AKMS
- Category
- Assault Rifle
- Barrel
- 415 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.53 kg
- Introduced
- 1959
About
What it is, and why it matters
The AKMS is a select-fire assault rifle chambered in 7.62x39mm, produced by Kalashnikov Concern (formerly Izhmash / Tula Arms) 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 3530g (124.5 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 AKMS was the weapon of choice for Soviet paratroopers jumping into Afghanistan, its underfolding stock allowing compact stowage during airborne operations. The distinctive silhouette of the unfolded metal stock became an iconic Cold War image.
The AKMS was the most widely distributed folding-stock AK variant of the Cold War era, with tens of millions produced across the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, and licensed factories worldwide. The underfolding stock design, while compact, provides minimal cheek weld and is considered less comfortable for extended firing compared to fixed-stock models. The 'S' designation (Skladnoy/Folding) became the standard nomenclature for all subsequent folding-stock AK variants. Romanian, East German, Egyptian, and Chinese factories all produced AKMS variants with minor local modifications. The weapon is visually iconic from its extensive appearance in Cold War-era conflicts from Vietnam to Afghanistan to numerous African wars. Compatible with all standard AKM/AK-47 30-round and 40-round magazines as well as 75-round drum magazines.
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
- Folding stock
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 415 mm
- Overall length
- 895 mm
- Height
- 190 mm
- Width
- 45 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.53 kg
- Weight, loaded
- 3.93 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
- Steel
- Finish
- Blued
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 710 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 2010 J
- Effective range
- 400 m
- Maximum range
- 800 m
- Rate of fire
- 775 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
Rotating bolt
Select fire
Underfolding metal stock
Stamped receiver
Slant muzzle brake
Rate reducer
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 | 3.53 kg | 3.60 kg | Lighter than about 60% |
| Overall lengthAmong 58 7.62x39mm assault rifles | 895 mm | 880 mm | Longer 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 |
Answers
Questions about the AKMS
How much does the AKMS weigh?
The AKMS weighs 3.53 kg (7.78 lb) empty and 3.93 kg (8.66 lb) loaded.
What caliber is the AKMS?
The AKMS is chambered in 7.62x39mm.
How many rounds does the AKMS hold?
The AKMS holds 30 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the AKMS?
The AKMS is 895 mm (35.2 in) long overall, with a 415 mm (16.3 in) barrel.
Who makes the AKMS?
The AKMS is made by Kalashnikov Concern (Russia). It was designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov.
When was the AKMS introduced?
The AKMS was introduced in 1959.
How does the AKMS operate?
The AKMS 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
- Soviet Airborne Forces (VDV)
- 1959
- Russian Armed Forces
- 1991
- Egyptian Armed Forces
- 1965
- North Vietnamese Army
- 1965
Provenance
Confidence in this record
90%
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/akms' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "akms", "name": "AKMS", "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": 3530, "action_type": "gas_operated_long_stroke"}