Simonov AO-63
TsNIITochMash · Assault Rifle · Discontinued · 1986
Also known as: Avtomat AO-63
Overview
The Simonov AO-63 is a select-fire assault rifle chambered in 5.45x39mm, produced by TsNIITochMash since 1986. Safety features include manual safety selector, reflecting modern design standards that prioritize safe handling and operation. With over 81 years of firearms manufacturing experience, TsNIITochMash 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) | 3680 g (129.8 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 4200 g (148.2 oz) |
| Overall Length | 890 mm (35.04") |
| Barrel Length | 415 mm (16.34") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 45 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 900 m/s (2953 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 1391 J (1026 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 600 m (656 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 1000 m (1094 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 6000 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 196 mm (7.72") |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Polymer |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 5.45x39mm · primary — also known as 5.45 Soviet, 5.45x39
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic, Burst 2, Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine, Drum Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety Selector
- Features: Dual Barrel, Folding Stock, Chrome Lined Barrel, Rotating Bolt, Select Fire, Drum Magazine Compatible, Extreme Rate Of Fire
Service history
Operators
- Soviet Spetsnaz (evaluation only) · as AO-63
Production
Production years: 1986
Prototype only. A small number of test specimens were manufactured at TsNIITochMash for the Abakan trials. Never entered serial production.
Origin
Country of origin: Soviet Union
Designer: Sergei Gavrilovich Simonov / Peter Andreevich Tkachev
Discontinued: 1986
Notes
The 6,000 RPM figure represents the instantaneous rate during two-round burst fire, where both barrels fire in rapid sequence with a 0.01-second delay. Sustained automatic fire uses a single barrel at approximately 850 RPM. The weapon accepts 45-round detachable box magazines (with a 30-round double-stack feeding the right barrel and 15-round stack for the left), standard 30-round AK-74 magazines, and 100-round drum magazines. Despite impressive performance in trials, the AO-63 was never adopted due to concerns about barrel cooling, internal mechanism stress, and manufacturing complexity. The AN-94 Nikonov won the Abakan competition instead. Muzzle velocity is estimated as comparable to the AK-74 given identical barrel length and caliber.
Background
The AO-63 holds one of the highest rates of fire ever achieved in a shoulder-fired infantry weapon. Its 6,000 RPM burst capability was achieved by firing both barrels in rapid alternation, effectively delivering two rounds before the shooter could physically react to recoil. The weapon was evaluated by Soviet Spetsnaz during the grueling Abakan trials of the late 1980s, but lost to Gennadiy Nikonov's AN-94, which achieved a similar high-burst-rate concept with a single barrel through an innovative recoiling receiver design.