Kalashnikov rifle to be mass produced for sport
A version of the famous Kalashnikov assault rifle will be mass produced by Russian small-arms giant Izhmash for airsoft game in which participants fire spherical non-metallic pellets from replica firearms.
The Company plans to mass produce an airsoft version of the AK-74M Kalashnikov assault rifle for basic military training and fans of the strike ball.
"The Yunker-5 gas-cylinder air gun is a product, with a design, weight and overall dimensions following that of the Kalashnikov assault rifle with a folded buttstock," RIA Novosti quoted the company as saying in a statement.
"The air gun is intended for training and sport shooting with 6-mm plastic balls powered by compressed gas in a cylinder. The air gun can also be used for strike ball," it said.
Tests of the airsoft version of Kalashnikov AK-74M have been completed. The company hopes the new gun will appeal to fans of strike-ball and members of Russia's paramilitary youth organisation, the Voluntary Association for Assistance to Army, Air Force and Navy (DOSAAF).
Air guns can be acquired without a license and are not subject to registration according to Russian legislation.
