AK with one in the pipe

[Sharps-shooter]

Is it possible to load an AK 47 with just one bullet in the chamber and no magazine?

Many years ago I was in the former USSR, and there was some sociopolitical unrest going on. To make sure everyone was okay, the newly appointed president-for-life filled the streets with people in Milicia uniforms, carrying Kalashnikovs. Just about every third person on the streets was a uniformed cop-- even some people i recognized as having been merchants, etc. on other days. But nobody had a magazine in their rifle.

My guess is that the vast majority of them wouldn't have had any ammo either, for various reasons. But is it possible to operate that kind of rifle with just one round in it?

 

[kcmarine]

Sure. Just pull the bolt back, insert a cartridge, and let the bolt forward. Just like every other semi- auto rifle. Don't know what the point would be, though, especially if you were trying to quell an uprising.

 

[HMMurdock]

Most definately is possible.

I would have liked to have been there at the time you were, but then again I'm a politics nerd...

 

[Sharps-shooter]

Sure. Just pull the bolt back, insert a cartridge, and let the bolt forward. Just like every other semi- auto rifle. Don't know what the point would be, though, especially if you were trying to quell an uprising.

I think the point was to frighten the general populace, who were probably mostly not familiar with these weapons unless they had served in the millitary themselves, and received the accompanying indoctrination (which was very effective, from what I could tell).

I also think the wepons were probably mostly unloaded--some of the people were real milicia, but some were just people who had been press-ganged into service for the day. The guy I usually bought my bread from, for instance, was standing outside the closed bread kiosk in uniform. Emerald green parade uniform, no less. I doubt very much whether the powers that be'ed trusted their own citizen/subjects enough to hand out a bunch of loaded weapons-- especially at a politically charged time.

Anyway, it all went over okay, there were elections to approve the new president-for-life pretty immediately, and he got almost 100% of the votes, as reported by Pravda newspaper. Now the other newspaper never reported on the elections, because their place burned down. But that's journalism for you.