Replacing Kalashnikov Rifles Hits a Snag in Ukraine

Newsweak ^ | January 15, 2017 | Nolan Peterson

[Navy Patriot]

Kalashnikov assault rifles are among the most iconic symbols of the Soviet military.

Weapons such as the AK-47, the AKM, the AK-74 and the AK-103 are ubiquitous reminders of the Red Army’s legacy among the modern militaries of former Warsaw Pact countries and Soviet client states.

Also, the contemporary use of Kalashnikovs by worldwide terrorists and insurgent groups offers grim evidence of the widespread proliferation of Soviet weapons during and after the Cold War.

On January 3, as part of a long-term plan to adopt NATO military standards, Ukraine took a step toward ditching this Soviet military carryover.

[Celtic Conservative]

I own a Mosin and a Tokarev. Looking to pick up a makarov. Does that make me a terrorist? No, it makes me on a tight budget, yet still adequately armed.

CC

[SuperLuminal]

During the 80’s and 90’s I as fortunate to be able to acquire many types of fruit of many types of calibers.

Back when 7.62, 30-06, .223, 22LR, 12 ga, 9mm, 45 cal, and .50BMG were dirt cheap. Even in the late 90's could still buy cases of 1000 7.62 and .223 for about $55.

During the last 10-years, much of it has been going to my children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren for birthdays, Christmas, and wedding presents. They are prepared for what is coming...

[Navy Patriot]

Unless I completely failed at reading the article. They are adopting an AR platform chambered for 7.62x39mm

You are reading correctly.

The hitch and expense comes from the theory that they can use interchangable barrels, bolts and magazines to switch the same platform to 5.56 when necessary for NATO requirements. Bigger problem.

[Navy Patriot]

The wording of the article irked me as well, but that's the author.

I am well aware that FReepers know that firearms do not make unethical decisions to appeal to terrorists or Socialists.

The article first appeared in the Daily Signal so you should not be surprised.

I had to wait for Yahoo to post it.

[cidrasm]

The hitch and expense comes from the theory that they can use interchangable barrels, bolts and magazines to switch the same platform to 5.56 when necessary for NATO requirements. Bigger problem.

I'd say that's a huge problem. While you might get away with swappable upper receivers, the lower is going to be the pain. as magazines designed for 7.62x39mm curve quite a bit more than 5.56 NATO. You'd need to slant cut the front of the mag well a bit to allow for that. Or, build the mag well for the 7.62 magazines and an adapter to get a proper fit for NATO 5.56 magazines. Either way, seems like a logistics headache

[archy]

The Israelis worked most of it out with the Galil but that’s an AK-style.

The Galil used the magazine of Eugene Stoner's Stoner 62. The copy is so so close that the magazines are interchangable between rifles.

It had been Stoner's intention to develop his AR-16 rifle design into a 7,62x39 M43 version, but instead he downsized it a bit, and it became the AR-18 instead. Produced in the US by Armalite, by Howa in Japan as the semiauto AR-180 and Sterling in England, in both full-auto and semi versions, you need only to look into the top of a British SA-80 or German G-36 to see just how influential the AR18 was. A few other designs share its square section sheetmetal receiver, dual driving springs on dual guide rods, and short-stroke gas piston gas system.