FEG AK-63 / AMM

Assault Rifle [ 1977 ]

The AK-63 Assault Rifle is a local Hungarian copy of the Soviet/Russian AKM series with a few alterations.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 08/15/2021 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

Right side view of the Hungarian FEG AK-63 Assault Rifle

VIEW SPECIFICATIONS [+]

Hungary, falling under the Soviet sphere of influence during the Cold War, made extensive use of the world-famous Kalashnikov AK-47 series of assault rifles debuting in the post-World War 2 world. The type proved a fixture in countless conflicts and battles throughout the decades to follow and owed much of its original design initiative to the German StG44 - oft-termed the "Father of Assault Rifles". In the early 1960s, authorities decided to modernized their AK-47s and moved away from the identifiable Kalashnikov-style wood furniture. The resulting design became the "AKM-63" of 1963 which saw its solid wood stock replaced with a plastic version while vented steel sheeting was used along the forend. A plastic forend grip was also added. By all accounts, the Hungarian version was nearly identical to the Soviet AKM design (upgraded AK-47) of 1959 - even in overall performance.

The AKM-63 was further evolved to become the Hungarian "AMD-65" assault rifle of 1965, this being nothing more than a compact version intended for use by vehicle crews where its smaller nature made it a viable weapon to fire from within the confines of armored carriers. The AMD-65 sported a shorter barrel, folding butt and plastic forward pistol-style handgrip. While the AMD-65 worked to establish itself, the basic AKM-63 itself was utilized until the late 1970s to which Hungarian authorities then charged the local firm of FEG to design, develop and produce a more "economically-friendly" version and address some tolerance issues. Design work ensued and, in 1977, the AK-63 emerged as the new standard-issue Hungarian Army assault rifle, replacing the AMD-65s and AKM-63s then in service, and still following the lines of the Soviet AKM. During its reign, FEG (defunct as of 2004) provided customers with a diverse set of products ranging from military small arms to water boilers.

The AK-63 was ultimately produced in two distinct forms differentiated by their style of shoulder stock - the AK-63F was the solid wooden stock version while the AK-63D sported a folding metal stock (ala the Soviet AKMS). Both versions eventually made their formal entry into the Hungarian Army and were denoted by their "AMM" and "AMMSz" respective designations. The "AK-63MF" then emerged as a modernized version of the AK-63D and this brought along with it Picatinney rail support for the installation of various optics, lights and aimers. Additionally, the model featured a telescoping buttstock assembly for a more compact end-product. A relatively rare, semi-automatic-only variant - the SA-85M - was developed and manufactured specifically for civilian sale in the lucrative United States gun market with importation handled by Kassnar of Pennsylvania. Their numbers were, however, limited due to the 1989 assault weapons import ban making them an extreme rarity today.

Like all other Kalashnikov AK-47-related assault rifles, the AK-63 series made use of the Soviet 7.62x39mm cartridge and relied upon a gas-operated, rotating bolt firing action. Externally, the AK-63 appeared as a clone of the Soviet-era counterpart in its overall presentation save for a few Hungarian-inspired alterations. The weapon was set to fire from 10-, 20- or 30-round detachable metal curved box magazines with a rate-of-fire equal to 600 rounds per minute.

The AK-63 family has gone on to see its own fair share of combat action around the world. Key involvement has been noted in the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988) to which both sides utilized the weapon in the bloody conflict, the Salvadoran Civil War (1980-1992), the Gulf War (1990-1991), the Croatian War of Independence (1991-1995) and - more recently - the Libyan Civil War of 2011. With that said, the AK-63 remains in large scale use both within Hungary and elsewhere.©MilitaryFactory.com

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Specifications

Service Year

1977

Origin

Hungary

Classification

Assault Rifle

Femaru Fegyver es Gepgyar (FEG) - Hungary

(View other Arms-Related Manufacturers)

Croatia; El Salvador; Hungary; Iran; Iraq; Libya

(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)

✓ Automatic Function
Features a mechanical function to automate the firing action.

✓ Assault Rifle
Modern class of long gun featuring select-fire properties, automatic internal function, and magazine feeding.

Overall Length

878 mm
34.57 in

Barrel Length

419 mm
16.50 in

Empty Wgt

6.61 lb
3.00 kg

Sights

Iron; Optional Optics.

Action

Gas-Operated; Rotating Bolt

Rotating Bolt
System utilizes internal mechanism to lock the breech or rear barrel assembly prior to firing.

Gas-Operated
Gas-operated system is featured, typically involving a gas cylinder and rear-driven piston directing energy to the bolt component.

(Material presented above is for historical and entertainment value and should not be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation - always consult official manufacturer sources for such information)

Caliber(s)*

7.62x39mm

Sample Visuals**

Rounds / Feed

10-, 20, or 30-round detachable box magazine

*May not represent an exhuastive list; calibers are model-specific dependent, always consult official manufacturer sources.
**Graphics not to actual size; not all cartridges may be represented visually; graphics intended for general reference only.

Max Eff.Range

1,640 ft
(500 m | 547 yd)

Rate-of-Fire

600
rds/min

Muzzle Velocity

2,300 ft/sec
(701 m/sec)

AK-63 - Base Series Designation

AK-63F - Base assault rifle model; based on the Soviet AKm series.

AK-63D - Based on the Soviet AKMS; folding metal stock.

AK-63MF - Modernized AK-63D production version; Picatinny accessories rail; adjustable collapsing butt.

SA-85M - US civilian market designation; semi-automatic fire mode only.

AMM - Hungarian Army designation of AK-63F

AMMSZ - Hungarian Army designation of AK-63D

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Right side view of the Hungarian FEG AK-63 Assault Rifle

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