The AO-222 is an assault rifle of Russian origin designed by Gennadiy Nikonov

Gennadiy Nikonov

Gennadiy Nikolayevich Nikonov was a Russian gun engineer. His most famous accomplishments were probably as the designer of the AN-94 assault rifle, and the "straight-back bolt." Nikonov held 44 Copyright Certificates, and was awarded the titles of "The Best Designer of the Company" and "The Best...

. It is chambered in the 5.45x39mm

5.45x39mm

The Soviet 5.45×39mm cartridge is a rimless bottlenecked rifle cartridge. It was introduced into service in 1974 for use with the new AK-74 assault rifle. It gradually supplemented then largely replaced the 7.62x39mm round in service....

 calibre and fed from AK-74

AK-74

The AK-74 is an assault rifle developed in the early 1970s in the Soviet Union as the replacement for the earlier AKM...

-compatible magazines loaded on the right hand side in an attempt to make the magazine release easier.

Overview

The AO-222 is a 5.45x39mm calibre assault rifle. It is basically no more than an AK-74

AK-74

The AK-74 is an assault rifle developed in the early 1970s in the Soviet Union as the replacement for the earlier AKM...

 or an AN-94

AN-94

The AN-94 is an advanced Russian assault rifle. The initials stand for Avtomat Nikonova Model of 1994....

which it led to with the only difference being a right-hand-side-fed weapon.