Fedorov Avtomat

Fedorov Avtomat - 6.5x50mmSR

The Fedorov Avtomat is considered by some to be the first assault rifle. It was designed by Colonel Vladimir Grigoryevich Fyodorov. The first Fedorov automatic rifle appeared in 1912 but it wasn't put into service. In 1915 Fyodorov redesigned his gun into a full auto weapon using the Japanese 6.5mm cartridge (this cartridge was produced in Russia for Arisaka rifles that were purchased by Russian Army in Japan in large numbers, while the standard Russian 7.62x54R rifle cartridge was too powerful for Fyodorov's gun). In Summer 1916, the Fedorov auto rifle was put into service under the name "Avtomat" ("automatic"). It was manufactured in small numbers at first at the Sestroretsk weapon factory and from 1920-1924 at the Kovrov weapon factory. About 3,200 were manufactured until production ceased in 1924. In 1928 the Fedorov Avtomat was officially removed from service. In 1940, during the Winter War, it was briefly used by the Red Army.

While this interesting weapon is largely overlooked as the first assault rifle (the title often going to the MP44) it is worth noting the accidental foresight of it's inventor. While the weapon had it's fair share of problems, such as rapid overheating and complicated manufacturing procedures, tests indicated that the rifle could accurately and consistently hit man sized targets at a range of 200m (about the range most modern firefights take place) and was effective to around 500m. And now as modern military/law enforcement agencies are beginning to consider an intermediate rifle round in-between 5.56mm and 7.62mm, many suggest adopting cartridges like the 6.8mm Remington - not too dissimilar to the 'intermediate' 6.5mm Askira.

Specifications

(1915-1928 (officially), 1940 (in fact))

• Type: Assault Rifle
• Caliber: 6.5x50mmSR Arisaka
• Weight: 4.4 kg (Loaded; 5.2 kg)
• Length: 1,045 mm
• Barrel length: 20.5 in (52 cm)
• Feed System: 25-round detachable box magazine
• Fire Modes: Full-Auto

Video Games

Game Title	Appears as	Mods	Notation	Release Date
Battlefield: 1918				2004
Deadfall Adventures	Fedorov			2013