How the new Russian AK-103 differs from the old Soviet AK-74M

  • Oct 13, 2021
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How the new Russian AK-103 differs from the old Soviet AK-74M

Today we hear more and more often about Kalashnikov assault rifles, in the indices of which there is by no means a two-digit number 74, but some kind of “hundred”. At the first glance at the new machine guns, one might get the impression that they simply have no differences from the old Soviet ones. It's time to figure out whether this is really so, and where the Kalashnikovs of the now famous "hundredth" series came from in general. In order to understand this, you will first have to go back to the days of the Soviet Union.

Soviet AK-74M. | Photo: guns.allzip.org.
Soviet AK-74M. | Photo: guns.allzip.org.
Soviet AK-74M. | Photo: guns.allzip.org.

The first models of the Kalashnikov assault rifle were produced in the USSR for a solid 7.62x39 mm rifle caliber. However, in the 1970s, for a number of reasons, the Ministry of Defense pushed through the modernization of the AK and the transition to a new main caliber - 5.45x39 mm. Moreover, not everyone was satisfied with this decision, including Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov himself. The decision of the Ministry of Defense was then dictated by three main points. First, a smaller caliber cartridge was lighter, which made it possible to carry them more. The second - the 5.45 mm cartridge has a simpler flat trajectory of flight, which makes it trite to shoot them, especially for a poorly trained shooter. The third - the new cartridge had a slightly better accuracy compared to the old 7.62 mm.

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Russian AK-103. | Photo: pnevmat24.ru.
Russian AK-103. | Photo: pnevmat24.ru.

Despite the switch to a smaller caliber, the idea of ​​returning the Kalashnikov to the original cartridge has always remained in the design and military environment. Largely for this reason, in the 1990s, the so-called "hundredth series" appeared - a whole galaxy of new assault rifles with a different caliber from the standard cartridge. The essence of the hundredth series was that it became the only family of Kalashnikov assault rifles that used three types of cartridges at once: Soviet 5.45x39 and 7.62x39 mm, as well as NATO cartridge 5.56x46 mm Remington.

The entire hundredth series are export models. | Photo: lenta.ru.
The entire hundredth series are export models. | Photo: lenta.ru.

Actually, this is where all the differences between the "hundredth" series machines from the AK-74M assault rifles end. For their production, exactly the same parts are used, with rare exceptions, from the butt to the front sight, from the forend to the grip. At its core, initially the "hundredth" series was simply an export family of Kalashnikov assault rifles, which was to be sold. It was invented, including in the conditions of a new market economy, to which the country switched after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

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At the root, these are the same automata. ¦ Photo: sdelanounas.ru.
At the root, these are the same automata. ¦ Photo: sdelanounas.ru.

A number of modifications of the 100th may have some additional differences. For example, a shortened barrel or a more complex trigger, made in the manner of American assault rifles. The butt design may differ, or additional equipment and accessory strips may be present. However, at their root - these are all the same old Soviet Kalashnikov assault rifles. Thus, the main difference is a different chamber and barrel.

If you want to know even more interesting things, then you should read about
Baptism of fire: when the Kalashnikov assault rifle was first used massively in real combat.
A source:
https://novate.ru/blogs/290421/58797/

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