Firearms / Assault rifles / AK-74
AK-74
General Facts
- TYPE
Assault rifle - ORIGIN
USSR - NICKNAMES
6P18 (GRAU designation for RPK-74)
6P26 (GRAU designation for AKS-74U)
AI 74 (Romanian AK-74)
MPi K-74 (East German AK-74)
Tantal (Polish AK-74)
Krinkov (popular nickname for AKS-74U)
AKR (early designation for AKS-74U) - DESIGNED
Early 1970's - DESIGNER
Mikhail Kalashnikov - PRODUCTION
1974 - 1991 (AK-74)
1979 - 1997 (AKS-74U)
1991 - present (AK-74M) - PRODUCERS
Bulgaria - Arsenal
East Germany
Poland
Romania
Russia - Izhmash
USSR - Izhmash - QUANTITY
Over 5 million produced. Production continues. - UNIT COST
Unknown - CHARACTERISTICS
Increased effective range over AKM
Limited recoil
Rugged and reliable
Low production costs
Reduced lethality compared to AKM
Difficult to mount accessories
Introduction
The AK-74 is a 5.45mm assault rifle of Soviet origin. It was developed in the early 1970's as a response to the US 5.56mm M16A1. The design is based on the successful Soviet Kalashnikov AKM assault rifle. The AK-74 replaced the AKM as standard assault rifle with the Soviet forces and remains in use today.
Design
The AK-74 is a modification of the AKM assault rifle. The layout and design principle remain the same, but the caliber and muzzle are different. The 5.45x39mm round was specifically designed for the AK-74. In the folding stock version the underfolding stock of the AKM has been replaced by a side folding stock that provides better stability. The RPK-74 is a 5.45mm light machine gun that was derived from the AK-74 assault rifle in a similar way the RPK as derived from the AKM.
Firepower
The AK-74 fires the 5.45x39mm round from a 30 round magazine. The RPK-74 light support weapon uses 45 round magazines and can use standard 30 round magazines as well. The AK-74 is a select-fire rifle with a cyclic rate of fire of 650 rpm. The maximum effective range is about 400 meters. The shorter barreled AK-74SU sub machine gun has an effective range of 200 meters.
Users
The AK-74 replaced the AKM as standard assault rifle with the Soviet forces and remains in use today. It has been exported to a wide variety of nations, but in much more limited quantities as the AK-47 and AKM. The RPK-74 is used by most forces that use the AK-74 and remains in service and production today.
AKS-74U
The AKS-74U is a sub machine gun derivative of the AK-74. It was developed for vehicle crews, but is also popular with law enforcement and special forces. The AKS-74U has a much shorter barrel with increased twist rate and has a different flash hider. The U stands for Ukorochenniy, which is Russian for shortened. Especially in the USA the AKS-74U is better known as the Krinkov.
- Specifications:
- AKS-74U
| Type | Sub machine gun |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 5.45x39mm Soviet |
| Magazine | 30 rounds |
| Operation | Gas operated, long stroke gas piston, rotating bolt |
| Fire selector | 0-1-F |
| Rate of fire | 650 - 735 rpm |
| Barrel length | 210 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 4 grooves, 160 mm right hand twist |
| Muzzle velocity | 735 m/s |
| Stock | Foldable |
| Length | 735 mm / 490 mm |
| Width | ? |
| Height | ? |
|---|---|
| Weight | 2.5 kg |
| Sights | Iron sights, 350 and 500 m gradations |
| Remarks | - |
AKS-74UB
The AKS-74UB is an AKS-74U adapted for special operations. B stands for Besshumniy, Russian for silenced. The AKS-74UB is fitted with a PBS-4 silencer and fires subsonic ammunition. Additionally the BS-1 silent grenade launcher and associated rubber buttpad are often fitted under the barrel. The BS-1 system is also known as the GSN-19 Kanarejka.
AK-74
The AK-74 is the original model of the AK-74 family. It is essentially an AKM in the 5.45x39mm caliber. The AK-74 has a wooden furniture and a large flash hider. The AKS-74 is similar to the AK-74, but has a side folding metal wire stock. The S in AKS-74 stands for Skladnoy, which is Russian for folding.
| Type | Assault rifle |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 5.45x39mm Soviet |
| Magazine | 30 rounds |
| Operation | Gas operated, long stroke gas piston, rotating bolt |
| Fire selector | 0-1-F |
| Rate of fire | 650 rpm |
| Barrel length | 415 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 4 grooves, 196 mm right hand twist |
| Muzzle velocity | 900 m/s |
| Stock | Fixed |
| Length | 943 mm |
| Width | ? |
| Height | ? |
|---|---|
| Weight | 3.03 kg |
| Sights | Iron sights, 100 - 1.000 m gradations |
| Remarks | - |
AK-74M
The AK-74M is a product improved AK-74. The most distinguishing feature is the black plastic furniture instead of the wooden one. AK-74M is also fitted with a mount for optics and only comes in a model with side folding stock. The M in AK-74M stands for Modernizirovanniy, which is Russian for modernized.
- Specifications:
- AK-74M
| Type | Assault rifle |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 5.45x39mm Soviet |
| Magazine | 30 rounds |
| Operation | Gas operated, long stroke gas piston, rotating bolt |
| Fire selector | 0-1-F |
| Rate of fire | 650 rpm |
| Barrel length | 415 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 4 grooves, 196 mm right hand twist |
| Muzzle velocity | 900 m/s |
| Stock | Foldable |
| Length | 943 mm / 700 mm |
| Width | ? |
| Height | ? |
|---|---|
| Weight | 3.4 kg |
| Sights | Iron sights, 100 - 1.000 m gradations |
| Remarks | - |
RPK-74
The RPK-74 is a light machine gun that is derived from the AK-74 assault rifle. The RPK-74 features a longer barrel, a bipod, different stock and uses 45 round magazines. The RPKS-74 has a folding stock. The RPK-74N and RPKS-74N are fitted with night vision optics.
| Type | Light support weapon |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 5.45x39mm Soviet |
| Magazine | 30, 45 rounds |
| Operation | Gas operated, long stroke gas piston, rotating bolt |
| Fire selector | 0-1-F |
| Rate of fire | 600 rpm |
| Barrel length | 590 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 4 grooves, 196 mm right hand twist |
| Muzzle velocity | 960 m/s |
| Stock | Fixed |
| Length | 1.060 mm |
| Width | ? |
| Height | ? |
|---|---|
| Weight | 4.58 kg |
| Sights | Iron sights, 100 - 1.000 m gradations |
| Remarks | - |
| Type | Light support weapon |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 5.45x39mm Soviet |
| Magazine | 30, 45 rounds |
| Operation | Gas operated, long stroke gas piston, rotating bolt |
| Fire selector | 0-1-F |
| Rate of fire | 600 rpm |
| Barrel length | 590 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 4 grooves, 196 mm right hand twist |
| Muzzle velocity | 960 m/s |
| Stock | Foldable |
| Length | ? |
| Width | ? |
| Height | ? |
|---|---|
| Weight | 4.72 kg |
| Sights | Iron sights, 100 - 1.000 m gradations |
| Remarks | Fixed foldable bipod |
RPK-74M
The RPK-74M is an improved model RPK-74 with the same features as the AK-74M. The wooden furniture has been replaced by a black plastic one. A side mounted sight rail is fitted as standard and only a folding stock model is available.
- Specifications:
- RPK-74M
| Type | Light support weapon |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 5.45x39mm Soviet |
| Magazine | 30, 45 rounds |
| Operation | Gas operated, long stroke gas piston, rotating bolt |
| Fire selector | 0-1-F |
| Rate of fire | 600 rpm |
| Barrel length | 590 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 4 grooves, 196 mm right hand twist |
| Muzzle velocity | 960 m/s |
| Stock | Foldable |
| Length | ? |
| Width | ? |
| Height | ? |
|---|---|
| Weight | 4.43 kg |
| Sights | Iron sights, 100 - 1.000 m gradations |
| Remarks | Fixed foldable bipod |
AK-100 series
The AK-100 series is based on the AK-74M and consists of models chambered in a different caliber and carbine models.
AN-94
The AN-94 assault rifle was developed to replace the AK-74 but was never fielded in quantity.
GP-25
The GP-25 and GP-30 under barrel grenade launchers can be fitted onto the AK-74 series.