The experimental AK-46 assault rifle was designed in 1946. The weapon was created as the best option for using a military cartridge of the 1943 model. The main part in the new design was the updated system, designed for a charge with intermediate power. This decision was prepared by many countries, but was first implemented in Germany. Such a cartridge created a significantly lower pressure in the barrel than a rifle counterpart. Consider the features of an experienced weapon.
Features
The domestic development of the cartridge for the AK-46 assault rifle cannot be called a direct copy of similar shells, as some thought. The intermediate type of ammunition was developed taking into account domestic requirements and features. As it soon became clear, the new cartridge could not completely solve the problem of universality by the accuracy of hitting the target and the effectiveness of the firing range.
The resulting element did not meet the necessary requirements, corresponding to a range of accuracy of hit of no more than 300 meters with the possibility of piercing a steel helmet of 50 meters (the TT cartridge pistol had the same parameters). It was necessary to come up with weapons that could hit targets at a distance of up to 800 meters with single volleys and 400-500 meters in bursts. As a result, a cartridge of 7.62 mm caliber, developed by several designers in 1943, was adopted.
Development
The main designer of the domestic model of the AK-46 assault rifle was A. I. Sudaev. He managed to develop four starter kits in a year. Other developers soon joined the work on the prototype. As a result, an assault rifle with an intermediate cartridge was created, which ensured firing efficiency at a distance of 0.5 km, the weapon itself was equipped with a store for three dozen ammunition. Such famous designers as Degtyarev, Korovin, Bulkin and Baryshev took part in the competition.
Initially, the leader went to the developer of the AK-46 Sudayev machine, as early as 1945 his “brainchild” was field tested. A year later, a number of analogues were presented. As a result, the Kalashnikov assault rifle was taken into official armament of the Soviet army.
AK-46 assault rifle: performance overview
Below are the main parameters of the weapon in question:
- Caliber - 7.62 mm.
- The total length of the trunk is 695/377 mm.
- Weight - 4.1 kg.
- The capacity of the store is 30 charges.
- Effective aiming distance - 600 m.
- Type of cartridges - 7.62x41 mm.
Layout
The AK-46 assault rifle is equipped with classic automatic equipment typical for these types of weapons. The gas engine is located on the side, operates on the principle of exhaust gas through transverse holes in the barrel wall, followed by closing the bolt.
The 7.62 mm caliber barrel is equipped with four grooved channels that curl up from left to right. The shutter is moved by means of a figured groove with a longitudinally sliding shutter frame. The bolt itself is a step-type cylinder, which is equipped with a central channel for the drummer.
The front of the AK-46 is equipped with a thickened shutter element, leading protrusions are located in the upper part, which serve to release the shutter when unlocking and closing. The clutch of the part is carried out using a pair of side stops. The bottom rammer mechanism ensures timely removal from the magazine and the subsequent supply of the next cartridge.
Design Nuances
Features of the configuration of the AK-46 assault rifle are the presence of an original design with a milled receiver. A trigger device, a mechanism with a pistol-type handle, and a wooden butt are mounted on the axes of the core.
In this case, the receiver and the trigger box interact with each other using crackers and a locking pin. The rear of the barrel has a pin mount sights pads with a through longitudinal hole. In the front of the block, a gas tube contactor assembly with a signal flag is transversely located.
Gas installation
The side gas engine of the Kalashnikov AK-46 assault rifle has a peculiar design. It provides a kinematic connection with a gas piston and bolt frame. This process also uses a spring pusher, which converts into a single system with a piston. The gas analog has no fixation with the shutter, it acts exclusively on moving chassis.
The AK-46 assault rifle, the photo of which is shown below, is equipped with a plate holder that does not provide for individual store separation. The gas compartment has no adjustment, but it has a pair of holes designed to remove the powder gases discharged into the atmosphere after using weapons.
Trigger mechanism
This assembly of the AK-46 assault rifle, the photo of which is presented above, is mounted in the lower part of the trigger compartment. One of the most successful nodes was the trigger mechanism with a trigger rotating on an axis. This design made it possible to ensure decent accuracy when shooting, as well as to eliminate the influence of extraneous interference and movements that affect the accuracy of the sight and the correctness of the shot.
This is due to the fact that the first AK-46 Kalashnikov assault rifle was provided with a system that was initially in the extreme front position before the salvo.
Cocking was carried out by moving back the slide frame. The trigger and the sear moved in a sequence that guaranteed a single fire or firing bursts. A disconnector is provided on the front of the lever, serving as a sleeve reflector and automatic release. A helical coil spring is aggregated with a return device consisting of a bolt frame in the receiver. The main purpose of the mechanism is the accumulation of recoil energy and the return of the shutter to its original position.
Device
The main trigger mechanism of the AK-46 experimental machine consisted of a guide rod element and a pair return spring. The back emphasis of a core was placed in a nest of a receiver. At the same time, it served as a latch for a removable stamped trunk box lid, which protected exclusively the return device.
The characteristics of the AK-46 assault rifle make it possible to equip it with ammunition from the store without separating it from the barrel. Such a technical task was initially put before the designers. A shutter lag was used as a lock for the front movable elements . The fuse of the weapon in question was manufactured separately from the firing switch. The flags of these elements were located on the left side of the body of the trigger. The reload handle is located on the left, like the counterparts of German assault rifles.
Interesting Facts
Kalashnikov AK-46 automatic weapons had an aiming device, which included an open sight sector sight, designed for 0.8 km. The aiming block is located above the chamber, covered by a special device. Two studs on a triangular base at the muzzle of the trunk act as a mount.
The advantage of this design is its simplicity and good operating conditions when aiming the barrel at the target. This contributes to the rapid detection of targets, provides a good correction of firing, which is very important when shooting at moving targets.
Other similar modifications also had a sight of a similar type. Among the shortcomings of this device: the need to combine three points during firing, including the front sight, mane and slot of the rear sight. The fact is that they are located at different distances from the shooter's eyes, and this requires special aiming of the gun for effective firing. Otherwise, when shooting, dispersion of bullets and a decrease in the clarity of shooting are observed.
Modernization
AK-46 assault rifle, the characteristics of which are given above, for stability when firing, is equipped with 6 through-holes on the barrel muzzle. They make it possible to stabilize the gun in active mode.
Working power is supplied from a removable, quickly deactivable box magazine made of steel, in which a charge of 30 rounds is located. The store itself consists of a body part, a locking spring, a feeding device. The case in the upper part has a pair of bends and two protrusions, which serve to fix the store in the window of the barrel box. After connecting the weapon to the magazine, the locking latch mounted on the front of the trigger guard rotates on the axis under the influence of the back stop. After that, the mechanism is fixed in the receiver, under the influence of the return spring, it is turned forward until it clicks into focus. Such a configuration of the mechanism made it possible to get a quick change of spent stores, including to the touch (at night). In addition, the small dimensions of the latch cause certain difficulties when quickly fixing the magazine, especially if the hands of the shooter are wearing protective gloves or special gloves.
Specification
Continuing the review of the AK-46 assault rifle, it can be noted that it is not equipped with a classic one-piece box. The receiver has a relatively simple configuration, is easy to hold when firing, has a separate wooden butt and a similar forend. The back of the butt is equipped with a pair of screws that fix the metal back of the head.
The convenience of firing is provided by a wooden pistol-type handle, as well as a barrel pad combined in one unit with a gas pipe. The overlay is aimed at protecting the shooter's hands from burns during active shooting, and the cutouts on the barrel and forend are designed to effectively cool the automatic barrel. The shoulder swivels are mounted on the right side, the ramrod is mounted under the gun barrel.
Total
In the development, three variations of the identical configuration were provided, differing in cartridge size. All models had a gas engine with automatic removal of powder gases. Waste after the shot was discharged through a side hole, specially provided on the side of the machine. Other features of the weapon in question include the presence of a short stroke of an individual rod gas piston, as well as the locking of the barrel channel by turning the bolt. In addition, all variations had the same trigger device.
The machine in question is equipped with a stamped trigger box, in which horizontal intermittent elements and a check are interconnected. The bolt part of the frame was moved using barrel guides. The charging handle was located on the left side. The return mechanism was triggered by the action of the telescopic rod and the return spring. The stem cover was fastened by pressing the stem with the shank.
These machines did not get into mass production. The concept was finalized and modernized, and soon the AK-47 assault rifle was put into service with the USSR army.