PUBLISH DATE: CLASSIFICATION:

Ballistic testing – AK-47 rounds June 2019 OFFICIAL

Ballistic Testing
Recommended AK-47 (Kalashnikov) assault rifle
rounds
 PUBLISH DATE: CLASSIFICATION:
Ballistic testing – AK-47 rounds June 2019 OFFICIAL

Fig.1: AK-47 Assault rifles – (T to B: AK-47 and AKM)

The current European standards1 for ballistic testing of glass and complete windows, doors and
shutters provide a comprehensive testing procedure and classification system against firearms
threats. They provide a number of standard ballistic threats to cover the range of weapons and
ammunition from small pistols to the NATO assault rifle. However the glass standard does not
include the AK-47 bullet as a test threat. The test standard for windows, doors, and shutters
includes the AK-47 ball round as an additional option but the bullet is not well defined.

Variants of the AK-47 (Kalashnikov) assault rifle have been produced in large quantities by a
number of former Warsaw Pact and other countries and it has become one of the main weapons
used by insurgent and terrorist groups. The ammunition is also manufactured in numerous
factories. There is some variation in performance due to differences in the manufacturing
standards for both weapons and ammunition. Because of this variability it has been difficult to
develop consistent and repeatable test criteria for AK-47 ammunition. To overcome this problem,
well defined surrogate rounds have been developed for ballistic test purposes.

The AK-47 fires 7.62mm diameter bullets using a 39mm long cartridge, usually referred to as 7.62 x
39mm rounds. These are significantly less powerful than the 7.62mm NATO bullets which are fired
using a larger, 51mm long, cartridge, usually referred to as 7.62 x 51mm rounds. As only NATO
rounds appear in the current standards, windows and doors have been designed and tested to
defeat this threat. Such products are likely to be unduly heavy if the threat is limited to the less
energetic AK-47 bullets.

1
European Test Standards
BS EN 1063 Glass in building – Security glazing – Testing and classification of resistance against bullet attack
BS EN 1522 Windows, doors, shutters and blinds – Bullet resistance – Requirements and classification
BS EN 1523 Windows, doors, shutters and blinds – Bullet resistance – Test method

Disclaimer Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

The information contained in this document is accurate as at the date it was created. It is intended as general This information is supplied in confidence to the named reader and may not be disclosed further without prior approval from CPNI. This
guidance only and you should not rely on it. This information should be adapted for use in the specific circumstances information is exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) and may be exempt under other UK information
required and you should seek specialist independent professional advice where appropriate before taking any action legislation.
based on it. To the fullest extent permitted by law, CPNI accept no liability whatsoever for any loss or damage
incurred or arising as a result of any error or omission in the guidance or arising from any person acting, relying upon
or otherwise using the guidance. Full terms and conditions governing the use of this guidance are available on our
website at www.cpni.gov.uk.

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 PUBLISH DATE: CLASSIFICATION:
Ballistic testing – AK-47 rounds June 2019 OFFICIAL

Fig2: AK-47 7.62x39 and NATO 7.62x51 ammunition – ( L to R: PS ball round, BZ API round, NATO ball round, NATO AP
round)

The AK-47 may fire conventional ball bullets with a lead or mild steel core or armour piercing
incendiary (API) bullets with a hardened steel core. Following an assessment of the available AK-47
bullets the best performing ball and API examples were identified. Subsequently, surrogate AK-47
bullets have been designed, and validated by testing, to match the performance of the selected
rounds. The surrogate for the API bullet does not have an incendiary component but is armour
piercing (AP).

If testing against AK-47 bullets is required, testing and classification should follow the procedures in
the European standards. However, the requirements and classification data for the surrogate
rounds should be taken from Table 1 below. The surrogate AK-47 bullets should be fired from a
standard NATO 7.62mm barrel with a twist of 1 in 305mm (12in) and a minimum length of 508mm
(20in). It is recommended that surrogate bullets should be procured from the manufacturers listed
on page 5.

Disclaimer Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

The information contained in this document is accurate as at the date it was created. It is intended as general This information is supplied in confidence to the named reader and may not be disclosed further without prior approval from CPNI. This
guidance only and you should not rely on it. This information should be adapted for use in the specific circumstances information is exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) and may be exempt under other UK information
required and you should seek specialist independent professional advice where appropriate before taking any action legislation.
based on it. To the fullest extent permitted by law, CPNI accept no liability whatsoever for any loss or damage
incurred or arising as a result of any error or omission in the guidance or arising from any person acting, relying upon
or otherwise using the guidance. Full terms and conditions governing the use of this guidance are available on our
website at www.cpni.gov.uk.

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 PUBLISH DATE: CLASSIFICATION:
Ballistic testing – AK-47 rounds June 2019 OFFICIAL

Bullet Test Conditions

Class Weapon Calibre Bullet

Mass Test range
velocity
Type
g m
m/s

AK-47 Ball Rifle 7.62 x 39 FJ/PB/FeC 7.9 ± 0.1 10 ± 0.5 720 ± 10

AK-47 AP Rifle 7.62 x 39 FJ/PB/HC 8 ± 0.05 10 ± 0.5 740 ± 10

FJ full metal jacket AP Armour Piercing HC hardened steel core

PB pointed bullet FeC Soft steel core

Table 1: Classification and requirements for testing with AK-47 surrogate bullets.

Fig3: AK-47 surrogate bullets (L to R: ball bullet and AP bullet)

Disclaimer Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

The information contained in this document is accurate as at the date it was created. It is intended as general This information is supplied in confidence to the named reader and may not be disclosed further without prior approval from CPNI. This
guidance only and you should not rely on it. This information should be adapted for use in the specific circumstances information is exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) and may be exempt under other UK information
required and you should seek specialist independent professional advice where appropriate before taking any action legislation.
based on it. To the fullest extent permitted by law, CPNI accept no liability whatsoever for any loss or damage
incurred or arising as a result of any error or omission in the guidance or arising from any person acting, relying upon
or otherwise using the guidance. Full terms and conditions governing the use of this guidance are available on our
website at www.cpni.gov.uk.

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 PUBLISH DATE: CLASSIFICATION:
Ballistic testing – AK-47 rounds June 2019 OFFICIAL

Manufacturers:
AK-47 SURROGATE BALL ROUNDS:
.30” calibre Surrogate Projectile Part No. PT 11009

EPA Manufacturing
Faldingworth Base Spridlington Road
Market Rasen LincolnshireLN8 3SQ
Factory: 01673 866200
Sales: 01673 871310
Email: [email protected]
www.EPgroupltd.com

AK-47 SURROGATE AP ROUNDS:

Round No.4 .30” calibre Short AP MK3 Part No. CU31798-004-ASM

Davromatic Precision Ltd

Avon Industrial Estate, Rugby, Warwickshire, CV21 3UY
Phone: 01788 561969
Email: [email protected]
www.davromatic.co.uk

Disclaimer Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

The information contained in this document is accurate as at the date it was created. It is intended as general This information is supplied in confidence to the named reader and may not be disclosed further without prior approval from CPNI. This
guidance only and you should not rely on it. This information should be adapted for use in the specific circumstances information is exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) and may be exempt under other UK information
required and you should seek specialist independent professional advice where appropriate before taking any action legislation.
based on it. To the fullest extent permitted by law, CPNI accept no liability whatsoever for any loss or damage
incurred or arising as a result of any error or omission in the guidance or arising from any person acting, relying upon
or otherwise using the guidance. Full terms and conditions governing the use of this guidance are available on our
website at www.cpni.gov.uk.

©Crown copyright 5