How does the mechanism of the AK-47 assault rifle operate?

Answer 1

You pull the trigger, the hammer is released, the hammer hits firing pin which hits the primer, the cartrige fires, some gas goes through the gas port and hits the head of the long stroke piston, drives the piston and attached carrier backwards, turning the bolt unlocked by a stud on the bolt being cammed in a spiral cut, then the bolt is unlocked and the carrier and bolt continue all the way back, riding over and cocking the hammer, until stopped by the recoil spring force, the recoil spring pushes the bolt carrier forward, now the bolt is turned to lock again and the piston in in place in the gas block.

Repeat sequence for more shots.

Answer 2

When the action is cycled by hand, the bolt strips a cartridge from the magazine, and pushes it into the chamber. When the trigger is pulled the hammer is released, driving the firing pin into the cartridge primer. This explodes the primer, igniting the gunpowder in the cartridge, producing rapidly expanding gasses. This pushes the bullet out of the barrel... As the bullet moves past the gas port, some gasses enter the gas cylinder, and push the gas piston to the rear, striking a tappet (spring loaded pin) Tappet strikes the face of the bolt, driving it back. As the bolt moves back it extracts the fired cartridge case, ejects it, then moves forward stripping a fresh cartridge from the magazine, pushing it into the chamber.