For all the time of its existence, the Kalashnikov assault rifle broke all conceivable records. Until now, no other weapon in the world can compete with it in such indicators as the number of units released, the number of countries arming them with armies, global prevalence, and participation in armed conflicts and wars. Assembly and disassembly of the AK is one of the mandatory standards for soldiers of all military branches, police, security officers, military doctors and many others. For quite some time this skill was taught to all students without exception in the framework of the discipline "Initial military training."
The modification of the machine, adopted for service in 1974, received the name AK-74. Assembly-disassembly of it as a whole is not much different, but has several of its own characteristics. Consider this process in detail.
Why disassemble the machine?
Many of those who took up arms for the first time have the question of the appropriateness of assembly-disassembly. And the old warriors know that the machine loves leaving. Cleaned and oiled, he will serve the fighter faithfully for many years.
Indeed, the assembly and disassembly of the AK-74 assault rifle is primarily carried out with the aim of inspecting and cleaning it. Even if the machine was not fired, this procedure is necessary. Especially in need of cleaning weapons that have passed the battle or training firing.
Disassembly Types
Before you start learning, you always need to understand the essence. Professionals distinguish two types of disassembly and assembly of Kalashnikov assault rifles: incomplete and complete. The beginning of these processes is about the same, but even the name makes it clear what their main difference is. Incomplete disassembly-assembly AK-74 is intended for cleaning, lubrication and inspection of the machine. As a rule, it is carried out once every 2-3 days, even if firing from a weapon was not carried out. The intensity of cleaning depends on the state of the machine and the degree of contamination with powder gases. After firing, you will have to carefully work on each spare part, and unshooted weapons sometimes dry enough with a rag with a special weapon oil.
Complete disassembly-assembly of the AK-74 is used if the machine has received severe pollution, has lain in water, sand or snow for a long time. This procedure is also appropriate when switching to a new lubricating oil. Of course, you can not do without a complete disassembly and during the repair. This process has two features: firstly, it is desirable to carry out it under the control of an experienced gunsmith, and secondly, it is not necessary to disassemble completely without the need - the weapon does not like this, its parts wear out faster.
Process features
The rules common to cleaning all machines from the series apply to the AK-74.
- Assembly-disassembly is carried out on a table or clean cloth litter.
- All parts and mechanisms are laid out in the order of disassembly side by side, and not on top of each other.
- No extra effort should be applied.
As for the last point, even recruits know that if brute force is required for some action, then something went wrong. The assembly and disassembly procedure for the AK-74 is always the same. In general, the Kalashnikov assault rifle is designed in such a way that each action can be done in one single way - the right one. The arising desire to twitch or push harder suggests only one thing: the action is wrong. If something doesn’t fit somewhere, then there is no place for him. In this case, it is worth removing the part and trying to make the movement again. As a rule, using this simple rule, you can quickly detect an error.
Partial Disassembly Procedure
Before disassembling, it is necessary to remove the grenade launcher and bayonet-knife, if used.
- Assembly and disassembly of the AK-74 always begins with the removal of the store. Hold the weapon with your left hand, grasp the magazine with your right , pressing the latch with your thumb. Then we give the store forward, and it easily leaves the slot.
- We translate the fuse flag to the position "OD" or "AB".
- We take the bolt of the bolt back, inspect the chamber. If at that moment there was a cartridge in it, it will fly out. Throw the handle, pull the cocked trigger. An important rule: the handle is sharply released, and not trying to smoothly bring back.
- We take out the pencil case. To do this, we press a finger on the round lid of the butt socket. We remove the brush, wipe, screwdriver, punch, pin from the pencil case.
- Separate the ramrod. Using tools (from a pencil case), you can pry the ramrod by the hole at the end.
- We press the heel protruding from the receiver until it exits the hole. This allows you to remove the cover of the receiver. Then we separate the return mechanism from the bolt channel.
- Separate the shutter frame with the shutter. To do this, we take the frame back to failure, raise it together with the bolt, and separate it from the receiver.
- We remove the shutter.
- Remove the gas tube. To do this, it is convenient to use a special tool from a pencil case with a rectangular hole. We put the tool on the protrusion of the shutter of the gas tube, turn the contactor, remove the part.
- We unscrew the muzzle brake-compensator by holding the pin-retainer with a finger.
Weapon cleaning
A disassembled machine is usually immediately cleaned. Of course, if we are not talking exclusively about the AK-74 assembly-disassembly standard.
For cleaning and preventive lubrication of the machine are used:
- RFS solution for removing powder deposits;
- gun grease;
- rags;
- flax fiber for cleaning the bore.
Start cleaning and lubrication after disassembling the machine and its thorough inspection. Do not use foreign objects for this process that are not provided for in the instructions. All cleaned parts and mechanisms should be wiped dry and only then proceed to lubrication. Do not fill the machine with oil too abundantly, this accelerates its wear. Parts and mechanisms of the AK-74, the assembly-disassembly of which was carried out for the purpose of inspection, cleaning and lubrication, should be covered with a thin layer of gun oil. Excess can be removed with a clean cloth.
Assembly order
The AK-74 assault rifle is going in the reverse order.
- We screw the muzzle brake onto the barrel thread.
- We return the gas pipe to its place by sliding it with the front end onto the gas chamber. We turn the closure with the help of tools.
- We attach a shutter to the bolt frame. To do this, insert its cylindrical part into the channel of the shutter frame and turn it so that its leading protrusion lies in the curly cutout of the frame.
- We insert the bolt frame into the receiver, holding the bolt.
- We insert the return mechanism into place - in the channel of the shutter frame. At the same time, his heel should lie in a special recess on the back of the receiver.
- We put on the cover of the receiver.
- We pull the cocked cock, pointing the gun barrel up.
- We put the machine on the fuse by lifting the fire mode translator up to failure.
- We put in place the ramrod, put the tool in a pencil case, return it to the socket.
- We join the store.
Assembly and disassembly standard AK-74
Previously, the procedure for disassembling a machine for a time was mandatory for soldiers of absolutely all branches of the USSR army. Today, the feasibility of this action is largely revised, but the relevance of the speed of assembly-disassembly is not called into question. In addition, in many units the assembly and disassembly of the AK-74 is temporarily carried out in the form of competitions. The order and technology are governed by the Pan-Army Firing Course. The same document also defines the time frame for all procedures.
Partial Disassembly Standards AK-74:
- In 13 seconds - "excellent";
- in 14 seconds - “good”;
- in 17 seconds - "satisfactory."
Assembly rate after incomplete disassembly:
- In 23 seconds - "excellent";
- in 25 seconds - “good”;
- in 30 seconds - "satisfactory".
Record
Do not think that 36 seconds (13 + 23) is the minimum time for which the assembly and disassembly of the AK-74 can be performed. The record is much lower than these numbers. Today, many cadets of military schools, professional military and ordinary weapon lovers dispute the world championship, but the official winner has not yet been announced. The matter is complicated by the fact that there are clear requirements for the recognition of the record. Firstly, the spare parts of the machine should not scatter in all directions and even more so fall to the floor, and many potential champions treat this rule not quite responsibly. Secondly, the assembly-disassembly procedure should not be violated. In addition, the record will not be counted if at least one part is separated from the machine in any way not regulated by the "Shooting Course". If a fighter makes at least one mistake that could result in personal injury or machine breakdown, then we can’t talk not only about the record, but about the passing of the norm itself.
Dismantling, assembling and charging the store
No standards exist not only for the AK-74 machine itself. Assembly, disassembly, cleaning and equipment for the time being carried out for shops. In battle, life saving depends on the speed of loading the magazine with cartridges. And not only one submachine gunner, but a whole group. The store’s equipment was delivered as “excellent” with thirty rounds in 30 seconds. There is no standard for assembling and disassembling the store for such a time, since this procedure is not so often carried out outside of a combat situation, and the time it takes to carry out largely depends on the age and condition of the internal spring. Nevertheless, after contact with sand or moisture, this is necessary.
In order to disassemble the store, you must first remove the cartridges from it, if it was charged. Then turn it upside down and gently press the button, drowning it. Then move the movable metal part towards the internal bend of the store, pressing the lid behind it with your finger. The spring located in it is compressed, so you need to remove the cover with caution. Further cleaning is carried out according to the situation: moisture is erased with rags, sand and debris that has gotten into it are brushed. Periodically, the spring also needs to be lubricated. The shop is about to be disassembled in reverse order.