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Posted: 11/14/2014 8:53:27 PM EDT
| Is it true that the Russians recorded longer service life (higher round count) out of their stamped rifles as opposed to the milled? |
| At the time the AKM was introduced, I suspect 3/4 of the soviet army were still issued SKSs or even Mosins. So the '47 probably had an effective service life of less than 10 years before being replaced en masse by the AKM, which had an effective service life of close to 20 years before it was replaced by the '74. I wouldn't be surprised if there were reserve units in the 80s still using AKMs built in the 60s. |
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I would love to see some actual proof of the claim, rather than peoples theories of why it may be true. All sorts of random crap gets repeated on the internet with no actual proof to show what backs it up.
I seriously doubt any random person has seen the soviet service records of their military rifles. |
I had heard that the Russians found the stamped receivers held up better than the milled but I have no idea if that was true. I think this was also comparing 1940-50's milled receivers with 60-70's stamped receivers so maybe the improvement was due to improved metallurgy 
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Quoted:
Yes, stamped receivers are the best, and the cheapest to manufacture. Quoted:
Quoted:
Yes. If properly constructed the stamped are much more durable *because* they flex. Yes, stamped receivers are the best, and the cheapest to manufacture. If there is any proof of this please post you sources...the only real reason that they switched was for cost. It cost much less to make a stamped rec'er than a milled rec'er. The stamped rec'er does what is required and is cheaper. The debate can go on for ever as to what kind is better, but, the reason for switching was for cost. |
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With the AK's the barrel wore out long before the rest of the rifle, so you really can't say whether a stamped or milled would last longer.
US military personnel who've spent time in Africa have reported examining stamped AK rifles that have been shot so much the rifling was essentially, gone leaving the bore almost smooth. The rifles were basically bullet hoses with no accuracy possible, but in the hands of a child soldier a bullet hose serves very well. In Africa AK rifles are routinely moved around from country to country and issued over and over again with no maintenance or repairs. Apparently they continue firing indefinitely. |
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