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The '''AK-47''' (Russian '''А'''втомат '''К'''алашникова образца 19'''47''' года, ''Avtomat Kalashnikova 1947'') is a gas-operated, selective-fire [[assault rifle]] designed by [[Mikhail Kalashnikov]]. Over 100 million have been manufactured, making the AK-47 the most widely used firearm in the world. During the design, Kalashnikov built upon many elements introduced by the [[Nazi]] [[Sturmgewehr44]] and the [[M1 Garand]] of the [[United States]]. The modernized version of the AK-47 is the [[AK-74]] assault rifle, the standard-issue infantry rifle of the [[Russian Federation]].<ref>[http://www.izhmash.ru/eng/ Manufacturer official site]</ref>

The '''AK-47''' (Russian '''А'''втомат '''К'''алашникова образца 19'''47''' года, ''Avtomat Kalashnikova 1947'') is a gas-operated, selective-fire [[assault rifle]] designed by [[Mikhail Kalashnikov]]. Over 100 million have been manufactured, making the AK-47 the most widely used firearm in the world. During the design, Kalashnikov built upon many elements introduced by the [[Nazi]] [[Sturmgewehr44]] and the [[M1 Garand]] of the [[United States]]. The modernized version of the AK-47 is the [[AK-74]] assault rifle, the standard-issue infantry rifle of the [[Russian Federation]].<ref>[http://www.izhmash.ru/eng/ Manufacturer official site]</ref>

After being wounded in combat against Nazi forces during [[World War II]], Kalashnikov realized that most firefights in modern combat occurred within approximately 100 meters. Noting this, he began to design an assault rifle with a smaller cartridge than a standard rifle, a higher rate of fire, and more power than a submachine gun.<ref>[http://kalashnikov.guns.ru/ Kalashnikov official site]</ref><ref>[http://www.ak-47.net/ AK-47.net]</ref>

After being wounded in combat against Nazi forces during [[World War II]], Kalashnikov realized that most firefights in modern combat occurred within approximately 100 meters. Noting this, he began to design an assault rifle with a smaller cartridge than a standard rifle, a higher rate of fire, and more power than a submachine gun. The aesthetic design of the gun is similar to that of the Sturmgewehr44, but the moving parts of the gun look more like those of an M1 Garand rifle.<ref>[http://kalashnikov.guns.ru/ Kalashnikov official site]</ref><ref>[http://www.ak-47.net/ AK-47.net]</ref>

The AK-47 has a reputation for durability, having been fully submerged in water and filled with sand without significant affects on the gun's performance.<ref>[http://www.strategypage.com/dls/articles/20030423.asp AK Durability Assessment]</ref> This is due to the distance between major moving parts, allowing a greater tolerance. However, this comes at a cost of accuracy; the distance between parts means that the gun cannot be as precise and, therefore, not as accurate. The AK-47 has seen widespread use, being involved in virtually every armed conflict since it's design.

The AK-47 has a reputation for durability, having been fully submerged in water and filled with sand without significant affects on the gun's performance.<ref>[http://www.strategypage.com/dls/articles/20030423.asp AK Durability Assessment]</ref> This is due to the distance between major moving parts, allowing a greater tolerance. However, this comes at a cost of accuracy; the distance between parts means that the gun cannot be as precise and, therefore, not as accurate. The AK-47 has seen widespread use, being involved in virtually every armed conflict since it's design.