AK-47 vs. Ak-74
 

What's the difference?

One is chambered in 7.62x39, the other is chambered in 5.45x39.

The only difference in appearance is muzzle break and magazine.

How many years on the market and the only relevant changes made is to rechamber the weapon for a different round? Was it that perfect the first time?

Here, I have a new question.

Why is the Ak47/74 less accurate then AR-15 type rifles.

If they are both machined well and fire quality ammunition shouldn't the performance be about the same.

The AK is not machined well as a rule, though you can occasionaly find an ok one. The M-16 has a rotary locking bolt with 8 lugs, it is almost impossible to find a tighter bolt interface than that. That is why many of the top marksmen in the world use AR-15s (albeit with free floated barrels).

Most 7.62 is not well made. The vast majority of it is steel cased and made in China. There is some good stuff made, Lapua being a name I can reccomend.

The Kalishnikov was made to be a cheap rifle that conscripts could abuse and still stand a chance of killing target through massed fire. It is the K car of the gun world.

I see
 

Yeah it seems to have some pretty funny things going on machining wise... Crooked sights and off kilter barrels being the standard :lol:

But they are cheap... I think it's insane that a full auto rifle can be produced for only 230 dollars for those militaries.

For someone who is looking to spend VERY little money and isn't expecting great performance from a rifle, how about the Norinco NHM-90? It fires 7.62 which is dirty and not very accurate ballistics wise, but for occasional plinking, and for the price of rifle/ammo it seems like a good deal. 400 dollars to buy a rifle and powered optics (Just to learn to use them). The nice addition being that the rifle will accept high cap mags if and when they become legal. 3-5 inch groups seems acceptable @ 100 yards when your not in competition.

Just browsing, don't actually have money for this stuff.
I may have to sell my glock and get a rifle if I want to get any plinking fun in while I am in MA. I also have to see if they even allow AK style rifles. Since I am not jonsing to make the rifle look like it has a pistol grip or look anything like a regular AK, the base price is pretty low.

ak 74 directs the exiting gass ot reduce the recoil if im not mistaken

well in terms of difference the inner construction from the ak 47 to the 74 are very different, you will need to see what you prefer also, the 74 has much less kick than the 47, thats definitly something you should consider .. also you can get good quality you just have to get lucky =)

the AK-47 was intentionaly made with loose tolerances. The kick difference comes from the smaller caliber of the 74.

Kel,

If you are looking for an inexpensive rifle to just plink with, I suggest an SKS.

Well, what the Soviets wanted out of the AK-74, design wise they already had in the AK-47, but they wanted that design, applied to the new 5.45X39mm cartridge. If anyone would take the trouble of machining a Kalashnikov well, you'd get some nice results. If as much per unit was put as was in an M-16, I'm sure you'd outdo your stovepipe cousin.

The first few years of AK-47 manufacture were machined AK's. Those were, from what I've heard, extremely nice rifles. The more 'modern' AK's are primarily stamped, and made to have loose tolerances to enhance reliability in harsh conditions. The AR-15 is a tightly machined, with exacting tolerance, and designed to be accurate as well as reliable.

The word "reliable" means different things when comparing an M-16/A2 to an AK-47. Reliability for an AR-15 is the ability to maintain high levels of accuracy in demanding conditions. Reliability for an AK is leaving it buried in the mud over night, casually washing it off in the morning, and putting a full magaizine through it seconds later.

Target shooting or light hunting, I'd take an AR-15. Pure hard-core survival, take an AK. I do agree with the comment on SKS's. I had one for a short while, until a buddy of mine decided that he wanted it for more than I paid for it. Shot right well for a cheap gun.

What's an SKS run now days? I'm thinking about buying something cool to mess around with and thought about trying to pick up an AK just for the fact that it'd look cool and be fun to shoot at stuff in the backyard with... yeah, I'm a redneck. ;)

You should be able to get an SKS for 150$ or less.

This is sort of delayed, but there is a major difference between what most people call an AK-47 and the true AK-47. The rifle most people call an AK-47 is actually an AKMS.

The true AK-47 had an open top reciever (one can see the full bolt) identical to the SKS and a gas chamber similar to the German STG-44.

The AKMS that most people are familiar with has a closed top reciever where you can only see the charging handle. THe gas chamber was modified to become a self cleaning piston.

The AK-74 was almost completely redesigned. Aside from being chambered for a smaller cartridge, the trigger group was redone to give better control, and the big modification, the gas chamber was redesigned from the standard gas blow-back to be a forward cycling piston to reduce muzzle jump.

[disclaimer] I may be wrong on a few minor details but that should cover the major design changes.[\disclaimer]

The Finnish military has the AK-47 (dubbed M/62 here) as our main infantry weapon. And I can say that's the gun I'd take out to combat. It can take awfully lot of punishment and still make a nice 10cm pile on the target at 150 meters. I was also able to pull out an 30cm pile at 300 meters.

And reliability... I can shoot it empty at -40 degrees, never missing a single shot. Legend says that if you stuff it with sand it will work even better...

The AR-15s does not use a piston; gas blows back through a very small tube straight onto the bolt carrier. This eliminates the movement of the piston inside the rifle increases accuracy. :thumbsup:

wow, dredged up from the dead this thread rises...

Holy shit, 6 year old thread to discuss how a AR operates.

Watch these videos and compare the AK to the AR

Dude, that video should be in its own thread.

It has been decreed, and it shall be done.

:D