Multi-Calibre Assault Rifle: Made in India vs Make in India

[niaz]

From the infantry soldier's view point, characteristics of a good infantry assault rifle should be:

1. Reliability. An infantry soldier is only effective if his rife works. If the rifle jams, he is a sitting duck.

2. Effectiveness. Once shot, the enemy soldier should be incapacitated.

3. Easy & cheap to build, easy to train with accuracy within normal eye sight range (about 500 meters) and a reasonable rate of fire.

No rifle is perfect as each operational situation has slightly different requirements. This implies different kind of weapons for different operation environment. Hence the need of multi-calibre rifle.

At the end of the day, if you want a ‘General’ purpose assault rifle which has optimum performance for a wide range of missions in a wide range of operation environment; a series of trade off to balance the pros & cons have to be made.
Nearly all defence analysts say that AK-47 in its AKM version is the best assault rifle of all times.

I would not change it. Instead of changing to the ‘Multi-calibre’ rifle; I would spend my resources on the ‘Ammunition’ research and have different kind of ammunition to deal with different situations using the same rifle.

 

[Argon Prime]

From the infantry soldier's view point, characteristics of a good infantry assault rifle should be:

1. Reliability. An infantry soldier is only effective if his rife works. If the rifle jams, he is a sitting duck.

2. Effectiveness. Once shot, the enemy soldier should be incapacitated.

3. Easy & cheap to build, easy to train with accuracy within normal eye sight range (about 500 meters) and a reasonable rate of fire.

No rifle is perfect as each operational situation has slightly different requirements. This implies different kind of weapons for different operation environment. Hence the need of multi-calibre rifle.

At the end of the day, if you want a ‘General’ purpose assault rifle which has optimum performance for a wide range of missions in a wide range of operation environment; a series of trade off to balance the pros & cons have to be made.
Nearly all defence analysts say that AK-47 in its AKM version is the best assault rifle of all times.

I would not change it. Instead of changing to the ‘Multi-calibre’ rifle; I would spend my resources on the ‘Ammunition’ research and have different kind of ammunition to deal with different situations using the same rifle.

A very well written post.While I agree to most part,the biggest problem with AKM is the ammunition used - the M43.It has got the worst ballistic coefficient,limiting its effective range and its sub par accuracy beyond 200 meters due to its much slower muzzle velocity and excessive drop.Its trajectory is just too parabolic to reliably engage anything beyond 200 meters.Besides,its the long-stroke piston gas system also makes the whole platform unstable, owing to its disruption of the point of aim due to the rapid and continuous shifting of the center of mass back and forth,during each and every action cycle, and energetic and abrupt stops at the beginning and end of bolt carrier travel.

So one has to make a choice between the ultimate reliability and long range precision.This leads me to the conclusion that there can not be one-fit-for-all-situation type of solution when it comes to individual firearms.

 

[niaz]

A very well written post.While I agree to most part,the biggest problem with AKM is the ammunition used - the M43.It has got the worst ballistic coefficient,limiting its effective range and its sub par accuracy beyond 200 meters due to its much slower muzzle velocity and excessive drop.Its trajectory is just too parabolic to reliably engage anything beyond 200 meters.Besides,its the long-stroke piston gas system also makes the whole platform unstable, owing to its disruption of the point of aim due to the rapid and continuous shifting of the center of mass back and forth,during each and every action cycle, and energetic and abrupt stops at the beginning and end of bolt carrier travel.

So one has to make a choice between the ultimate reliability and long range precision.This leads me to the conclusion that there can not be one-fit-for-all-situation type of solution when it comes to individual firearms.

I would agree with you. In some situations such as sniper role you have to use a different rifle. For example Russian sniper rifle is Dragonov svd and Russian Paras carry AK-74 rifles. Current AK-47 ammunition (7.62 X 39 mm) ballistics is indeed inferior when compared with the ballistics of the Nato 7.62 x 51 mm round.

I would also like to come with ammunition of up to 400 meters flat trajectory. Therefore I have stated that I would rather put my resources into ammunition research.

I only meant to state that on balance AKM is the best compromise there is.

 

[Argon Prime]

I would agree with you. In some situations such as sniper role you have to use a different rifle. For example Russian sniper rifle is Dragonov svd and Russian Paras carry AK-74 rifles. Current AK-47 ammunition (7.62 X 39 mm) ballistics is indeed inferior when compared with the ballistics of the Nato 7.62 x 51 mm round.

Not just inferior to the M80 NATO (being a full powered rifle cartridge, it's on a whole different level anyway ),but most 5.56X45 as well.

I would also like to come with ammunition of up to 400 meters flat trajectory. Therefore I have stated that I would rather put my resources into ammunition research.

Well,then you should go for the 6.8 Remington SPC,that thing was specially designed as a 500 yards class cartridge.My personal favorite is the Grendel though,that thing is a beast.

I only meant to state that on balance AKM is the best compromise there is.

Well,for reliability and ease of maintenance - of course.But accuracy is also important you know.The 5.56 takes the lead here by a significant margin.

 

[bdslph]

just go for the russian Ak series they have a lot of good one produce it locally