Simonov AG-043
Izhmash · Assault Rifle · Discontinued · 1975
Also known as: AG-043
Overview
The Simonov AG-043 is a select-fire assault rifle chambered in 5.45x39mm, produced by Izhmash since 1975. 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) | 2100 g (74.1 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 2500 g (88.2 oz) |
| Overall Length | 680 mm (26.77") |
| Folded Length | 420 mm (16.54") |
| Barrel Length | 215 mm (8.46") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 30 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 701 m/s (2300 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 843 J (622 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 300 m (328 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 500 m (547 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| 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: Folding Stock, Compact Design, Rotating Bolt, Select Fire, Overhead Gas Cylinder
Variants
- AG-042 — Fixed Stock
Production
Production years: 1975
Prototype only. A small number of test specimens were manufactured for evaluation as part of GRAU Project Modern. Never entered serial production.
Origin
Country of origin: Soviet Union
Designer: Sergei Gavrilovich Simonov
Discontinued: 1975
Notes
The AG-043 featured a folding stock variant; the AG-042 was the fixed-stock version developed in 1974. Despite Simonov's reputation as designer of the SKS and PTRS anti-tank rifle, his late-career prototypes were never adopted by the Soviet military. The reduced muzzle velocity of 701 m/s (compared to the AK-74's 900 m/s) is attributable to the short 215mm barrel. The weapon was evaluated but ultimately not selected for production. Rate of fire data is not available in surviving documentation. Simonov was in his seventies when he designed this weapon, continuing to innovate until his death in 1986.
Background
Sergei Simonov, who had designed the iconic SKS carbine in 1945 and the PTRS-41 anti-tank rifle during World War II, continued experimenting with assault rifle designs well into his seventies. The AG-043 represented one of his final attempts to compete with Kalashnikov's dominance of Soviet small arms design, but by the mid-1970s the AK-74 had already been adopted and Simonov's compact prototypes were relegated to museum collections.