Ak 4
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ak 4 | |
|---|---|
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| Type | battle rifle |
| Place of origin | Sweden (original design G3 is German) |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Sweden, Estonia |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | 1965 – 1970 by Husqvarna Vapenfabrik, 1965 – by Carl Gustafs Stads Gevärsfaktori |
| Specifications | |
| Cartridge | 7.62 × 51 mm NATO |
| Rate of fire | 600 rounds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 790 m/s |
| Maximum range | 500 m |
| Feed system | 20 round magazine |
| Sights | iron sights |
The Ak 4 is a Swedish version of the German Heckler & Koch G3 battle rifle.
It was selected as the service rifle of the Swedish Armed Forces during the early 1960s to replace the Swedish Mauser m/96 bolt-action rifle, Carl Gustaf M/45 submachine gun, Ag 42B semi-automatic rifle and the Swedish m/37 Automatic rifle. The goal was to find a modern rifle combining the features of the rifles it was replacing, namely; the impact and power of the Ag 42B and the full auto capacity of the m/37 Automatic rifle and Carl Gustaf M/45.
The main competitors were a prototype of the Swedish Gram rifle (development of the Ag m/42), the German HK G3 battle rifle, the Belgian FN FAL battle rifle, the American M-14 battle rifle, and the Swiss SIG 510 battle rifle. After a number of different test in various environments the HK G3 rifle was chosen and modified on 40 accounts and thereafter renamed Ak 4 (in Swedish: Automatkarbin 4, in English "Assault rifle 4" or literally "Automatic carbine 4"). Rifles were manufactured 1965-1970 by both Carl Gustafs Stads Gevärsfaktori and Husqvarna Vapenfabrik but from 1970 to the end of production in 1985 only by Gevärsfaktori in Eskilstuna.
The Ak 4 is a selective fire battle rifle that fires the 7.62 x 51 mm NATO cartridge. The rifle is magazine-fed and each magazine holds 20 rounds. The firing principle of the weapon is roller-delayed blow-back function. The AK 4 is a very accurate battle rifle that can with standard sights hit a stationary target at 500 meters.
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[edit] Variants
The Ak 4 is available in the Swedish armed forces in three different types. They are:
- Ak 4 A
- Standard basic version
- Ak 4 B
- New modification with red-dot sight, increased rate of fire and enhanced exterior surface
- Ak 4 OR
- The basic version with a telescopic sight with 4x enhancement
The Ak 4 can also be fitted with the Colt M203 grenade-launcher.
[edit] Replacement
The Ak 4 has been replaced in the Swedish Armed Forces by the lighter and smaller caliber Ak 5 chambered in 5.56 x 45 mm NATO. But the AK 4 is still in service with the Swedish Home Guard. It is also used in the Estonian Defence Forces as a service weapon.
The main drawback of the G3 and Ak 4 lies in the choice of caliber: it is a superb weapon as a rifle, but more difficult to handle in automatic mode, or even in short bursts.
[edit] See also
- Service rifle
- Ak 5, the Ak 4's replacement and current service rifle of the Swedish armed forces.
