AK-47 vs AK-74 (2024)

Type Assault rifle (semi-automatic, full-auto available in US to certain federal licensees) Assault rifle (semiautomatic only in the U.S.; full-auto available in other countries) Cartridge 7.62x39mm 5.45x39mm Action Gas-operated, rotating bolt (Long Stroke Gas Piston) Gas-operated, rotating bolt Place of origin Soviet Union Soviet Union Variants AK-47 1948–51, AK-47 1952, AKS-47, RPK, AKM (most ubiquitous variant), AKMS AKS-74, AKS-74U, AKS-74UB, AK-74M, AK-101, AK-102, AK-103, AK-104, AK-105 Sights Adjustable iron sights, 100–800 metre adjustments, 378 mm (14.9 in) sight radius Adjustable iron sights, front post and rear notch on a scaled tangent, Flip-up sight and front cylindrical post (AKS-74U) Muzzle velocity 715 m/s (2,346 ft/s) 900 m/s (2,953 ft/s) (AK-74, AKS-74, AK-74M), 735 m/s (2,411.4 ft/s) (AKS-74U) Weight 4.3 kg (9.5 lb) with empty magazine AK-74: 3.03 kg (6.7 lb), AKS-74: 2.97 kg (6.5 lb), AKS-74U: 2.5 kg (5.5 lb), AK-74M: 3.4 kg (7.5 lb) In service 1949–present 1974–present Barrel Length 415 mm (16.3 in) AK-74, AKS-74, AK-74M: 415 mm (16.3 in), AKS-74U: 210 mm (8.3 in) Rate of Fire 600 rounds/min cyclic 650 rounds/min (AK-74, AKS-74, AK-74M), 650-735 rounds/min (AKS-74U) Manufacturer Manufacturer Kalashnikov Concern (formerly Izhmash) Izhevsk Mechanical Works Feed system 20 or 30-round detachable box magazine, also compatible with 40-round box or 75-round drum magazines from the RPK 30-round or 45-round RPK-74 detachable box magazine Designed 1947 (Originally designed in '44-46, but it gets its name from the new 1947 model) 1974 Designer Mikhail Kalashnikov Mikhail Kalashnikov Wars Vietnam War-present Soviet-Afghan War, various other conflicts in Asia and the Middle East Length 870 mm (34.3 in) fixed wooden stock, 875 mm (34.4 in) folding stock extended, 645 mm (25.4 in) stock folded AK-74: 943 mm (37.1 in), AKS-74 (stock extended): 943 mm (37.1 in), AKS-74 (stock folded): 690 mm (27.2 in), AKS-74U (stock extended): 735 mm (28.9 in), AKS-74U (stock folded): 490 mm (19.3 in), AK-74M (stock extended): 943 mm (37.1 in), AK-74M (stoc Effective range 300 metres (330 yd) full automatic, 400 metres (440 yd) semi-automatic 600 m, 100–1,000 m sight adjustments, 350–500 m sight adjustments (AKS-74U) Produced 1947-present 1974–present General Purpose Many applications Many applications Price $350-$700 $400-$800 Number built approximately 75 million AK-47, 100 million AK-type rifles 5 million+ About AK-47 stands for Kalashnikov automatic rifle model of 1947. It is a selective fire, gas operated 7.62x39mm assault rifle. Most 47's are actually the 1959 AKM. AK-74 is a 1974 update of the AKM. History Developed in the USSR by Mikhail Kalashnikov in the late 1940s. Developed in the 1970's due to Soviet fears that the American 5.56 cartridge was a breakthrough that needed to be imitated. Restrictions No federal restrictions on semi-auto variant ownership in the US. Full-auto restricted in the US. No federal restrictions on semiautomatic variants. No transferable fully automatic examples exist. Used by Worldwide Eurasia Accuracy (16" barrel) 2-6 MOA 1-4 MOA Introduction (from Wikipedia) The AK-47 is a selective-fire, gas-operated assault rifle, first developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov. Officially known as Avtomat Kalashnikova, it's also called Kalashnikov, AK, or in Russian slang, Kalash. The AK-74 or Kalashnikov automatic rifle model 1974 is a 5.45mm assault rifle developed in the early 1970s in the Soviet Union. It was developed from the earlier AKM. Dependability Functions well under any conditions Same extreme reliability Recoil Type Mild, but easily managed in semiautomatic Barely noticeable; lighter than 5.56 recoil.