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AKS-74U

AK-74
Ak74l.jpg
Early AK-74 with "bakelite" magazine and laminated wood furniture
Type Assault rifle
Carbine (AKS-74U)
Place of origin Soviet Union
Russia
Service history
In service 1974–present
Used by See Users
Wars
Production history
Designer Mikhail Kalashnikov
Designed 1974
Manufacturer Kalashnikov Concern
(formerly Izhmash)
Produced AK-74: 1974–1991
AK-74M: 1991–present
Number built 5,000,000 +
Variants See Variants
Specifications
Weight AK-74: 3.07 kg (6.8 lb)
AKS-74: 2.97 kg (6.5 lb)
AKS-74U: 2.7 kg (6.0 lb)
AK-74M: 3.4 kg (7.5 lb)
without magazine
30-round magazine: 0.23 kg (0.51 lb)
6H5 bayonet: 0.32 kg (0.71 lb)
Length 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 (stock folded): 700 mm (27.6 in)
Barrel length AK-74, AKS-74, AK-74M: 415 mm (16.3 in)
AKS-74U: 206.5 mm (8.1 in)
Width AK-74M: 70 mm (2.8 in)
Height AK-74M: 195 mm (7.7 in)

Cartridge 5.45×39mm
Action Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire Cyclic: 650 (rd/min)
Practical:
Automatic: 100 (rd/min)
Semi-auto: 40 (rd/min)
Muzzle velocity 880–900 m/s (2,887–2,953 ft/s) (AK-74, AKS-74, AK-74M)
735 m/s (2,411 ft/s) (AKS-74U)
Effective firing range 500 m (550 yd) ((AK-74, AKS-74, AK-74M point target)
800 m (870 yd) ((AK-74, AKS-74, AK-74M area target)
400 m (440 yd) (AKS-74U)
Maximum firing range 3,150 m (3,440 yd)
Feed system 30-round or 45-round RPK-74 detachable box magazine or 60-round casket magazine
Sights Adjustable iron sights, front post and rear notch on a scaled tangent
AKS-74U
Aks74u.jpg
AKS-74U
Type Carbine
Personal defense weapon
Place of origin Soviet Union
Russia
Service history
In service 1979–present
Used by See Users
Wars
Production history
Designer Mikhail Kalashnikov
Designed 1970s
Manufacturer Tula Arms Plant
Produced 1979–1993
Specifications
Weight 2.7 kg (6.0 lb)
Length 730 mm (28.7 in) (stock extended)
490 mm (19.3 in) (stock folded)
Barrel length 206.5 mm (8.1 in)

Cartridge 5.45×39mm
Action Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire Cyclic: 700 (rd/min)
Practical:
Automatic: 100 (rd/min)
Semi-auto: 40 (rd/min)
Muzzle velocity 735 m/s (2,411 ft/s)
Effective firing range 400 m (440 yd)
Maximum firing range 2,900 m (3,200 yd)
Feed system 20 or 30-round AK-74 or 45-round RPK-74 detachable box magazine or 60-round casket magazine
Sights Adjustable iron sights, front post and U-shaped flip rear notch

The AK-74 (Russian: Автомат Калашникова образца 1974 года or "Kalashnikov automatic rifle model 1974") is an assault rifle developed in the early 1970s by Russian designer Mikhail Kalashnikov as the replacement for the earlier AKM (itself a refined version of the AK-47). It uses a smaller 5.45×39mm cartridge, replacing the 7.62×39mm chambering of earlier Kalashnikov-pattern weapons.

The rifle first saw service with Soviet forces engaged in the 1979 Afghanistan conflict. The head of the Afghan bureau of the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence claimed that the CIA paid $5,000 for the first AK-74 captured by the mujahadeen during the Soviet–Afghan War.

Presently, the rifle continues to be used by the majority of countries of the former USSR. Additionally, licensed copies were produced in Bulgaria (AK-74, AKS-74 and AKS-74U), the former East Germany (MPi-AK-74N, MPi-AKS-74N, MPi-AKS-74NK) and Romania (Pușcă Automată model 1986). Besides former Soviet republics and eastern European countries, Mongolia, North Korean Special Forces, and Vietnamese People's Naval infantry use AK-74s.

The AK-74 was designed by А.D. Kryakushin's group under the design supervision of M.T. Kalashnikov and is an adaptation of the 7.62×39mm AKM assault rifle and features several important design improvements. These improvements were primarily the result of converting the rifle to the intermediate-caliber high velocity 5.45×39mm cartridge. In fact, some early models are reported to have been converted AKMs, re-barreled to 5.45×39mm. Compared to the preceding AKM the AK-74 has better effective range, firing accuracy (a main development goal) and reliability. The AK-74 and AKM share an approximate 50% parts commonality (interchangeable most often are pins, springs and screws).


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