AK-47 vs AK-74 - Difference and Comparison

• current rating is 3.82/5
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

(1014 ratings)

• current rating is 3.86/5
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

(550 ratings)TypeAssault rifle (semi-automatic, full-auto available in US to certain federal licensees)Sport utility rifle (semiautomatic only; no imported fully automatic examples)Cartridge7.62x39mm5.45x39mmActionGas-operated, rotating bolt (Long Stroke Gas Piston)Gas-operated, rotating boltSightsAdjustable iron sights, 100–800 metre adjustments, 378 mm (14.9 in) sight radiusAdjustable iron sights, front post and rear notch on a scaled tangent, Flip-up sight and front cylindrical post (AKS-74U)VariantsAK-47 1948–51, AK-47 1952, AKS-47, RPK, AKM (most ubiquitous variant), AKMSAKS-74, AKS-74U, AKS-74UB, AK-74M, AK-101, AK-102, AK-103, AK-104, AK-105Place of originSoviet UnionSoviet UnionMuzzle velocity715 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)Weight4.3 kg (9.5 lb) with empty magazineAK-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)Designed1947 (Originally designed in '44-46, but it gets its name from the new 1947 model)1974DesignerMikhail KalashnikovMikhail KalashnikovFeed system20 or 30-round detachable box magazine, also compatible with 40-round box or 75-round drum magazines from the RPK30-round or 45-round RPK-74 detachable box magazineRate of Fire600 rounds/min cyclic650 rounds/min (AK-74, AKS-74, AK-74M), 650-735 rounds/min (AKS-74U)Barrel Length415 mm (16.3 in)AK-74, AKS-74, AK-74M: 415 mm (16.3 in), AKS-74U: 210 mm (8.3 in)In service1949–present1974–presentEffective range300 metres (330 yd) full automatic, 400 metres (440 yd) semi-automatic600 m, 100–1,000 m sight adjustments, 350–500 m sight adjustments (AKS-74U)Length870 mm (34.3 in) fixed wooden stock, 875 mm (34.4 in) folding stock extended, 645 mm (25.4 in) stock foldedAK-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 (stocManufacturerManufacturer Kalashnikov Concern (formerly Izhmash)Izhevsk Mechanical WorksWarsVietnam War-presentSoviet-Afghan War, various other conflicts in Asia and the Middle EastProduced1947-present1974–presentGeneral PurposeMany applicationsMany applicationsAboutAK-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.Price$350-$700$400-$800RestrictionsNo 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.Number builtapproximately 75 million AK-47, 100 million AK-type rifles5 million+Accuracy (16" barrel)2-6 MOA1-4 MOAHistoryDeveloped 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.DependabilityFunctions well under any conditionsSame extreme reliabilityRecoil TypeMild, but easily managed in semiautomaticBarely noticeable; lighter than 5.56 recoil.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pbXFn5ynZpOkunCwyJ%2BdnqqVo7Cme6CEZG1vj6vAoI2qZm5t