Light Machine Gun

AK-47 Accuracy and Reliability

Before the price gouging of weapons, while I was stationed at Ft. Benning GA, I purchased an AK-47 (Romanian) at a local dealership for $174.00. I wanted an AK-47 after a few deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, everyone in those areas of operations had one and it seemed to serve its purpose for them just fine. I’m sure we’ve all heard the rumors about how reliable and accurate they are, but just how true are they? I must say, I’ve seen a plethora of AK’s pulled off of targets and personnel that were in really bad condition, some appeared as if they hadn’t been cleaned in at least 10 years and they shot just fine. As far as their reliability, I’m not sure, after all the guys we were fighting didn’t necessarily aim them. I wanted to see just how accurate these rifles truly were and exactly what they can withstand and why.

Accuracy

As we know, the AK-47 is not the most accurate weapon when compared to other assault rifles, such as the M4/AR-15, why is that and exactly how accurate is the AK. I’ve been shooting my AK-47 for around 7 years now and put over 35,000 rounds through it. The accuracy of the AK when I first took it out of the box was a steady 4.73 MOA rifle. Though over time, I’ve seen changes in its accuracy as I am now only capable of holding a 5.8-inch group at 100 yards. This is more than likely due to poor maintenance which I did intentionally to test reliability. When compared to the accuracy of the M4, this may seem bad to some, especially when a standard M4 can easily hold a 3-inch group at 100 yards.

I’d have to credit the AK’s lack of accuracy to its “functioning” and the projectiles ballistic coefficient. The AK-47 is made up of only a few “moving” parts. Though there are fewer parts, these parts are made up of large chunks of metal. Take the bolt for example once fired. The hunk of metal that unlocks and flies back once fired is pretty heavy when compared to the M4. As it rides the railing and slams to the back, the weapons harmonics are disturbed significantly, take a look at a few videos of the AK-47 fired in slow motion and note the amount of barrel whip. You may also find a decrease in accuracy due to the fact that the rifle’s handguard is made up of wood. Wood has a notorious tendency to bend, tighten, and loosen under temperature changes. For example, in the summertime, the doors within your home may become harder to open and close because wood expands and shrinks when hot. This shrinking and expansion of the wood handguard, though minuet, changes the harmonics of the barrel.

Another reason I believe the weapon lacks in accuracy is due to the projectiles harmonics. The 5.56 has a G7 ballistic coefficient of ≈0.304 while the 7.62×39 (123 gr) has a coefficient of ≈0.275. The lack of its ability to overcome air resistance in flight is also another reason why the rifle is “less accurate”.

Reliability

With my personal AK-47, I’ve put it through a variety of test since I purchased it. With all of the rounds fired, the environments that it’s been exposed to, I have only cleaned it 5 times. It has seen the desert, mud, cold, extreme heat (109+ degrees Fahrenheit), rain, snow, etc. With all of that being said, I have only seen only 6, I emphasize 6 malfunctions, which were all failures to feed. Why is that?

I believe this is completely due to the weapons design and function. The fact that there are fewer parts needed to operate the weapon, there are fewer parts to get obscured by any foreign objects such as dirt, mud, etc. The debris simply falls out of the rifle, or they are disturbed so much that they simply maneuver away from the critical mechanisms needed to fire the weapon. This is a “crude” weapon, its suppose to be, there is a reason why our enemies continue to use this weapon system. The next time you have a chance, disassemble your AK and compare it to an M4, note the open spaces in the trigger mechanism and the designs of the bolt, just picture how debris would and can maneuver in each platform.

Afghan Local Police recruits gather around AK47 rifles for a safety brief before beginning a dry-fire range class in Nawbahar district, Zabul province, Afghanistan, March 24. The class is part of a three-week course that teaches ALP candidates basic policing procedures, weapons handling and other skills necessary to protect and defend Afghan citizens.

Specifications

Action: Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire: Cyclic rate of fire is 600 rounds/min
Semi Auto : 40 rounds/ min
Muzzle velocity: 715 m/s (2,350 ft/s)
Effective range: 350 meters (380 yd)….. I’d beg to differ and push it out to 480 on a silhouette target.
Feed system: Standard magazine capacity is 30 rounds. There are also 10, 20, 40, 75, and 100
round detachable box and drum style magazines.

*Photos courtesy of DVIDS

Arms of the Soviet Union: DP-28 Light Machine Gun

The DP-28 is a large and imposing piece of military hardware. It is purposely built to destroy targets no matter if it’s paper, a piece of scrap steel, a car, or a Nazi bunker. That fact becomes obvious the first time a person inspects and handles the weapon.

Shortly after the Communists were victorious in their revolution and ousting of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, they set to strengthen their armed forces. The problems with Imperial Russian military thinking became obvious to the Soviets after they suffered more than 5 million casualties in World War One. The Russian’s only machine gun available at that time was the Maxim machine gun. The Maxim, while revolutionary in design, was problematic for several reasons. Chiefly, it wasn’t very portable and water-cooled, meaning the outside jacket of the weapon had to be refilled with clean water in order to prevent malfunctions.

That all changed in 1927 when Soviet weapons engineer Vasily Alekseyevich Degtyaryov submitted his prototype for what is commonly refer to as the DP-28 Light Machine Gun. His new design was exactly what the Red Army was looking for – a highly portable machine gun to serve in support of Infantry attacks. The new machine gun was made by the thousands at the V.A. Degtyarev Weapons Plant located in Kovrov, Russia. The city of Kovrov is located 166 miles East of Moscow, a location far enough behind Russian defenses that it allowed the plant to safely continue production of these guns even at the height of Operation Barbarossa – the Nazi invasion of Russia

Arms of the Soviet Union: DP-28 Light Machine Gun — Soviet Army in defensive position Summer 1942 (Image courtesy: guidearms.blogspot.com)

The apparent trademark of Soviet engineering is: if something is worth being built, it’s worth being overbuilt with as few parts as possible, and it must be able to function in terrible conditions. This thought process is evident in almost every Russian/Soviet design that I can think of, and it’s particularly prevalent in the DP-28. Comprised of less than 80 total parts, the machine gun was renowned for being able to function effectively in dirt, sand, and snow. The new machine gun, as well as being rugged and dependable, fired the same 7.62x54R cartridge as the standard issue Soviet rifle, the Mosin Nagant. In my opinion, this was an idea the Soviets borrowed from their World War One allies. The British and American forces both had light machine guns that fired the same cartridge as their main battle rifle.

Since it’s only available as a fully automatic weapon, the DP-28 isn’t a weapon that most readers will see at the range on the weekends. In the United States, thanks to laws such as the National Firearms Act and the Firearms Owners Protection Act of 1986, civilian ownership of machine guns is increasingly rare, and very expensive. That doesn’t mean they can’t be owned it’s just a matter of doing paperwork and procedure. If you are a firearms manufacturer with a BATFE Class 02/07 license, you can apply and build your own machine guns. OR you can be lucky enough to have a friend with one. I am fortunate to be friends with James Foley of Arctic Arms, and he was kind enough to let us put some rounds down range with a 1944 produced DP-28. This trip to the range also afforded me the opportunity to ask him questions about its strengths and weaknesses.

DP-28 Specifications:

Year Built: 1944 (Production run 1928-1967)
Caliber: 7.62mm X 54R
Weight: 20.12 lbs (9.12 Kg)
Barrel Length: 23.4” (604mm)
Overall Length: 50.0” (1270 mm)
Magazine Capacity: 47 round pan style
Application: suppression fire

Unique Features:

47 round top mounted pan magazine
Bottom ejection of spent rounds
Grip safety
Large well protected rear sight.

Pros:

Built like a tank
Ability to reduce felt recoil of large-caliber rifle
Slower cyclic rate allowing operator to keep rounds on target easier

Cons:

Poor bi-pod design often noted as a weak point
Odd loading of smaller than expected capacity magazine.

Shooting Impressions:

When I first got to the range with James, we went over the history of his particular DP-28. He shared his on and off again issues with the recoil springs, which I learned was one area on a DP-28 that can be problematic. The recoil spring is located under the barrel and can lose its temper and ability to compress fully due to overheating.

After defeating the steel Soviet tuna can shaped ammunition container, with the help of a can opener, I began to load the 47 round drum. I quickly found out that it’s an awkward pain in the ass procedure. The magazine pan has a ring on the outside to rotate one half of the magazine while you feed rounds into it from the other side. It all sounds easy until you are trying to hold the steel pizza pan against your torso, turning the coil spring via the ring, and simultaneously loading rounds into the opposite side of the drum. Luckily, James is well versed in this procedure and we got everything squared away in short order.

James took the lead to demonstrate the manual of arms for the DP-28, then ran through the first forty-seven rounds of the day. While watching the first rounds pour downrange, I thought it was odd to see the ejection of spent shells from the bottom, since most machine guns I have fired feature side ejection ports. You can also notice the top of the magazine pan turning as it unloads rounds. This makes sense when you stop and think about how the gun is operating, but it’s interesting to see a magazine uncoil. This was my first experience with pan-fed machine guns.

When it was my turn to fire the DP-28, I readied myself behind the twenty pound Bolshevik blaster, loaded a fresh drum into the feed lips, and secured it. Racking the bolt, I gripped the machine gun, and placed my support hand in the proper position. I squeezed the trigger, and expecting a loud BOOM, heard only a deafening SILENCE. Nothing. Just silence. I thought “I must have the safety on”, it was then that James said “Oh yeah, it has a grip safety”.

Someone once told me: “If in doubt at all, ask questions” . Well this was one time I didn’t ask enough questions. There I was, one second feeling like a bad ass, the next second feeling like a stupid crayon eater. Once I solved the enigma of the grip safety, I tried to squeeze off short 3-5 round bursts at the target down range. To my surprise the recoil wasn’t as terrible as I had expected, and, with a much slower cyclic rate than other machine guns, it was easier to keep the bursts short and conserve rounds. I have fired other weapons that use the 7.62 x 54R cartridge and they seemed to have a more pronounced recoil than the DP-28. The concussion from firing short bursts was also less than I had anticipated.

That afternoon we went through six pans of ammo, firing it in alternating short and long bursts, with very few stoppages. The fact we used old Soviet corrosive ammo straight from the can with few problems, speaks volumes about this 71-year-old machine gun and the Soviets method of sealing the ammunition cans. Due to the bottom ejection of spent rounds I found it refreshing to not have hot brass raining down on my head. At my local range, when shooting guns that eject spent rounds from the top or side, they tend to bounce off the ceiling and rafters of the covered shooting lanes.

The DP-28 served the Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact allies for nearly 40 years as their main infantry light machine gun. It’s ability to perform well under extreme conditions and ease of maintenance extended its lifespan in spite of the bi-pod being its weakest point. Starting in 1961 the DP-28 slowly was replaced by the PK-M, medium machine gun. Although removed from front line service, the DP-28 has been captured in the hands of Taliban fighters in Afghanistan as late as 2012, and was often seen in the hands of revolutionaries in both the Libyan and Syrian Civil Wars.

Thanks for stopping by The Loadout Room. Keep checking back for new updates on gear, guns and adventure. You can contact us any time on the Comms Check, through Instagram, Twitter or Facebook. Also feel free to comment in the section below. We have an exciting summer lined up for our readers.

— Rick

Leupold LCO Carbine Optic | Quick Look

I’m a nut for trying out new optics: I’m constantly buying and borrowing various aiming devices to fulfill a darwinian selection process atop my rifles. In this never-ending journey, I came across a Leupold LCO and couldn’t wait to take a crack at it. On paper, the LCO (Leupold Carbine Optic) is a technological wonder. Boasting a 5 year battery life on a CR123a battery, 1 MOA dot, motion sensor and rugged aluminum body, the LCO’s features list has a “whats what” of options. The body is big enough for a huge viewing window but is still surprisingly light. The dot is very crisp and with 16 brightness settings to choose from, always having the right option available. The distinctive shape makes it feel like a cross between an Aimpoint Comp M and an Eotech, combining the best of both. .5 moa clicks are the adjustments available and feel solid.

During hands-on time, I noticed the LCO is a real quality made product. As with all Leupold products, this means you’ll pay a premium price up front but have a lifetime of support. The brightness control knob is well placed and the LCO will remember your brightness setting when off. The “leupy” zeroed easy and has held tight between shooting sessions. I have to mention again: despite looking like a mid-to-large red dot, this thing really feels light. The scale says 9.5oz but even that feels high. The large field-of-view means that even when firing higher recoiling rounds or rapid strings of fire, the dot stays visible at all times. This isn’t always true with red dot sights that have smaller housings.

The LCO will stay on until 1 year after the presidential election we’re about to vote on is over. Leupold says it will hold zero, stay fog-proof and keep kickin’ ass long after that time and they’re willing to put their money on the line to back that up. MSRP is $1299 but street price is under $1K at Midway USA. With a lifetime gold ring warranty, the juice is worth the squeeze.

The Over Exaggerated “C” Clamp Grip | Hype or Not?

Over the past 6 years or so, combative and realistic shooting techniques have adopted a new, exaggerated shooting stance/style. I first saw this way of shooting while serving overseas and a couple of guys were using it during shooting drills before an op.

The shooters who use this style of shooting claim that it reduces recoil, allows the operator to transition faster between targets, and keeps the sights on target during a rapid engagement. As of late, I’ve seen students using this style of shooting with an over exaggerated grip and stance, simulating something they’ve seen on a DVD, or YouTube Channel.

History of the Shooting Style

It isn’t unusual for us “shooters”, to quickly adapt a new technique, especially if we see it being used by “spec ops veterans”, top competitive shooters, etc. As humans, we often feel the need to do something simply because the masses are doing it, it is called the Bandwagon Effect. The Bandwagon Effect is a well documented form of group-think in behavioral science and has many applications. The general rule is that conduct or beliefs spread among people, as fads and trends clearly do, with “the probability of any individual adopting it increasing with the proportion who have already done so”. As more people come to believe in something, others also “hop on the bandwagon” regardless of the underlying evidence. While we may adopt a new style of shooting, we often neglect to ask ourselves, “what is the purpose of this?”, and, “will it apply to what I’m training for?”

This particular style of shooting comes from the competition side of the field and started some time ago. Shooters such as Pat McNamara (Former 1SFOD), Kyle Defoor (Former SEAL), Jerry Miculek (competitive shooter), and Mike Pannone (Former 1SFOD) use this shooting style, but only to some degree. The theory behind using this style of shooting, or the “C” clamp grip, is that it will allow the operator to transition targets faster, reduce muzzle rise, and allows the operator to shoot faster while maintaining a sight picture on target. This is true to some extent, but on certain DVD’s, YouTube Video’s, etc., I’ve seen this grip extremely taken out of context and morphed into something else.

Let’s break each claim down using something no human can argue against…physics and our bodies natural way of moving.

Transition targets faster?: This claim does have truth to it. Think if it as this, imagine walking into a dark room and someone jumps out to scare you. The first thing your body does naturally is identify the threat with your eyes, followed by the head turning towards the threat and the body along with its limbs in follow. Or think of it as if you are in dark room and you are told to point at a sound hear, such as someone snapping their fingers. I’m sure all of us can point to something without seeing it, we’ve been pointing at things with extreme accuracy since we were babies, so I’m sure we’re pretty good at it by now. Shooters, may it be competitive or tactical, use the same technique to transition targets quickly. As the shooter moves between targets, the eyes snap to the target first, followed by the weapon. Having the arm slightly extended with the thumb facing forward, NOT over the top, is the same as pointing at a target. This has nothing to do with recoil management.
Reducing Muzzle Rise?: Looking at the way our body is designed and how recoil is distributed, we can analyze the claim using physics. Newtons Third Law explains this best. A gunpowder explosion creates hot gases that expand outward allowing the rifle to push forward on the bullet. Consistent with Newton’s third law of motion, the bullet pushes backwards upon the rifle, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Seeing this, the only way for the rifle to recoil, in theory, is straight back into our shoulder, if the weapon experiences any extreme muzzle rise (although there will be some due to the way weapons are made and the pivoting points on the weapon), it is because something our body naturally bends when pushed. Seeing some of the shooters who use this shooting style, wrap the thumb over the top, extend as far out as possible on the rail, and flare the elbow up, all in the belief that by doing this, it will prevent muzzle rise. Of course, if you are pushing the muzzle down, or keeping downward tension/pressure on the top of the rail when shooting it will reduce the muzzle rise, but at further distances on partially obscured targets (50 – 100 yards) take note of the point of impact. The support arm is only their to support and maneuver the rifle while maintaining a light rearward tension into the shoulder pocket and can be applied almost anywhere along the forearm of the rifle. Try a simple test on a Glock pistol. Aim the pistol in a safe direction downrange, fire one round. The recoil causes the weapon to flip upward. Now, place your none firing hand against the back of the slide applying enough pressure as to not allow the slide to function. What happens to the recoil? Reducing the upward rise of the M4, etc., comes from applying forward upper body pressure and lowering the axis point of the rifle into the body. Note that this shooting style tucks the weapon deep and low into the should and near the pectoral muscle. This amount of “meat” behind the weapon is what reduces recoil, not the foregrip.

Facts About the Shooting Style

Peripheral Vision Obstruction: For those who adopt this unique style of shooting, there is nothing wrong with that, just understand what the purpose of this shooting stance was designed for. The style of shooting stance this would apply perfectly in, would be the competition community, a one way range where targets are predetermined and do not maneuver the way a live target would when being engaged. Having the elbow cocked as high as it is in the featured picture, only obscures the peripheral to the support side. Sure, some will say, “my partner covers my flank.” What if the guy you had there a minute ago goes down? What if your clearing your house late at night when your wife or kids hear someone break through the front door? I’d want to be able to see EVERYTHING around me, another reason why I teach the importance of shooting with both eyes open. Try out a simple test with one of your shooting partners. Next time you’re at the range and you see them shooting with the support eye closed, or the elbow flared to a point that it obscures their vision, stand to their support side and flick them off. After they are done shooting, see if they noticed it. I’ve done the test with multiple students at close distance, within 3 feet of them and they had no idea that I was there. ***Take a look at the following picture. Can the operator see anything to his left? This can be a potential game changer in an actual combative environment.***

You shoot faster?: I’ve heard this from individuals using this style of shooting during a few combative carbine courses. My first response to this is, “awesome!”, the second being, “No man has ever won a gun fight because he shot 30 rounds in 1.5 seconds, the guy who usually wins is the one who shot one round accurately.” The over extended forearm “C” clamp grip has nothing to do with trigger speed. Trigger speed comes from properly understanding trigger reset.
Obstruction of Sights: Having the thumb wrapped over the top when training, we start to build shooter muscle memory. I know a lot of us put aftermarket optics on our rifles, zero it in and purchase the greatest backup sights and place them on the rifle for a just in case scenario. There is nothing wrong with that at all, I do the same. What I do have a problem with is building a muscle memory that may cost you time in a desperate situation. As we all know, things break or stop working for a ton of reasons, much like an aftermarket optic, I’ve had my share. Let’s say your optic refuses to work in a life threatening situation and you have to resort to your backup sights, your thumb is wrapped over the top, you adjust your eyes to acquire the backups and what do you see…your thumb! The second it takes to readjust the hand position to remove your thumb obstructing the front sight is valuable time. Try using the over the top “C” clamp grip with an AK-47 and note the results.
Over Exposure to Vital Organs: Of course stating the obvious that this stance is exposing some very vital organs with the elbow flared so high. I had to state this due to the fact that in Iraq, one of my Ranger buddies took a round to side, penetrating his lungs and heart. Some will say, “well, that’s why we present our body armor to the threat.” This is true, but, I’m sure we’ve all heard of ricochet and there may be multiple threats (left, right, oblique, etc.) Let’s say there is a threat to the front and one to the side, the closest threat to the front and furthest to the side. Through training and common sense we know to eliminate the closest first, that being the front. The side target only needs one lucky shot. Having the elbow flared so high only gives the bullet a clear obscured path to vital organs. I’d rather place bone and meat there.
Comfort: Stating the obvious here, but for those who haven’t used this technique, it isn’t something that one can sustain for an extended amount of time due to muscle/joint fatigue. Locking your elbows increases the impact of recoil on that joint.

The Way The “C” clamp grip was intended to be Used

If you are going to use this style of shooting grip and stance, there is nothing wrong with that. Just know the way that the style “C” clamp grip was intended to be used. The style as of late has become over exaggerated in my personal opinion. What do you think? Also, be sure to check out another view on this topic here: http://www.gunnuts.net/2013/07/02/curing-the-tactical-turtle/

Note: Picture below is of Former Delta Operator Dale Comstock.

500 Round Iron Man Backpack!

The first position that I held in Ranger Battalion was light/heavy machine gunner. It was our job to become efficient with just about every light or heavy machine gun in our arsenal, including various grenade launchers. The majority of the time, we would carry our ammo in a small backpack and only feed the gun a 50-100 round belt that would hang out of the weapon.

Many times as a young machine gunner, I would wonder how awesome it would be to have the rounds feed directly from the pack and not worry about link breakage, snagging, etc. Well, that time has come! The Iron Man Backpack!

This ammo backpack carries 500 rounds of freedom that feed directly from you back to the weapon, almost the same way the minigun feeds. Not only do I think this is an amazing advance in our war fighters today and in the future, but cutting down on the gun team, essentially freeing up one man, only makes that gun team more combat efficient/effective.

I can’t wait to see the reports from the field!

1-5 AR Drill!

Here is a fun drill that I like to conduct on the range whenever I’m behind the AR platform. You’ll learn a lot about your platform as well as yourself from this drill, especially if you have a friend record you shooting it.

If you’re unfamiliar with trigger reset, muzzle control, eye/weapon target transitioning, body stance, etc., you will surely learn fast and benefit from this drill. This drill also breaks the standard two shot center mass shots you see on the range.

In the military, the two-shot center mass drill per target is something that is taught time and time again, instilling the mindset that two shots center mass from a 5.56 cartridge is all it takes to eliminate a threat. This is not always the case. Depending on the individual, two shots center mass may not always be the solution, and may need three, four, or five well-placed rounds to take care of the problem. On many occasions while deployed, the average engagement required that a target be serviced with a minimum of four rounds of 5.56.

In order to become faster with this drill, there are a few things you must first become familiar with.

Trigger reset
Body position
Eye transitioning

When your first round is fired, don’t allow the trigger to fully return to its “relaxed” position. Instead, only allow the trigger to come to its reset point. You’ll find its reset when you physically feel or hear a slight “click” as the trigger returns forward. At this point, the rifle is able to fire again. This saves you time between the shots. Remember, milliseconds count in a gun fight.

Your body position also plays a big role. If the shooter is bladed off to a target, or favors to one side or the other, the transition from the left to the right induces a torque in your lower back. Fighting torque slows you down, as opposed to staying relaxed or positioning yourself to service all targets from a beneficial body position.

Eye transitioning plays a big role in this drill as well. When you transition from one target to the other, your eyes should connect to the target first, then your weapon follows. As soon as the last round is fired, your eyes should already be in the transition phase to the next target.

THE DRILL

Space three targets, preferably human silhouette targets, about one target-width apart and place them five yards away from you. Start with the rifle butt on your shoulder and the muzzle down, as if you are exiting a vehicle or entering a building.

At the buzzer, shoot one shot on the left target, two shots on the center target, and three shots on the right target. Then shoot four shots back on the center target followed by five shots on the left. That’s a total of 15 shots at five targets, and only “A” or center hits count. Most experienced shooters will do this in about five seconds the first time out. Scoring under 3.5 seconds is getting pretty good. Three seconds or less is excellent.

If the drill seems too easy for you and you need a challenge, try all head shots!

(Featured Image Courtesy: ForWallpaper.com)