AEK-973
- Category
- Assault Rifle
- Barrel
- 420 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.40 kg
- Introduced
- 1985
About
What it is, and why it matters
The AEK-973 is a select-fire assault rifle chambered in 7.62x39mm, produced by Kovrov Mechanical Plant (KMZ) since 1985. This Russian-manufactured firearm reflects the engineering traditions and quality standards of its country of origin, designed to meet the demands of both civilian and professional users in a competitive global marketplace. Featuring a 30-round magazine capacity, this assault rifle offers generous firepower for duty use and home defense. The 16.5-inch barrel maximizes accuracy potential and ballistic performance, making this an excellent choice for target shooting, competition, or field use. At 3400g (119.9 oz), this is a substantial firearm whose weight contributes to reduced felt recoil and enhanced stability during precision shooting. The steel frame provides a solid, premium feel with the durability to withstand decades of regular use and thousands of rounds. This firearm represents its manufacturer's commitment to delivering a well-engineered, reliable product that serves the needs of discerning shooters seeking quality, accuracy, and dependable performance from a proven platform.
The AEK-973 was the heavy hitter of the AEK family, chambered in the hard-hitting 7.62x39mm cartridge. Though production was limited, it proved the balanced-action system could tame even full-power intermediate cartridges, paving the way for the modern A-762 variant.
The AEK-973 was developed alongside the AEK-971 during the Abakan rifle trials (1980s), intended as the heavier-caliber option for specialized roles requiring greater stopping power. While the AN-94 won the competition, limited numbers of AEK-973 were produced for evaluation and specialized applications. Compatible with all standard AKM magazines including 30-round steel/polymer magazines and 40-round RPK magazines. The balanced-action system proved particularly beneficial for controlling the heavier 7.62x39mm recoil, making sustained automatic fire significantly more accurate than conventional AKMs. Production was discontinued in 2006 but the design was later modernized and reintroduced as the A-762 (6P68) in 2018. The AEK-973S was a short-barreled variant with ~300mm barrel for close-quarters applications.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- V.A. Degtyarev Plant (ZiD)
- Category
- Assault Rifle
- Country
- Russia
- Status
- Discontinued
- Produced
- 1985
- Variant of
- Different caliber
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 420 mm
- Overall length
- 960 mm
- Height
- 190 mm
- Width
- 45 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.40 kg
- Weight, loaded
- 3.80 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Gas operated long stroke
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer fired
- Trigger
- Single stage
- Capacity
- 30
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Steel
- Barrel
- Steel
- Stock
- Polymer
- Finish
- Matte black
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 710 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 2010 J
- Effective range
- 500 m
- Maximum range
- 1000 m
- Rate of fire
- 900 rpm
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Balanced automatics recoil system- Counter mass mechanism
Side folding stock
Chrome lined barrel
Rotating bolt
Select fire- Improved accuracy automatic fire
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 59 7.62x39mm assault rifles | 3.40 kg | 3.60 kg | Lighter than about 70% |
| Overall lengthAmong 58 7.62x39mm assault rifles | 960 mm | 880 mm | Longer than about 90% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 57 7.62x39mm assault rifles | 420 mm | 415 mm | Longer than about 80% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 59 7.62x39mm assault rifles | 30 | 30 | Near the median |
Answers
Questions about the AEK-973
How much does the AEK-973 weigh?
The AEK-973 weighs 3.40 kg (7.50 lb) empty and 3.80 kg (8.38 lb) loaded.
What caliber is the AEK-973?
The AEK-973 is chambered in 7.62x39mm.
How many rounds does the AEK-973 hold?
The AEK-973 holds 30 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the AEK-973?
The AEK-973 is 960 mm (37.8 in) long overall, with a 420 mm (16.5 in) barrel.
Who makes the AEK-973?
The AEK-973 is made by V.A. Degtyarev Plant (ZiD) (Russia). It was designed by Stanislav Koksharov.
When was the AEK-973 introduced?
The AEK-973 was introduced in 1985.
How does the AEK-973 operate?
The AEK-973 uses a gas operated long stroke action, and its firing mechanism is hammer fired.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
In service
- Russian MVD (Ministry of Internal Affairs)
- 2000
Provenance
Confidence in this record
72%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/aek-973' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "aek-973", "name": "AEK-973", "manufacturer": { "id": "kovrov-mechanical-plant", "name": "V.A. Degtyarev Plant (ZiD)", "countryCode": "RU", "foundedYear": 1916, "website": "https://zid.ru/eng/", "logoUrl": null, "description": "Russian firearms manufacturer established in 1916 in Kovrov as a machine-gun manufacturing facility. Officially V.A. Degtyarev Plant, now OJSC. Historically produced PPSh-41, Kord, PKM machine guns. Note: modern Kovrov Mechanical Plant (KMZ) established 1950 is separate and focuses on nuclear industry.", "status": "active", "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": true, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-11 23:44:38", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:43:38", "version": "6bbc0f6f4a5959a471342246234e8ddcacaa1abaa902c1a1e50d086baef3f874" }, "category": { "id": "assault-rifle", "name": "Assault Rifle", "description": "Selective-fire rifles chambered in intermediate cartridges" }, "country_of_origin": "RU", "year_introduced": 1985, "barrel_length_mm": 420, "weight_empty_g": 3400, "action_type": "gas_operated_long_stroke"}