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Izhmash AL-7

1972 COLD WAR

History of the Izhmash AL-7

The updated AK-107 and AK-108 assault rifles, detailed elsewhere on this site, evolved from the "AL-7" design in the 1970s Initial experimental type. The AL-7 differs from previous Kalashnikovs in that it relies on a "balanced" gas system to operate the automatic weapon. This new system is specifically designed to reduce the inherent recoil of such automatic weapons, which in turn reduces barrel climb during continuous fire -- known as "muzzle up" or "muzzle climb." Its development can be traced back to engineering work done by Pyotr Tkachyov of Tsniitochmash in the 1960s, and its official name is known as the "Balanced Automatic Recoil System" or "BARS".

Subsequently, Yuriy Alexandrov of Izhmash took the system and modified it to power the pneumatic AL-7 prototype.

Although the AL-7 was an improvement over previous AK types, the AL-7 was considered too complex and expensive to mass produce in the quantities required by the Soviet military at the time. Therefore, the design was abandoned and not restored until the 1990s.

Alexandrov sought the opportunity to simplify his early creations to compete with the Izhmash AN-94 product (detailed elsewhere on this site). The resulting modifications resulted in the AK-107 and AK-108 series, whose "AK" designation actually came from the "Alexandrov/Kalashnikov" marriage, not from "Avtomat Kalashnikov" which denoted earlier AK rifles.

The AN-94 itself was adopted in 1995 and is still in service today - albeit in limited numbers and only with some members of the Russian Army and Government Internal Affairs and Police teams.

The BARS arrangement removed the Kalashnikov's initial reliance on a pneumatic piston, and it was this displacement that allowed better control of recoil - the weapon became a more stable firing tool and also helped improve Range accuracy. The recoil offset by the rearward action of the bolt and bolt holder is now more concentrated on the muzzle than on the rifle body itself, then the efficiency of the standard shooter is increased (at least in theory).

The Soviet Army switched to the AK-74 with cost as a key issue, inheriting the heritage and familiarity of its force and logistics network. The BARS approach was also tried in several other Cold War-era rifle types, but few, if any, gained enough traction to be a front-line weapon in the Soviet Union.

When finished, the AL-7 weighed 8.5 pounds and had a barrel length of 36.5 inches. The standard 30-round detachable curved magazine is inserted into the bottom of the case as usual - the chutes are located directly on the trigger group and pistol grip. The gas cylinder is located above the barrel and is fitted with a typical shoulder rest.

In extreme cases, the effective range is up to 1,500 yards. Aiming is achieved through the front and rear iron fittings for more accurate long-range shooting.

The rifle also supports the installation of a GP-30 under-barrel grenade launcher ( UBGL) to further expand the Soviet infantry with tactical value standards.