The main operating mechanisms of the Hungarian “automatic modified paratrooper weapon of 1965” (AMD-65) are almost completely based on the modernized Kalashnikov assault rifle (AKM), which was put into service in 1959.
The AMD-65 assault rifle had a shortened barrel and a light folding T-shaped wire buttstock. The barrel did not have a handguard. However, it had a cylindrical attachment with a pair of holes on each side.
A lightweight “officer” magazine was developed for AMD-65 — it contained 20 rounds, was smooth and was completely made of metal. The fore-end of the assault rifle was made of perforated sheet iron instead of wood and was furnished with additional ventilation holes. A vertical handle was attached to the fore-end, allowing to control firing in long bursts. It was moved forward for balance when replacing the magazine, but it has the same structure as a standard assault rifle handle.
AMD-65 was the main assault rifle of the Hungarian Armed Forces until 1977. It was designed as the main firearm to be used by armored infantry and paratrooper units. The crews of armored vehicles and tanks used it as fire support.
In 1977, AMD-65 was replaced by another copy of the Soviet AKM, the AK-63 °F assault rifle with a wooden stock, nowadays known in Hungary as the AMM. It was also created at the Arms and Machine Manufacturing Company in Budapest. This assault rifle differed from the AMD-65 and had a modified casing, a more durable fore-end without thickening and lower production costs. In 1978, the Hungarian manufacturers released a copy of the AKMS with a folding stock, which was named AK-63D. Currently, newer versions of the AK-63 °F and AK-63D are called AMM and AMMS, respectively. They remain in service at the Hungarian Defense Forces.
In the 2000s, weapon designers developed a modification of the old AMD-65M. The assault rifles were made of steel and plastic. They had new handles, an under-barrel grenade launcher and Picatinny rails, to install an optical sight and a laser target pointer.
The AMD-65 assault rifle had a shortened barrel and a light folding T-shaped wire buttstock. The barrel did not have a handguard. However, it had a cylindrical attachment with a pair of holes on each side.
A lightweight “officer” magazine was developed for AMD-65 — it contained 20 rounds, was smooth and was completely made of metal. The fore-end of the assault rifle was made of perforated sheet iron instead of wood and was furnished with additional ventilation holes. A vertical handle was attached to the fore-end, allowing to control firing in long bursts. It was moved forward for balance when replacing the magazine, but it has the same structure as a standard assault rifle handle.
AMD-65 was the main assault rifle of the Hungarian Armed Forces until 1977. It was designed as the main firearm to be used by armored infantry and paratrooper units. The crews of armored vehicles and tanks used it as fire support.
In 1977, AMD-65 was replaced by another copy of the Soviet AKM, the AK-63 °F assault rifle with a wooden stock, nowadays known in Hungary as the AMM. It was also created at the Arms and Machine Manufacturing Company in Budapest. This assault rifle differed from the AMD-65 and had a modified casing, a more durable fore-end without thickening and lower production costs. In 1978, the Hungarian manufacturers released a copy of the AKMS with a folding stock, which was named AK-63D. Currently, newer versions of the AK-63 °F and AK-63D are called AMM and AMMS, respectively. They remain in service at the Hungarian Defense Forces.
In the 2000s, weapon designers developed a modification of the old AMD-65M. The assault rifles were made of steel and plastic. They had new handles, an under-barrel grenade launcher and Picatinny rails, to install an optical sight and a laser target pointer.
