| AO-63 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Assault rifle |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Sergei Simonov,Peter Tkachev |
| Designed | 1984 |
| Manufacturer | TsNIITochMash |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 3.68 kg (8.1 lb) |
| Length | 890 mm (35.0 in) (Standard) 1,025 mm (40.4 in) (Extended stock) |
| Barrel length | 430 mm (16.9 in) |
| Cartridge | 5.45×39mm |
| Action | Gas-operated |
| Rate of fire | 850 rounds/min |
| Effective firing range | 850 m (930 yd) |
| Feed system | 45-round detachablebox magazine |
| Sights | Iron sights,Picatinny rails for various optics |
TheAO-63 (Автомат АО-63) is a Soviet two-barrel AK derivedassault rifle chambered for the5.45×39mm round. It was designed bySergei Simonov andPeter Tkachev, and manufactured byTsNIITochMash. It uses a side-by-side barrel configuration, and it can reach a maximumrate of fire of 6000 rounds/min when fired in two-roundburst mode with a 0.01 second delay to increase ballistic performance, making it technically the fastest-firing rifle known.
The AO-63 assault rifle was used by theSpetsnaz during the Abakan trials in May/June 1986, in search of a more accurate alternative to replace the standard issueAK-74. It was described in the official report as being highly accurate as well as simple and reliable; despite its accuracy and performance, it was later dropped out of the competition for unknown reasons, with theAN-94 emerging victorious.
The AO-63 is agas-operated, 5.45×39mm caliber, twin-barrel assault rifle derived from theKalashnikov rifle. The weapon has side-by-side barrels with the right barrel predominant, twin rotating bolts/gas pistons and ejects from both sides. The trigger group has a 3-position selector on the right side of the receiver; the first is semi-auto firing one barrel, the second in full auto firing both barrels with a 0.01 second delay, the third is unique as at first it fires a two-round 6000rpm burst then one barrel in 850rpm full auto. The magazine is unusual as it has the main double column holding 30 rounds with a single column holding 15 rounds.