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AMD-65: The Specialist's AK Turns Standard-Issue (Ad-free)
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The Hungarian AMD-65 (Automata Módosított Deszantfegyver - "Modified Paratrooper Automatic Rifle") was requested first in 1964 because the standard AKM-63 rifles in Hungarian service were too long for a lot of troops. The Ministry of the Interior requested a new rifle 30% shorter and 10% lighter than the standard AK, and the result was the AMD-65. The designers at FÉG decided that the regular Soviet underfolding stock design was too complicated and expensive - and also prone to getting loose with use - and designed their own folding stock design. It was cheap, easy to make, and solid - but it gave a lousy cheek weld. This was an acceptable compromise.
The AMD-65 first saw combat use with elements of the Hungarian forces that occupied Czechoslovakia in August 1968, and they liked it. In a surprise move a few months later, the Hungarian MoD decided to adopt it as the standard infantry rifle for all troops, on account of its lower cost than the AKM-63. This was really not the role the AMD-65 was intended for, but the decision stood. Production for the Hungarian military ran until 1980, and commercial and export production continued another decade until 1990. In total, about 1,068,000 AMD-65s were made, accounting for 56.5% of all Hungarian Kalashnikovs. It was widely exported, and is seen in conflict zones worldwide to this day.
Comments
Mrgunsngear
Great info. Interesting point on the length with the brake vs the standard length
Glenn Miller
Thanks for all the background info on this rifle. Interesting story.
Guido Schriewer
that vg grip looks kind of confy and usable. the stock sure does not! how rare are those 20rd mags? guess a couple of 20rounders couldn't hurt but longer 30s only.
Kenneth Marshall
Has the very first m-lok handguard : ) It is more controllable than advertised, its noisy break is fairly effective with fore grip to control the gun's lift. Stock is compact and not comfortable but works.
