AMD-65: The Specialist's AK Turns Standard-Issue
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Published 2024-05-03
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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.
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All Comments (21)
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An AMD measured in Megahurts.
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AMD-65: For when you're really done putting up with Nvidia's garbage.
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I swear with Ian doing all these books I'll finally learn to read
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While I was in Afghanistan, a local turned in a AMD65, a Greek leand leased M1 Garand, and 2 really rusty Martini-Henry rifles. It was a real suprise when we realize what he had.
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It's always a little funny to see front vertical grips that are literally the same pistol grip stapled to the gun a second time.
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Seeing how the nations of the Warsaw Pact adapted the AK platform to suit their own particular needs is one of my favorite aspects of the AK platform.
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I remember seeing this gun in Metal Gear Solid 3 and thinking the devs just came up with their own fictional tacticool AK variant. Was surprised to learn it was an actual gun shortly after.
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Never heard of this processor
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my granddad was working on the machine that made the "long grater" handguard as he called it. his factory was one of the first to begin making these, he was always proud of the work he did with his friends back then. when I was in Egypt with him decades ago we managed to meet one of these old guns. I have never seen 2 men who speak no common languages be soo friendly that fast ever.
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Greetings from Hungary! My father used this type of assault rifle during his military services in the 70s.(He had to go another 6 months in the late 70s.) He was the only guy in his platoon to use it with a 20 round mag, the others had to use theirs with a 30 round mag. In fairness,he was a radio operator so he also had to carry the radio. Unless he had to be the driver for the battalion commander, BC(rank Lieutenant Colonel), on his side, which happened often, considering my father's bad behaviour, then 30 round magazine, since the radio stayed inside either the GAZ 69 jeep or the command truck. The officers,including said BC got 20 round mags, because they often carry their leather map (holding) bags and the 30 round mag almost always catched the strap of the bag.
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13:08 the firing modes are "Shoot one bullet" or "Shoot all the bullets". Makes sense to me.
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Never knew AMD started business by making guns 😂
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Fun Fact: the AMD 65 is the preferred rifle of the Ocelot Unit of the Spetsnaz GRU.
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I was a conscript in 2002. We were issued AK-63D during basic training and AMD-65 on duty. It didn't matter much to anyone as everyone was convinced that we won't ever have to use them under the umbrella of NATO. Anyway we pronounce the manufacturer as "fayg" instead of spelling out the initials. Too bad they've been bankrupt 20 years ago without any hope of revival. The new rifles are sourced from CZ now.
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Hi Ian! It is an honor for you to present our weapons, greetings from Hungary!
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I am happy to see some attention from you to Hungarian firearms. Greetings from Budapest!
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I love that they started with plastic furniture and later got wood. Most countries did it the other way around lol.
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As a Hungarian im really glad to see this❤
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This is the weirdest Linus Tech Tips video they've done yet.
