Page:AK-47 Operator's Manual.djvu/42

 SECTION VIII. SERVICE AND TRAINING AMMUNITION

The AK-47 automatic rifle fires the 7.62x39mm round, M1943. The rounds have varying construction depending upon their purpose. The weight of the bullets and their muzzle velocity are selected so that firing with the different bullets can be conducted with the same sight settings. Ammunition is divided into service and auxiliary types.

1. Service ammunition and its use

Service ammunition is divided into ball cartridges and special purpose cartridges.

Ball ammunition is used to engage enemy personnel.

Special ammunition, depending upon its construction, is designed for target indication and correction of fire, igniting fuel and highly inflammable objects, and for destroying lightly armored targets.

Tracer cartridges are designed for target indication, fire adjustment, signal purposes and engaging personnel. Tracer bullets can ignite straw roofs, dry grass, etc. The path of the bullet is indicated by a red flame. The flame can be seen for a distance of 700 meters.

AP-incendiary cartridges are used to destroy fuel (kerosene, gasoline) and for destroying targets protected by thin armor plating at ranges up to 300 meters.

Incendiary cartridges are used to destroy fuel in iron tanks up to 3 millimeters thick. Incendiary cartridges also contain a tracer element. The path of the bullet is indicated by a red flame which can be seen day or night. it cam be seen for a distance up to 700 meters.

2. Training Ammunition, purpose and construction

Training ammunition includes drilled and blank 7.62mm rounds, M1943.

Drilled rounds are designed for training in loading and firing. On the body or the cartridge case there are longitudinal grooves, and on the cartridge case mouth there are marks from the clamping device. The primer is pierced. There is no propellant in the cartridge case.

Blank cartridges are designed for simulating fire and are used in tactical exercises. There is no bullet in the blank cartridges. The mouth is sealed by a star (rosette) crimp. It is dangerous to stand closer than 10 meters away from the muzzle face when blank cartridges are being fired. Rh