AK-103
- Category
- Assault Rifle
- Barrel
- 415 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.40 kg
- Introduced
- 1994
About
What it is, and why it matters
The AK-103 is a select-fire assault rifle chambered in 7.62x39mm, produced by Kalashnikov Concern (formerly Izhmash) since 1994. 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 16.3-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 AK-103 became the centerpiece of Russia's arms diplomacy in the 2000s, with licensed production agreements in Venezuela, Ethiopia, and Saudi Arabia making it one of the most widely manufactured modern Kalashnikov variants outside Russia.
The AK-103 uses the same receiver, trigger group, and furniture as the AK-74M, differing primarily in barrel chambering and magazine well dimensions. The AK-104 is a compact carbine variant with a shorter barrel and muzzle brake. The AK-103M modernization adds Picatinny rail interfaces and updated ergonomics. Weight listed is without magazine; with loaded 30-round magazine approximately 3.88 kg.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Kalashnikov Concern
- Category
- Assault Rifle
- Country
- Russia
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 1994
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 415 mm
- Overall length
- 943 mm
- Height
- 190 mm
- Width
- 45 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.40 kg
- Weight, loaded
- 3.88 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
- Phosphate
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 750 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 2010 J
- Effective range
- 500 m
- Maximum range
- 1000 m
- Rate of fire
- 600 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.
Chrome lined barrel
Chrome lined chamber
Muzzle brake compensator
Rotating bolt
Select fire
Folding stock
Side optics mount
Polymer furniture
Curved magazine
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 | 943 mm | 880 mm | Longer than about 80% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 57 7.62x39mm assault rifles | 415 mm | 415 mm | Near the median |
| Magazine capacityAmong 59 7.62x39mm assault rifles | 30 | 30 | Near the median |
Answers
Questions about the AK-103
How much does the AK-103 weigh?
The AK-103 weighs 3.40 kg (7.50 lb) empty and 3.88 kg (8.55 lb) loaded.
What caliber is the AK-103?
The AK-103 is chambered in 7.62x39mm.
How many rounds does the AK-103 hold?
The AK-103 holds 30 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the AK-103?
The AK-103 is 943 mm (37.1 in) long overall, with a 415 mm (16.3 in) barrel.
Who makes the AK-103?
The AK-103 is made by Kalashnikov Concern (Russia).
When was the AK-103 introduced?
The AK-103 was introduced in 1994.
How does the AK-103 operate?
The AK-103 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 Armed Forces
- 1994
- Venezuelan Armed Forces
- 2006
- Indian Armed Forces (MARCOS / Garud)
- India
- Ethiopian National Defense Force
- Ethiopia
- Armenian Armed Forces
- 2020
- Saudi Arabian Armed Forces
- 2017
- Iranian Armed Forces
- Iran
- Uruguayan National Guard
- Uruguay
Provenance
Confidence in this record
82%
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/ak-103' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "ak-103", "name": "AK-103", "manufacturer": { "id": "kalashnikov-concern", "name": "Kalashnikov Concern", "countryCode": "RU", "foundedYear": 1807, "website": "https://kalashnikovgroup.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "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": "3593fe6aaed7a4f74f79c1f4f9b92bb1f45e039a826875e780967c2ed2b49d04" }, "category": { "id": "assault-rifle", "name": "Assault Rifle", "description": "Selective-fire rifles chambered in intermediate cartridges" }, "country_of_origin": "RU", "year_introduced": 1994, "barrel_length_mm": 415, "weight_empty_g": 3400, "action_type": "gas_operated_long_stroke"}