AK-101
Encyclopedia
The AK-101 is an assault rifle
of the Kalashnikov
series. The AK-101 is designed for the world export market, using 5.56×45mm NATO cartridges, which is the standard of all NATO armies. The AK-101 is marketed at those looking for a weapon that combines the logistical compatibility and familiarity of the 5.56×45mm NATO round with the legendary reliability of a Kalashnikov. It is designed with modern and composite materials, including plastic
s that reduce weight and improve accuracy. Many of the improvements found in the AK-101 are also present in the AK-103
and the rest of the AK-10x series of rifles.
The AK-101 is a selective fire
weapon that can be fired in either semi-automatic or fully automatic mode. The disassembly procedure for the AK-101 is identical to that of the AK-74
. The AK-101 has an attachment rail installed on the side of the receiver for mounting scopes and other optical sights, which will accept most types of Russian and European AK optics. The rifle accepts most synthetic and metal ammo magazines with 30 round capacity. The AK-101 has a 406 mm (16 in) barrel with an AK-74 style muzzle brake attached to the barrel to control muzzle climb.
The AK-102, AK-104
and AK-105
are the designations given to the more compact carbine
variants of the AK-10x rifle series, firing the 5.56×45mm NATO, 7.62×39mm
M43 and 5.45×39mm M74 rifle rounds respectively. These carbines differentiate themselves from the normal rifles of the series in that they have much shorter barrels, only 314 mm (12.4 in) in length. These AK-10x carbines, much like their rifle counterparts, were made primarily for export.
A common misconception is that the AK-101 has entered service as the main assault rifle of the Russian Federation
, but this is not true; the AK-74M
is still the main assault rifle, the AK-105 is being introduced alongside, both chambered for 5.45×39mm. The AKM
firing 7.62 mm Soviet rounds, is in limited service with selected units in the Russian army, and the AK-103
is in service with some Russian civil police agencies. The advanced AN-94
is entering limited service in the elite forces of the Russian military, some Russian police forces, and the Internal Ministry of Affairs.
The AK-101 is chambered in 5.56mm NATO and features black, glass-filled polyamide
, with a side folding stock
. The side folding stock looks similar to a normal fixed stock, however it folds and locks securely to the side of the receiver
.
Assault rifle
An assault rifle is a selective fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge and a detachable magazine. Assault rifles are the standard infantry weapons in most modern armies...
of the Kalashnikov
Mikhail Kalashnikov
Lieutenant General Mikhail Timofeyevich Kalashnikov is a Russian small arms designer, most famous for designing the AK-47 assault rifle, the AKM and the AK-74.-Early life:...
series. The AK-101 is designed for the world export market, using 5.56×45mm NATO cartridges, which is the standard of all NATO armies. The AK-101 is marketed at those looking for a weapon that combines the logistical compatibility and familiarity of the 5.56×45mm NATO round with the legendary reliability of a Kalashnikov. It is designed with modern and composite materials, including plastic
Plastic
A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
s that reduce weight and improve accuracy. Many of the improvements found in the AK-101 are also present in the AK-103
AK-103
The AK-103 is a modern, Russian-designed version of the famous AKM assault rifle, chambered for the 7.62×39mm M43 round. It combines the AKM design with developments from the AK-74 and AK-74M, with the use of plastics to replace metal or wooden components wherever possible to reduce overall weight...
and the rest of the AK-10x series of rifles.
The AK-101 is a selective fire
Selective fire
A selective fire firearm has at least one semi–automatic and one automatic mode, which is activated by means of a selector which varies depending on the weapon's design. Some selective fire weapons utilize burst fire mechanisms to limit the maximum or total number of shots fired automatically in...
weapon that can be fired in either semi-automatic or fully automatic mode. The disassembly procedure for the AK-101 is identical to that of the AK-74
AK-74
The AK-74 is an assault rifle developed in the early 1970s in the Soviet Union as the replacement for the earlier AKM...
. The AK-101 has an attachment rail installed on the side of the receiver for mounting scopes and other optical sights, which will accept most types of Russian and European AK optics. The rifle accepts most synthetic and metal ammo magazines with 30 round capacity. The AK-101 has a 406 mm (16 in) barrel with an AK-74 style muzzle brake attached to the barrel to control muzzle climb.
The AK-102, AK-104
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...
and AK-105
AK-105
The AK-105 is a shortened carbine version of the AK-74M rifle, which in turn was derived from the original AK-47 design and its AK-74 successor. The AK-102, AK-104, and AK-105 are very similar in design, the only difference being the caliber and corresponding magazine type. The AK-105 is chambered...
are the designations given to the more compact carbine
Carbine
A carbine , from French carabine, is a longarm similar to but shorter than a rifle or musket. Many carbines are shortened versions of full rifles, firing the same ammunition at a lower velocity due to a shorter barrel length....
variants of the AK-10x rifle series, firing the 5.56×45mm NATO, 7.62×39mm
7.62×39mm
The 7.62×39mm round is a rifle cartridge of Soviet origin that was designed during World War II. It was first used in the RPD machine gun. Due to the worldwide proliferation of the SKS and AK-47 pattern rifles, the cartridge is utilized by both militaries and civilians alike.The 7.62×39mm...
M43 and 5.45×39mm M74 rifle rounds respectively. These carbines differentiate themselves from the normal rifles of the series in that they have much shorter barrels, only 314 mm (12.4 in) in length. These AK-10x carbines, much like their rifle counterparts, were made primarily for export.
A common misconception is that the AK-101 has entered service as the main assault rifle of the Russian Federation
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, but this is not true; the AK-74M
AK-74
The AK-74 is an assault rifle developed in the early 1970s in the Soviet Union as the replacement for the earlier AKM...
is still the main assault rifle, the AK-105 is being introduced alongside, both chambered for 5.45×39mm. The AKM
AKM
The AKM is a 7.62mm assault rifle designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is an upgraded version of the AK-47 rifle and was developed in the 1950s....
firing 7.62 mm Soviet rounds, is in limited service with selected units in the Russian army, and the AK-103
AK-103
The AK-103 is a modern, Russian-designed version of the famous AKM assault rifle, chambered for the 7.62×39mm M43 round. It combines the AKM design with developments from the AK-74 and AK-74M, with the use of plastics to replace metal or wooden components wherever possible to reduce overall weight...
is in service with some Russian civil police agencies. The advanced AN-94
AN-94
The AN-94 is an advanced Russian assault rifle. The initials stand for Avtomat Nikonova Model of 1994....
is entering limited service in the elite forces of the Russian military, some Russian police forces, and the Internal Ministry of Affairs.
The AK-101 is chambered in 5.56mm NATO and features black, glass-filled polyamide
Polyamide
A polyamide is a polymer containing monomers of amides joined by peptide bonds. They can occur both naturally and artificially, examples being proteins, such as wool and silk, and can be made artificially through step-growth polymerization or solid-phase synthesis, examples being nylons, aramids,...
, with a side folding stock
Stock (firearm)
A stock, also known as a buttstock or shoulder stock, is a part of a rifle or other firearm, to which the barrel and firing mechanism are attached, that is held against one's shoulder when firing the gun. Stocks are also found on crossbows though a crossbow stock is more properly referred to as a...
. The side folding stock looks similar to a normal fixed stock, however it folds and locks securely to the side of the receiver
Receiver (firearms)
In firearms terminology, the receiver is the part of a firearm that houses the operating parts. The receiver usually contains the bolt carrier group, trigger group, and magazine port. In most handguns, the receiver, or frame, holds the magazine well or rotary magazine as well as the trigger mechanism...
.
