AKM
- Category
- Assault Rifle
- Barrel
- 415 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.06 kg
- Introduced
- 1959
About
What it is, and why it matters
The AKM is a select-fire assault rifle chambered in 7.62x39mm, produced by Kalashnikov Concern (formerly Izhmash) since 1959. 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 3060g (107.9 oz), this is a substantial firearm whose weight contributes to reduced felt recoil and enhanced stability during precision shooting. The stamped 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 AKM's switch from the AK-47's expensive milled receiver to a stamped sheet-metal receiver was a manufacturing revolution that made the Kalashnikov cheap enough to arm the developing world. The distinctive slant muzzle compensator became one of the most recognized firearm features in history.
The AKM's stamped receiver can be identified by rivets on the sides and the distinct indentation above the magazine well. The AKMS variant features an under-folding metal stock similar to the AKS-47 but adapted for the stamped receiver. Compatible with 40-round box magazines and 75-round drum magazines in addition to the standard 30-round curved box magazine. The AKM replaced the AK-47 in Soviet service and was subsequently itself replaced by the AK-74 in 5.45x39mm beginning in 1974, though it remained in widespread reserve and export use. Weight of 3.06 kg is for the fixed-stock AKM without magazine; the AKMS folding-stock variant weighs 3.53 kg.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Kalashnikov Concern
- Category
- Assault Rifle
- Country
- Soviet Union
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 1959
- Variant of
- Modernized
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 415 mm
- Overall length
- 876 mm
- Height
- 190 mm
- Width
- 45 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.06 kg
- Weight, loaded
- 3.54 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
- Stamped steel
- Barrel
- Steel
- Stock
- Wood
- Finish
- Blued
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 715 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 2010 J
- Effective range
- 400 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
Slant muzzle compensator
Stamped receiver
Rotating bolt
Select fire
Curved magazine
Bayonet lug
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 | 3.06 kg | 3.60 kg | Lighter than about 90% |
| Overall lengthAmong 58 7.62x39mm assault rifles | 876 mm | 880 mm | Shorter than about 60% |
| 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 |
Its place in the rankings
Answers
Questions about the AKM
How much does the AKM weigh?
The AKM weighs 3.06 kg (6.75 lb) empty and 3.54 kg (7.80 lb) loaded. It is the 5th lightest of 59 7.62x39mm assault rifles in the catalogue.
What caliber is the AKM?
The AKM is chambered in 7.62x39mm.
How many rounds does the AKM hold?
The AKM holds 30 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the AKM?
The AKM is 876 mm (34.5 in) long overall, with a 415 mm (16.3 in) barrel.
Who makes the AKM?
The AKM is made by Kalashnikov Concern (Russia). It was designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov.
When was the AKM introduced?
The AKM was introduced in 1959.
How does the AKM operate?
The AKM 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
- Soviet Armed Forces
- 1959
- Russian Armed Forces
- 1991
- Hungarian Defence Forces
- 1963
- Bulgarian Armed Forces
- Bulgaria
- East German National People's Army
- East Germany
- Yugoslav People's Army
- Yugoslavia
- Egyptian Armed Forces
- Egypt
- Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces
- Cuba
- Vietnam People's Army
- Vietnam
- North Korean People's Army
- 1968
Provenance
Confidence in this record
85%
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/akm' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "akm", "name": "AKM", "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": "SU", "year_introduced": 1959, "barrel_length_mm": 415, "weight_empty_g": 3060, "action_type": "gas_operated_long_stroke"}