The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

snayperskaya wrote:

Sixshot6 wrote:To be fair didn't the chinese also try the Type 68 rifle that was pretty much a full auto SKS, then realized that it was still better to copy the AK (though the work did later result in the type 81 to be fair, short stroke gas piston guns do have something going for them).

The Chinese actually fielded more Type 56 carbines (SKS) than Type 56 assault rifles (AK), the ratio was around 4:1 and the SKS stayed in front line service for 30 years.The reason for this was the reliability of the SKS coupled to the Chinese doctrine of more accurate fire compared the the Soviet doctrine of massed automatic fire, which the AK excelled at.When the SKS was removed from front line service and reissued to militia and reserve units the front line troops actually kicked up a fuss and begged to have them back!.

The Soviets put short stroke gas systems to very good use with the SKS, SVT-40, AVT-40 and the Dragunov SVD.The AK-46, a prototype of the AK-47 also had a short stroke gas system and a gas tube similar to the SKS but this was dropped on the final production model to simplify manufacturing.

The RPD was very reliable in normal circumstances and has appeared in just about every war zone since it entered service (it was also the first weapon chambered for the M43 7.62x39 round) and is still being used in Syria, Libya,Afghanistan and Syria etc today.The only reliability problem that is a potential problem is if the drum that holds the loose 100 round belt fills with crap and debris in dirty conditions but it pretty much has to get packed soild.The way the bolt and the locking mechanism is designed allows the gas pressure from the 7.62x39 round to cycle the action perfectly and the barrel on them last well as like most Russian military firearms the barrels, chambers and gas blocks are chrome lined.

snayperskaya wrote:The gas system on the Dragunov looks very similar to the system on the SLR/FAL with a small pistol, an operating rod and a return spring.The piston only moves around 25mm and the gas regulator has two positions, the usual operating position in which the vent port is open and the other where the vent port is closed.The closed position is used when the gas block is excessively fouled or when shooting at high altitude or in very cold Arctic conditions.