AK-22

Infobox Weapon
name= AK-22|

caption=A AK22
origin= Romania
type= .22 LR
is_ranged=yes
service=
used_by=
wars=
designer=Mikhail Kalashnikov
design_date=?
manufacturer=Romania
production_date=
number=
variants=
weight=
empty=
length=
part_length=
cartridge= 6mm
caliber= .22 LR
action= Gas operated with a rotating bolt
rate= Semi-automatic
velocity=?
range=
max_range=?
feed= 10-30 round box magazine
sights= Adjustable iron sights, optional mount required for optical sights.

An AK-22 "Trainer" is a semi-automatic rifle loosely based upon the AK-47 in its design, and chambered in .22 long rifle caliber. The firearm currently sold on the civilian market in the United States of America dubbed as the AK-22 "Trainer" is manufactured in Romania by "S.C. Uzinele Mecanice Cugir S.A". Despite the common belief, the AK-22 is not normally used to train regular troops either in Romania or in other countries. While up to a recent past the use of rimfire rifles replicating the standard service rifles in its dimensions and features has been in common use in several Countries for training soldiers to basic firearms handling and marksmanship, at present times this use has been abandoned due to the enormous availability of service weapons and ammunitions already in stock, and to the fact that a rimfire rifle, with its low recoil, doesn't helps in getting the recruits used to the normal kick of the regulation rifle they will use in their normal service life; rimfire rifles are albeit used in many Countries for basic firearms handling and standard marksmanship training within Armed Forces' "Youth Corps" (Cadets). The AK-22 is thus intended merely as a civilian sporter rifle. Its average price ranges within 200 and 500 US$.

The AK-22 should not be confused with the weapon commonly sold in America as the Armscor AK 22 Sidefolder, which is a sporter, rimfire AK-47 semi-automatic version manufactured in the Philippines as the MAK-22F and sold with a side-folding stock. The two weapons are extremely different both cosmetically and internally.