Kalashnikov Concern SR1

In 2012, Kalashnikov decided to develop a variant of the AK-107 for the civilian market. Earlier civilian offshoots of the Kalashnikov family of weapons were marketed under the Saiga brand, and so the project was initially named Saiga MK-107. This Saiga MK-107 was caliber 5.45×39mm. In 2018, serial production of the final version SR-1 in 5.56×45mm NATO caliber began, which went on sale in May of that year. ==Design and operation==

The SR-1 is a gas-operated, rotary-bolt style rifle. It is basically based on the Kalashnikov bolt system with two locking lugs, but has two counter-rotating gas pistons, one on top of the other. The barrel is free-floating and is surrounded by the fore-end, which is only attached to the receiver. The gas piston and bolt carrier on the one hand and the counterweight with the second gas piston on the other are equipped with longitudinal teeth similar to a rack and are connected to one another with two gears (AK-107/108: one gear). When the projectile leaves the barrel, the powder gases act on both gas pistons, that of the bolt carrier is pushed backwards and that of the counterweight forwards. The gears synchronize the movement of both parts. ==See also==