Izhmash AL-7
Izhmash · Assault Rifle · Discontinued · 1972
Also known as: AL-7, Avtomat Lyogkiy-7
Overview
The Izhmash AL-7 is a select-fire assault rifle chambered in 5.45x39mm, produced by Izhmash since 1972. Safety features include manual safety selector, reflecting modern design standards that prioritize safe handling and operation. With over 218 years of firearms manufacturing experience, Izhmash brings established expertise in metallurgy, machining, and quality control to every product in their lineup, ensuring each firearm meets the standards expected by today's demanding market of knowledgeable shooters and professionals.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3900 g (137.6 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 4300 g (151.7 oz) |
| Overall Length | 927 mm (36.50") |
| Barrel Length | 415 mm (16.34") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 30 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 762 m/s (2500 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 996 J (735 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 500 m (547 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 1189 m (1300 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 900 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 196 mm (7.72") |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 5.45x39mm · primary — also known as 5.45 Soviet, 5.45x39
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic, Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety Selector
- Features: Balanced Automatics Recoil System, Chrome Lined Barrel, Rotating Bolt, Select Fire, Grenade Launcher Compatible, Reduced Recoil, Reduced Muzzle Climb
Variants
Production
Production years: 1972-1974
Prototype only. A small number of test specimens were manufactured at Izhmash for the 1974 Soviet small arms trials. The design was not adopted but evolved decades later into the AK-107/AK-108 production rifles.
Origin
Country of origin: Soviet Union
Designer: Yuriy Aleksandrov
Discontinued: 1974
Notes
The AL-7 lost the 1974 trials to Kalashnikov's AK-74 despite its superior recoil characteristics, likely due to the AK-74's simpler mechanism, lighter weight, and Kalashnikov's institutional advantage at Izhmash. However, the balanced automatics concept survived: Aleksandrov continued refining the design, and decades later it evolved into the AK-107 and AK-108 production rifles. The AK-107 differs only slightly from the original AL-7 prototype, primarily adding a three-round burst feature and using an unfluted receiver. The muzzle velocity of 762 m/s is lower than the AK-74's 900 m/s, possibly reflecting the prototype's early-stage development. The barrel length of 415mm is inferred from the nearly identical AK-107, as original AL-7 documentation does not specify barrel length independently. Compatible with the GP-30 under-barrel grenade launcher.
Background
The AL-7 represents one of the great 'what-ifs' of Soviet small arms history. Its balanced automatics system virtually eliminated felt recoil and muzzle climb, producing dramatically tighter automatic fire groups than the AK-74 that was ultimately adopted. Had it been selected in 1974, the entire trajectory of Soviet and Russian assault rifle development might have changed. Instead, it took nearly four decades for the concept to reach production in the AK-107, which was finally adopted by select Russian military and law enforcement units in the 2010s.