It is generally well known that Kalshnikovs (and I include AK-47, AKM, and AK-74's) are less accurate than their western counterparts, e.g., M16, SA80, SIG550, etc.
This of course does not mean that the Kalashnikov is a lesser assault rifle (quite the opposite in fact) but it would be good to know what areas of Kalashnikov's design or build/production could be improved to improve accuracy without damaging its overall excellence as an assault rifle (i.e., without damaging its reliability).
The reasons are numerous, and mostly it's the fitment and quality of the materials used.
You can also blame the ammo normally used, it's about as accurate as a hand full of BB's out of a sling shot.
The AK series was supposed to be all stamped steel,
But the 'Soviet Union' didn't have the abilities to even form sheet metal correctly,
--OR to produce sheet metal that would take the forming process without stressing/cracking/breaking for several years,
So the receivers we milled out of solid blocks of steel for quite a while.
During the second World War, the infrastructure was virtually obliterated, and other than for a few crude tanks and stuff,
The ability to produce much of anything else was retarded for several years.
Also, Stalin ('Papa Joe') was real big on executing all the educated types, engineers, designers, anyone with higher education was usually treated like prisoners or executed because he felt that 'Academics' were dangerous to his rule... (and he was correct)
The results were he had a substandard design, building, machining, and production facilities even before WW II, so he would up fighting WW II with WW I rifles, cannons, artillery pieces, tanks, ect.
If it hadn't been for 'Allied' support, they would be speaking German right now!
After WW II it was all about acquiring 'Allied' technologies.
Jet engine designs from Britain, Aircraft designs from USA,
Wheeled & Track Vehicles from USA and Germany,
And small arms from Germany,
And, of course, the atomic bomb from the USA.
So much effort was spent in copying the US B-29 for a delivery system,
And so much effort was put into producing a A-bomb of their own I'm surprised that the AK-47 developed as fast as it did!
Stalin let MILLIONS starve & freeze to death after WW II just to develop the A-bomb and developed aircraft from the German and American aircraft that were 'Obtained' during the war.
The AK was made mostly from melted down tank and armored vehicle wrecks in the beginning.
Huge amounts of refined steel were left behind after the war, and they were used for making the first production runs of AK rifles...
Steel strength was 'Questionable' at best,
So they simply used MORE STEEL to keep the receivers & barrels from coming unglued.
Mikhail Kalashnikov once said that a higher velocity round was intended, but reliable barrels couldn't be made light enough,
And the USSR couldn't produce the modern powders reliably at the time, so he settled for about 2,000 FPS and a lighter weight bullet than he originally intended.
Later, after Stalin died and the USSR was up on it's feet again, the AK got it's better barrel and stamped steel receiver.
Newer, threaded barrels put into older machined steel block receivers are more accurate.
Older barrels have VERY crude rifling, with VERY large tolerances, so they don't control the bullet very well.
Later barrels are MUCH better quality, actually 'Ordnance' steel, and the rifling got much better with time.
The bolts are loose & sloppy, and NEVER can seat in the same place twice, so there is no repeatability possible.
Mikhail Kalashnikov said this was so the bolt didn't hang up or jam on carbon, sand, rust on the bolt/barrel, ect.
But in actuality, it was because the Russians simply didn't produce milling machines, or cutting tools for the rifle plants that were capable of making fine quality cuts.
Copper and Lead were SCARCE in post war Russia (and the rest of the USSR) so most bullets were STEEL CORE, with a copper wash jacket or thin copper jacket.
The steel was REMARKABLY hard on the rifling in the barrel,
And the steel cases were VERY hard on the chambers, eroding away places where the steel cases impacted the chambers when the fresh round loads.
You also have to think about primers and powder.
Most Russian 'Commercial' grade ammo will produce a 500 FPS (or more) velocity difference between rounds.
REAL HARD to make anything accurate when you can't determine the speed/drop of the bullet!
Bullet cores are often roll formed...
Meaning they can be 'Off Round', actually lopsided,
They can be MUCH heavier on one side than the other side of the bullet, making it wobble badly in flight.
Russian military surplus ammo is REALLY bad about having lopsided cores pressed into copper jackets to make them look 'Round'...
You have to remember that Russia is still producing CORROSIVE primers and CORROSIVE powder!
Powder is often MIXED in the Russian cases! Something you should NEVER do!
Anyway, just some history, and some insight into the Russian way of doing things...
