AG-4
| AG-4 | |
|---|---|
| File:AK-5E7 Camo-2.png An AG-4 with a Type 6 AFG | |
| Type | Service Rifle |
| Place of origin |  Dniegua |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1994–present |
| Used by | Dniegua |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1974-1982 |
| Manufacturer | Viktronik Waffhiyfabriken |
| Unit cost | $475 |
| Produced | 1983–present |
| No. built | 3,000,000+ |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 3.5kg |
| Length | 87.3cm |
| Width | 62mm |
| Height | 24.5cm (magazine inserted) |
| Cartridge | 5.6x48 |
| Action | Gas Operated, Rotating Bolt, Long-Stroke gas piston. |
| Rate of fire | 675 rounds per minute |
| Muzzle velocity | 980 m/s |
| Effective firing range | 500 meters |
| Maximum firing range | 1,000 meters |
| Feed system | 20 and 30 round magazines, 45 and 60 round casket magazines |
| Sights | Iron, V-notch and post with Express sights Issued with a 2.5x magnified optic |
The AG(v)-94 (Avtomatua Gevar, lit. automatic Military Rifle) is a Dnieguan Service rifle developed from 1975-1982, and officially entered service with the Dnieguan Armed Forces on January 2nd, 1984. Chambered for the 5.65x48mm Gv.Paz 94 (Geavtsvka Patridzh, Rifle Cartridge), replacing the older AGv-3 service rifle in most major roles. The rifle utilizes a long-stroke gas piston with a 3-stage adjustable gas block and has a 44cm barrel and a muzzle velocity of 980 meters per second.
Fed from a 30 round detachable box magazine, with 45 and 60 round magazines having been approved for use, the rifle fires at 675 rounds per minute and has an effective fire range of between 3 and 600 meters shooter dependent. The rifle utilizes the RFO-5 (RFO, Rasshlayn Förstolich Optick, Advanced Magnifying Optic), a 2.5x26 zoom red dot optic. The rifle is typically zeroed at 200 meters, with marking chevrons for drop at distances of 300 and 400 meters, and has a constant use (At medium intensity setting) life of 8,100 hours. The butt of the rifle folds for compactness and transport, and is telescoping for individuals from heights of 1.67 to 1.95 meters in height, individuals of a taller stature are required to use adjustment pads.
The rifle has enjoyed moderate success in the export market, being utilized by OSEN member states as special purpose rifles. In addition, a civilian version of the rifle, the CIR-5, has reached moderate popularity though much of the civilian shooting world.
Design and Development
In the mid 1970s, the Dnieguan army had begun to make strides in the Small caliber, High-Velocity munitions development, recognizing the need for more ammunition and that current rifle rounds were largely overpowered for infantry use, generating unnecessary weight and bulk. In 1974, the armaments committee officially requested a new small arm capable of firing a "SCHV" projectile, the exact specifications of which were undefined. The weapon was required to be highly reliable in the near and arctic climate of Dniegun, as well as being easy to handle and maintain, while meeting a certain minimum level of accuracy.
Project Vigilant
Project Vigilant represented the official government tender for a new rifle. The new generation rifle was to be lighter than the previous AGv-3 as both a weapon and with ammunition. Requirements were strict, requesting the rifle not exceed the weight of an unloaded AGv-3 whilst having an inserted, fully loaded 20 round magazine. On an individual basis, an individual with the new rifle was to carry 150 rounds of ammunition loaded in magazines, as well as the loaded rifle, for the same weight of the AGv-3 with 80 rounds of ammunition. Hit probability was to increase by at least 50% during automatic fire over the AtGv-4, and the projectile was not to exceed 6.5mm in diameter.
A number of prototype rifles were submitted to the competition of varying design and function. Among these were rifles utilizing caseless, cased telescopic, polymer cased, and flechette ammunition. Conventional designs utilizing hyper-burst principals, delayed recoil actions and electronic ammunition were all submitted. Many of these designs enjoyed early success, but throughout continued use, began to show shortcommings. Longevity of the rifles was called into question and components began to fail, rifles began to malfunction and eventually fail critically. While several of these rifles completed the testing process, the inevitable increase in production costs and inherit complexity led to many of them being rejected by the committee.
Eventually the conventional cased T2 Prototype (Project designation 20-138B) submitted by Viktronik Waffhiyfabriken of Ostlangran was selected as the winner, and gained the government contract following adaptations, including a larger handguard, different stock design, different gas block, a modified bolt, and a corrosion-resistant finish. This design fired a 5.65mm projectile at a muzzle velocity of between 940 and 1000m/s, depending on the projectile, and had a typical recoil impulse of 25% that of the previous AtGv-4. Also selected was a hyperburst-design rifle utilizing caseless flechette ammunition, the BTKaG-90, which remains in service with select Dnieguan special forces units.
Design details
The AGv-94 is a selective fire weapon that uses a gas-driven, long stroke gas pistol with a rotary bolt locking mechanism, equipped with three locking lugs that engage corresponding recesses in the barrel extension. The bolt is rotated and unlocked by the interaction of the bolt's cam pin with a camming guide contained in the bolt carrier. Overall, the mechanism is generally fairly common on modern high-reliability service rifles, but notable for its addition of a four-stage adjustable gas valve, which allows the adjustment of gas pressures cycling though the gas port, in order to improve firing conditions in adverse conditions.
A spring extractor is located inside the bolt head fixed and riveted to the inside of the receiver housing. The AGv-94 utilizes a hammer-type firing mechanism and trigger with a fire selector switch that is simultaneously the manual safety, securing the weapon from accidental firing. The selector lever is located on the left and right side of the receiver, with has three settings: "S" - weapon safe, "1" - single fire mode, "A" - continuous automatic fire.
The rifles barrel features a unique muzzle device that acts as a sound dampener and flash suppressor. The muzzle device, lovingly dubbed perehabux (Pepperbox) by soldiers, utilizes a series of gas chambers and vents to dampen muzzle report, recoil and muzzle flash. Much of the rifle is chromed in order to reduce carbon fowling.
The rifle feeds from 30-round polymer magazines, which later set standards in OSEN for design specifications. The plastic-coated, lightweight alloy skeleton stock folds to the right side of the receiver. A fixed synthetic (polyamide) buttstock is also available. The rifle has a flip-type L-shaped windage-adjustable rear sight with two apertures with settings for 250 and 400 m, while the front sight post is adjustable for elevation. Optics such as the Swarovski RFO-5 2.5x26mm telescopic sight can be attached with the use of a receiver-mounted adapter.
The TsGv is the first rifle in Dnieguan service that was designed without bayonet mounting abilities. Aftermarket bayonets are sold and have been approved by the Ordinance Committee, though they are seldom seen. Standard issue with the rifle is the Type 4 Vertical foregrip as of 2008, which fully envelops the hand when gripped properly. The trigger guard is large to accommodate a gloved finger, and the magazine well flared to facilitate more reliable loading. The rifle has the ability to launch either rifle grenades (With special muzzle device, issued to grenadiers), or mount an underslung grenade launcher. However, stand-along grenade launchers are more common.
Service history
Following Project Vigilant, the AGv-4 received the inventory designation RGV-138B, and was initially delivered to Dnieguan special forces and Ranger regiments for field service reports starting in 1988. These early reports proved highly favorable of the rifle which proved its utility in several combat environments, as well as training maneuvers and combat exercises. Though some units proved initially speculative of the 5.65x48mm cartridges ability to reliably incapacitate targets, the round quickly proved itself as being as capable as even the previous 6.5x55mm at typical combat ranges.
The rifle replaced the last of AkGv-4s on 1 April, 1994, netting the rifle its final service designation, AGv-4.
The first combat experience with the AG-4 were widely positive. The use of rails for attachment points proved satisfactory form any soldiers, who were pleased to be able to mount personally owned aftermarket accessories, such as forward grips, flashlights or otherwise. The first rifles entered the civilian market in 1992, resulting in an explosion of accessories and aftermarket components. This resulted in Dniegua eventually forcing standardization among accesories; the Swarvskii Optik company RFO-5, a 2.5x26mm red-dot optic with marking chevrons for drop, was adopted and made standard for all Dnieguan riflemen in 1998, and the Type 5, a fully enveloping Vertical forgrip, was standardized in 2004. The Type 6 AFG is also available as of 2006.
In export, the AG-4 has been utilized by members of OSEN states as special purpose rifles for special teams. The nation of Sieuxerr utilizes the AG-4 as its main service rifle, adopting the design in 1992, as does Valinor.
Versions and Variations
- 20-138
- Original model submitted to project Vigilant by Victoria Weaponworks, chambered in a 5.78x47mm cartridge. This version was retracted in favor of a modified version better suiting cold weather operations, changing to a more mature 5.65x48mm cartridge.
- 20-138B
- Re-submitted 20-138 model rifle with cold weather adaptations and a more developed cartridge.
- RGV-138B
- Version issued to Dnieguan special forces in early testing phases. Identifiable by a two-stage gas valve as opposed to four, with bayonet mount and rear sigts adjustable to 500m.
- RGV-138D
- 4-stage gas valve version of the RGV-138B with removal of bayonet lug.
- RGV-140
- Version with a 4 stage locking bolt with three-round burst capability. Inclusion of full-length railed handguard.
- RGV-138G
- RGV-138D with full-length railed handguard; 1991. Selected as the final modification of the design and would become the AG-4:\
- AG-4
- 1994 adoption designation of the RGV-138G.
- SkTGv-4 (SkT-Skarmethrad)
- a specialized marksman version that utilizes a 52cm heavyweight barrel and muzzle device, typically issued with a 6-9x42mm Optic. The stock is fixed and has a cheek riser, mono pod, and is adjustable File:TrGv-94D.jpgAn AG-4K
- TsGv-94k
- Compact (Kompakt) version with a 9.5 inch barrel and special muzzle booster. This version has an integrated carry handle and special 2.5x32mm inbuilt optic.
- PkSzGv-96
- Infantry Automatic Rifle version with a club stock, bipod, and 52cm heavyweight barrel. (PkSzGv-, Пекхинфанти Соддерзын Геавтсвка, Pekhinfanti Sodderzyn Geavtsvka, Infantry Support Rifle)
- TyTsGv-03
- Version chambered in 6.5x55mm Gv Pat. 35 (TsTyGr: Tjanrayba Tyangr Geavtsvka, Heavy Service Rifle).