AMD-65

AMD-65 (Hungarian: Automata Módosított Deszant[fegyver] 1965; Automatic Modified Paratrooper [weapon]) is a Hungarian-manufactured licensed variant of the venerable selective fire AKM rifle for use by that nation's armored infantry and paratrooper ("descent") units within the Hungarian Defence Forces. The rifle's design is suited for outdoor use as an infantry rifle but can also be used from within the confines of an armored vehicle as a fire support weapon. This is possible due to the side-folding stock of shaft design that makes it more compact. The 12.6-inch barrel is also relatively short for the 7.62×39mm cartridge. The operating mechanism does not require a gas expansion chamber at the muzzle, as in the AKS-74U to ensure reliable functioning, but does use a specially designed muzzle brake. It reduces muzzle flash but makes the weapon louder.

AMD-65
TypeAssault Rifle
Place of originHungary
Service history
In service1967–present
Used bySee Users
Wars
Production history
Designed1965
ManufacturerFegyver- és Gépgyár[4]
Produced1965–1980
Specifications
Mass3.2 kg (7.1 lbs) empty
3.8 kg (8. lb)
Length847 mm (34.4 in) stock extended/ 648 mm (27 in) stock folded
Barrel length317 mm (12.5 in)
Cartridge7.62×39mm
Caliber7.62mm
ActionGas-operated
Rate of fire650 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity731 m/s (2,398 ft/s)
Feed system30-round detachable box magazine. Also compatible with 40-round box magazines and 75-round drum magazines from the RPK.
SightsIron sights

The AMD-65, along with the earlier AKM-63, have been largely replaced in Hungarian military service by the AK-63, a more traditional AKM copy with a lower manufacturing cost.

Features

Compared to the birch plywood laminates that are used on AKM's buttstock, lower handguard and upper heatguard. No wood is used in the manufacture of large numbers of AMD-65s. The front handguard area is made of perforated sheet metal and typically has a gray plastic vertical foregrip attached to assist in controlling fully automatic fire from this short weapon. In addition, the vertical foregrip has been canted forward to lessen interference with magazine changes. The vertical foregrip is physically identical to the rear grip, with the former mounted backwards with respect to the rear. There are, however, wooden grips available which can serve in place of the common gray plastic version. While these wooden grips are also authentic, in the regular Hungarian army and air force, use of wooden grips is extremely rare.

In Hungarian service, the weapon is mainly used with magazines which can hold 30 rounds (standard magazine) but a special variant (popularly known in the past as "officer's magazine") is also available, which can only hold 20 rounds – an unusual feature in many other countries, who more often use the standard 30-round or 40-round magazines. The weapon is better suited to a 20-round magazine, as it can be locked into the receiver without interfering with the forward handgrip and it is easier to handle the weapon in tight quarters. The 30-round magazine does fit with some slight interference and it can be also fitted with the 40-round magazine.

In theory, the short barrel is stiffer and more inherently accurate, but the short sight radius and poor quality of commonly available ammunition negates this advantage.

AKM-63

Another Hungarian AKM variant was used as Hungary's standard service rifle before being replaced by the AK-63. It is a standard-length AKM variant, with a standard buttstock and full-length barrel. The front sight is in the standard location. However, the front and rear pistol grips and sheet metal handguard are similar to those of the AMD-65.

Modernisation - AMD-65M

During the late 2000s, a modernization program started for the AK-63.

AMD-65M with folded buttstock

The modernisation included Picatinny rails, new handgrips, underbarrel grenade launcher, new sights, and flashlights.

Users
An Afghan National Police officer in September 2010, equipped with a modified AMD-65 with an attached hybrid telescopic sight that has the EOTech Holographic weapon sight.

Non-state actors

Former users

Availability in the United States

Many AMD-65s were exported to the United States and sold in kit form following the destruction of the receiver, which legally rendered the weapon to the status of a non-firearm. In order to be legally reassembled, the parts must be rebuilt on a US-made receiver which lacks the provisions for certain parts which would make it capable of automatic fire. In its original short-barreled form the completed weapon is regulated as a "short-barreled rifle" (SBR) under the National Firearms Act in the United States. The addition of a permanently attached barrel extension of the correct length will render the firearm legal for general use, subject to additional stipulations. These include a certain number of US-made parts in the finished rifle. This count is required in order to comply with U.S.C. 922 (r); a statute which regulates imported rifles with certain features that the BATFE defines as not being suitable for sporting purposes. Some individuals choose to build AMD-65s without a buttstock, thus legally classifying the resulting new firearm as a "pistol" and eliminating the need for a muzzle extension (as well as the parts for 922r compliance). However, this route requires the removal of the forward grip, unless the gun is registered under the NFA as an "AOW" (any other weapon) or has an overall length greater than 26 inches (660 mm).

In summary, the semi-automatic version of the AMD-65, when re-manufactured as detailed above, is now legal for civilian use in most states.

Use by foreign military and private security companies

The AMD-65 has been exported to the West Bank and Gaza, as well as Afghanistan. An increasing number of western security forces, including contract employees of the former private military company Blackwater Worldwide (now known as "Academi") who are serving in the latter two countries, use highly modified AMD-65s rather than conventional 5.56mm based rifles.

The combination of a larger caliber and shorter size provides better punch during short range combat. The metal front handguard lends itself well to a relatively easy refit with multiple picatinny rails/MIL-STD-1913 rails, allowing red-dot optics, tactical lights and other accessories to be easily attached then used. The wire buttstock rod can be reshaped to load 75-round RPK drum magazines with ease even with the stock folded, and the weapon's internal mechanism can be tuned with aftermarket recoil dampers for smoother behaviour in full-auto mode.

  • U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Cory J. Becker, of Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, shows Afghan National Police recruits different firing positions using an AMD-65 assault rifle on Lashkar Gah, Afghanistan, June 3, 2008.
  • Afghan National Police women qualify on the AMD-65 rifle during the tactical training program portion of the police basic training course at Kabul Military Training Center, April 13, 2010.
  • A group of Afghan National Police (ANP) train on the shooting range with the AMD-65 at Camp Shouz in Herat Province of Afghanistan.
  • An Afghan National Police officer training with shooting using an AMD-65, in July 2010.

See also

References
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  5. Ellison, Graham; Pino, Nathan (2012). Globalization, Police Reform and Development: Doing it the Western Way?. London: Palgrave-Macmillan. pp. 95–96. ISBN 978-0230581029.
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  8. Charles Q. Cutshaw (2006). Tactical Small Arms Of The 21st Century: A Complete Guide to Small Arms From Around the World. Krause Publications. p. 207. ISBN 087349914X.
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  10. "Forces Armées Royales القوات المسلحة الملكية". facebook.com. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  11. Jane's Defence Weekly, Volume 16. Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd, 1991, Collected Issues 1990-91. pp. 48–49.
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-11-24. Retrieved 2017-07-27.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. "https://twitter.com/annquann/status/1209084422156238848". Twitter. Retrieved 27 August 2020. External link in |title= (help)
  14. Katz, Sam; Russell, Lee E (25 Jul 1985). Armies in Lebanon 1982–84. Men-at-Arms 165. Osprey Publishing. pp. 30, 44. ISBN 9780850456028.
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