The Swedish Automatkarbin 24 (Ak 24) – A Detailed Summary
Bye Bye Automatkarbin 5 (Ak 5) and welcome the M4A1 and the Automatkarbin 24. As TFB recently wrote about, the M4A1 is an interim weapon until the Ak 24s are delivered in full by Sako Finland. Above you can see the latest image of the Swedish Automatkarbin 24, Cerakoted in HIR-601.
The Swedish Automatkarbin 24 @ TFB:
POTD: The Swedish Automatkarbin 24 Full-Auto Suppressed Swedish Army Buys 15,000 M4A1 Carbines Sweden Signs Agreement For More Sako AK 24 Rifles POTD: Swedish Home Guard Demonstrates Automatkarbin 24 (Sako)
Cerakoted in HIR-601 – Swedish Flat Dark Earth
Before you ask your local Cerakoter to get his spray nozzle ready for your own gun, please note that the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV) and the Armed Forces have the exclusive right to use Cerakote HIR-601. You need written permission from FMV to use it, and something tells me these permissions will be quite restrictive.
The color is designed to mimic the gray-brown green used in the Swedish combat vests, and other field equipment. The background of the choice is for the Cerakote to work with the colors that primarily exist in the Swedish forests and fields, but also in other places that Swedish soldiers may operate in. Another important parameter when choosing this color was its performance when viewed through an image intensifier at a soldier in the forest, or in some other background environment. I haven’t tried HIR-601 with night vision, but I know that the Cerakote is very effective out in the field as I have firearms in very similar tones.
Sights: Aimpoint Comp M5 2 MOA red dot with Magpul backup sights.
If we look at the optics, the Ak 24 has the Aimpoint Comp M5 with a 2 MOA red dot – known to the Swedish Army as the “Rödpunktsikte 18 EHV B”, with Magpul backup iron sights.
It’s easy to spot all the Magpul furniture everywhere, including the telescopic Magpul CTR stock and the Magpul K2 pistol grip.
There are also backup iron sights and a finger stop, to avoid accidents with such a short barrel. To the best of my knowledge, the muzzle device is an Ase Utra Borelock Birdcage Flash Hider, which can also quickly attach Ase Utra’s suppressors. Note that suppressors will only be delivered and used on a few Ak 24s. The Ak 24 is gas-operated, using a short-stroke piston. It’s possible to adjust the gas pressure, for instance, if you switch to a suppressor.
If you’re a regular at TFB, you’ll see more about this QD system and the Ase Utra suppressors soon enough, as we have some for testing and review.
Technical Specifications of the Automatkarbin 24 (Ak 24)
Weight: 3.2 kg (empty magazine).Length: 715–800 mmCaliber: 5.56×45 mm NATO.Operating principle: Gas-operated, with a short-stroke piston.Barrel length: 292 mm (11.5 in)Rifling: 1/178 mm (1/7 in).Sight: Aimpoint Comp M5 (Red Dot sight 18 EHV B).Select fire: Semi/full automatic, with a two-stage 2.5–3.5 kg trigger.
The handguard uses Picatinny and M-LOK, so that accessories like lasers and weapon lights can be mounted with ease.
Ak 24 – Weight
Looking at the weight of the Ak 24, it’s about 0,7 to 1,3 kg lighter than the current Ak 5C and Ak 5D. This is quite a substantial difference on soldier level, to the better. Another difference is that the Ak 5 had a foldable stock, while the Ak 24 stock is telescopic only.
In terms of precision, the Ak 24 has an advantage over the old Ak 5. The Ak 24 has a free-floating barrel, whereas the Ak 5 was known for its ability to shift depending on how much pressure you applied to the fore-end.
Ak 24 – Made in Finland, Sweden and the USA.
All in all, we have a firearm system made in Finland, with Swedish optics and American-made furniture, backup sights, magazines and Cerakote. The suppressor and its flash hider with QD attachment are also made in Finland.
Ak 24 – Delivery schedule
Starting in early 2025, the AK 24 will be introduced on a wide scale, with Swedish conscripts beginning to use the weapon during the 2025/26 training year. In 2024, 7,500 AK 24s were delivered to the Swedish Armed Forces, with an additional 15,000 scheduled for delivery in 2025 and another 15,000 in 2026. By the end of 2026, a total of 37,500 AK 24s will be delivered.
I recently spoke to soldiers who have been part of the process since the beginning, and they describe the Ak 24 as a premium firearm. I’m sure if Sako Finland ever made a civilian version, there would be a lot of interest.
Photo: Caitlin Qvist / Försvarsmakten / Swedish Armed Forces – Original Source