Three Hundred Words: The World's Most Prolific Rifle

posted on April 4, 2016
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
kalashnikov_300_words.jpg
By October of 1941, Operation Barbarossa was in full swing. From Latvia to Crimea, the entire western boundary of the Soviet Union was crumbling beneath the feet of 4 million Axis troops. As the Panzers rumbled eastward, the heart of Soviet industrial production collapsed and the soldiers of the Red Army began to increasingly run short of arms and ammunition. Under Stalin’s direction, there was no retreat and no surrender.

In Bryansk, less than 400 kilometers from Moscow, 50,000 Soviet soldiers were taken prisoner in a week, making it over 3 million captured since the invasion began. Only 150 tanks narrowly escaped encirclement during the onslaught. Even worse were the casualty figures: 80,000 dead or wounded. Only 90,000 men were left in service to defend Moscow.

One of the casualties of the Battle of Bryansk, a tank commander, lay convalescing in a hospital bed a few weeks later. As he replayed the sorry events over and over in his mind, he listened to the cries and complaints of his fellow countrymen and he found a common theme: The Germans seemed armed to the teeth while the Soviets were merely fortunate to equip themselves with whatever their comrade dropped when he fell dead. Upon recovery, he dove headlong into creating a selective-fire rifle that would ensure his countrymen would never face this nightmare again.



Since 1947, more than 100 million “Avtomat Kalashnikova” Model 1947s have been produced. The distinctive sound still heard in every corner of the world signifies it as the most widely produced rifle ever made.

When asked about the legacy of his AK-47, Mikhail Kalashnikov responded, “I'm proud of my invention, but I would prefer to have invented a machine that people could use and that would help farmers with their work … for example, a lawn mower.”

USSR Photo

Latest

Gotw Rra Lar 22 Tactical Carbine Web
Gotw Rra Lar 22 Tactical Carbine Web

Gun Of The Week: Rock River Arms LAR-22 Tactical Carbine

This week, we're on the range with the Rock River Arms LAR-22 Tactical Carbine, a rimfire variant of the AR-15 that's designed for reliability and gives enthusiasts a way to shoot affordably.

The Armed Citizen® July 11, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Japanese Last-Ditch Small Arms Of World War II

The crude assortment of fighting tools used by the Japanese during World War II give clues of an unprepared and unmatched last-ditch fight that ultimately lead to Allied victory.

Federal Ammunition Awards 2025 Tom Knapp Memorial Scholarships

Federal Ammunition recently awarded the 2025 Tom Knapp Memorial Scholarships to two 4-H shooting sports teen ambassadors.

2025 Optic Of The Year: Burris Eliminator 6

Even as new generation after new generation of Burris Eliminator continued to add more advanced technology and functionality, it remained odd-looking—until the launch of this year’s sixth-generation product, which is the first in the line that can mount atop a rifle using standard 34 mm scope rings.

I Have This Old Gun: Star Model B

Of the many Spanish-made firearms to emerge throughout the 19th and 20th century, one of the most recognizable is the Star Model B, largely due to its similarity to the Colt Model 1911.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.