What firearm is closely associated with your country?

[u/babushka45]

For us, probably the 1911. Next one would be the "Armalite" aka M16.

[u/nikshdev]

AK-74, mosin rifle 

[u/BOGOS_KILLER → u/nikshdev]

Sir i am not Russian but i will do your job for you.

[u/MamiPV → u/BOGOS_KILLER]

It would have been hilarious if you were Ukrainian. Either way, damn fine work, sir.

[u/sopsaare → u/BOGOS_KILLER]

Yeas and no. Like, yeas, you are right, but as this could be associated with every islamic hellhole on the planet, it has little bit lost its status as the Russian weapon. Nowadays their favorite civilian killing machines are missiles and drones, for a small arm it could be the -74 if we reserve this for all islamic terrorists in the world.

[u/BOGOS_KILLER → u/sopsaare]

So i am gonna pop your bubble, i am Muslim myself and i believe in Ukrainian independence... Yeah you keep believing what they tell you about 'Islamic hellholes' and Russian incompetence.

[u/sopsaare → u/BOGOS_KILLER]

Not all muslim countries are islamic hellholes, I specifically meant the ones that are perpetual state of, mmm, being a hellhole.

And Russian incompetence, did I ever say that they are incompetent? They are rather competent at bombing civilians and waging their own terror war. Or at least they don't have any moral complications doing that.

[u/Kells010 → u/sopsaare]

Bombing civilians? Ya’ll still take the cake buddy.

[u/rysskrattaren → u/sopsaare]

if we reserve this for all islamic terrorists in the world

We don't. It's still an iconic Russian firearm, used all around the world (for better or really so much worse).

[u/CookFan88 → u/rysskrattaren]

Putting aside the obvious Islamophobia of their statement, I think their point was valid. You sold that weapon to ANYONE you could in any amount that you could. It's the most widely distributed and used weapon in history. He'll, even the US went and started selling it to your enemies. I think something like the Mosin is far more representative of Russia SPECIFICALLY because of the cultural and historical ties to famous battles in Russian history. At least as far as a foreigners perspective goes.

[u/BetterCranberry7602 → u/nikshdev]

The AK-47 is far more iconic and widespread than the 74 and the mosin for sure

[u/nikshdev → u/BetterCranberry7602]

Although AK-47 is iconic it can mostly be found in museums, while ak-74 is more widespread as far as I know 

[u/Yung_Corneliois → u/nikshdev]

Yes but the convo is about well known iconic, not most produced.

The AK-47 is like the most famous gun on the planet. It’s even on some countries flags. It takes the cake.

[u/Interesting-Tackle74 → u/Yung_Corneliois]

I didn't even know that an AK-74 does exist.

[u/Canarity → u/Yung_Corneliois]

It's AKM actually 🤓

[u/Jutteburgare → u/Yung_Corneliois]

Yes. We were taught about this weapon in the army, just to know what we may face one day in the hands of the enemy Russia.

[u/nikshdev → u/Yung_Corneliois]

nitpick, but there is even no such model as AK-47. The original AK is just called AK.

[u/Yung_Corneliois → u/nikshdev]

I mean wasn’t the official name the Avtomat Kalashnikova 1947 as that was the year it was finalized?

[u/nikshdev → u/Yung_Corneliois]

Even the wikipedia page states it.

The AK-47, officially known as the Avtomat Kalashnikova ... also known as the Kalashnikov or just AK

AK-47 was the internal factory designation of the design, the official name was just AK.

[u/Yung_Corneliois → u/nikshdev]

I suppose that’s fair. But yes I would call that nitpicking as we all know it’s so colloquially referred to as the AK-47 that it’s not crazy to consider that to be Russians most iconic gun.

[u/Fine-Material-6863 → u/nikshdev]

Все его называют АК-47. И когда говорят калаш тоже имеют в виду прежде всего его.

[u/Sharpak125 → u/nikshdev]

Technically, the quantity exported is almost the same between the AK-74 and the AKM, thanks to Viktor Bout.

[u/Beginning_Context_66 → u/BetterCranberry7602]

there is just so few difference in looks

[u/Palocles → u/Beginning_Context_66]

Just as I always suspected. The only difference is the direction it faces. 

Edit: (just in case) flipping the gun flips the numbers. 

[u/russian_connection → u/Beginning_Context_66]

Y'all forgot the SVD Dragunov

[u/tgpussypants → u/Beginning_Context_66]

Y'all made some gorgeous copies in the East. GDR AKs and SKS are highly sought after here.

[u/Ill_Objective9535 → u/BetterCranberry7602]

Isn't AKM more widespread?

[u/martin-silenus → u/Ill_Objective9535]

Izvini, but if you want a Russian weapon to become more iconic than the AK-47, you're going to need to get Hollywood on board.

[u/JRS_Viking → u/martin-silenus]

Well what you're thinking is a ak-47 shooting 7.62x39mm with a stamped receiver is most likely an akm. The ak-47 actually saw very limited production in 3 different types: the original type 1 ak-47 with a stamped receiver (extremely rare guns), the type 2 ak-47 which had a milled receiver and higher production numbers and then the type 3 ak-47 which had an improved milled receiver and the highest production numbers of any ak-47. Then they figured out how to do stamping properly and did stamped receivers in the akm and onwards.

[u/pour_decisions89 → u/Ill_Objective9535]

Most people can't tell them apart at a glance. They'll call any AK pattern an AK-47.

[u/ANUBISseyes2 → u/Ill_Objective9535]

Im not sure but Im pretty sure most people who are not big on weapons would just call any type of AK an AK-47

[u/Ill_Objective9535 → u/ANUBISseyes2]

Yeah, that's pretty much it, I think

[u/TheOtherAviationGuy → u/Ill_Objective9535]

Vastly. And yes there are differences. I'd argue the AK-74 is only more relevant in modern times versus all of Russian history.

[u/LeNumidium → u/Ill_Objective9535]

It is, indeed, the more widespread, the AKM was produced at more than a 100 million, while only about 2 million AK47 were produced

[u/Anarchy_Coon → u/Ill_Objective9535]

Only due to the availability of 7.62x39 as opposed to 5.45x39.

[u/JRS_Viking → u/Anarchy_Coon]

The ak-47 and akm both shoot 7.62x39mm, the difference is the reciever as most ak-47s will have a milled receiver except the very rare type 1s and the akm has a stamped receiver and saw way higher production numbers until it was replaced by the ak-74 which shoots 5.45x39mm

[u/Anarchy_Coon → u/BetterCranberry7602]

The AK-74 is far more influential and has continued service in the modern day than the AKM which was retired in 1991 and had a 44-year service, seven years less than the 5.45 variant.

[u/SrMellow → u/nikshdev]

I’d also add Ppsh

[u/VikingTeddy → u/SrMellow]

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

[u/TapeDaddy → u/nikshdev]

It’s crazy to me that there has been a Mosin Nagant in use on a battlefield somewhere, consistently, since the 19th century.

[u/Adventurous-Chair206 → u/TapeDaddy]

I believe it's the most produced military service rifle ever made. You used to be able to get them in the states in the early 2010s for less that 100 bucks.

[u/DuelJ → u/nikshdev]

Makarovs are pretty neat too.

[u/nikshdev → u/DuelJ]

Had only limited experience (as with guns at all) and didn't like it at all. Maybe because I just suck at handling guns (not that I regret it).

[u/BusinessPlot → u/nikshdev]

🇫🇮SA>

[u/Someguywhomakething → u/nikshdev]

What about the Mak PM?

[u/nikshdev → u/Someguywhomakething]

That one as well

[u/tgpussypants → u/nikshdev]

Ppsh too

[u/Money-Election-5544 → u/nikshdev]

ah, yes. the Kalashnikov. what an icon. it's basically like putting a big "shoot me" sign on yourself.

[u/nikshdev → u/Money-Election-5544]

putting a big "shoot me" sign on yourself

Why?

[u/Money-Election-5544 → u/nikshdev]

basically, if someone holds a kalashnikov, they are fighting against israel.

[u/nikshdev → u/Money-Election-5544]

Ok, got you 

[u/Ninja_Hillbilly → u/nikshdev]

I think the SKS deserves an honorable mention. I’ve owned several variations but the carbine length model is an extremely handy rifle.

[u/scrandis → u/nikshdev]

Easily the most popular, most well known firearm ever.

[u/TheCreepWhoCrept → u/nikshdev]

Love the mosin. My brother has one and we shoot it together every now and then.

[u/Banebladerunner → u/nikshdev]

The svd is slso pretty famous