AO-63 assault rifle

Lore & Background

The AO-63 was developed for the Abakan trials in May/June 1986, where it was used by Spetsnaz forces in a search for a more accurate alternative to the standard AK-74. The official report described the rifle as highly accurate, simple, and reliable. Despite its performance, it was dropped from the competition for unknown reasons, and the AN-94 was ultimately selected.

The weapon features side-by-side barrels with the right barrel predominant, twin rotating bolts and gas pistons, and ejects spent casings from both sides. The trigger group has a three-position selector on the right side of the receiver: semi-auto firing one barrel, full auto firing both barrels with a 0.01 second delay, and a third mode that first fires a two-round burst at 6000 rpm then switches to one barrel at 850 rpm full auto. The magazine is unusual, combining a main double column holding 30 rounds with a single column holding 15 rounds.

Reader's Guide

The AO-63's significance lies in its extreme rate of fire, which at 6000 rounds per minute in two-round burst mode makes it technically the fastest-firing rifle known. This was achieved through a side-by-side barrel configuration and a 0.01 second delay between shots to improve ballistic performance. The weapon was a contender in the Abakan trials, where it was noted for accuracy, simplicity, and reliability, but was ultimately passed over in favor of the AN-94 for reasons that remain unspecified. Its legacy is that of a unique experimental design that pushed the limits of automatic fire rate within the Kalashnikov lineage, though it never entered widespread service. The unusual magazine design, with a 30-round double column and a 15-round single column, further distinguishes it from conventional assault rifles.

Did You Know?

• The AO-63 can reach 6000 rounds per minute in two-round burst mode with a 0.01 second delay between shots.
• The rifle was used by Spetsnaz during the Abakan trials in May/June 1986.
• Its magazine has a main double column holding 30 rounds and a single column holding 15 rounds.