AL-7
Encyclopedia
The AL-7 is a Russia
n assault rifle
designed by Izhmash engineer Yury Aleksandrov in the early 1970s. The AL-7 uses a type of operation developed by Peter Andreevich Tkachev
of TsNIITochMash
(Central Institute for Precision Machine Building) in the mid 1960s known as Balanced Automatics first used on the AO-38
assault rifle. The Balanced Automatics Recoil System (BARS) replaces the traditional Kalashnikov
gas piston
operating system, reducing the negative effects of recoil
and allowing more efficient use of automatic fire. BARS works by shifting mass toward the muzzle of the rifle
as the bolt and bolt carrier recoil rearward.
The AL-7 and its BARS system were never adopted by the Soviet Army
. The project was overshadowed by the acceptance of the AK-74
due to cost considerations. The passage of time has allowed manufacturing technology to advance, finally making the AL-7 concept economically viable, presenting itself in the form of the AK-107
and AK-108 rifles.
Other rifles that use the balanced automatics system are the AEK-971
, AO-38
, CA-006, AKB and AKB-1.
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...
n assault rifle
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...
designed by Izhmash engineer Yury Aleksandrov in the early 1970s. The AL-7 uses a type of operation developed by Peter Andreevich Tkachev
Peter Andreevich Tkachev
Peter Andreevich Tkachev was a Russian weapons engineer for TsNIITochMash. He is known to have worked on and modifiy various weapons such as the AO-38, AO-46, AO-62 and AO-63 assault rifles as well as developing the Balanced Automatics Recoil System used on the AK-107.-Projects:* AO-38* AO-46*...
of TsNIITochMash
TsNIITochMash
TsNIITochMash is an initialism for the Central Research Institute for Precision Machine Building , a Russian industrial design bureau...
(Central Institute for Precision Machine Building) in the mid 1960s known as Balanced Automatics first used on the AO-38
AO-38 assault rifle
The AO-38 is a 5.45x39mm assault rifle and AK derivative designed by Peter Andreevich Tkachev and first to use the Balanced Automatic Recoil System to improve stability giving better accuracy over AK-74's. Its derivatives are the AK-107 and AEK-971....
assault rifle. The Balanced Automatics Recoil System (BARS) replaces the traditional Kalashnikov
AK-47
The AK-47 is a selective-fire, gas-operated 7.62×39mm assault rifle, first developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is officially known as Avtomat Kalashnikova . It is also known as a Kalashnikov, an "AK", or in Russian slang, Kalash.Design work on the AK-47 began in the last year...
gas piston
Piston
A piston is a component of reciprocating engines, reciprocating pumps, gas compressors and pneumatic cylinders, among other similar mechanisms. It is the moving component that is contained by a cylinder and is made gas-tight by piston rings. In an engine, its purpose is to transfer force from...
operating system, reducing the negative effects of recoil
Recoil
Recoil is the backward momentum of a gun when it is discharged. In technical terms, the recoil caused by the gun exactly balances the forward momentum of the projectile and exhaust gasses, according to Newton's third law...
and allowing more efficient use of automatic fire. BARS works by shifting mass toward the muzzle of the rifle
Rifle
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
as the bolt and bolt carrier recoil rearward.
The AL-7 and its BARS system were never adopted by the Soviet Army
Soviet Army
The Soviet Army is the name given to the main part of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union between 1946 and 1992. Previously, it had been known as the Red Army. Informally, Армия referred to all the MOD armed forces, except, in some cases, the Soviet Navy.This article covers the Soviet Ground...
. The project was overshadowed by the acceptance 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...
due to cost considerations. The passage of time has allowed manufacturing technology to advance, finally making the AL-7 concept economically viable, presenting itself in the form of the AK-107
AK-107
The AK-107 is a Russian 5.45 mm assault rifle developed from the AK-100-series. It features a "balanced" operating system, similar to that used in the AEK-971. In this case, the designation AK does not indicate Avtomat Kalashnikova but Alexandrov/Kalashnikov...
and AK-108 rifles.
Other rifles that use the balanced automatics system are the AEK-971
AEK-971
AEK-971 is a Soviet / Russian selective fire assault rifle that was developed at the Kovrov Mechanical Plant by chief designer S.I. Koksharov in the 1980s...
, AO-38
AO-38 assault rifle
The AO-38 is a 5.45x39mm assault rifle and AK derivative designed by Peter Andreevich Tkachev and first to use the Balanced Automatic Recoil System to improve stability giving better accuracy over AK-74's. Its derivatives are the AK-107 and AEK-971....
, CA-006, AKB and AKB-1.
See also
- AEK-971AEK-971AEK-971 is a Soviet / Russian selective fire assault rifle that was developed at the Kovrov Mechanical Plant by chief designer S.I. Koksharov in the 1980s...
- AO-38AO-38 assault rifleThe AO-38 is a 5.45x39mm assault rifle and AK derivative designed by Peter Andreevich Tkachev and first to use the Balanced Automatic Recoil System to improve stability giving better accuracy over AK-74's. Its derivatives are the AK-107 and AEK-971....
- AO-63AO-63 assault rifleThe AO-63 is a Soviet two-barrel assault rifle, capable of fully automatic fire, chambered for the 5.45 x 39 mm round. It was designed by S. G. Simonov and P. A. Tkachev, and manufactured by TsNIITochMash....
- AK-107AK-107The AK-107 is a Russian 5.45 mm assault rifle developed from the AK-100-series. It features a "balanced" operating system, similar to that used in the AEK-971. In this case, the designation AK does not indicate Avtomat Kalashnikova but Alexandrov/Kalashnikov...