Question by Johan: how can you tell the difference between the AK 47, type 56 rifle, and KL-7.62?
Answers and Views:
Answer by R
The sound of the weapons are pretty unique. That’s how I tell.
Answer by Drgeeforce
Differences from and similarities to the AK-47 and AKM
Type 56-1 (left), Type 84S (center), and Type 56 (right).
* The Type 56 has The RPK 1.5mm stamped receiver (minus the reinforced trunnion of the RPK) versus the 1mm stamping of the AKM.
* The barrel on the Type 56 is similar to the AK-47 and heavier than that of the AKM.
* The front sights are fully enclosed compared to the AKM and AK-47 which are partially opened.
* Has the double hook disconnector of the AK-47 unlike the single hook disconnector of the AKM.
* Has a smooth dust cover like the AK-47; unlike the ribbed dust cover of the AKM.
* May have a folding spike bayonet (nicknamed the “pig sticker”) as opposed to the detachable knife bayonets of the AK-47 and AKM. There are three different types of spike bayonets made for Type 56 rifles. Type 56 assault rifle are only AK like assault rifles that use spike bayonets.
* Most Type 56’s do not have the threaded muzzle found on the AK-47 and AKM.
* Has a blued finish like the AK-47 unlike the AKM which has a black oxide finish or a parkerized finish.
* Like the AK-47, the sights will adjust to 800 metres, where the AKM’s will adjust to 1000 metres.
* Most Type 56’s lack the side scope mount the AKM has.
* The wood furniture on the Type 56 tends to not be made from laminate wood like the Russian Kalashnikovs.
* The gas relief ports are located on the gas tube like the AK-47, unlike the AKM which has the gas relief ports located forward to the gas block.
[edit] Type 56 variants
Bolivian Marines sitting on inflatable boats, carrying Type 56 rifles and scuba equipment during the military parade in Cochabamba.
* Type 56 – Basic variant introduced in 1956. Chinese copy of AK-47 with fixed wooden stock and permanently attached spike bayonet. Beginning in the mid-1960s, the guns were manufactured with stamped receivers, mimicking the improved (and cheaper) Russian AKM, while the permanently attached bayonet became optional.
* Type 56-I – Copy of the AKS-47, with an under-folding steel shoulder stock and the bayonet removed. Like the original Type 56, milled receivers were replaced by stamped receivers in the mid-1960s, which made the Type 56-1 an equivalent to the Russian AKMS.
* Type 56-II – Improved variant introduced in 1980, with a side-folding stock. Export only.
* Type 56C (QBZ56C) – Shortened barrel version introduced in 1991 for domestic and export market. The QBZ56C began development in 1988, shortly after it was discovered that the Type 81 assault rifle was too difficult to shorten. The QBZ56C as it is officially designated in China, is a shortened, carbine variant of the Type 56-II. The barrel length has been reduced to 280mm and overall length of the rifle is reduced, to 557mm long with the stock folded and 764mm long with the stock extended. The QBZ56C weighs only 2.85 kg and has an effective range of up to 300m. The QBZ56C is used by the People’s Liberation Army Navy on both surface and submersible ships and with the People’s Liberation Army Special Operations Forces as a limited issue weapon, the QBZ56C is also in limited use by PLA reserve forces and militia stationed in Tibet, as the thinner air at higher altitudes strains soldiers’ ability to carry heavy objects. In order to further lighten the total weight of the weapon, the bayonet lug was removed and the QBZ56C uses is often carried with a twenty round box magazine but is capable of accepting a standard Type 56 thirty round magazine. [2] In general, the QBZ56C is being phased out by the PLA in favor of more advanced and lighter carbine assault rifles like the QBZ-95B
* Type 56S or Type 56 Sporter – civilian version with only semiautomatic mode.[3]
* Type 84S – A Civilian version of the Type 56 rifle chambered for the 5.56x45mm NATO round.
[edit] KL-7.62
A Beninese soldier with a Type 56.
The Iranian state arms conglomerate Defense Industries Organization (DIO) currently manufactures a 7.62x39mm Kalashnikov-type assault rifle for the Iranian armed forces, which is designated KL-7.62[4]. The KL-7.62 is an unlicensed, reverse-engineered copy of the Chinese Type 56 rifles which Iran purchased from the Chinese government in enormous numbers to equip its forces in the Iran–Iraq War. The original version of the KL-7.62 was indistinguishable from the Type 56, but in recent years, DIO appears to have made some improvements to the Type 56 design, adding a plastic stock and hand guards (rather than wood) and a ribbed receiver cover (featured on most AKM variants, but missing from the Type 56). (See also List of military equipment manufactured in Iran)
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