Hungarian AKs (Part 3): AMD 65

In Half 1 of this text, I talked in regards to the origins of Hungarian AKs. Half 2 is devoted to AMD 65, its historical past, and the complaints Afghan cops had after they had been issued these weapons. This text is about my very own experiences with AMD 65.

Aside from Afghanistan, many AMD 65s ended up in Iraq. Locals in Basra known as this AK “Lybian” for no obvious motive and I used to be in command of the restore of some hundred of these weapons. And in a couple of weeks after the arrival, my listing of complaints was longer than that of the Afghan police.

Handguard

When it’s +45 outdoors, the metal of the handguard is scorching earlier than you even begin taking pictures. After a few magazines, it’s like an under-barrel grill in your palm.

AMD 65 with plastic handguard of Zastava M21.

And plenty of weapons we had had been lacking entrance grips, so that you had no alternative however to grip that miniature grill together with your help hand. Some Iraqis discovered an excellent answer and put in polymer handguards from Zastava M21 on their AMD 65.

Folding inventory

However that isn’t all. Once you grip the rifle correctly, with the palm of your hand being excessive on the pistol grip, you usually press the folding inventory button and it collapses on you simply once you’re able to make a shot.

On high of that, the inventory is simply plain uncomfortable once you’re used to a good cheek weld. And the rubber pad on the inventory usually falls off, leaving you with a bit of naked steel. And infrequently, your entire buttpad falls off, leaving you with a steel rod for the inventory.

A uncommon event when the buttpad on AMD 65 falls off fully

The rear trunnion is nonstandard, so as soon as the inventory breaks, you can’t change it with something. I welded the shares again on and so they fell off 2 minutes later, earlier than I may even get the gun from the welding store into the armory.

I glued the shares with probably the most ridiculous mixture of epoxies, examined all types of glue, solely to see that the shares had been falling off once more in the end.

One other try to attach the shares with epoxy. After making use of the glue, you must ensure that it has time to harden, so typically you get inventive.

Non-standard elements

However the largest downside was not even there. Many weapons truly had stoppages on a regular basis, however very particular stoppages – useless set off. I spent days attempting to determine it out, mixing and matching totally different set off elements, till I spotted the issue was far worse.

Apparently, the tiny sear journey on the proper backside facet of the bolt provider was getting worn off on many weapons. In consequence, it didn’t do its job and didn’t push down auto-sear, activating the set off.

It simple repair for a standard AK – simply change the bolt provider and keep it up for an additional 30 years, however on AMD 65 it was unattainable. AMD’s bolt provider is an inch shorter, so you may’t change it, a typical bolt provider received’t match inside AMD 65. And in Iraq, you may’t purchase a brand new bolt provider for AMD 65.

Commonplace AKM bolt provider (high), AMD 65 bolt provider (backside)

Maybe if I had a good machine store I may make some calculations, shorten a couple of bolt carriers, make new threads to screw in customary pistons, construct some prototypes, take a look at them, and at last make a whole batch to save lots of these AMDs… However in actuality, I didn’t also have a half-decent welding machine.

So all of the AMDs I inspected had been doomed. Extra bolt carriers will put on off, extra weapons will find yourself damaged in far, darkish, and dusty corners of armories, and in the end the weapons will probably be destroyed. Maybe it’s going to take a couple of extra years, however the finish is nigh for these poor Hungarian AKs.

Like a physician who couldn’t save the affected person, I used to be mortified, and people AMDs are nonetheless coming to me in my reminiscences typically.

My typical workbench in Iraq. No fancy gear was obtainable.

What could be finished to enhance AMD 65?

Nevertheless it shouldn’t be like that. AMD is a fantastic gun that deserves higher. Fairly correct, when you get previous the ergonomics, with an extended barrel life (15,000 rounds, in keeping with the manufacturing facility, and much more in actuality).

It’s properly constructed, and also you don’t see cracked bolts, trunnions, or receivers (I’ve seen a cracked receiver on the Hungarian AK as soon as, however that’s anticipated with the variety of AMDs I dealt with).

It’s a very potent SBR that has a spot at the moment, particularly since subsonic 7.62×39 ammunition is turning into extra obtainable, broadening the capabilities of such weapons. In Hungary, there was an try to modernize it, however sadly, that individual firm isn’t operational anymore.

Modernized FEG AMD-65

There was one other firm known as AMD65Tech, primarily based within the US, that developed a brand new inventory for the AMD 65 and had prototypes for the rail system. Sadly, it doesn’t appear to be energetic as properly. JMac developed a inventory adapter that means that you can set up Picatinny-mounted shares, and it’s in all probability the perfect answer when you don’t like the unique inventory.

One factor we are able to study from it – when you plan to make use of your gun for generations to come back, ensure that it has customary spare elements that you simply truly discover.