Weapon tuning should not be confused with automobile tuning: the focus here is not on showiness, but on efficiency. And the very word "tuning" gunsmiths understand quite literally: translated from English tuning means tuning, adjustment. In the army, such modifications will be considered superfluous, but sports shooters and employees of special forces appreciate them for the opportunity to adjust the weapon to their anatomical features and special tasks, to merge with it into a single whole.
Russian and foreign manufacturers offer many accessories for the world's most popular machine. Conventionally, they can be divided into three categories (indicated on the diagram in different colors): the first includes those that make the weapon more convenient, the second - those that change the characteristics of the shot, and the third - that help the shooter hit the target exactly.
1. Anatomical fire control handle makes the grip more comfortable. In addition to finger recesses and a non-slip coating, some grips have interchangeable pads of different thicknesses, which help shooters with different palm sizes to make the weapon comfortable for themselves.
2. The front tactical grip offers a more comfortable grip than the usual "forend" or "under the magazine", each of which has its drawbacks. In the first case, the hand can slide along the forearm, so the shooter has to squeeze it strongly, which can cause muscle strain and trembling of the weapon. The grip "under the magazine" reduces the frontal projection of the shooter, making him an uncomfortable target for the enemy. But in this case, you can only hold the weapon with a bent hand, which makes the grip less rigid. The tactical grip solves these problems: By placing it at an optimal distance from the shoulder, the shooter can securely hold the weapon without undue effort.
3. The reloading handle in the standard version is thin and smooth; when working with a glove, the hand can come off it. The so-called "barrel" - a grasping cylinder with non-slip notches will help to correct the situation.
4. Fuse / translator of fire on the Kalashnikov assault rifle does not allow all operations to be performed with one hand holding the weapon without lifting it from the fire control handle. The improved translator / fuse has an additional protrusion, resting on which with your index finger you can switch fire modes or remove a weapon from the fuse with one hand.
5. A telescopic stock with adjustable length and height will provide the correct "tab" for shooters with different arm and neck lengths. Some stocks are equipped with a height-adjustable "cheek", which is very important when shooting at long distances. The "cheek" can be plastic or rubber. In addition to increasing comfort in general, good material helps to avoid scalding in the heat or freezing in cold weather.
6. The muzzle brake-compensator (DTC) is a small cylindrical nozzle that has holes or slots on the body. Powder gases escaping through these holes create a reactive force that compensates for the recoil and toss of the barrel when fired. The arrow “shakes” and “pushes” less, and the shooting becomes more accurate. DTK can be equipped with a "crown", useful in the harsh arrest of a criminal.
The disadvantages of the DTK are that with it the machine gun rumbles like a natural cannon! If people around do not use special shooting headphones, they risk getting a decent concussion. In addition, the propellant gases go up and to the side in a powerful jet stream, and if the shooter works in a group, his neighbor can get a tangible push from the side or even burn. Another nuance is prone shooting: the author of the article personally observed how the shooter with the DCT received a powerful portion of sand right in the face. That is why DTK is mostly used only in sports.
7. The flame arrester, also known as the afterburner, the afterburner, the masker, unlike the DTK, does not have any holes on the side, but only a large bell in front. The device eliminates muzzle flash, helping to hide the shooter's location from the enemy and exclude the illumination of his own night vision device. Also, the flame arrester partially masks the sound of the shot, making it indistinct: it will be much more difficult for the enemy to determine by ear exactly where the shot was fired from, although he will hear the sound itself. The disadvantage of the flame arrester is that it does not suppress the recoil and toss of the weapon, and may even slightly increase. The device is of little use in sports, but it is common in special forces.
8. Silent firing device, also known as a silencer, is a type of flame arrester that is used to eliminate the sound of a shot and muzzle flash. It is much larger than a flame arrester and has only one hole in the front, the same caliber as the used ammunition. The muzzle flash is completely extinguished, the sound is reduced to the level of a click, which is indistinguishable from a distance of 20 m. True, one should not forget that the PBS will give such a result only when using special subsonic cartridges.
9. Picatinny rail (or a more rare analogue - Vivera) is a special system of rail mounts for installing additional equipment and adjusting its position on the weapon. Most sighting devices have standard mounts of this type. The rails can be obtained as part of a removable side bracket that attaches to the dovetail rails on the left side of the Kalashnikov assault rifle, or simply equip the weapon with parts with integrated Picatinny rails. As a rule, we are talking about a forend, a receiver plate or a receiver cover.
10. The optical sight enlarges the image of the target, therefore it is good for shooting at long distances, more than 200-300 m. It has an aiming reticle with a vertical correction scale (for distance, temperature and air density) and horizontal (to the wind, target movement). Corrections can also be made with the help of tactical drums, in advance by aligning the center of the reticle with the point of impact. The disadvantage of "optics" is that before aiming the shooter must build an absolutely straight line between the eye, the sight monocular and the reticle, otherwise he simply will not see the picture.
11. The reflex sight does not magnify the target, but instead projects a mark on the glass, which indicates the place of the bullet hit. The beauty of the collimator is that you don't need to build an aiming line with it: even if the shooter's eye is not directly opposite the sight, he will still see a mark that will indicate the point of impact. The sights can be both daytime and day / night. The brightness of the mark is adjustable for different lighting conditions. The reflex sight is good for distances up to 100-200 m. For shooting at longer distances, you can use a special magnifying attachment, usually three times. In addition to the magnifier, you can also install a night vision or thermal imaging attachment.
12. A tactical flashlight usually has a high power of light and, when directed directly into the eyes, can blind the enemy for a long time. Typically, the flashlights are shockproof and waterproof to withstand the vibration of the gunfire and not shut off if the operative has to work in difficult climates. They can have several brightness modes, including a strobe mode, which is relevant when an employee storms a room and needs to disorient a criminal. Flashlights are both visible and infrared and can only be found in a night vision device.
13. Laser designator (LTSU) gives a laser beam, which marks the point of hitting a bullet directly on the target. The distances that a laser pointer can "hit" are enormous. LCCs, like flashlights, are visible and infrared. The latter give a mark that is invisible to an observer who is not armed with night vision devices. A spetsnaz group can approach the enemy absolutely imperceptibly and destroy it with aimed fire, using night vision devices and infrared laser designators. At the same time, the enemy will not know that he has been on the gun for a long time. LCC can be combined with conventional and IR flashlights, built into collimator sights.
