Ak 5 or Automatkarbin 5

   The Ak 5 or Automatkarbin 5 is the Swedish version of the FN FNC assault rifle with certain modifications, mostly to adapt the weapon to the Swedish climate. The Ak 5 is the service rifle of the Swedish Armed Forces.

     In the mid-1970s, the Swedish Armed Forces decided to follow the general transition towards smaller calibre ammunition and directed the FMV (Defence Materiel Administration) to procure a suitable replacement for the Ak 4 capable of using 5.56×45mm NATO ammunition, which under STANAG 4172 is a standard cartridge for NATO forces as well as many non-NATO countries. The weapon was required to be highly reliable in the near-arctic climate of northernmost Sweden, as well as being easy to handle and maintain, while meeting a certain minimum level of accuracy. 

     The Ak 5B is the designated marksman version of the Ak 5. Modifications include fittings for a 4×25.5 SUSATL9A1 tritium sight, a cheek pad on the buttstock, and removal of the iron sights. This weapon is typically carried by squad leaders. This version weighs 4.8 kg (without magazine) and 5.4 kg (with full magazine). Approximately 5200 of this version were made.

     The Ak 5C is the modernized version of the original Ak 5, following the trend of modular weapons. One of the most significant improvements is the MIL-STD-1913 rail system to which a variety of different optics, lights and sights can be mounted, such as telescopic sights and image intensifiers. The double gas position, iron sights and bolt catch of the original Ak 5(B) rifle family were discarded and the surface finish is black instead of green.

     The Ak 5D has a shortened barrel and handguard. It also features the MIL-STD-1913 rail system for easy mounting of a variety of sights.

Due to the smaller dimensions of the carbine, the Ak 5D is especially suited for ranger/urban warfare units and vehicle crews who often benefit from a more lightweight and compact weapon when taking into account the nature of their assignments and the environments in which they often operate. The Swedish police are also equipped with a version of the Ak 5D; see below.

The newest Ak 5D Mk2 version has the same upgrades as the "C" model but retains the shorter barrel.

AK-104

        The AK-104 is a shortened carbine version of the AK-103 rifle. The AK-102, AK-105, and AK-104 are very similar in design, the only difference being the caliber and corresponding magazine type. The AK-104 is chambered to fire 7.62×39mm ammunition.

    Compared to the AK-74M, AK-101, and AK-103, which are full-size rifles of similar design, the AK-102, 104, and 105 feature shortened barrels that make them a middle ground between a full rifle and the more compact AKS-74U. However, the AK-104 also features a solid, side-folding polymer stock, unlike the shorter, skeleton-stocked AKS-74U.

     The AK-104 uses an adjustable notched rear tangent iron sight calibrated in 100 m (109 yd) increments from 100 to 500 m (109 to 547 yd). The front sight is a post adjustable for elevation in the field. Horizontal adjustment is done by the armory before issue. The AK-104 has a muzzle booster derived form the AKS-74U.

Protective coatings ensure excellent corrosion resistance of metal parts. Forearm, magazine, butt stock and pistol grip are made of high strength plastic.

The 100-series AKs are produced by the Izhmash factories in Izhevsk, Russia.

AK-47 (Kalashnikov or Kalash)

   The Ak-47 also known as Kalashnikov or Kalash is a selective fire, gas operated assault rifle that uses 7.62x39mm ammo, Its firing modes are semi-auto and fully automatic. 

   It was developed in Russia by Mikhail Kalashnikov.

   Its development started in last years of WW2, when Russian armed forces where at a serious disadvantage of having less powerful arms compared to Germans, so when soviet solders captured German MKb.42(H), and STG-44 immediate research began to improve its design and produce it for soviet troops.

   After the war in 1946 the AK-47 was officially presented to soviet armed forces for trials and in 1947 it was accepted and it production started for armed forces in Russia.

    Even after 60 years this weapon and its variants are the most popular and widely used assault rifle in the world, because of its reliability, availability, stopping power and very low production costs.

   How ever because of these qualities this weapon is also most perfered by terrorists, gorilla forces, drug cartels, mafia and other criminal organisations. 

   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 full-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 5.5 mm (0.2 in) 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. The Kalashnikov operating system offers no primary extraction upon bolt rotation, but uses an extractor claw to eject the spent cartridge case.

Accessories supplied with the rifle include a 387 mm (15.2 in) long 6H3 bayonet featuring a 200 mm (7.9 in) long spear point blade. The AK-47 bayonet is installed by slipping the 17.7 mm (0.70 in) diameter muzzle ring around the muzzle and latching the handle down on the bayonet lug under the front sight base.


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 model AK-47 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 metres. 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 0.5–1 metre (1.6–3.3 ft) above the ground.

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 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.   

G36

       The G36 assault rifle was designed to replace the G3 battle rifle by Heckler and Koch, in early 1990, and was accepted into service in 1997. 

      The G36 uses the 5.56 x45 mm NATO bullet, it is gas operated and is feed from a 30 round box magazine, or a 100 round c-mag drum magazine. 
      The G36 is a selective fire assualt rifle firing from a closed rotary bolt.  It has a modular design and a conventional layout. 

     The fire and safety selector has controls on both sides of receiver, and its letters are described as S-safe (sicher), E- semi-auto fire (Einzelfeuer) and F- Continuous fire (Feuerstoss). Thw weapon safety disables the trigger when engaged. 

     The G36 feeds from 30 round curved round magazine, with staggered pattern loaded rounds, the magazines are made from high-strength transulent polymer, and can be clipped together using built-in coupling studs, into 2-3 magazine packs (jungle style) for rapid magazine changes, the G36 can also use beta c-drum magazine carrying 100 rounds, this magazine was intended for MG36 support weapon. 

       The rifle can be fitted with 40 mm under barrel AG36 grenade launcher which is breach loaded break-action weapon with side tilting barrel. 

      There are various variants of standard G36. 

  G36v: Previously known as the G36e export, this is the standard export variant of the G36 that has all the features of G36 standard, except the optical sight configurations. 

 
   MG36: Its the light machine gun version of G36, with heavier barrel and increased heat and cook off resistance, The MG36 are no longer available. 

  G36k: It is the carbine variant of the G36 rifle, with a shorter barrel, with rails on the hand guard to attach accessories, it does not support bayonets. The G36k is in service of German special forces, and it comes with two options eighter with a 3x scope or iron sights. 

  G36c: C stands for compact but is often mistaken as commando. This sub-carbine variant of G36 rifle has even shorter barrel then G36k with 4 open type flash hiders. The hand guard has 4 integrated picatanny rails and the optical scopes are replaced with deattachable iron sights. 

  There are other sporting variants of G36 that can be used in sporting compitions. How ever above are the most importent ones.



  

M4

       The M4 carbine is a family of assault rifles derived from M16  rifles, which in turn was derived from AR15 rifles. 
The M4 is a shorter and lighter version of M16A2  assault rifle, its gas-operated, magazine feed, selective fire weapon with telescopic sight and it has 370mm barrel to ease in close combat situations.

       Like the rest of  M16 family it uses 5.56 mm ammo. The M4 is a selective fire weapon with semi-auto and three round brusts mode, while M4A1 has semi-auto and full-auto firing modes. The carbine is also capable of mounting M203 grenade launcher.

      
       The M4 is heavily employed by many militaries through out the world, and it will eventually replace the M16 assault rifles. 

      Like all other variants of M16, the M4 and M4A1 can use all kinds of accessories like lazer sights, telescopic sights, red dot sights, fore grip, night vision devices, bi-pods, M203, M320, M26 MASS shotgun, ACOG sights, holographic sight, visible and IR lights and anything attachable to picatinny rails. 

     The M4 uses direct gas impingment gas operated mechanism, giving 700-950 rounds per minute (cyclic), it has muzzle velocity of 880 m/s, giving effective range of 500-600 meters.
     Its default is 30 round box magazine but various other STANAG magazines can also be used.





      

M16

       The M-16 is a selective fire adaptation of AR-15 used by US military, it can be adopted to use semi-auto and fully-auto firing modes. 

       The M-16 is a light weight, air cooled, gas operated, magazine feed, with rotated bolt, which is actuated by direct gas impingment, It uses 5.56 x 45 mm NATO bullet, and is made of steel, 7075 aluminium alloy, composite fibers and polymer materials. 

M-16A1

 The M-16 rifle was first deployed in jungle warfare operations in south Vietnam, but became standard service rifle of Vietnam war by 1969, replacing M-14 rifle. It is also used my many other militaries all around the world, this makes it the most mass produced weapon of its caliber. 

M-16 A2

       The M-16a2 was developed on the request of USMC, with a few modifications to M-16a1, In M-16a2 the selective fire was changed to semi-auto and three round brust fire mode, an adjustable rear sight, heavier barrel, case deflector for left hand shooters, and cylindrical hand guard. The M-16a2 is still in stock and is used by air-force and some times USMC. 

M-16 A3

      The M-16a3 looks exactly like M-16a2 except its fire control mechanism is back to M-16a1 (semi-auto and fully-auto) selective fires, the M-16a3 is employed only by the Navy and cost guard. 

M-16 A4

     The M-16a4 became the standard weapon for USMC in 2004. it is a flat top receiver, hand-guard with 4 picatanny rails for mounting a sight, lazer, night vision device, M203 grenade launcher, fore grip, removable handle or a flash light. 

     The M-16 gives 12-16 rounds/min in sustained firing, 45-60 rounds/min in semi-auto firing, and 700-950 rounds/min in cyclic shooting. Having muzzle velocity of 3110 ft/s the M-16 can achieve the effective range of 580 m for point target and 820 m for area targets. 

   There are 3 feeding magazines avalable 20 round, 30 round, and a C-mag 100 round double lobed drum.

  

AR15

         The AR-15 is a lightweight assault rifle with a rotating locking bolt, actuated by direct gas impingement gas operation or long/short stroke piston operation.

        The AR-15 has many versions including semi-auto and selective fire variants, most of its components are eighter aluminium alloy and other synthetic materials, which explains its light weight.

        The AR-15 was originally designed by ArmaLite as a small rifle for US armed forces how ever due to financial problems the design was sold to Colt.
       The main working mechanism of the rifle is known as direct gas impingement, the gas is taped directly form the barrel as the bullet moves past the gas port which is located directly under the base of rifle's front sight, the gas then moves through a tube located above the barrel, the gas moves all the way back to the rifle's front receiver. Here this gas is used to push the bolt carrier hence reloading the rifle. 
       This operating mechanism is fundamentally different from the piston operated rifles. 

      
       It uses cartridges .223 remington, 5.56 Nato, 300 whisper, 7.62x35 mm and .22 LR. 
 Giving rate of fire of 800 rounds/min, muzzle velocity of 975 m/s, give effective firing range of 400-600 m. 
It also has various versions of magazines of 20, 30 and 50 rounds.