Each of these tests took place at different military installations and with varying numbers of participants.
The following companies were invited to participate in the trials:
• Beretta
• Kalashnikov
• Sig Sauer
• Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKEK)
• CZ
• PWS
• FN Herstal
• LWRC Intl
• Zastava Arms
• Anderson Manufacturing Inc
• HK
• Hanwha
• Denel Land Systems
• Colt
• Steyr
• Armalite
On to the trial…
The weapons trial consisted of numerous tests; below is a partial list:
• Technical briefings
• Hot chamber cook-off
• Iron sight accuracy
• Optics accuracy
• Penetration
• Hot and cold environmental chambers
• Interchangeability
• Endurance
• Pluff mud
• Sand test
• Mud
*Highlights of the test results.
I. Pluff Mud Immersion Test, (uncontrolled mud test, tidal/coastal natural area mud testing). Condition of the rifles; bolt closed on an empty chamber with a loaded magazine inserted and the muzzle capped. The SSG took the rifles into the tidal pluff mud and rolled them in the mud until they were completely covered.
Findings. MKE and CZ rifles along with Serbian and Chinese AK’s were able to get one or two rounds fired before jamming. The US weapon wouldn’t even chamber a round. The Russian Kalashnikov AK ran without issue.
II. Sand Test. Condition of the weapons, the muzzles were capped, and a round chambered. The weapons were buried under two feet of sand and left to bake for one hour. The temperature was 56°C (133°F) in the shade. After the requisite bake, the weapons were dug up and test fired.
Findings. The US weapon wouldn’t fire. The CZ and MKE rifle along with the Serbian and Chinese AKs were able to get one or two round fired before jamming. The Russian Kalashnikov AK ran without issue.
III. Extreme Climate Test, Hot. 360 rounds loaded into magazines and three test weapons were conditioned at +60°C (140°F) for 12 hours.
*Note, this particular testing results regarding the US weapons doesn't make sense to me- as to what exactly happened, it doesn't say.
Findings. All the test weapons performed without issue except for the US weapons, all of which had the bolt catch fall out of the weapon during testing and one of which launched the muzzle break down range.
IV. Extreme Climate Test, Cold. 720 rounds loaded into magazines and three test weapons were conditioned at -40°C (-40°F). Two cycles of 120x rounds fired from each weapon.
Findings. All the test weapons performed without issue except for the US weapons which would not chamber a round and did not fire a single shot.
V. Mud Test 2, (controlled testing environment). Condition of the weapons; the muzzles were capped, and a round chambered.
Findings. Only the Chinese and Russian AK’s fired. The Chinese AK had a single jam and once cleared continued to run. The Russian Kalashnikov AK ran without issue.
Final Results. However, since the completion of the trials, Pakistan has purchased 140,000 AK 103 rifles.
http://soldiersystems.net/2018/07/16...assault-rifle/
Kalashnikov AK-103 firing after mud submersion test, it's the only one that functioned during this phase of testing.
*Personal note, depending on how thick the mud is I think that it didn't interfere with the bolt carrier being able to close such as the thicker mud found on the Inrange you tube test video. However thinner mud would penetrate some of the closed system designs like the AR weapons. However the Swamp Test by Regular Guy on youtube showed similar results between the AR/AK/Tavor when only the AK variant functioned and obviously given the swamp like water- all the weapons were compromised. Perhaps the water blew the gas tubes on the AR's and is the reason they failed both the Pakistan military torture testing as well as Regular Guy's swamp test. In my opinion however, a weapon should handle firing submerged or partially submerged in water, basically pass an over the beach style test but others might feel differently.
Obviously third world countries do a little less scientific testing yet their findings are completely different than our own. One thing of note, the Pakistan military requires the weapons manufacturers to submit their rifles along with a fee to be tested directly under supervision of the Pakistan military rather than submitting independent controlled lab testing results. I think this does one thing, it eliminates the potential for rigged testing procedures such as might be found from a lab that is being paid directly by a manufacturer. However just seeing what happens to various weapons that are dunked into muddy/sandy water via youtube torture test videos- I personally trust the Pakistan military testing results. The AK overall, is probably the most reliable rifle available on the market but obviously is a dated design that isn't the most ergonomic nor accurate. However for the Pakistan military needs or most budget minded military needs- is perfect for a low maintenance weapon. I would however wonder if Kalashnikov submitted weapons with over sized gas ports to increase reliability since the other AK variants didn't perform as well. Another thing that struck me as different was the "interchangeability" test, basically taking weapons apart and re-assembling them from other weapons- somehow the AK's passed this portion which means they have really tightened up their manufacturing procedures. Either way, the Russian AK passed the torture testing elements that failed the other more modern designs for this particular test.
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Originally Posted by PNorris
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