Ak-12 Developmental Issues

[Dawes]

Sounds like the usual teething problems.If this is committed to production then presumably the issues MUST be fixed:

 

http://en.rian.ru/military_news/20121123/177693290.html

[Simon Tan]

I don't understand why they persist with that sheet metal receiver.....

[Chris Werb]

I don't understand why they persist with that sheet metal receiver.....

 

Yes, in this age of CNC machining you'd think they could have gone to a billet. Are those Picatinny rails or have the Russians done their own thing with that?

[Panzermann]

AFAIK the Russians copied the ubiquitous Picatinny rails. Reduces the headache when mounting imported ancilliary equipment (lights, red dots, night vision...). May also help with exports. Why reinvent the wheel?

 

 

And to me sheet metal seems the simpler and faster production method compared to CNC machined parts. And the tools for sheet metal stampings and pressings are already there and the workers are trained. CNC would cost lots of foreign money to import and then the workers will have to be trained. Or are any Russian CNC machines on the market??

[Wobbly Head]

I don't understand why they persist with that sheet metal receiver.....

 

You could use a S@#t shovel instead.

 

http://www.northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/threads/179192-DIY-Shovel-AK-photo-tsunami-warning!/page17

 

discussed here at http://208.84.116.223/forums/index.php?showtopic=37014

[Simon Tan]

Chris.....not billet. Very wasteful. My 'uberAK' would use an impact extruded 7075 AL receiver. This is probably going to be cheaper than hydroforming.

 

Sheet metal receivers are a PITA for consistency and fixturing. The steel flats also suck as far as corrosion prevention since you are drilling through the prepped/painted surface for pins and rivets.

 

Planning for the future using production techniques of the GPW is not a good plan.

[Exel]

Not sure if the material or construction of the receiver is relevant to it, but one of the great advantages of the original AK design is that it doesn't need lube to cycle. In fact you are supposed to fire it dry and only use oil for cleaning.

 

That's a huge, huge advantage when you use the weapon with poorly trained soldiers or in extreme conditions (think dusty or moist or freezing). If they want to manufacture a gun that will enjoy the original AK's worldwide success, I wouldn't go around changing too much regarding that feature.

[Simon Tan]

The receiver has nothing to do with that. It's also an urban myth. Anything can be made to cycle a few times without lubrication but the AK is NOT designed to operate bone dry, just with minimal lubrication. Do you really believe that oil is for cleaning? What you are getting is a very thin 'dry' film of lubrication that will be less likely to aggregate with carbon and debris.

Edited November 26, 2012 by Simon Tan

[Gavin-Phillips]

Interesting article. Of course any new system will have the odd defect here and there, that's why they aren't just placed straight into production (well apart from the Churchill tank maybe but those were different times). Is the foregrip going to be standard on this new assault rifle or is it an optional extra?

 

Whatever happened to the AN-94 Abakan? The last I heard, this was supposed to be the AK-74 replacement?

 

Best regards

 

Gavin

[JW Collins]

I think that plan was scrapped due to cost reasons.

 

Didn't Izhmash show off an upgraded version of the AK-107 recently with a similar rail configuration and ergonomic changes? In terms of capability I think that would be the better offering, but I suppose the Russian armed forces don't have the money for it.

[Dawes]

Presumably the Russians are firmly wedded to the 5.45x39mm?

[EchoFiveMike]

Chris.....not billet. Very wasteful. My 'uberAK' would use an impact extruded 7075 AL receiver. This is probably going to be cheaper than hydroforming.

 

Sheet metal receivers are a PITA for consistency and fixturing. The steel flats also suck as far as corrosion prevention since you are drilling through the prepped/painted surface for pins and rivets.

 

Planning for the future using production techniques of the GPW is not a good plan.

 

Preferably any other alloy than 7075, which is not effectively weldable. How about 7010 or 7050? How about GRP or other composite with steel or cermet rails? S/F....Ken M

[Exel]

The receiver has nothing to do with that. It's also an urban myth. Anything can be made to cycle a few times without lubrication but the AK is NOT designed to operate bone dry, just with minimal lubrication. Do you really believe that oil is for cleaning? What you are getting is a very thin 'dry' film of lubrication that will be less likely to aggregate with carbon and debris.

 

You are specifically supposed to dry the parts and the barrel with cloth before shooting. Sure, there will always be residue left no matter how much you dry it, but that's quite literally nothing compared to the amount of lubrication required by the AR-15 types.

 

In the field there basically is no need to oil the weapon. Of course you do it if you're able, but you can go without oiling the weapon for days on end and keep shooting and keep shooting.