faso 1984-1991.svg]]

File:Cia ak47 -1520961375.png

{{Quote box

| quote = "Basically, it's the anti-Western cachet of it ... And you know, one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter, so we all sort of think, oh boy, we've got a little bit of Che Guevara in us. And this accounts for the popularity of the (AK 47) weapon. Plus I think that in the United States it's considered counterculture, which is always something that citizens in this country kind of like ... It's kind of sticking a finger in the eye of the man, if you will."

| source =—Larry Kahaner, author of AK-47: The Weapon That Changed the Face of War | width = 25% | align = right

}}

During the Cold War, the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China, as well as United States and other NATO nations supplied arms and technical knowledge to numerous countries and rebel forces around the world. During this time the Western countries used relatively expensive automatic rifles, such as the FN FAL, the HK G3, the M14, and the M16. In contrast, the Russians and Chinese used the AK-47; its low production cost and ease of manufacture allow them to make AKs in vast numbers.

In the pro-communist states, the AK-47 became a symbol of the Third World revolution. They were utilized in the Cambodian Civil War and the Cambodian–Vietnamese War.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/12/20/magazine/in-the-land-of-the-khmer-rouge.html |title=In The Land Of The Khmer Rouge |first=Christopher |last=Jones |date=20 December 1981 |newspaper=The New York Times Magazine |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211210646/http://www.nytimes.com/1981/12/20/magazine/in-the-land-of-the-khmer-rouge.html |archive-date=11 December 2017}} During the 1980s, the Soviet Union became the principal arms dealer to countries embargoed by Western nations, including Middle Eastern nations such as Libya and Syria, which welcomed Soviet Union backing against Israel. After the fall of the Soviet Union, AK-47s were sold both openly and on the black market to any group with cash, including drug cartels and dictatorial states, and more recently they have been seen in the hands of Islamic groups such as Al-Qaeda, ISIL, and the Taliban in Afghanistan and Iraq, and FARC, Ejército de Liberación Nacional guerrillas in Colombia.

In Russia, the Kalashnikov is a tremendous source of national pride. "The family of the inventor of the world's most famous rifle, Mikhail Kalashnikov, has authorized German engineering company MMI to use the well-known Kalashnikov name on a variety of not-so-deadly goods." In recent years, Kalashnikov Vodka has been marketed with souvenir bottles in the shape of the AK-47 Kalashnikov. There are also Kalashnikov watches, umbrellas, and knives.

The Kalashnikov Museum (also called the AK-47 museum) opened on 4 November 2004 in Izhevsk, Udmurt Republic. This city is in the Ural Region of Russia. The museum chronicles the biography of General Kalashnikov and documents the invention of the AK-47. The museum complex of Kalashnikov's small arms, a series of halls, and multimedia exhibitions are devoted to the evolution of the AK-47 rifle and attracts 10,000 monthly visitors. Nadezhda Vechtomova, the museum director, stated in an interview that the purpose of the museum is to honor the ingenuity of the inventor and the hard work of the employees and to "separate the weapon as a weapon of murder from the people who are producing it and to tell its history in our country".

On 19 September 2017 a {{convert|9|m}} monument of Kalashnikov was unveiled in central Moscow. A protester, later detained by police, attempted to unfurl a banner reading "a creator of weapons is a creator of death".{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/19/30ft-high-statue-of-mikhail-kalashnikov-unveiled-in-moscow |title=30ft-high statue of Mikhail Kalashnikov unveiled in Moscow |first=Marc |last=Bennetts |date=19 September 2017 |access-date=19 September 2017 |newspaper=The Guardian |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919111207/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/19/30ft-high-statue-of-mikhail-kalashnikov-unveiled-in-moscow |archive-date=19 September 2017 |url-status=live}}

The proliferation of this weapon is reflected by more than just numbers. The AK-47 is included on the flag of Mozambique and its emblem, an acknowledgment that the country gained its independence in large part through the effective use of their AK-47s. It is also found in the coats of arms of East Timor, Zimbabwe and the revolution era Burkina Faso, as well as in the flags of Hezbollah, Syrian Resistance, FARC-EP, the New People's Army, TKP/TIKKO and the International Revolutionary People's Guerrilla Forces.

US and Western Europe countries frequently associate the AK-47 with their enemies, both Cold War era and present-day. For example, Western works of fiction (movies, television, novels, video games) often portray criminals, gang members, insurgents, and terrorists using AK-47s as the weapon of choice. Conversely, throughout the developing world, the AK-47 can be positively attributed with revolutionaries against foreign occupation, imperialism, or colonialism.

In Ireland the AK-47 is associated with The Troubles due to its extensive use by republican paramilitaries during this period.{{cite book |last=Oppenheimer |first=A. R. |date=2009 |title=IRA: The Bombs and The Bullets. A History of Deadly Ingenuity |location=Newbridge, County Kildare |publisher=Irish Academic Press |isbn=978-0-7165-2895-1}} In 2013, a decommissioned AK-47 was included in the A History of Ireland in 100 Objects collection.{{Cite news |title=A History of Ireland in 100 Objects: Decommissioned AK-47 assault rifle, 2005 |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/a-history-of-ireland-in-100-objects-decommissioned-ak-47-assault-rifle-2005-1.957646 |last=O'Toole |first=Fintan |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en |access-date=2020-05-12}}

The AK-47 made an appearance in US popular culture as a recurring focus in the Nicolas Cage film Lord of War (2005). Numerous monologues in the movie focus on the weapon, and its effects on global conflict and the gun running market.

In Iraq and Afghanistan, private military company contractors from the UK and other countries used the AK-47 and its variants along with Western firearms such as the AR-15.{{cite web |url=http://novact.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/The-privatization-of-warfare.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://novact.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/The-privatization-of-warfare.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=The Privatization of Warfare, Violence and Private Military & Security Companies |first1=Jordi |last1=Palou-Loverdos |first2=Leticia |last2=Armendáriz |name-list-style=amp |website=The International Institute for Nonviolent Action |access-date=25 June 2021}}{{Page needed|date=August 2022|reason=One mention of AK-47, no mentions of AR-15 that I can find.}}

In 2006, the Colombian musician and peace activist César López devised the escopetarra, an AK converted into a guitar. One sold for US$17,000 in a fundraiser held to benefit the victims of anti-personnel mines, while another was exhibited at the United Nations' Conference on Disarmament.

In Mexico, the AK-47 is known as "Cuerno de Chivo" (literally "Goat's Horn") because of its curved magazine design. It is one of the weapons of choice of Mexican drug cartels. It is sometimes mentioned in Mexican folk music lyrics.

File:AK 1 and 2 model.jpg|An AK-47 Type 1 (top) and 2 (bottom) on display. The Type 1 features a stamped receiver while the Type 2 receiver is milled.

File:MP Inspects Captured AK-47 Vietnam.jpg|A US Army MP inspects a Chinese AK-47 recovered in Vietnam, 1968

File:ASC Leiden - Coutinho Collection - G 24 - Life in Ziguinchor, Senegal - Carrying weapons to Hermangono, Guinea-Bissau - 1973.tif|AK-47s of the PAIGC-liberation movement, ready to be transported from Senegal to Guinea-Bissau, 1973

File:Evstafiev-spetsnaz-prepare-for-mission.jpg|A Soviet Spetsnaz (special operations) group prepares for a mission in Afghanistan, 1988

File:Mortar attack on Shigal Tarna garrison, Kunar Province, 87.jpg|During the Soviet–Afghan War in the 1980s, several sources simultaneously armed both sides of the Afghan conflict, filling the country with AK-47s and their derivatives.

• Comparison of the AK-47 and M16
• AK-12
• PK machine gun
• Draco

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{{cite book |first1=Ronald F. |last1=Bellamy |first2=Russ |last2=Zajtchuk |name-list-style=amp |editor-last=Zajtchuk |editor-first=R. |date=1990 |chapter=The Physics and Biophysics of Wound Ballistics |title=Textbook of Military Medicine, Part I: Warfare, Weaponry, and the Casualty, Vol. 5, Conventional Warfare: Ballistic, Blast, and Burn Injuries |location=Washington, DC |publisher=Office of the Surgeon General, U.S. Department of the Army |page=148 (Fig. 4–38)}}

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{{cite web |url=http://www.bladehq.com/cat--Boker-Kalashnikov--249 |title=Boker Kalashnikov Knives |website=BladeHQ.com |access-date=13 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150615030753/http://www.bladehq.com/cat--Boker-Kalashnikov--249 |archive-date=15 June 2015 |url-status=live}}

{{harvnb|Bolotin |1995a|p=115}}

{{harvnb|Bolotin |1995a|p=150}}

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{{cite web |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/dvids/7591704762/ |title=Blending |website=Flickr |date=21 July 2012 |access-date=29 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022212815/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dvids/7591704762/ |archive-date=22 October 2013 |url-status=live}}

{{cite book |last=Chivers |first=C. J. |author-link=C. J. Chivers |date=2011 |title=The Gun |publisher=Simon & Schuster |pages=206–207 |isbn=978-0743271738}} Taken from the Long-Range Dispersion Firing Test of the AK-47 Rifle, U.S. Army Foreign Science and Technology Center, August 1969.

{{cite web |url=http://www.oxfam.de/files/20060623_theak47_200kb.pdf |title=Control Arms Briefing Note: The AK-47, The World's Favourite Killing Machine |first1=Oliver |last1=Sprague |first2=Hugh |last2=Griffiths |name-list-style=amp |date=26 June 2006 |website=Oxfam |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809180916/http://www.oxfam.de/files/20060623_theak47_200kb.pdf |archive-date=2014-08-09}}

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{{cite web |title=AK-47 Inventor Doesn't Lose Sleep Over Havoc Wrought With His Invention |website=Fox News Channel |date=6 July 2007 |location=USA |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/ak-47-inventor-doesnt-lose-sleep-over-havoc-wrought-with-his-invention |access-date=3 April 2010 |oclc=36334372 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100603232941/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,288456,00.html |archive-date=3 June 2010 |url-status=live}}

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{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/13/world/burst-of-pride-for-a-staccato-executioner-ak-47.html |title=Burst of Pride for a Staccato Executioner: AK-47 |first=Michael R. |last=Gordon |date=13 March 1997 |newspaper=The New York Times |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623171800/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/13/world/burst-of-pride-for-a-staccato-executioner-ak-47.html |archive-date=23 June 2017}}

{{cite journal |last=Graves-Brown |first=P. |doi=10.1177/1359183507081896 |title=Avtomat Kalashnikova |journal=Journal of Material Culture |date=November 2007 |volume=12 |issue=3 |pages=285–307 |s2cid=220192559}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military/weapons/ak-47-questions-about-most-important-gun-ever |title=The AK-47: Questions About the Most Important Weapon Ever |first=Erin |last=McCarthy |date=12 October 2010 |website=Popular Mechanics |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140803184020/http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military/weapons/ak-47-questions-about-most-important-gun-ever |archive-date=3 August 2014}}

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{{cite web |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/why-general-kalashnikov-couldnt-sell-the-ak-47-in-india/1/333532.html |title=Why General Kalashnikov couldn't sell the AK in India |first=Sandeep |last=Unnithan |date=30 December 2013 |website=India Today |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416002043/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/why-general-kalashnikov-couldnt-sell-the-ak-47-in-india/1/333532.html |archive-date=16 April 2015}}

{{cite web |title=40 mm underbarrel grenade launcher GP-34 |website=Izhmash |url=http://www.izhmash.ru/eng/product/gp-34.shtml |access-date=20 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728115857/http://www.izhmash.ru/eng/product/gp-34.shtml |archive-date=28 July 2012}}

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{{cite web |last=Killicoat |first=Phillip |title=Weaponomics: The Global Market for Rifles |work=World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 4202 (Post-Conflict Transitions Working Paper No. 10) |publisher=University of Oxford |date=April 2007 |url=http://www-wds.worldbank.org/servlet/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2007/04/13/000016406_20070413145045/Rendered/PDF/wps4202.pdf |access-date=3 April 2010 |page=3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112121512/http://www-wds.worldbank.org/servlet/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2007/04/13/000016406_20070413145045/Rendered/PDF/wps4202.pdf |archive-date=12 January 2012 |url-status=live}}

{{cite journal |url=http://www.keyforensic.co.uk/docs/2013_45_3_222_Kabbani.pdf |title=Intelligence and Historical Background on the AK-47 and AK Variants |first=Khaldoun |last=Kabbani |date=2013 |journal=AFTE Journal |volume=45 |number=3 |access-date=25 November 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064134/http://www.keyforensic.co.uk/docs/2013_45_3_222_Kabbani.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016}}

{{cite news |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-russia-kalashnikov-idUKBRE9BM0KP20131224 |title=AK-47 rifle inventor Mikhail Kalashnikov dies at 94 |first=Dmitry |last=Solovyov |work=Reuters UK |date=24 December 2013 |access-date=13 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150614183816/http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/12/24/uk-russia-kalashnikov-idUKBRE9BM0KP20131224 |archive-date=14 June 2015 |url-status=dead}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.thetruthaboutknives.com/2013/06/edc-for-ccw-boker-kalashnikov-anniversary-knife/ |title=EDC for CCW: Boker Kalashnikov Anniversary Knife |work=The Truth About Knives |date=June 2013 |access-date=13 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150615122911/http://www.thetruthaboutknives.com/2013/06/edc-for-ccw-boker-kalashnikov-anniversary-knife/ |archive-date=15 June 2015 |url-status=live}}

{{cite journal |url=http://www.arsenalinc.com/usa/imgs/articles/BulgarianAK.pdf |title=Kalashnikovs – 3 of the best |journal=Shotgun News |first=Peter G. |last=Kokalis |volume=59 |issue=12 |date=May 2005 |access-date=15 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923173907/http://www.arsenalinc.com/usa/imgs/articles/BulgarianAK.pdf |archive-date=23 September 2015 |url-status=live}}

Kokalis, p.49.

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{{cite journal |url=http://www.lonesentry.com/articles/ttt07/stg44-assault-rifle.html |title=Machine Carbine Promoted: M.P.43 Is Now 'Assault Rifle 44' |date=April 1945 |journal=Tactical and Technical Trends |number=57 |publisher=U.S. Military Intelligence Service |via=LoneSentry.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120921233948/http://www.lonesentry.com/articles/ttt07/stg44-assault-rifle.html |archive-date=21 September 2012}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjeiCbVUEyA |title=The many uses of an AK-47 magazine |author=Polenar Tactical |date=7 May 2014 |website=YouTube |access-date=25 November 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150517101258/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjeiCbVUEyA |archive-date=17 May 2015}}

{{cite web |url=http://mic.sd/images/products/wepons/en/MAZbn.html |title=MAZ |website=Military Industry Corporation |access-date=8 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227202939/http://www.mic.sd/images/products/wepons/en/MAZbn.html |archive-date=27 December 2008 |url-status=dead}}

{{cite book |last=Miller |first=David M. O. |title=The Illustrated Directory of 20th Century Guns |date= 2001 |series=Illustrated Directory Series |publisher=Salamander Books |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GgpRPgAACAAJ |isbn=978-1-84065-245-1 |access-date=6 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150319011022/http://books.google.com/books?id=GgpRPgAACAAJ |archive-date=19 March 2015 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web |last=Milosevic |first=Milan |title=Trojanski Konj za Teroriste |language=sr |year=2005 |work=Kalibar |publisher=Novosti |url=http://www.kalibar.rs/code/navigate.php?Id=74 |access-date=4 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227190204/http://www.kalibar.rs/code/navigate.php?Id=74 |archive-date=27 February 2012 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-71989519.html |title=Care for a Kalashnikov Umbrella? |first=Nabi |last=Abdullaev |date=February 21, 2003 |newspaper=The Moscow Times |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610172638/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-71989519.html |archive-date=2014-06-10}}

{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/how-did-the-ak47-become-the-most-abundant-weapon-on-earth-2124407.html |title=How did the AK-47 become the most abundant weapon on earth? |newspaper=The Independent |first=C.J. |last=Chivers |date=24 December 2013 |access-date=21 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925192633/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/how-did-the-ak47-become-the-most-abundant-weapon-on-earth-2124407.html |archive-date=25 September 2015 |url-status=live}}

{{cite news |url=http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/02/18/travel/18heads.html |title=AK-47 Museum: Homage to the Gun That Won the East |first=C.J. |last=Chivers |date=18 February 2007 |newspaper=The New York Times |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070622225359/http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/02/18/travel/18heads.html |archive-date=22 June 2007}}

{{cite news |last=Walsh |first=Nick Paton |date=10 October 2003 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/oct/10/russia.nickpatonwalsh |title=Mikhail Kalashnikov: 'I sleep soundly' |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=12 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510215042/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/oct/10/russia.nickpatonwalsh |archive-date=10 May 2017 |url-status=live}}

{{cite news |last=Nikolovski |first=Zoran |title=Macedonian military police, US National Guard conduct joint manoeuvres |date=12 October 2006 |newspaper=Southeast European Times |publisher=United States European Command |url=http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2006/10/12/feature-03 |access-date=14 March 2011 |oclc=731936128 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110125193606/http://setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2006/10/12/feature-03 |archive-date=25 January 2011 |url-status=live}}

{{cite book |publisher=U.S. Department of Defense |title=North Korea Country Handbook |date=1997 |chapter=Appendix A: Equipment Recognition, Type-68 (AKM) Rifle |page=A-77}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6539945 |title=AK-47: The Weapon Changed the Face of War |first=Andrea |last=Seabrook |date=26 November 2006 |website=NPR Weekend Edition Sunday |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140730054103/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6539945 |archive-date=2014-07-30}}

{{cite web |url=http://ofbindia.nic.in/products/data/weapons/wsc/21.htm |title=Assault Rifle 7.62 mm |website=Indian Ordnance Factory Board |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101027095921/http://ofbindia.nic.in/products/data/weapons/wsc/21.htm |archive-date=27 October 2010}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.upiasia.com/Security/2009/11/16/russia_confronts_pakistan_china_over_copied_weapons/5776/ |title=Russia confronts Pakistan, China over copied weapons |website=UPI Asia.com |last=Chang |first=Andrei |date=16 November 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717170742/http://www.upiasia.com/Security/2009/11/16/russia_confronts_pakistan_china_over_copied_weapons/5776/ |archive-date=17 July 2011}}

{{cite news |url=http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200610/02/eng20061002_308128.html |title=Nigeria to mass-produce Nigerian version of AK-47 rifles |newspaper=People's Daily |access-date=2 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019155159/http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200610/02/eng20061002_308128.html |archive-date=19 October 2013 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web |last=Popenker |first=Maksim |title=Kalashnikov AK (AK-47) AKS, AKM and AKMS rifles (USSR) |work=Modern Firearms |date=5 February 2009 |url=http://world.guns.ru/assault/rus/ak-akm-e.html |access-date=14 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110311080339/http://world.guns.ru/assault/rus/ak-akm-e.html |archive-date=11 March 2011 |url-status=live}}

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{{cite web |url=http://www.powercustom.com/AKPages/MikhailKalashnikov.htm |title=Mikhail Kalashnikov |last1=Shilin |first1=Val |last2=Cutshaw |first2=Charlie |website=Power Custom |access-date=19 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050402150638/http://www.powercustom.com/AKPages/MikhailKalashnikov.htm |archive-date=2 April 2005}}

{{cite book |last=Wells |first=Rod |title=Part-Time War |year=2011 |page=155 |publisher=Fern House |isbn=978-1-902702-25-4}}

{{cite journal |title=Wounding effects of the AK-47 rifle used by Patrick Purdy in the Stockton, California, schoolyard shooting of January 17, 1989 |date=September 1990 |volume=11 |issue=3 |pages=185–189 |journal=American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology |pmid=2220700 |first1=M.L. |last1=Fackler |last2=Malinowski |first2=J.A. |last3=Hoxie |first3=S.W. |last4=Jason |first4=A. |url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/ADA233190|doi=10.1097/00000433-199009000-00001|s2cid=26582558|url-access=subscription }}

{{cite web |first=Robert |last=Huffstutter |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/usarmyafrica/5505821033/ |title=Djiboutian Army Quick Reaction Regiment trains at Ali Oune, Djibouti, February 2011 |website=Flickr |date=22 December 2011 |access-date=29 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022212803/http://www.flickr.com/photos/usarmyafrica/5505821033/ |archive-date=22 October 2013 |url-status=live}}

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{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/rbth/6453703/Russia-celebrates-Mikhail-Kalashnikovs-90th-birthday-the-designer-who-armed-the-world.html |title=Russia celebrates Mikhail Kalashnikov's 90th birthday – the designer who armed the world |first=Nadia |last=Kidd |work=Russia Beyond the Headlines |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151209005458/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/rbth/6453703/Russia-celebrates-Mikhail-Kalashnikovs-90th-birthday-the-designer-who-armed-the-world.html |archive-date=9 December 2015 |publisher=Rossiyskaya Gazeta |via=The Daily Telegraph |date=28 October 2009 |accessdate=25 November 2015}}

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{{cite web |url=http://www.russianvodka.com.au/html/the_ak_47_vodka_bottle.html |title=The AK 47 Kalashnikov Vodka Souvenir Bottle |website=Kalashnikov Vodka |access-date=25 November 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227095919/http://russianvodka.com.au/html/the_ak_47_vodka_bottle.html |archive-date=27 February 2015}}

{{cite book |url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/D-Book-series/book-12-Philippines/SAS-Armed-Groups-Human-Security-Efforts-Philippines.pdf |last1=Santos |first1=Soliman M. Jr |last2=Santos |first2=Paz Verdades M. |editor1-last=Rodriguez |editor1-first=Diana |date=April 2010 |title=Primed and Purposeful: Armed Groups and Human Security Efforts in the Philippines |location=Quezon City, Philippines/Geneva, Switzerland |publisher=South–South Network for Non-State Armed Group Engagement/Small Arms Survey |isbn=978-2-940415-29-8 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924103021/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/D-Book-series/book-12-Philippines/SAS-Armed-Groups-Human-Security-Efforts-Philippines.pdf |archive-date=24 September 2015}}

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{{cite book |last=Sweeney |first=Patrick |date=2010 |title=The Gun Digest Book of The AR-15 (Vol. 3.) |location=Iola, WI |publisher=Gun Digest Books |page=20 |isbn=978-1440213762}}

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{{cite web |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Are+kalashnikov+magazines+as+robust+as+their+reputation%3F+He+tormented...-a0262692779 |title=Are Kalashnikov magazines as robust as their reputation? He tormented a selection of AR magazines last year, now he takes on the AK. The results you may find surprising. |first=Fortier |last=David M. |work=Shotgun News |date=July 20, 2011 |via=Free Library |access-date=2 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006101126/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Are+kalashnikov+magazines+as+robust+as+their+reputation%3F+He+tormented...-a0262692779 |archive-date=6 October 2014 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2772975.stm |title=Coming soon – the Kalashnikov brolly? |date=17 February 2003 |website=BBC News |access-date=13 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150614173725/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2772975.stm |archive-date=14 June 2015 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/publisher,HRW,,KEN,3cfe0db94,0.html |title=Playing with Fire: Weapons Proliferation, Political Violence, and Human Rights in Kenya |date=31 May 2002 |author=Human Rights Watch |via=UNHCR Refworld |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121120180843/http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/publisher%2CHRW%2C%2CKEN%2C3cfe0db94%2C0.html |archive-date=20 November 2012}}

{{cite web |first=Martin L. |last=Fackler |publisher=University Teachers for Human Rights (Jaffna), Sri Lanka |quote=Taken from Lutz Möller English Rifle Articles |url=http://www.uthr.org/SpecialReports/Military_rifle_bullet_wound_patterns.htm |title=Military rifle bullet wound patterns |access-date=2 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110910081057/http://www.uthr.org/SpecialReports/Military_rifle_bullet_wound_patterns.htm |archive-date=10 September 2011 |url-status=live}}

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{{cite web |last=Dimov |first=Roman |title=Kalashnikov Arms Versions |work=The AK Site |url=http://kalashnikov.guns.ru/models.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929125610/http://kalashnikov.guns.ru/models.html |archive-date=29 September 2007 |url-status=dead}}

{{cite journal |url=http://www.thenewatlantis.com/publications/the-worlds-most-popular-gun |title=The Most Popular Gun in the World |last=Hanson |first=Victor Davis |journal=The New Atlantis |volume=32 |year=2011 |pages=140–147 |access-date=1 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912041010/http://www.thenewatlantis.com/publications/the-worlds-most-popular-gun |archive-date=12 September 2014 |url-status=live}}

{{cite news |url=http://www.upi.com/International_Security/Industry/Analysis/2007/08/15/defense_focus_venezuelas_kalashnikovs/1273/ |title=Defense Focus: Venezuela's Kalashnikovs |last=Sieff |first=Martin |date=15 August 2007 |work=United Press International |access-date=19 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080604095328/http://www.upi.com/International_Security/Industry/Analysis/2007/08/15/defense_focus_venezuelas_kalashnikovs/1273/ |archive-date=4 June 2008}}

{{cite book |url=http://www.virginia1774.org/DIA-ST-HB-07-03-74.pdf |title=Small Arms Identification and Operations Guide – Eurasian Communist Countries |last=Johnson |first=Harold E. |date=September 1973 |publisher=U.S. Army Foreign Science and Technology Center of the U.S. Army Materiel Command |via=Virginia1774.org |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304090738/http://www.virginia1774.org/DIA-ST-HB-07-03-74.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016}}

{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/2009/12/celebrate-2010-with-a-kalashnikov/ |title=Celebrate 2010 with a Kalashnikov! |first=Nathan |last=Hodge |date=31 December 2009 |magazine=Wired |access-date=4 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705021921/https://www.wired.com/2009/12/celebrate-2010-with-a-kalashnikov/ |archive-date=5 July 2017 |url-status=live}}

{{cite news |last=Kahaner |first=Larry |title=Weapon of Mass Destruction |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=26 November 2006 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/24/AR2006112400788.html |access-date=3 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927195809/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/24/AR2006112400788.html |archive-date=27 September 2011 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.kalashnikovwatches.com/ |title=Kalashnikov Watches Swiss Made – Kalashnikov Uhren |work=Kalashnikov Watches - Ultralux Marketing AG |access-date=13 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150615025419/http://www.kalashnikovwatches.com/ |archive-date=15 June 2015 |url-status=dead}}

{{cite book |date=1997 |title=North Korea Country Handbook |chapter=Appendix A: Equipment Recognition, PPSH 1943 Submachinegun (Type-50 China/Model-49 DPRK) |publisher=U.S. Department of Defense |page=A-79}}

{{cite web |last=Cobb |first=Ralph E. |date=2010 |url=http://worldbayonets.com/Misc__Pages/ak_bayonets/ak_bayonets.html |title=AK Bayonets 101 – The Four Basic Types |website=WorldBayonets.com |access-date=25 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150324190800/http://worldbayonets.com/Misc__Pages/ak_bayonets/ak_bayonets.html |archive-date=24 March 2015 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web |url=http://weapon.at.ua/load/312 |title=Венгрия – Штурмовые винтовки / Автоматы |trans-title=Hungary – Assault Rifles / Submachine guns |language=ru |website=Энциклопедия оружия и боеприпасов [Encyclopedia of Arms and Ammunition] |access-date=2 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006092426/http://weapon.at.ua/load/312 |archive-date=6 October 2014 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web |title=7.62 mm Kalashnikov assault rifles AK103, АК104 |website=Izhmash |url=http://www.izhmash.ru/eng/product/ak103.shtml |access-date=8 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421155114/http://www.izhmash.ru/eng/product/ak103.shtml |archive-date=21 April 2012}}

{{cite book |last=Kuptsov |first=Andrei |script-title=ru:Странная история оружия: С. Г. Симонов, неизвестный гений России, или кто и как разоружил русского солдата |trans-title=Odd History of Weapons: S. G. Simonov, an Unknown Genius of Russia, or How and Who Disarmed the Russian Soldier |language=ru |page=262 |year=2001 |publisher=Kraft+ |location=Moscow |isbn=978-5-93675-025-0}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.lenta.ru/news/2006/06/13/rifles/ |title=Восточная Европа захватила рынок продаж автоматов Калашникова |trans-title=Eastern Europe captured the market for Kalashnikov assault rifles |language=ru |website=Lenta.ru |date=13 June 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060702132440/http://lenta.ru/news/2006/06/13/rifles/ |archive-date=2 July 2006}}

{{cite web |url=http://lenta.ru/news/2006/04/15/fake |title='Ижмаш' подсчитал контрафактные автоматы Калашникова |trans-title='Izhmash' counted counterfeit Kalashnikov assault rifles |language=ru |website=Lenta.ru |date=15 April 2006 |access-date=13 June 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060623151553/http://lenta.ru/news/2006/04/15/fake/ |archive-date=23 June 2006 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web |last=Raigorodetsky |first=Aleksandr |script-title=ru:Автомат "Малюк" ("Малыш") (Украина) |trans-title="Malyuk" Assault Rifle (Ukraine) |language=ru |date=6 October 2011 |work=Оружейная экзотика |url=http://raigap.livejournal.com/87857.html?mode=reply |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903182400/http://raigap.livejournal.com/87857.html?mode=reply |archive-date=3 September 2015}}

{{cite web |title=Автомат (штурмовая винтовка) серии MPi-K / MPi-AK |trans-title=MPi-K / MPi-AK Assault Rifle Series |language=ru |work=Энциклопедия оружия и боеприпасов |url=http://weapon.at.ua/load/290-1-0-792 |access-date=19 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629205826/http://weapon.at.ua/load/290-1-0-792 |archive-date=29 June 2013 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web |title=Poland: Assault Rifles |language=ru |work=Энциклопедия оружия и боеприпасов |url=http://weapon.at.ua/load/313 |access-date=19 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130319035451/http://weapon.at.ua/load/313 |archive-date=19 March 2013 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.forgottenweapons.com/russian-ak-49-the-type-2-milled-receiver-ak/ |title=Russian AK-49 |website=Forgotten Weapons |date=23 May 2018 |access-date=8 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708162517/https://www.forgottenweapons.com/russian-ak-49-the-type-2-milled-receiver-ak/ |archive-date=8 July 2018 |url-status=live}}

}}

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• {{cite book |editor-last=Gulevich |editor-first=I. D. |title=НСД. 7,62-мм автомат АК |trans-title=7.62 mm AK |language=ru |year=1967 |edition=3rd |publisher=Voenizdat |location=Moscow |url=https://archive.org/details/NastavLehne_AKM/nastav_ak_1967/ |ref={{sfnref|НСД. 7,62-мм автомат АК|1967|pp=161–162}} }}
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• {{cite book |editor1-last=Jones |editor1-first=Richard D|editor2-last=Ness |editor2-first=Leland S |title=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2010–2011 |date=2010 |publisher=Jane's Information Group |isbn=978-0-7106-2908-1 |language=en}}
• {{cite book |last1=Lanning |first1=Col Michael Lee |title=Inside the LRRPs: Rangers in Vietnam |date=2011 |publisher=Random House Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-307-80146-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GN8HpfSJeTAC |language=en}}
• {{cite book |last=Monetchikov |first=Sergei Borisovich |script-title=ru:История русского автомата |trans-title=The History of Russian Assault Rifle |series=Entsiklopediya Russkoi Armii |language=ru |year=2005 |publisher=Izdatel'stvo "Atlant 44" |url=http://www.rulit.net/books/istoriya-russkogo-avtomata-read-249341-1.html |isbn=5-98655-006-4 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516010402/http://www.rulit.net/books/istoriya-russkogo-avtomata-read-249341-1.html |archive-date=16 May 2013 }}
• {{cite journal |last1=Moorcraft |first1=Paul L. |title=The Savage, Silent War |journal=Army |date=April 1987 |volume=37 |issue=4 |pages=42−52 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bzdEAQAAIAAJ |access-date=7 October 2024 |publisher=Association of the United States Army |location=Arlington, VA |issn=0004-2455}}
• {{cite journal |last1=Morea |first1=Major Gary J. |title=From Enduring Strife to Enduring Peace in the Philippines |journal=Military Review |date=May–June 2008 |volume=88 |issue=3 |pages=38−48 |url=https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Portals/7/military-review/Archives/English/MilitaryReview_20080630_art009.pdf |access-date=14 October 2024 |publisher=US Army Command and General Staff College |location=Fort Leavenworth, KS |issn=0026-4148}}
• {{cite book |last=Poyer |first=Joe |title=The AK-47 and AK-74 Kalashnikov Rifles and Their Variations: A Shooter's and Collector's Guide |date= 2006 |publisher=North Cape Publications |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EPArOwAACAAJ |isbn=978-1-882391-41-7 }}
• {{cite book |last=Rottman |first=Gordon |title=The AK-47: Kalashnikov-series assault rifles |date= 2011 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qK9Nn-2xocUC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926230536/http://books.google.com/books?id=qK9Nn-2xocUC |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 September 2013 |isbn=978-1-84908-835-0 }}
• {{cite book |last1=Tucker-Jones |first1=Anthony |title=Kalashnikov in Combat |date=2012 |publisher=Casemate Publishers |isbn=978-1-78303-858-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DwTMDwAAQBAJ |language=en}}
• {{cite book |editor-last=Vilchinsky |editor-first=I. K. |title=НСД. 7,62-мм автомат АКМ (АКМС) |trans-title=7.62 mm AKM (AKMS) |language=ru |year=1983 |edition=3rd |publisher=Voenizdat |location=Moscow |url=https://ukr.bulletpicker.com/pdf/%D0%9D%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%20%D0%BF%D0%BE%20%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%BC%D1%83%20%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BB%D1%83%207%2C62-%D0%BC%D0%BC%20%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B9%20%D0%B0%D0%B2%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%82%20%D0%9A%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B0%D1%88%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0%20%28%D0%90%D0%9A%D0%9C%20%D0%B8%20%D0%90%D0%9A%D0%9C%D0%A1%29%20%281983%29.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230507163245/https://ukr.bulletpicker.com/pdf/%D0%9D%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%20%D0%BF%D0%BE%20%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%BC%D1%83%20%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BB%D1%83%207%2C62-%D0%BC%D0%BC%20%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B9%20%D0%B0%D0%B2%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%82%20%D0%9A%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B0%D1%88%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0%20%28%D0%90%D0%9A%D0%9C%20%D0%B8%20%D0%90%D0%9A%D0%9C%D0%A1%29%20%281983%29.pdf |archive-date=7 May 2023 |ref={{sfnref|НСД. 7,62-мм автомат АКМ (АКМС)|1983|pp=149–150}} }}
• {{cite journal |last1=Zagdanski |first1=Captain Jonathan D. |editor1-last=Eno |editor1-first=Russel A |title=Round 2 in Lebanon: How the IDF Focused on COIN and Lost the Ability to Fight Manuever War |journal=Infantry |date=September–October 2007 |volume=96 |issue=5 |pages=32−35 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9SS2XHeSgkcC |access-date=13 October 2024 |publisher=U.S. Army Infantry School |location=Fort Benning, GA |language=en |issn=0019-9532}}

{{refend}}

• {{cite book |last=Chivers |first=C.J. |title=The Gun |url=https://archive.org/details/gun00chiv |url-access=registration |page=[https://archive.org/details/gun00chiv/page/459 459] |publisher=Simon & Schuster |date= 2010 |isbn=978-0-7432-7076-2}}
• {{cite web |url=https://www.wired.com/2010/11/ff-ak47/ |title=How the AK-47 Rewrote the Rules of Modern Warfare |first=C. J. |last=Chivers |date=November 1, 2010 |magazine=Wired|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421205056/https://www.wired.com/2010/11/ff-ak47/|archive-date=21 April 2023}}
• {{cite journal |title=AK-47S for the Ancestors |first1=William J. |last1=Dewey |date=November 1994 |journal=Journal of Religion in Africa |volume=24 |number=4 |pages=358–374 |doi=10.1163/157006694X00200 |jstor=1581342}}
• {{cite book |last1=Ezell |first1=Edward Clinton |first2=R. Blake |last2=Stevens |title=Kalashnikov: The Arms and the Man |date= 2001 |publisher=Collector Grade Publications |location=Cobourg, ON |isbn=978-0-88935-267-4}}
• {{cite journal |last1=Fackler |first1=Martin L. |last2=Surinchak |first2=John S. |last3=Malinowski |first3=John A. |last4=Bowen |first4=Robert E. |year=1984 |title=Wounding potential of the Russian AK-74 assault rifle |journal=Journal of Trauma-Injury Infection & Critical Care |volume=24 |pages=263–66 |doi=10.1097/00005373-198403000-00014 |pmid=6708147 |issue=3}}
• {{cite book |first=Michael |last=Hodges |title=AK47: The Story of the People's Gun |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j82yAAAACAAJ |date= 2007 |publisher=Hodder & Stoughton |isbn=978-0-340-92104-3}}
• {{cite book |first1=Fred L. Jr |last1=Honeycutt |first2=F. Patt |last2=Anthony |name-list-style=amp |date=1996 |title=Military Rifles of Japan |edition=5th |location=Palm Beach Gardens, FL |publisher=Julin Books |isbn=0-9623208-7-0}}
• {{cite book |last=Kahaner |first=Larry |title=AK-47: The Weapon That Changed the Face of War |year=2007 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oBAhAQAAIAAJ |isbn=978-0-471-72641-8}}
• {{cite book |last1=Kalashnikov |first1=Mikhail Timofeevich |last2=Joly |first2=Elena |title=The Gun That Changed the World |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CY2HlLDiaNwC |year=2006 |publisher=Polity Press |isbn=978-0-7456-3691-7 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• {{cite book |last1=Shilin |first1=Valery |last2=Cutshaw |first2=Charlie |title=Legends and Reality of the AK: A Behind-The Scenes Look at the History, Design, and Impact of the Kalashnikov Family of Weapons |date=1 March 2000 |publisher=Paladin Press |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U3kIAAAACAAJ |isbn=978-1-58160-069-8}}
• {{cite book |first=John |last=Walter |title=Kalashnikov: machine pistols, assault rifles, and machine-guns, 1945 to the present |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XnybC2qSORAC |date=4 September 1999 |publisher=Greenhill Books/Lionel Leventhal |isbn=978-1-85367-364-1}}
• Ружье. Оружие и амуниция, 1999/3, pp. 18–21 has an article about the AK-47 prototypes.
• {{cite magazine |url=https://www.kalashnikov.ru/medialibrary/8c5/04_07.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.kalashnikov.ru/medialibrary/8c5/04_07.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=Кто автор АК-47? |trans-title=Who is the author of AK-47? |first=М.Т. |last=Kalashnikov |date=2002 |magazine=Kalashnikov |language=ru |number=2 |pages=4–7}} An article rejecting some of the alternative theories as to the authorship of the AK-47.
• {{cite magazine |url=http://kalashnikov.guns.ru/ |title=Неочевидное очевидное |first=М. |last=Degtyaryov |date=2009 |magazine=Kalashnikov |language=ru |number=4 |pages=18–23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929102901/http://kalashnikov.guns.ru/ |archive-date=2007-09-29}} An article comparing the internals of the StG 44 and AK-47.
• {{cite magazine |url=http://kalashnikov.guns.ru/ |title=В преддверии юбилея... |date=2009 |magazine=Kalashnikov |language=ru |number=8 |pages=18–23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929102901/http://kalashnikov.guns.ru/ |archive-date=2007-09-29}} Transcription of the commission report on the testing round from the summer of 1947; no winner was selected at this point, but the commission held Kalashnikov's, Dementiev's and Bulkin's designs as most closely satisfying TTT number 3131.
• {{cite magazine |url=http://kalashnikov.guns.ru/ |title=Путёвка в жизнь |date=2009 |magazine=Kalashnikov |language=ru |number=9 |pages=16–22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929102901/http://kalashnikov.guns.ru/ |archive-date=2007-09-29}} Report/letter on the final round of testing, 27 December 1947, declaring Kalashnikov's design the winner.
• {{cite magazine |url=http://www.kalashnikov.ru/upload/medialibrary/c06/008_013.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.kalashnikov.ru/upload/medialibrary/c06/008_013.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=Первый В Династии |trans-title=First In The Dynasty |date=2009 |magazine=Kalashnikov |language=ru |number=11 |pages=8–13}} Articles on the 1948 military trials.

{{Sister project links|AK-47}}

• US Army Operator's Manual for the AK-47 Assault Rifle
• {{cite web |url=http://kalashnikov.guns.ru/ |title=Kalashnikov AK|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929102901/http://kalashnikov.guns.ru/|archive-date=29 September 2007}}
• {{cite web |url=http://www.nazarian.no/images/wep/284_US_Army_AK47.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060214072004/http://www.nazarian.no/images/wep/284_US_Army_AK47.pdf |archive-date=14 February 2006 |url-status=bot: unknown |title=AK 47 Operator's Manual |website=U.S. Army |access-date=9 November 2005 }}
• {{cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1964810,00.html |title=The Timeless, Ubiquitous AK-47 |magazine=Time|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100225040332/http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1964810,00.html |archive-date=25 February 2010 }}
• {{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQtFYkvascA|title=Legendary Kalashnikov: Story of AK-47 Rifle |website=RT|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210808134353/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQtFYkvascA |archive-date=8 August 2021 }}
• {{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6539945 |title=AK-47: The Weapon Changed the Face of War |website=NPR|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230217120631/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6539945|archive-date= February 17, 2023}}
• {{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130493013 |title=The AK-47: The Gun That Changed The Battlefield |website=NPR|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326134156/https://www.npr.org/2010/10/12/130493013/the-ak-47-the-gun-that-changed-the-battlefield|archive-date= March 26, 2023}}
• {{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/embed/na2_Nw31BBI|title=AK-47 Documentary: Part 1|website=YouTube|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211227204939/https://www.youtube.com/embed/na2_Nw31BBI |archive-date=27 December 2021 }} & {{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/embed/PB1VuBWTyvY |title=Part 2 |website=Al Jazeera English|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421205057/https://www.youtube.com/embed/PB1VuBWTyvY |archive-date=21 April 2023 }}
• {{cite web |url=https://archive.org/details/AkmAk-47TypeFullAutoIraqU.s.Army |title=AK-47 Full Auto, U.S. Army in Iraq}}
• {{cite web |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1076328 |title=Years of the Gun: A political history of the AK-47 in Pakistan |website=Dawn News|date=26 December 2013|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423113729/https://www.dawn.com/news/1076328|archive-date= April 23, 2023 }}

{{AK-47 derivatives}}

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Category:Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1947

Category:7.62×39mm assault rifles

Category:Infantry weapons of the Cold War

Category:Rifles of the Cold War

Category:Kalashnikov derivatives

Category:Assault rifles of the Soviet Union

Category:Kalashnikov Concern products

Category:Long stroke piston firearms