Akmr

[Raellus]

If all it takes is a barrel swap...

That changes my stance, considerably. If that's really the case, then the AKMR is welcome in my T2K U.

[Legbreaker]

There's probably a bit more than just the barrel - magazines, magazine wells, bolt heads, etc.
However, the barrel is almost certainly the most difficult part of it.

[jester]

Lets not forget how frugal the russians are, they simply modified their existing 7.62X54 round to the 7.62X39 round.

The 5.54 round is a fat lil bugger that is necked down. I will concede that the bolt face may need to be changed and maybe the magazine, not completely sure on that however.

But the mag well, the AK doesn't have one, its a clip/clamp type afare. But none the less, getting an almost new rifle for such small changes that could be farmed out to smaller shops is still quite easy, when to get a new weapon the simple swapping out of a barrel, and replacing the bolt/boltface or even bolt carrier group is still a pretty easy thing, especialy if you are doing it to weapons that will be going back to the factory to be rebuilt or stand for depot level repairs.

Magazines can be issued at the unit anytime before or after the new weapons are issued. The bolt face could be issued to the troops too either before or after, where they can swap them in all of a minute. The hard part is the barrel, that would require a barrel wrench, a vice, torque guages and a headspace guage and check.

[StainlessSteelCynic]

Dimensions for the two Soviet rounds are very close (aside from projectile size obviously) the 5.45mm case is a fraction longer and a fraction thinner at the base.
Approximate case dimensions are
7.62x39mm - base width 11.3mm; case length 38.7mm
5.45x39mm - base width 10.0mm; case length 39.8mm

From what I recall, 5.45mm will load into 7.62mm magazines but isn't recommended and the same applies for 7.62mm into 5.45mm but you can't fit a full 30 rounds in due to its curvature or something like that - been a while since I did any lessons on the AK

[ChalkLine]

Originally Posted by jester

Lets not forget how frugal the russians are, they simply modified their existing 7.62X54 round to the 7.62X39 round.

Actually, the bullet in the M1943 7.62mmx39.00mm weighs 7.9g, and the bullet in the Mosin-Nagant 7.62mmx54.00mm(R) weighs 11.9g. They're considerably different.

[ChalkLine]

In my game the AKMR doesn't exist as there's more than enough production of AK-74 variants available. The weapon is made to be easily produced, and it'd take as much effort to build a new one than to remake AKMs.

However, the vast stocks of AKMs are reissued, and late war formations are often armed with this weapon.

My T2KC AKMs are modernised with a rail welded onto the receiver and a new muzzle flash. The RPDs are similarly treated, and new plastic furniture is seen on many of the M1943 weapons. The RPD is considerably reworked as to furniture and general configuration, with a para model and an assault model both seen occasionally.

[jester]

Originally Posted by ChalkLine

Actually, the bullet in the M1943 7.62mmx39.00mm weighs 7.9g, and the bullet in the Mosin-Nagant 7.62mmx54.00mm(R) weighs 11.9g. They're considerably different.

It is quite true the projectiles are different, however, the machinery to ream and drill the lands and grooves in the barrel would be the same. The difference would be in the chamber in the barrel. However, without a 7.62X54 round to compare I am wondering if this could be easily altered by simply reducing the depth of the reamer. Which is as simple. So, that could actualy reduce their need for retooling as far as the barrel making process goes.

[ChalkLine]

Originally Posted by jester

It is quite true the projectiles are different, however, the machinery to ream and drill the lands and grooves in the barrel would be the same. The difference would be in the chamber in the barrel. However, without a 7.62X54 round to compare I am wondering if this could be easily altered by simply reducing the depth of the reamer. Which is as simple. So, that could actualy reduce their need for retooling as far as the barrel making process goes.

Yep, and in an emergency you can just put your M-N rounds into a miller and take off a bit of the base to bring them down to the requisite weight for an M1943 round.

An interesting ammunition would be M1943 ammo firing M-N slugs; shit range but heavy stopping power.

[jester]

Originally Posted by ChalkLine

Yep, and in an emergency you can just put your M-N rounds into a miller and take off a bit of the base to bring them down to the requisite weight for an M1943 round.

An interesting ammunition would be M1943 ammo firing M-N slugs; shit range but heavy stopping power.

Why waste a good heavy bullet. Simply adjust the reloading die so the projectile sits deeper so it meets the overall length so it can fit in the magazine and chamber and fire. The end result is one heck of a round with some nice knockdown power.

Some examples are some 30 caliber bullets I loaded that were 220 grains a good 40 grains heavier than a standard 180 grain projectile.

And the perfect example was the old Webley/Enfield in .38 the origianal cartridge was the same as the old .38 S&W which was a weak cartridge. But, when the British loaded a 200 grain bullet in it well then it had some nice stopping power. Not much on velocity mind you but it did take a man down.

Then, in the T2K world I would see a return to the older bolt, lever and pump action weapons as sources of smokeless powder became more scarce which is another scenario we really should look at, a world with limited amounts of traditional smokeless ammo that allows modern semi auto and auto weapons to run with infrequent jams.

[.45cultist]

Originally Posted by ChalkLine

Actually, the bullet in the M1943 7.62mmx39.00mm weighs 7.9g, and the bullet in the Mosin-Nagant 7.62mmx54.00mm(R) weighs 11.9g. They're considerably different.

Modifying Enfields and Mosin-Nagants would be easier, both are a .303 rimmed round. The M43 is a 123 gr .308 round.