Engineering:AO-63 assault rifle
| AO-63 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Assault rifle |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Sergei Simonov, Peter Tkachev |
| Designed | 1984 |
| Manufacturer | TsNIITochMash |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 3.68kg |
| Length | 890mm |
| Cartridge | 5.45x39mm |
| Barrels | 2 |
| Action | Gas-operation |
| Rate of fire | 850-6000rpm |
| Feed system | 45 round detachable box magazine |
| Sights | Iron |
The AO-63 (Russian: Автомат АО-63) is a Soviet two-barrel AK derived assault rifle chambered for the 5.45x39mm round. It was designed by S. G. Simonov and P. A. Tkachev, and manufactured by TsNIITochMash. It uses a side by side barrel configuration, and it can reach a maximum rate of fire of 6000 rounds/min when fired in two round burst mode with a 0.01 second delay to increase ballistic performance, making it the fastest firing assault rifle known.
Development
The AO-63 assault rifle was used by the Spetsnaz during the Abakan trials in May/June 1986, in search of a more accurate alternative to replace the standard issue AK-74. It was described in the official report as being highly accurate as well as simple and reliable; despite its accuracy and performance, it was later dropped out of the competition for unknown reasons, with the AN-94 emerging victorious.
Overview
The AO-63 is a gas operated, 5.45x39mm calibre, twin barrel assault rifle derived from the Kalashnikov rifle. The weapon has side by side barrels with the right barrel predominant, twin rotating bolts/gas pistons and ejects from both sides. The trigger group has a 3 position selector on the right side of the receiver, the first is semi auto firing one barrel, the second in full auto firing both barrels with a 0.01 second delay, the third is unique as at first it fires a two-round 6000rpm burst then one barrel in 850rpm full auto. The magazine is unusual as it has the main double column holding 30 rounds with a single column holding 15 rounds.
References
- AO-63 assault rifle video
- AO-63 assault rifle
- [1]
- Ружье" 1_1998 "Эйнштейн, Чехов и Платон?
- Oruzhie magazine, Pages 6/7/8, Issue No1 1998.
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